MITER AND CROSIER AT CONFIRMATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ALTAR SERVERS (April 2015) Two Altar Servers are assigned for Miter and Crosier, during a mass with a Bishop or Archbishop. AS Miter Bearer (MB): Responsible for giving the Miter (hat) to and receiving it from the Bishop AS Crosier Bearer (CB): Responsible for giving the Crosier (staff) to and receiving it from the Bishop Special Notes: Check with the bishop before mass starts, and ask him if he will want to wear the miter and hold the crosier during the homily. The miter is the pointed hat that the bishop wears and the crosier is the pastoral staff the he carries. Both are important visual symbols of the bishop s office as teacher and shepherd of God s people. Altar Servers, who are the Miter and Crosier bearers, will process behind the Bishop during the entrance and closing processions. The Bishop will likely hand and receive the Miter and Crosier directly to and from the servers. (If the area by the altar is very crowded, then the deacon or MC may act as an intermediary.) The Miter is handed to the Bishop with the opening towards him, the front facing down, and the lappets folded over the top. The Crosier is handed to the Bishop with the Closed side of the curved crook towards him. Both the miter and crosier bearer will wear white gloves. The gloves are located in the altar server/usher s room, in the box on the shelf. Both the miter and crosier bearer will sit in the chairs located in the sanctuary. Preparation: Arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the mass and be ready for any changes from the presider. Do not be late! If you are late, the presider may assume you will not show up and assign new roles for the mass. Wear Alb & Cincture (Color depending on the type of mass). [Altar Server Instructions_Confirmation Miter and Crosier, 11-May-2015.doc] [Page 1 of 5]
WHEN TO GIVE AND RECEIVE THE MITER AND CROSIER DURING THE PARTS OF THE MASS AT CONFIRMATION Entrance Procession 1. During the entrance procession, the bishop wears the miter and holds the crosier. (The miter and crosier bearer process behind the bishop.) 2. At the end of the entrance procession, the bishop will give the miter to the miter bearer and the crosier to the crosier bearer. 3. After the opening prayer the bishop receives the miter from the miter Bearer. Liturgy of the Word 4. During the gospel acclamation and after blessing the deacon or priest, the bishop removes the miter, and gives it to the miter bearer. 5. After the gospel is introduced and the bishop makes the sign of the cross on his forehead, lips and heart, the bishop receives the crosier from the crosier bearer. 6. (*) When the bishop gives the homily, he may want to wear the miter and hold the crosier. (Check with the bishop for what his preference is.) 7. (**) After the general intercessions, the bishop receives the miter from the miter bearer. [Confirmation within a Mass] 8. After Gospel, and before presentation of candidates, the bishop sits, and bishop receives the miter. 9. *Check with Bishop for preference at homily. 10. After a brief homily and during baptismal promises the bishop sits, and bishop receives the miter and crosier. 11. After baptismal promises and before invitation (My dear friends), the bishop removes the miter and crosier. 12. After completing laying of hands and before the vessels of chrism are brought to the bishop, the bishop sits, and bishop receives the miter. 13. After vessels of chrism are brought to the bishop and before naming and anointing, the bishop receives the crosier. 14. After anointed with oil, the bishop will wash hands; the bishop removes miter and crosier. 15. Intercessions no miter no crosier. 16. (**) After intercessions and before the offertory, the bishop receives the miter. Liturgy of the Eucharist 17. After the offertory and arriving at the altar, the bishop removes the miter and gives it to the miter bearer. (After the Prayer over the gifts, the bishop removes his zucchetto (skullcap).) (After communion, the bishop returns to his chair and puts on his zucchetto.) 18. After the Prayer After Communion, the bishop receives the miter from the miter bearer. [Altar Server Instructions_Confirmation Miter and Crosier, 11-May-2015.doc] [Page 2 of 5]
19. Before the conclusion of the final blessing ( May Almighty God bless you ), the bishop receives the crosier from the crosier bearer. Closing Procession 20. During the closing procession, the bishop wears the miter and holds the crosier. (Miter and crosier bearer process behind the bishop.) [Altar Server Instructions_Confirmation Miter and Crosier, 11-May-2015.doc] [Page 3 of 5]
The Order of Mass Confirmation Mass Introductory Rites Entrance Greeting Penitential Act Glory to God Collect Liturgy of the Word First Reading Responsorial Psalm Second Reading Gospel Acclamation Gospel Bishop wears miter & holds crosier during Entrance. Altar servers process behind Bishop. At end of Entrance, Bishop removes miter & crosier. At completion of the Collect (Opening Prayer Let us pray Amen ) Bishop receives miter in preparation for the readings. A) During Gospel Acclamation and after blessing of Presider, Bishop removes miter. B) After Gospel introduction and sign of cross, Bishop receives crosier for the Gospel. Initiation Confirmation Present Candidates Homily Questions about baptismal promises Invitation Laying on of hands Vessels of Chrism Name and Anointing After Gospel, and before presentation of candidates, the bishop sits, and bishop receives the miter. *Check with Bishop for preference at homily. After a brief homily and during baptismal promises the bishop sits, and bishop receives the miter and crosier. After baptismal promises and before invitation (My dear friends), the bishop removes the miter and crosier. After completing laying of hands and before the vessels of chrism are brought to the bishop, the bishop sits, and bishop receives the miter. After vessels of chrism are brought to the bishop and before naming and anointing, the bishop receives the crosier. After anointed with oil, the bishop will wash hands; the bishop removes miter and crosier. Universal Prayer (Intercessions) BLUE Bishop has Miter & Crosier YELLOW Bishop has Miter GREEN Bishop has Crosier RED Confirm preference If NOT highlighted has neither. Intercessions no miter no crosier. (**) After intercessions and before the offertory, the bishop receives the miter. [Altar Server Instructions_Confirmation Miter and Crosier, 11-May-2015.doc] [Page 4 of 5]
Liturgy of the Eucharist Presentation of the Gifts and Preparation of the Altar Prayer over the Offerings Eucharistic Prayer Preface Holy, Holy, Holy First half of prayer, including Consecration Mystery of Faith (Memorial Acclamation) Second half of prayer, ending with Doxology The Lord's Prayer Sign of Peace Lamb of God Communion Prayer after Communion Concluding Rites Optional announcements Greeting and Blessing Dismissal Recessional After the Intercessions, Bishop receives miter in preparation for Offertory and altar preparation. After the Offertory and arriving at the altar, the Bishop removes the miter. After the Prayer After Communion ( Let Us Pray ), Bishop receives miter. Before the conclusion of the Final Blessing ( May Almighty God Bless You ), Bishop receives crosier. Bishop wears miter & holds crosier during Dismissal and Recessional. Altar servers process behind Bishop. BLUE Bishop has Miter & Crosier YELLOW Bishop has Miter GREEN Bishop has Crosier RED Confirm preference If NOT highlighted has neither. [Altar Server Instructions_Confirmation Miter and Crosier, 11-May-2015.doc] [Page 5 of 5]