Serving at the Altar of God The Acolyte in History

• The Acolyte as an official office or order in the Church • The acolyte as a minor order The Altar Boy

• Standing in the role of the minor order of acolyte on a parochial level • A source of vocations for the Church • A way to learn piety The Altar Server

• Instituted acolytes remain exclusive for males • But parochial altar servers are no longer exclusively male

Altar Server Duties

• To facilitate the community in worship • To never be a distraction • To seek personal holiness along with skills Being on Time

• Fifteen minutes early • Vested, and ready to take instruction Preparing for mass • This should be orderly and prayerful Appropriate Attire • Dark shoes Decorum

• Posture & Recollection

Silentium Preparation

• Vesting prayers • Prayers before Mass The Sacristy is Sacred • Reverence, Silence and Prayer The Chalice

• Designs vary

The paten

• Patens can also vary in design Chalice & paten

• Corporal and purificator Corporal

• Corpus Purificator

• Linen Pall

• Optional Chalice veil & Burse

• Optional The Bells

• Sanctus Bells or Sacring Bells Cruets

• For Wine & Water Ciborium

• Designs vary Ciboria

• Designs vary

The Gifts for offertory

• Gifts to be brought up

Credence Table

• In or near the sanctuary

Thurible & Boat

• For Incensing

Aspersorium & Aspergillum

• Used occasionally The Crucifer

• The Cross is our Standard • It takes strength to carry The Thurifer

• Leading the way • Someone else may carry the boat Practice Makes Perfect

• Respect, reverence & skill

The Candle Bearers

• Lighting the way

The Procession

• Orderly moving to the Back of the Church

The Narthex

• Going to the gathering area • Maintaining an attitude of prayer • Imposing incense The Nave

• The main body of the church

The Sanctuary • Genuflection, bowing and reverence

Reverencing the altar

• When to move • Where to go

Reverencing the altar

• A great sign of respect to our Lord • Incense represents our prayers

Incensing the Altar

• Depending upon the celebrant and the liturgical day • Changes with a deacon present

Introductory Rites

• Sign of the Cross • Penitential Rite (most commonly) • Gloria (most Sundays) Going to the Priest

• Where we sit • How to hold the book

The Liturgy of the Word

• First reading (usually from the Old Testament) • The Responsorial Psalm • The epistle reading (from the New Testament) • The sequence (rarely) • The Gospel Acclamation (usually an “Alleluia”)

Gospel Procession

• Differs in practice from parish to parish • Differs when there is a deacon The Proclamation Of The Gospel

• It changes with a deacon • Incense is an option for added solemnity • When & where do people move? • Moving together

• A deacon should proclaim the Gospel

• If there is no deacon, a concelebrant • If there is not concelebrant, then the celebrant Incensing the Evangeliary

• Reverence for the Word of God

Reverencing the Evangeliary

• Kissing the Book of the Gospels • A bishop changes things

The Liturgy of the Word • Returning to our places after the Gospel • Always sitting and moving together • The Homily • The Creed (Sundays) • The Prayers of the Faithful

The Offertory

• Setting the altar • It differs with a deacon

The Offertory

• Receiving the Gifts • It differs with a deacon

The Offertory

• Preparing the gifts • It differs with a deacon

Incense & the Offertory

• An option for the priest • Imposing incense • Incensing the gifts Incense & the Offertory

• Bowing, incensing the altar & cross • It differs when there is a deacon Offertory Thurifications

• Incensing the celebrant and concelebrants • Incensing the people

Offertory Rite

• The lavabo follows the incensing

Secret

• The faithful should be standing for the prayer over the gifts The Eucharistic Prayer

• The Preface • The Sanctus • Various Eucharistic Prayers The Eucharistic Prayer

• If there is incense, one should move into position at the Sanctus

Epiclesis

• Possible place for Bells

First Elevation

• Possible place for bells • Possible place for incense – Three ducti Second Elevation

• Possible place for bells • Possible place for incense – Three ducti • It changes with a deacon Per Ipsum

• If there was incense, one should move out of position after the Great Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

• Sung or recited • Soberly offered

The Sign of Peace

• The Kiss of Peace • Optional but normal • Sober

Fraction Rite

• The Lamb of God

Holy Communion

• Receiving the Eucharist

Purifying the Vessels

• By the deacon or priest • At the altar or credence table

Clearing the Altar

• Helping the deacon or priest

Reposing the Sacrament

• Showing appropriate reverence

Invitation to prayer

• Moving together • Not being a distraction

Post Communion Prayer

• Closing Prayer • Holding the book

Final Blessing

• Sometimes solemn • The celebrant may need the book

Moving into position • Move quickly • Stand and wait for the celebrant

Recessional • Moving together

In the End

• Prayer of thanksgiving • Helping the sacristan • Leaving a clean sanctuary • Leaving the closet tidy • Extinguishing the candles?