Explanation of the Prayers and Ceremonies of Holy Mass, Dom Prosper Guéranger - Collect

The Gloria being finished, the Priest kisses the Altar; and, turning towards the people, says Dominus vobiscum.  He has once already addressed his ministers with this salutation; but he was then at the foot of the Altar; it was a sort of farewell; for, when he was just about entering into the cloud, he seemed loath to leave the Faithful people, until he had spoken one word, at least, of affection to them that had been praying together with him.  But, now, the Church has a different motive for using these two words; and it is, that she may gain the people’s attention to the Collect which the Priest is going to address to God, - in other words, to the Prayer in which he sums up the desires of the Faithful, and presents them under the form of a petition.  The word Collect comes from the Latin colligere, which means to bring together things previously existing apart.  The importance of the Collect is great.  Hence, holy mother Church urges us to listen to it with all respect and devotion.  According to Monastic usage, the Choir bows down profoundly while the Priest recites it: in Cathedral Chapters, the Canons turn towards the Altar.

When the Collect is finished, the Choir answers Amen; that is to say, Yes, that is what we pray for, and we assent to everything that has been said.  This first Prayer of the Mass is also recited at Vespers, Lauds, and (in the Monastic Rite,) at Matins; the Roman Breviary only says it at the Christmas Matins, before the Midnight Mass.  It is not said at Prime, because that portion of the office was of a later institution; neither is it said at Compline, which is considered as Night Prayers, and received its liturgical form from St. Benedict.  It is said at Tierce, Sext, and None.  All this shows us what importance the Church attaches to the Collect, which, so to say, characterises the day; and this explains why it is preceded by the Dominus vobiscum, which is as though the Priest said to the people: Be all attention, for what is now going to be said, is of the greatest importance.  Moreover, the Priest, when here saying the Dominus vobiscum, turns towards the people, which he did not do when he was at the foot of the Altar.  But having now ascended to it, and having received the peace of the Lord by kissing the Altar, he announces the same to the assembly, to whom, opening his arms, he says: Dominus vobiscum.  The people reply: Et cum spiritu tuo.  Then the Priest, feeling that the people are one with him, says: Oremus; Let us pray.

The Pax vobis said here by Prelates, instead of Dominus vobiscum, is a very ancient usage.  It was the customary salutation of the Jews.  The words of the Gloria: PAX hominibus bonae voluntatis prompted its being used at this part of the Mass.  There is every reason for believing, that, in the early Ages, every Priest used the formula of Pax vobis.  It is the same with several of the pontifical ceremonies.  Thus, for instance, every Priest, used, formerly, to put on the Maniple at the moment of his going up to the Altar, as a Prelate now does.  Later on, it was found easier to put it on in the Sacristy; this took the place of the ancient practice, the which is now reserved to Prelates alone.  As the Pax vobis is suggested by the Gloria, it is not said when the Mass, which is being said, excludes that hymn: in which case, the Dominus vobiscum is substituted.

The Priest should stretch out his arms, whilst saying the Collect.  Herein, he imitates the ancient manner of praying, used by the first Christians.  As our Lord had His arms extended on the Cross, and so prayed for us, - the early Christians had the practice of praying in that same attitude.

This ancient usage has been transmitted to us, in an especially emphatic way, by the paintings of the Catacombs, which always represent prayer as being made in that attitude: hence, the name of Orantes, given to those figures.  It is by this means, as also by the writings of the Holy Fathers, that many details regarding the usages of the primitive times have been handed down to memory, which, otherwise, would have been lost.

In the East, the practice of praying with outstretched arms is universal; in our western countries, it has become very rare, and is only used on special occasions.  We might say, that publicly, it is only the Priest who prays in that attitude, for he represents our Lord, who offered a prayer of infinite worth whilst hanging on the Cross; He offered it to His Eternal Father.