Sacred Heart Altar Server Manual 20
Sacred Heart Church Altar Servers Manual Altar servers are chosen from among the faithful who display a desire to serve in a more intimate way during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is an extreme privilege to kneel so close to the altar as our loving Savior, Jesus Christ, becomes truly present, body, blood, soul and divinity, at the moment of Consecration. A server is uniquely joined in the Heavenly Supper of the Lamb and serves in the company of those eternally singing "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! Accordingly, a server has a solemn responsibility to do the assigned duties with attention, dignity and reverence. As Jesus emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant... servers should set aside their own liturgical preferences and attend to every action of the Mass as a team. The primary duty of a server is to assist the priests and deacons as the mystery of the Upper Room and Calvary becomes present again at the Consecration. All actions of the server are woven from signs and symbols whose meaning is rooted in the works of creation and in human culture, specified by events in the Old Testament and fully revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is imperative that all servers do their assigned tasks in the prescribed form and manner. Altar servers have three primary positions during the Mass when they are not performing a specific duty. These are 2 19
Purificator - A linen cloth used by the priest or deacon to dry the chalice after washing and purifying it. Used Purificators must always be placed in the proper container for sacred cloths. Pall - A square piece of cardboard or plastic which is covered by linen and used to cover the chalice. Sacramentary - The book containing the prayers said by the priest during the Mass. Sacrarium - A sink with it drain going directly into the ground usually fitted with a cover and lock which is used for the disposal of the following: The sacred linen wash and rinse water, used holy water, used baptismal water and blessed ashes. No other use is allowed. Stock - The metal containers used to hold the oil of the catechumen, the oil of chrism and the oil for anointing the sick. Stoup - The holy water fonts at the entrances of the church. Surplice - A wide sleeved, linen worn over a cassock by clergy and altar servers in some parishes. standing, sitting and kneeling. In any of these positions they should maintain a straight formal posture. In the standing and kneeling positions their hands should be held in the praying position in front of their chest. When sitting the hands should be held on the lap or at the sides. It is never proper to slouch or hold hands in any other position which would be more appropriate at a bus stop. Holding hands in the prayer position is a medieval sign of submission to a manor lord and is very appropriate to signify submission to our Divine Lord. Remember, you are seen by all the parishioners and how you conduct yourself is important to their understanding of the Lamb's Supper. Every altar server must attend every Mass they are scheduled for. When a server cannot be present, that server must arrange for a replacement. Altar servers are on duty from the time they sign-in in the sacristy before the start of Mass until they finish cleanup after the end of Mass. During the Mass their duty station is the sanctuary and a server may not leave the sanctuary except as directed by a priest or a deacon. Apart from illness, there is no excuse for leaving the sanctuary before Mass is over. 18 3
Requirements for serving at Mass The following requirements apply to all candidates: Attire A person must have received first confession and Holy Communion, and must be at least in 5th grade. A candidate should also be required to know the responses and principal prayers of the Mass: The Gloria, Our Father, Nicene Creed, Lamb of God, Lord, I am not worthy and Holy, Holy, Holy. They have shown sufficient effort to prove that their desire to serve is genuine. A candidate should know the definitions of items used for liturgical purposes given at the end of this manual. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to make use of the tools of the trade such as matches, candle lighters, books and candles. All altar servers wear the alb with cord. All servers must Corporal - A white linen cloth, usually with a cross in the center, used to protect any particles of the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus from falling to the altar cloth. It is always folded and unfolded as to protect any particles from being lost. The corporal is like the body winding sheet used to hold the crucified body or Our Lord in the tomb. Credence Table - The table in the sanctuary where the cruets, chalices and ciborium are kept before and after the Consecration. IHS - the first three letters of Jesus' Name in Greek and often used to decorate the altar and other church facades. Lectionary - The book of reading used for the liturgy of the word. It usually contains all the biblical reading used for the three year Sunday cycle of reading and the two year daily Mass readings. Monstrance. The monstrance is a glass-framed shrine in which the Blessed Sacrament is publicly exposed. It may be of gold, silver, brass, or copper gilt The most appropriate form is that of the sun emitting its rays to all sides. The base should be wide, and at a short distance above it there should be a knob for greater ease in handling. In the middle of the monstrance is a receptacle for a large host. The front and back of this receptacle is usually made of glass. Paten - A small saucer shaped plate of precious metal that holds the Host. No lay person should ever touch the paten so be very careful when handling it in your official duties. 4 17
DEFINITIONS Ablution Cup - covered dish of water on the side of the tabernacle which is used by the priest, deacon or extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist to wash their fingers after distributing Communion. Ambo - The platform, lectern or pulpit from which the reading and homily are given. Burse - A square container for holding the corporal. It is selected for the liturgical color of the day. Used Corporals should always be placed in the proper container for sacred cloths after mass. Cassock - A long tunic like garment which reaches from the neck to the heels which is warn by some servers and clergy. Chalice - A cup of precious metal that holds the wine which becomes the Blood of Jesus after the consecration. All chalices should be placed in their places after Mass. If the Chalices were left unpurified by the priest or deacon for some reason they should be left out on the presentation table for purification by the priest or deacon. Never put an unpurified chalice away. Chalice Veil - A cloth covering used to hide the chalice and paten up to the offertory and after Communion. It is selected by the liturgical color for the service. Ciborium - A large cup or container of precious metal with a cover of the same material which will hold the Body of Jesus after the consecration for distribution of Holy Communion to the faithful. be aware that our albs are made of lightweight material and what you wear underneath an alb will show through. Dress shoes should be worn whenever possible. Sneakers, no matter how expensive, are for casual dress and sporting events and have no place at the Altar of Our God. Be sure alb is touch the top Genuflection long enough to of ankles. 16 5
Catholics only kneel or genuflect to Our Lord and God, Jesus Christ. Genuflecting to the tabernacle, whenever Jesus is reserved in the tabernacle, is required. Everyone, servers included, should genuflect whenever crossing in front of the tabernacle, or entering a pew. Jesus presence in the tabernacle is usually signified by the lit sanctuary light. When it is not lit, the tabernacle is empty as on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. When should a server genuflect? Whenever entering a church pew, the sanctuary or crosses in front of the tabernacle, they should face the tabernacle and genuflect. Servers should remember that there is an exception to this. Whenever they are carrying things like crosses or candles, do not genuflect. Duties After Mass Cross Bearer: after 5:30 and 8:30 Mass cross goes in stand in sacristy. After 10/11:00 Mass cross goes in stand in the church. Be sure alb is hung on hook in closet, hang cincture on hook and hang cross of service back on the correct grade level hook. 6 15
Closing Prayers All sit until the priest says: Let us pray. Server 2 will get book and proceed directly in front of Father and hold the book for him as with the opening prayer. When Father is finished, he will close the Sacramentary. The server will then return it to its stand. All servers should then be standing in their assigned positions and follow along with the people. Exit Procession (Recessional) When the priest and deacon move towards the altar, cross bearer should get the processional cross, server 2 follows directly behind and both proceed to the entrance position at step. Everyone at this time should be facing the altar. When Father and the deacon genuflect, all servers will bow. Cross bearer leads followed by server 2. Duties of a Server Before Mass At home, the server should dress in the proper clothes and footwear for Mass as described above. If not properly dressed, the server should not be allowed to serve at that Mass. After signing-in, get vested with an alb and a cord corresponding to the proper liturgical color of the day. You can always tell the color of the day by looking at the color of Father s chasuble. Altar Servers will wear the crucifix which designates their grade level. Always ask Father if there is anything special for the day. Upon Father s instructions, get the procession cross and meet Father at the back of Church. Duties of a Server During Mass In a procession, the cross-bearer (server #1) will lead everyone to the sanctuary. When incense is used, the incense bearer will lead the procession. The cross-bearer will bear to the left 14 7
standing in front of the altar. Server #2 stand next to the cross. After server #2 receives communion, he/she should take the Sacramentary off the altar and put it on the table beside the priest s chair. Then both sit in their chair during communion. When Father comes back to Altar after communion both servers to go altar, one with the cruet of water, the other stands waiting. After the priest bows, the cross bearer will go put the processional cross into the stand and be seated. Server with cruet will pour as directed by Father, other server will return cups, ciboria and purificators to credence table as Father hands them to him/her. Server with water cruet stays at altar until Father directs other server to take chalice and both servers go to credence table together. the Near end 8 13
As soon as the Holy, Holy, Holy is sung, the servers will proceed to the server carpet. Bell Ringing Server #2 will ring bells at Mass as follows Once, when the Father holds his hands over the gifts and calls on the Holy Spirit to come upon them. of the Glory to God in the Highest (Lord have mercy...during Lent), server #2 wait for the priest to say, Let us pray. When the priest says, Let us pray, the server will get Sacramentary and stand in front of Father. Father will open the book to the pre-marked position. Hold the book open so the he can read the prayer. Keep the pages flat, your fingers out of the text and do not move about while the priest is reading. When the priest is finished, close the Sacramentary and return it to its book stand. Sit down in your chair for the readings. Three times, at the elevation of the Consecrated Host. Three times, at the elevation of the Consecrated Wine. (No longer ringing as Father consumes Blood of Christ) 12 9
During the offertory, the cross bearer, server #1, will bring the chalice to the altar and place on right corner then proceed to processional cross and go to the back of the church to lead gift bearers forward as Father is ready. Server #2 will bring the Sacramentary and book stand to the altar, the cups (2 at a time), 4 purificators and stand back while Father prepares altar. When Father goes to receive the gifts, server #2 should assist Father in receiving the gifts. The cross bearer will place the processional cross in the stand, get water cruet from credence table and wait at altar with server #2. Both servers go to credence table together to get water bowl and towel proceed to Father and wait. After Father washes hands he will give you wine carafe to be taken back to credence table together and wait, standing at chairs. 10 11