---
title: "Orations (Presidential Prayers)"
slug: "orations"
tags: ["Orations", "Prayer after Communion", "Collect", "Prayer over the Offerings", "Ordo Editor"]
updated: 2026-01-13T21:37:30Z
published: 2026-01-13T21:37:30Z
canonical: "help.sourceandsummit.com/orations"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.sourceandsummit.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Orations (Presidential Prayers)

Learn how to select, configure, and prepare orations for a liturgy using the Source & Summit Digital Platform.

> [!NOTE]
> The features described in this article apply to the following plans:
> 
> - **Standard Plan**
> - **Educational Plan**
> - **Complete Digital Add-On**
> 
> *Note: Orations are not supported with the Basic Digital Add-On Plan.*

## **What are Orations?**

Orations are specific prayers assigned to the Priest at different parts of the liturgy. Also called “presidential prayers”, the priest addresses these prayers to God “in the name of the entire holy people and those present” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 33).

The orations include:

- **Collect**
- **Prayer over the Offerings**
- **Prayer after Communion**

## **When to include orations in an Ordo**

Although the congregation does not recite the orations out loud, the priest offers these prayers on its behalf. You may choose to include the orations in a [printed booklet](/v1/docs/creating-booklets-and-music-packets-1) so the congregation can follow along.

Priests can also use the Digital Platform to practice chanting the orations. They can create their own Ordos and use the audio playback feature, or [music directors can share](/v1/docs/sharing-ordos) a prepared Ordo with them.

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> 
> To enable [audio playback](/v1/docs/audio-playback-options#accessing-audio-playback-in-a-shared-ordo) for an oration in a shared Ordo, [change its format](/v1/docs/orations#musical-settings) to **Point** or **Notate** before sharing.

## **Configuring orations**

Once you [add an Oration section](/v1/docs/add-remove-and-outline-sections#add-a-section) to your Ordo, the right panel will display three configuration options:

- **Format** - Switch between text-only, [pointed](/v1/docs/using-pointed-text#what-is-a-pointed-text), or notated view
- **Intro/conclusion** - Add or remove the introductory parts of the prayers and the congregation’s response
- **Text Display** - Switch between Paragraph or In Verse layout for full text display

## **How to display music for the orations**

1. [Add an oration](/v1/docs/add-remove-and-outline-sections#add-a-section) section to your Outline: **Collect**, **Prayer over the Offerings,** **Prayer after Communion.**
2. Click the **oration** in the center canvas.

→ Customization settings will open in the right panel.
3. Under Format, click **Point** or **Notate.**

#### If you select Point:

4. Click **Display Tone.**

→ A notated tone will appear above the text.

5. Select the Tone: **Solemn** or **Simple.**

6. Select Notation**: Square** or **Modern.**

7. Click **-** or **+** to adjust the key.

#### If you select Notate:

4. The prayer text will appear fully notated in modern notation.

5. Select **Notation: Square** or **Modern.**

6. Click **-** or **+** to adjust the key.

## Solemn and Simple Tones

Orations in the Digital Platform can be set to two tones:

**The Solemn Tone** is used in the Roman Missal, 3rd Edition, and appears in thy Ordo by default:

![Musical notation featuring the solemn tone.](https://cdn.document360.io/2f4703e0-6aba-4ef3-bb5e-e77c48482a6f/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-11-25 at 2.26.59 PM.png)

**The Simple Tone** comes from the former Sacramentary, but is commonly used:

![Musical notation featuring the simple tone.](https://cdn.document360.io/2f4703e0-6aba-4ef3-bb5e-e77c48482a6f/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-11-25 at 2.27.14 PM.png)

You can change the tone of an oration in the right panel. Click the **oration** and under Tone, click **Solemn** or **Simple.**