Oblation

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For the sculpture in the Philippines, see U.P. Oblation.

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Oblation, an offering [Late Latin oblatio, from offerre, oblatum, to offer], a term, particularly in ecclesiastical usage, for a solemn offering or presentation to God. It is thus applied to certain parts of the Eucharistic service in the Roman Church. The term is also used in the liturgy of some other churches (For example, the Church of England's Eucharistic Prayer 'C').

In the Roman rite, there are two oblations: the lesser oblation, generally known as the offertory, in which the bread and wine yet unconsecrated are presented, and the greater oblation, the oblation proper, forming the latter part of the prayer of consecration, when the Body and Blood are ceremonially presented.

The word oblate is an ecclesiastical term for persons who have devoted themselves or have been devoted as children by their parents to a monastic life. Oblate is more familiar in the Roman Church as the name of a Religious Congregation of secular or diocesan priests, the Oblate Fathers of St. Charles. They are placed under the absolute authority of the bishop of the diocese in which they are established and can be employed by him on any duties he may think fit. This congregation was founded in 1578 under the name of Oblates of the Blessed Virgin and St. Ambrose by St. Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan.

A similar congregation of secular priests, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, was founded at Marseilles in 1815.

[edit] Cultural Reference

In Phillip Pullman's fictional His Dark Materials trilogy, Mrs. Marisa Coulter heads the General Oblation Board (aka Gobblers), a semi-autonomous organisation within the Church or Magisterium. The purpose of the Oblation Board is researching Dust and its presumed connection to Original Sin.