Altar boy rubrics?

[FrDavid96]

Personally I think every parish should be using a comprehensive guide like Elliot’s (a Fortescue for the OF).

As pointed out, they are substituting for acolytes, and therefore those rubrics are a good start. However there are rubrics elsewhere (eg the Ceremonial for bishops) that pertain to those serving the Mass as well. Elliot condenses them quite handily.

Thanks for the link. The page allows one to read many of the pages, and it certainly looks very promising indeed. I hadn’t heard of that one before. It’s too bad that the actual pages dealing with altar boys can’t be read online (but then again, they are book-sellers, not an online library). Unfortunately, it looks to be out of print, as they only offer copies from 3rd party sellers.

It’s truly a shame that we don’t have better resources available on this subject–I know there’s not “a lot” to be said, so we’re talking more pamphlets than outright books, but still it’s important.

I recall that when I was an altar boy, in the early days of the current Ordinary Form, I could serve Mass with any visiting priest, or go to any other church and serve Mass there. No explanations or instructions were ever required. Today, as a priest, I am most hesitant even to have servers when I’m visiting somewhere else, or otherwise in a situation where I haven’t trained them myself (or know that they’ve been trained by someone competent). I get so many blank stares when we talk about things before Mass. Sometimes it’s easier, less stressful, and above all more prayerful for me not to have anyone serving whenever I’m outside my own parish.

Especially if I’m in a situation where there’s a large gathering of people from different areas, I notice most acutely that there is a priority to have servers just for the sake of being seen, rather than for the sake of serving the Mass. Most unfortunately, gone are the days when a priest could simply say “who is an altar boy at home?” and know that whoever volunteered could be relied upon to actually know what he is supposed to do.

It’s hard to describe how frustrating it is for a priest to have to worry about giving instructions while the Mass is happening. I’m not talking about a simple whispered “bring the wine and water” to bring a distracted server back into the present; I’m talking about those who don’t even understand (through no fault of their own) that bringing the wine and water is the reason why they are there in the first place. Too many people have lost touch with that simple reality.

 

[Phemie]

Today, as a priest, I am most hesitant even to have servers when I’m visiting somewhere else, or otherwise in a situation where I haven’t trained them myself (or know that they’ve been trained by someone competent). I get so many blank stares when we talk about things before Mass. Sometimes it’s easier, less stressful, and above all more prayerful for me not to have anyone serving whenever I’m outside my own parish.

To be fair it can be just as stressful for the altar servers when no two priests do things the same way.

Few examples:

1. Our altar servers are trained to meet with Fr. in front of the altar to accept the gifts brought up in the offertory procession. Fr. accepts first the bread which he passes to one server, then the wine which he either hands to a server or, if there is only one, takes to the altar himself.

Retired archbishop came to relieve in our parish for a month. He refused to accept the gifts in front of the altar and insisted that whoever brought them up in procession come up to the altar and present each in turn. Now, my understanding is that that is the way it should be done but still confusing for the kids.

1. Both the former pastor and present pastor give out the Host before they have themselves received Communion (I know, abuse). The servers are expected to hold on to the Host and consume at the same time as the priest. Enter younger priest who actually follows the rubrics on Communion. When HE gives the servers the Host he becomes upset that they don’t immediately consume it. Young altar servers VERY confused as to why Fr. seems angry at them.
2. Visiting priest expects to have water poured over his fingers at the Lavabo. Our servers are given a bowl of water into which Fr. dips his fingers (that’s how he wants it since according to him it’s too difficult for the servers to pour the water:shrug: Why wasn’t it difficult for hundreds of years )

Now, it would be so much simpler if everyone did the red and said the black but until that happens expect to have to tell altar servers what to do.

 

[CDNowak]

Thanks for the link. The page allows one to read many of the pages, and it certainly looks very promising indeed. I hadn’t heard of that one before. It’s too bad that the actual pages dealing with altar boys can’t be read online (but then again, they are book-sellers, not an online library). ** Unfortunately, it looks to be out of print, as they only offer copies from 3rd party sellers.**

It is still available direct from Ignatius. (I guess I should have looked at the Amazon page.

Not only would such a guide help with server consistency, but if used widely in a diocese (or even a seminary) it would strongly impact the consistency of priests.

IMHO, Ultimately the only solution other than the priest training and retraining all the servers would be to have instituted acolytes who were trained to MC as well (something Msgr Elliot seems to hint at), but most bishops seem reluctant to use the instituted ministries as intended.

 

[CatholicZ09]

Guess what! i was asked to serve a low-mass two days ago for the students of pre-cofirmation. It’s been since '03, but it felt great being up there. Truly I appreciate more what it means to serve at the altar.

Congrats!

It is a wonderful experience to be on the sanctuary serving for Mass.

 

[FrDavid96]

It is still available direct from Ignatius. (I guess I should have looked at the Amazon page.

Not only would such a guide help with server consistency, but if used widely in a diocese (or even a seminary) it would strongly impact the consistency of priests.

IMHO, Ultimately the only solution other than the priest training and retraining all the servers would be to have instituted acolytes who were trained to MC as well (something Msgr Elliot seems to hint at), but most bishops seem reluctant to use the instituted ministries as intended.

I hear what you’re saying, and I do agree with you. Yet, frankly, we can’t even get priests to follow the Sacramentary and GIRM. How could we ever expect them to follow an unofficial text, no matter how accurate and reliable?

The book you suggested looks like an excellent resource. I intend to order one myself. I think all we can do here is to work on “one priest at a time.” Start with the younger ones–there’s a lot of promise there. And yes, start with the altar boys; our future priests. Train them well now, and we’ll see good results in due time.

 

[JRKH]

I hear what you’re saying, and I do agree with you. Yet, frankly, we can’t even get priests to follow the Sacramentary and GIRM. How could we ever expect them to follow an unofficial text, no matter how accurate and reliable?

The book you suggested looks like an excellent resource. I intend to order one myself. I think all we can do here is to work on “one priest at a time.” Start with the younger ones–there’s a lot of promise there. And yes, start with the altar boys; our future priests. Train them well now, and we’ll see good results in due time.

I believe this is excellant advice. Our younger priests and seminarians are also the great promise for the more widespread use of the EF, which I think will be another factor which will encourgare greater consistancy and reverence in both priests and in servers.

Peace
James

 

[EasterJoy]

Our servers are given a bowl of water into which Fr. dips his fingers (that’s how he wants it since according to him it’s too difficult for the servers to pour the water:shrug: Why wasn’t it difficult for hundreds of years )

The priest may have wondered the same thing, but gave up on the question the fifth time he got water dumped onto his chasuble or the floor instead of onto his fingers and into the bowl. Sometimes, it is not ours to reason why…

Server training does need to include the expectation that visiting priests may want to do things differently, and that they are the ultimate authority at any liturgy. As long as the servers understand that their job is to give Father whatever assistance he needs, in the way he wants it, and to otherwise be conspicuous only in their inconspicuous and reverent attention to Father’s every move, they’ll probably do OK. If there are abuses introduced by the priest, nobody is going to blame a youth server who goes along and does as directed, since it wouldn’t do to have the young ones questioning the clergy about rubrics during the Mass itself. Knowing clearly that neither mind-reading nor policing of clergy is in their job description can lower the stress level quite a bit.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Lol thank you for the great info, but I already did my 10 years of service as an altar boy, I was just curious because there seems be lack of uniformity at our parish with our altar servers. Maybe it’s time for the old guys to go back to serving at the altar to show the right way

Sounds like a great idea. Offer to help train the young boys. Get some other young men together to be the “master servers”. Just like anything else, the altar boys will like what they do better when they know how to do it well. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

That’s awesome. I help train some servers for solemn Masses and we give them close to 12 hours.

Otherwise the training in my parish for servers is abysmal.

Offer to help with that. The main duties of the altar boys haven’t changed. And as I said before, the boys will like what they do better (and it will show), when they know how to do it well.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Hearing this from a priest breaks my heart. I will always be grateful for the wonderful young priest who trained my son. I hope that if we ever meet up at a gathering you can count on him to serve Mass correctly!

Thanks for the link. The page allows one to read many of the pages, and it certainly looks very promising indeed. I hadn’t heard of that one before. It’s too bad that the actual pages dealing with altar boys can’t be read online (but then again, they are book-sellers, not an online library). Unfortunately, it looks to be out of print, as they only offer copies from 3rd party sellers.

It’s truly a shame that we don’t have better resources available on this subject–I know there’s not “a lot” to be said, so we’re talking more pamphlets than outright books, but still it’s important.

I recall that when I was an altar boy, in the early days of the current Ordinary Form, I could serve Mass with any visiting priest, or go to any other church and serve Mass there. No explanations or instructions were ever required. Today, as a priest, I am most hesitant even to have servers when I’m visiting somewhere else, or otherwise in a situation where I haven’t trained them myself (or know that they’ve been trained by someone competent). I get so many blank stares when we talk about things before Mass. Sometimes it’s easier, less stressful, and above all more prayerful for me not to have anyone serving whenever I’m outside my own parish.

Especially if I’m in a situation where there’s a large gathering of people from different areas, I notice most acutely that there is a priority to have servers just for the sake of being seen, rather than for the sake of serving the Mass. Most unfortunately, gone are the days when a priest could simply say “who is an altar boy at home?” and know that whoever volunteered could be relied upon to actually know what he is supposed to do.

It’s hard to describe how frustrating it is for a priest to have to worry about giving instructions while the Mass is happening. I’m not talking about a simple whispered “bring the wine and water” to bring a distracted server back into the present; I’m talking about those who don’t even understand (through no fault of their own) that bringing the wine and water is the reason why they are there in the first place. Too many people have lost touch with that simple reality.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Regardless of the exact duties expected of altar servers in a particular parish, there are certain rules of thumb that apply everywhere.

1. Servers must understand that the Mass is the re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Calvary and act accordingly, always aware of the sacramental Presence of Jesus.
2. All movements must be done with grace and dignity. No running, talking, wandering eyes, or disrespectful behavior. Hands should be kept folded or pressed together when standing or kneeling, and when multiple servers need to sit, stand, or kneel, they should do so simultaneously.
3. They should be dressed appropriately. Whatever vestments the parish uses, whether cassocks and surplices, albs, or something else, they should be the right size and fit well. Since shoes are visible, they should be dark colored and respectable (not tennis or sports shoes).
4. Altar servers are not acolytes, which are men instituted by the bishop for service at the altar. If a parish has instituted acolytes, these should serve as MC’s or principal servers and guides to the other altar servers. Only priests, deacons, or instituted acolytes may open the tabernacle, purify vessels, or handle vessels containing the Holy Eucharist.
5. Physical size is a factor. Younger, shorter servers do not make the best choice to hold the paten unless a communion rail is used.