The liturgical books do have specific instructions about when things are to be placed on the altar. It is wrong not to follow them by setting the altar at the beginning of Mass. There should be an altar server, but if there is not one the priest should bring things from the credence table at the correct time.
From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM): “306. Only what is required for the celebration of the Mass may be placed on the mensa of the altar: namely, from the beginning of the celebration until the proclamation of the Gospel, the Book of the Gospels; then from the Presentation of the Gifts until the purification of the vessels, the chalice with the paten, a ciborium if necessary, and, finally, the corporal, the purificator, the pall, and the Missal.” (From
usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter5.shtml )
Before Mass there are instructions about preparations from 2002 GIRM 118(c):
“On the credence table: the chalice, a corporal, a purificator, and, if appropriate, the pall; the paten and, if needed, ciboria; bread for the Communion of the priest who presides, the deacon, the ministers, and the people; cruets containing the wine and the water, unless all of these are presented by the faithful in procession at the Offertory; the vessel of water to be blessed, if the asperges occurs; the Communion-plate for the Communion of the faithful; and whatever is needed for the washing of hands.”
The Roman Missal’s Order of Mass also has instructions that should be followed: “After the liturgy of the word, the offertory soing is begun. Meanwhile the ministers place the corporal, the purificator, the chalice and the missal on the altar.”
(From The Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 370).
