"Let us pray" — and then a moment of silence, before the priest gathers the people's prayers into one. What is the Collect, why is it called that, and why does the priest lift his hands as King Solomon once did?
This session examines the Collect — the opening prayer that "collects" the silent prayers of the faithful into a single petition. Dr. Pitre breaks down its four-part structure (address, relative clause, request, Trinitarian conclusion) using the Collects for the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Day, and explains the bow of the head at the name of Jesus. He then grounds the gesture and form in Scripture: David's prayer as incense with uplifted hands (Psalm 141), and Solomon's great "collect" at the dedication of the Temple, hands spread toward heaven (1 Kings 8). Historical witnesses include St. Gelasius composing prayers for the sacraments, St. Gregory editing the sacramentary, and the Second Council of Lyons on bowing at the Holy Name. St. Robert Bellarmine supplies the mystical reading of the priest's uplifted hands. Why is it called a "Collect," and what does the posture mean?
Key passages & sources examined: Roman Missal, Order of Mass no. 9; GIRM 275; Collects for the 4th Sunday of Advent & the Nativity (Mass During the Day); Psalm 141:1–2; 1 Kings 8:22–25, 30; Phil 2:9–10; Exodus 17:11–12; 1 Timothy 2:8; Liber Pontificalis (Gelasius); Walafrid Strabo on Gregory's sacramentary; Second Council of Lyons (1274), Constitution 25; St. Robert Bellarmine, On the Mass, ch. 15
What is the Collect prayer in the Catholic Mass? It is the prayer that concludes the Introductory Rites, in which the priest "collects" the people's silent intentions into one petition addressed to God. The video walks through its structure and history.
Why is it called a "Collect"? The session takes up the name directly, tied to the gathering of the people's prayers — watch for the explanation.
Why does the priest extend his hands during the Collect? Dr. Pitre connects the gesture to Moses, Solomon, David, and St. Paul, with Bellarmine's mystical commentary — explored in full in the video.
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Once logged in, you can access everything by going to 'Membership' in the main menu bar of our website, then 'Mass Readings Explained' and then pick one of the options there. The calendar view works well for finding those Mass Readings that are in the near future and The Mass Explained will take you to videos in that series.
I love getting the mass readings/readings explained, every week. Dr Brandt Petrie it’s truly amazing in his knowledge of the Old Testament and the New Testament.!
I’ve subscribed for many years and have shared Brant Pitre’s excellent work as gifts to friends and colleagues around the world. Keep up the good work. Team!
