Altar Server using Missalette?

[Aumbry]

There is an adult male altar server at my parish that follows the Mass with a missalette while serving. He does a superb job from what I can tell. Unfortunately he was recently told by the woman in charge of altar servers that he could no longer make use of his missalette while serving, that he should be 100% focused on the readings.

This is the same woman that forbid altar servers to kneel or to wear the surplice/cassock uniform. Both have since been reversed (by our old pastor) but now I’m curious about the use of the missalette.

It sure dosen’t seem to detract from his focus on the Mass, more specifically the celebrant and his needs, but I have never heard this discussed before.

 

[Gwyn]

IMHO -if he is serving mass well and not detracting form his duties to the celebrant, let him follow the missalette

 

[bear06]

Heaven forbid! He might actually encourage others to read the missalette! I’m guessing he’s not performing any functions with missalette in hand so what is this woman’s beef. I’d tell the kid to do it and then have him tell the woman to speak with his parents about it.

 

[plato3]

Noticed this trend some time ago. Some pastors have even taken out the misslalettes because they see people reading them during the homily and Consecration. (Taking attention from the Eucharist.) I feel that some folks do Ok just hearing the word, but some have to see the words. Something about auditory people and such. I am not a psycologist, but I say keep anything that helps a person during Mass.

Deacon Tony

 

[itsjustdave1988]

plato3:

Noticed this trend some time ago. Some pastors have even taken out the misslalettes because they see people reading them during the homily and Consecration. (Taking attention from the Eucharist.) I feel that some folks do Ok just hearing the word, but some have to see the words. Something about auditory people and such. I am not a psycologist, but I say keep anything that helps a person during Mass.

Deacon Tony

I’m one of these visual learner types, and prefer to use a missalette. There are times, too, when the priest is hard to hear, or has an accent this is difficult to understand.

 

[plato3]

itsjustdave1988:

I’m one of these visual learner types, and prefer to use a missalette. There are times, too, when the priest is hard to hear, or has an accent this is difficult to understand.

Good points. My pastor does not like people to stare at their missals during Mass. I will mention the visual angle if he suggests taking them out.

Deacon Tony

 

[Dr.Bombay]

Aumbry:

There is an adult male altar server at my parish that follows the Mass with a missalette while serving. He does a superb job from what I can tell. Unfortunately he was recently told by the woman in charge of altar servers that he could no longer make use of his missalette while serving, that he should be 100% focused on the readings.

This is the same woman that forbid altar servers to kneel or to wear the surplice/cassock uniform. Both have since been reversed (by our old pastor) but now I’m curious about the use of the missalette.

It sure dosen’t seem to detract from his focus on the Mass, more specifically the celebrant and his needs, but I have never heard this discussed before.

I’d tell the old biddy to go pound sand. But, again, I have a low toleranace for passive aggressive bs.

Then, if she tried to take away my missal, I’d spew a few Latin words in her direction. If that didn’t repel her, I’d pull out a copy of the GIRM. That’d probably send her shrieking to the vestibule. :yup:

 

[tikiboy]

That’s messed up!!

Besides needing a missalette to follow along since we sit in the cry room, I also need one to ensure that the message “sinks in.”