qualities of an altar server
Perhaps most important, Dawson notes, altar service encourages youngsters to consider others needs before their own and encourages their contributions to the greater good. 0000004606 00000 n As your friendship develops, youll end up having many friends who all share your faith and this can lead to some brilliant conversations and great memories. The altar server role is a development of the order of acolyte which was a minor order for priest held only by males. In some Christian denominations, altar servers are known as acolytes. Its use is nonetheless optional, and occurs at different times of the Mass, usually at the beginning, on the entrance of the priest and his assistants, when the Gospel is being preached or before the consecration. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. This means offering up ones life. This is commonly known as a sign of friendliness and respect. :/l1d,,5,XJ|TBVRGTV^B@Bk)wj"0n \VMsU{U |_\DbA6.,0G:y\G8lFcD(F1+[ . A good altar server is willing to learn. endobj We constantly hear that there are too many demands on us. |zeG`zWz(+!Ju8CR4 G{@rwByiT. Being an altar server instructs children in order, care and poise. J_$;]&"As^Vj{F"p/Bzug3QZz[W/CWXoUFwaQA nzAp?9?p>-Wby~$I!nC?L^8qEh06$>|_O_WMSK BRZVa Y9z*\EA7 C6f6u~[bL~|z{.i'jsf/V5R%~!B\Z{%*vwYV5d-Z%MWmZ$q^ B`FVHF#GQF3-,966 G8a].+J41]+\:lcOJ^\k;CG}'._Xubwl``(z8tggEb);{@~vKtrDvfQ[-s# Mt#eP N/,ELt*o.UUM S?}|l!-[Ah The Priest will open it and the server will stand holding the book in the proper position. The reason of an altar server why he serves should not be the following: to be famous with his peers and to look more holy than them, and. Reply to Steve Hays' Caricatures of the Papacy. Altar Servers are not the only assistants of the officiant during Mass: generally readers, choristers, acolytes move alongside them. xZmo_/Z tIUm3KriYA $wvUE`B; <> wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Benefits of being an altar server. Ten Things You Should Tell Your Altar Servers. Proper Decorum means maintaining a dignified external appearance. It is my prayer for you to seek holiness in life as you serve at the Altar and beyond the Altar. In the history of the Church there have been many characters who could represent the ideal model for Altar Servers, like Saint Tarcisius, who lived in the era of the first Christian communities in Rome and was killed by his pagan peers because he had made himself available to carry the Blessed Sacrament to Christians prisoners, or Saint Dominic Savio, who had Saint John Bosco as a teacher and guide, and devoted his (unfortunately short) life to his brothers and the community. ",#(7),01444'9=82. OUR LADY OF MERCY CHURCH . stream Our website provides Catholic endobj Its important to take time and take care. Remember, everything you do people are watching. If you don't know the words, sing the title or main verse over and over, or stand quietly. \TI\Y@*;*- >WB *yt mmf^o2 ALTAR SERVERS . They recall a 6 0 obj Particular acolytes, called Ceremonieri, have the task of bringing the sacred items needed to celebrate the Eucharistic from the sacristy to the altar, and vice versa, starting with the chalice, with the corporale (the square cloth used to cover the chalice which is then laid down on the altar during the offertory), and the purificator (the small cloth used by the priest to dry his lips after drinking and cleaning the chalice and paten), and then brings the paten (the plate containing the host) and the ampoules of wine and water. Once they arrive at the altar, the Crocifero lays the cross next to him and sits down. There are lots of reasons for becoming an Altar Server. To even devout Catholics it appears simple, yet the Mass requires that its youngest participants fix their attention on the smallest details to ensure the ceremony flows seamlessly. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. In solemn ceremonies, there are also a few Altar Servers whose task is to play the altar bell, whose purpose in the past was to draw the attention of the faithful during the most salient moments of the ceremony. Altar Servers must follow the example of Jesus, who did not hesitate to place himself at the whole of humanitys service, and even sacrificed himself. Attentive and a full participant in the Mass (not daydreaming, yawning, or falling asleep). The Caudatorio, or Train-bearer is the Altar Server charged with supporting the pastoral and the mitre, and to do this he wears the Vimpa, a long robe with pockets. Prior to communion, EM's should notify you of the location of persons in the middle two sections who need Any boy or girl in the parish, 4th grade through 12th grade, is eligible to be an altar server. This pandemic has given our parish, San Roque Cathedral Parish, a chance to start a SERVING AT HOME program for our young altar servers who are not yet permitted to serve within the parish due to quarantine restrictions. In most churches, the lead server will get it when the priest says "Let us Pray". Altar servers are REALLY important, but too often they dont know why. Nowadays, the Servers mainly use it at the time the bread and wine is consecrated, or during processions to announce the blessing is imminent. Another Altar Server who cant be missed out, particularly during the most important processions and celebrations, is the Ceroferario or rather, the Ceroferari, because they usually move in pairs. Caudatories were assigned to the Pope, Cardinals and Bishops, and for each of these positions, the ceremonial included different talari robes and a different ritual. The following guidelines were prepared by the Committee on the Liturgy and presented to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops for discussion at the June 1994 Special Assembly on Thursday, June 16, 1994. That is why in the ministry of altar servers there are meetings, practices, and formations. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. As you process into church you are leading everyone into the presence of God. With a great range of ages and experiences, youll meet some fantastic people youd probably meet nowhere else. <> It doesnt also mean that when you are the one asked to serve when the Bishop is around, you are already the good one. 0000040363 00000 n endobj To create this article, 57 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. JEq:j,]U0$"bG[|s6>"d~]; (YqR$W\\RY%?~R{Z`8XA>X6@N}PD{z|akfu^hV~\dNn.Q& }P1Cs> .. If you would like to find out more information on how to altar serve correctly. Sure, swinging the censer (the smelly incense thing) is kind of fun but why is it that we do it? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Here are ten things you should tell your altar servers: 1. They should consider whether they ought to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation ahead of time, and, if needed, make appropriate arrangements. A good altar server must recognize that the Holy Mass should be translated into action as a way of offering up our lives in real life. [book and purchase information] The late Steve Hays (please pray for his Render to Caesar or Not. stream % They are movements of prayer. .pL28, UL_$w\bQatf5Ez_Z~(>IilPs"P[wzw6I~i\MMl_G`\uqn}@!G9] 2LgJ|LIOh,4ntp_ PJgy^rx7 JyoVr1[uS'dp;n rG%g2\O}80-R0TSbJap>-9T!qK2U!`M2U*| Fourth, a good altar server is willing to serve beyond the liturgical celebrations. You Are Un-necessary Whoa! The altar server retains a genuine and vital role in the liturgical assembly. Some heeded the call to volunteer for the Social Communications Ministry to livestream our liturgical celebrations. It doesnt mean that when you are the priests favorite, you are a good one. Do you have all or some of these marks? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By using our site, you agree to our. The duty of the Navicularius is to hand the priest the incense boat, so he can draw the grains of incense, pour them into the thurible and bless them. Do you aspire to become an Altar Server? wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Altar Servers are Jesus friends, usually young people full of enthusiasm and willingness to take part in the activities of the Church by offering their contributions of love and devotion. Everything takes place whilst maintaining a proper attitude, carrying out tasks and repeating gestures that have been codified by centuries of tradition. Incense has always been used during religious ceremonies, to give them solemnity and sacredness. Attentiveness. The Altar Server picks up the Missal and presents it to the priest. Characteristics of a Server . Their name comes from the Latin word ministrare which means to serve. He was my mentor as a sakristan, as a seminarian, and until as an ordained minister, a deacon, at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Jose de Navotas. In addition to contributing their support to the liturgical celebration, altar servers develop certain qualities through their service, Dawson notes. Punctuality. Communication, teamwork, perceiving what needs to be done and doing it, punctuality, self-confidence, and the list goes on. 1 0 obj All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Servers should be seated in a place from which they can easily assist the priest celebrant and deacon. Wild tattoos and piercings? At one time there was a rank of minor clergy called the taper-bearer () responsible for bearing lights during processions and liturgical entrances.However, this rank has long ago been subsumed by that of the reader and the service for the tonsure of a reader begins . So if you help with altar servers, or you have kids who are altar servers, or you think the altar servers in your parish could use some spit and polish why not learn these ten things to tell your altar servers. Actions Speak Louder Than Words You should should look good for Mass. Id like to share four marks of a good altar server. This is proper etiquette that is required. Here are ten things you should tell your altar servers: 1. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. endobj A good solution would be to check with what the senior servers are doing and follow suit. I wouldnt say that a good altar server is someone who knows how to use all the sacred vessels. Remember to get a good night's sleep first - there's nothing worse for a congregation to look at than a tired server! Act as if everything is going on as normal as the congregation will not notice. They may be used as a basis for developing diocesan guidelines. 9 0 obj Don't start heading up the aisle until the priest tells you to or gives you a signal. "k!Ub\pn "{utT) One needs to appear clean because as the saying goes, cleanliness is next to godliness. TRAINING MANUAL . Servers may not distribute holy communion unless they have been mandated for this function by the bishop. 3. Remember to choose an alb that fits you, coming down to your shoes. By taking up a responsibility at Mass you start to recognise more and more people in the church in general. The reason why he serves must be his relationship with God, his prayer life. When walking or sitting, hands should be held in one of two positions, locked together either at the chest or waist. They wait for signs and even words from the prayers or songs to do this and that. Altar Servers are Jesus' 'friends', usually young people full of enthusiasm and willingness to take part in the activities of the Church by offering their contributions of love and devotion. During the procession, their position is behind the Thurifer and at the sides of the Crociferi, the priest charged with carrying the cross. You are not a mere display. 'Jesus Revolution': Talking to Jonathan Roumie, Episcopal Woman Priest Says Abortionists are "Saints". An altar server who does not attend these is not good at all. Sometimes they dont seem to take pride in their job because maybe no one has told them why theyre so important. 0000000966 00000 n Altar servers must memorize the Mass and commit to a regular schedule of service. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". LMYWx~8X=5o_? 9cMo6]#5aE3k{V. In many Catholic churches, the priest likes to have three to six altar servers to help them do the Mass. )$H$?]\VTg?+uQMWjgTg|jY}o]}34V!4yZ4#T: 0000000667 00000 n " TDVuO This is our rallying sign! So you carry the cross silently and solemnly like a soldier in parade. Why a Former Evangelical Loves the Rosary. Candidates can be of any gender as long as their church agrees with the practice of including altar servers of another gender. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Biblical Support for the Authority of the Pope, Explaining Mary Redemptrix to an Evangelical. Come properly dressed. i,BZDL ;R h`=sp rs!MZV#nl@>yn's:T4?5v1S Altar Servers. %PDF-1.3 Since the duties of the altar server can be divided among several servers, it is important that the pastor make sure that each server knows the specific duties for a specific liturgy. An altar server is a prayer leader, to the extent that his/her actions during the Mass assist the people in knowing what to do. Characteristics of an Altar Servera Server should be: Reverent while serving, so to be a prayerful example (and not a distraction) for the congregation. HWr6}W`RNo$4M That is why, recently, when I was asked by an altar server seeking advice from my Tiktok account, I shared to them two things, First, Maintaining the atmosphere of prayer consists in having a proper decorum. Serving on the altar is a great place to start building these skills. Flip Flops?? An altar server assists the priest preparing for Mass and at the altar. Requirements for Altar Serving Candidates, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d3\/Be-an-Altar-Server-in-the-Catholic-Church-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Be-an-Altar-Server-in-the-Catholic-Church-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d3\/Be-an-Altar-Server-in-the-Catholic-Church-Step-1.jpg\/aid378464-v4-728px-Be-an-Altar-Server-in-the-Catholic-Church-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
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"To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act." (Anatole France)