Alter Boys

[Lux_et_veritas]

Many you see here, in the center, are in their late teens/early 20’s. We have an altar “boy” corp of about 60 at Assumption Grotto and they come as young as 8 and as old as the 70’s with everything in between. No age limit. And, let me tell you, they serve very honorably, with dignity and class. It is something that the boys do in this parish and it is their baby. We have such a rich sacramental life and have other devotions/events that they help with, such as weekly benediction, processions in the summer, etc, and you can sense the enthusiasm they have.

For anyone who has not seen this picture or others I have posted, the is not a TLM. It is a Latin Novus Ordo, in full communion with the Catholic Church. The ad orientem stance of the priest was never disallowed so it is used freely here.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[Dr.Bombay]

I’m old(er) and I serve daily Mass a few times a week. But lately, a lot more of the young men have been showing up. In that case, I always let them serve.

Besides, their Latin is much better than mine.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

And although we do have girl servers, the adults are restricted to men only.

I imagine it’s just a matter of time before there will be adult women as altar servers. Won’t that be grand!

/sarcasm

 

[Brain]

Bruised Reed:

I imagine it’s just a matter of time before there will be adult women as altar servers. Won’t that be grand!

/sarcasm

Blessed Sacrament in Seattle has them almost exclusivley. I have seen liek 4 kids and 2 men ever.

It just seems to me at some point you want to leave the server positions open to young men, to inspire vocations.

 

[emsvetich]

Bruised Reed:

I imagine it’s just a matter of time before there will be adult women as altar servers. Won’t that be grand!

/sarcasm

Your sarcasm is noted. I assume that you mean that we should save the sarcasm for the men who are too shy to get up and help. All that is would take to provide manly example to young men would be for the men sitting in the pews to take the initiative to serve when needed. Be an example that reverence can be manly! The lack of interest by mature men to serve is a mystery to me. Everyone comments on the lack of involvement of laity but few are willing to help. When we see female servers of any age, we should look at ourselves ( as men) and ask why we have not asked to help.

There have been a number of threads on this general topic and I am struck by the ease at which many of the issues around altar boys could be handled. In most congregations you will find a number of men who were altar boys in their youth. This was at a time when reverence was taught and expected. (Hands were folded, talk was verboten, dress was appropriate,bells were rung, you acted as if you knew what you were doing and participated in the responses) Many of today’s altar servers are trained by men and women who have never received proper training themselves and are training from the poor examples that they themselves have observed. Some who train altar boys have specific agendas and purposly train in such a way as to diminish reverence and tradition. Who has not seen altar servers who are talking among themselves and otherwise acting inreverently while serving. What action have YOU taken to address this obvious abuse? I know that you notice it. Why accept it? Talk to your priest when you see something that is inappropriate. If there is a liturgical director or some such person who is in charge of server training, make sure that they are aware that there is a correct way to act on the altar–and do not take no for an answer. Be persistent. We get what we expect. Even the women serving at some masses are doing it incorrectly! Which MEN trained them? Sarcasm intended.

 

[dympnha]

At my church we have a Saturday altar boy who looks to be about 8 years old. We also have a server who looks like age 60 has long been in his rear view mirror

 

[slewi]

emsvetich:

Your sarcasm is noted. I assume that you mean that we should save the sarcasm for the men who are too shy to get up and help. All that is would take to provide manly example to young men would be for the men sitting in the pews to take the initiative to serve when needed. Be an example that reverence can be manly! The lack of interest by mature men to serve is a mystery to me. Everyone comments on the lack of involvement of laity but few are willing to help. When we see female servers of any age, we should look at ourselves ( as men) and ask why we have not asked to help.

There have been a number of threads on this general topic and I am struck by the ease at which many of the issues around altar boys could be handled. In most congregations you will find a number of men who were altar boys in their youth. This was at a time when reverence was taught and expected. (Hands were folded, talk was verboten, dress was appropriate,bells were rung, you acted as if you knew what you were doing and participated in the responses) Many of today’s altar servers are trained by men and women who have never received proper training themselves and are training from the poor examples that they themselves have observed. Some who train altar boys have specific agendas and purposly train in such a way as to diminish reverence and tradition. Who has not seen altar servers who are talking among themselves and otherwise acting inreverently while serving. What action have YOU taken to address this obvious abuse? I know that you notice it. Why accept it? Talk to your priest when you see something that is inappropriate. If there is a liturgical director or some such person who is in charge of server training, make sure that they are aware that there is a correct way to act on the altar–and do not take no for an answer. Be persistent. We get what we expect. Even the women serving at some masses are doing it incorrectly! Which MEN trained them? Sarcasm intended.

Excellent post. Last evening when visiting my parish priest we spoke on this very topic, and now I am in charge of the altar servers at my parish. I too was a former altar boy in the late 70’s/early 80’s, and I am aghast at what I have seen taking place today.

I could use some help from some of our more experienced members in setting up my altar server program. I am starting from scratch, have several ideas, but could use all of the help I can get!

Merry Christmas All!
Stephen

 

[John_Lilburne]

slewi:

Can a man, not interested in the priesthood, but wants to serve mass be instituted as an acolyte?

Stephen

Yes.

This was made explicit in the Motu Proprio of the 1972 by Pope Paul VI “Ministeria Quaedam”:

“3. Ministries may be assigned to lay Christians; hence they are no longer to be considered as reserved to candidates for the sacrament of orders.”

The requirements and process are also given:

“7. In accordance with the ancient tradition of the Church, institution to the ministries of reader and acolyte is reserved to men.
8. The following are requirements for admission to the ministries:
a. the presentation of a petition that has been freely made out and signed by the aspirant to the Ordinary (the bishop and, in clerical institutes, the major superior) who has the right to accept the petition;
b. a suitable age and special qualities to be determined by the conference of bishops;
c. a firm will to give faithful service to God and the Christian people.
9. The ministries are conferred by the Ordinary (the bishop and, in clerical institutes, the major superior) through the liturgical rite De institutione lectoris and De institutione acolythi as revised by the Apostolic See.”
(From from Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1982, pages 908-911.)

 

[Dr.Bombay]

slewi:

Excellent post. Last evening when visiting my parish priest we spoke on this very topic, and now I am in charge of the altar servers at my parish. I too was a former altar boy in the late 70’s/early 80’s, and I am aghast at what I have seen taking place today.

I could use some help from some of our more experienced members in setting up my altar server program. I am starting from scratch, have several ideas, but could use all of the help I can get!

Merry Christmas All!
Stephen

Hi, Stephen! I’d suggest printing out this Altar Server manual and distributing it to all your servers.

If I was training altar servers, I’d make certain they knew there is a proper decorum expected of them on the altar. No talking or horseplay allowed. If you witness it, there should be consequences, i.e. being suspended from serving for a week. Make sure you have your pastor’s support on this. Nothing will undermine you quicker with the young people than if you impose a punishment and the pastor overrules you. At the same time, if they make an honest mistake, calmly explain it to them after Mass without sounding angry. They’re kids and they’ll make mistakes. When I have to deal with kids, I constantly have to remind myself to be patient.

Good luck and let us know how your new job progresses!

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

emsvetich:

Your sarcasm is noted. I assume that you mean that we should save the sarcasm for the men who are too shy to get up and help. All that is would take to provide manly example to young men would be for the men sitting in the pews to take the initiative to serve when needed. Be an example that reverence can be manly! The lack of interest by mature men to serve is a mystery to me. Everyone comments on the lack of involvement of laity but few are willing to help. When we see female servers of any age, we should look at ourselves ( as men) and ask why we have not asked to help.

There have been a number of threads on this general topic and I am struck by the ease at which many of the issues around altar boys could be handled. In most congregations you will find a number of men who were altar boys in their youth. This was at a time when reverence was taught and expected. (Hands were folded, talk was verboten, dress was appropriate,bells were rung, you acted as if you knew what you were doing and participated in the responses) Many of today’s altar servers are trained by men and women who have never received proper training themselves and are training from the poor examples that they themselves have observed. Some who train altar boys have specific agendas and purposly train in such a way as to diminish reverence and tradition. Who has not seen altar servers who are talking among themselves and otherwise acting inreverently while serving. What action have YOU taken to address this obvious abuse? I know that you notice it. Why accept it? Talk to your priest when you see something that is inappropriate. If there is a liturgical director or some such person who is in charge of server training, make sure that they are aware that there is a correct way to act on the altar–and do not take no for an answer. Be persistent. We get what we expect. Even the women serving at some masses are doing it incorrectly! Which MEN trained them? Sarcasm intended.

I agree; excellent post. I have witnessed much of what you describe and it became far more noticeable to me after joining Assumption Grotto where reverence is an understatement. The pastor trains them and one of the mothers told me that if they are caught talking during Mass, they are taken off the schedule for a month. It’s totally amazing to see an eight year old boy, kneeling on a marble floor holding a “torch” during the Eucharistic Prayer. That is a long time kneeling for anybody, but on hard floor is even more difficult and these kids do it like it is nothing. They bow when they are suppose to, they never cross the path of the tabernacle without genuflecting or bowing.

Tonite I was at another parish for a Christmas Eve vigil and there is no bowing, their hands are folded down below belt level, and it just looks sloppy.

I think it is great when the young boys continue to serve well into their manhood or senior years.

Someone ought to come in and study what is so inherently different at Assumption Grotto in Detroit, that it has no trouble finding 60 boys and men for the corp. The pastor does opt out of using Altar Girls. It’s visible in their behavior that the role is an honor for them. In my parish it is hardly something that boys grow out of at a certain age, as some would suggest is natural. I don’t see it as natural at all. If people see teen boys ceasing, they need to look at why they are no longer involved.

The altar boys at my parish also have at least one altar boy retreat available per year, and thus far, I have seen two opportunities this year. They spend the night at the parish and actually have SILENT retreats, provided by the priests of the parish and a holy order which works on the grounds.

It is not uncommon to see these boys praying out of a prayer book the pastor made just for them, prior to Mass. Get there 30 minutes before Mass and you will a lot of them waiting in line for pre-Mass confession - many taking advantage of very frequent confession.

I see vocations coming out of this crew and I’m sure there have already been some long before I got there.

 

[jayelen]

Bruised Reed:

I imagine it’s just a matter of time before there will be adult women as altar servers. Won’t that be grand!

It’s important to remember that numerous priests were inspired toward their vocation by service as altar boys. In these days of sparse vocations, at least in some dioceses, boys are to be encouraged to serve on the altar. Some priests utliizing so-called “altar girls” give the reason that they are mandated by Rome or by their bishop. But there is no directive from Rome that permits bishops to mandate that pastors have “altar girls.” A bishop doing that is exceeding his authority.

 

[HagiaSophia]

jayelen:

But there is no directive from Rome that permits bishops to mandate that pastors have “altar girls.” A bishop doing that is exceeding his authority.

Actually I am under the impression that it works a bit differently; Rome has not mandated that altar girls are “required” it is up to the bishop of each diocese to decide.

That being said I think an outreach to older men in the parishes would be a wonderful thing; I would love to see altar boys of yore now in their maturity assisting st Mass and setting an example in appearance, in reverence, in manner up on the altar, and I suspect that if a good outreach were made, we’d see more of it instead of the “rare” instances where it now happens.

I also think it would be helpful to rid ourselves of the wraparound white spa robes which appear in so many places and replace then with a garb more appropriate to a formal service in the sanctuary.

 

[John_Lilburne]

jayelen:

Bruised Reed:

I imagine it’s just a matter of time before there will be adult women as altar servers. Won’t that be grand!

It’s important to remember that numerous priests were inspired toward their vocation by service as altar boys. In these days of sparse vocations, at least in some dioceses, boys are to be encouraged to serve on the altar. Some priests utliizing so-called “altar girls” give the reason that they are mandated by Rome or by their bishop. But there is no directive from Rome that permits bishops to mandate that pastors have “altar girls.” A bishop doing that is exceeding his authority.

Jurisdiction for this issue is clearly given to the Diocesan Bishop in the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 387:

“387. The Diocesan Bishop, who is to be regarded as the high priest of his flock, and from whom the life in Christ of the faithful under his care in a certain sense derives and upon whom it depends, must promote, regulate, and be vigilant over the liturgical life in his diocese. It is to him that in this Instruction is entrusted the regulating of the discipline of concelebration (cf. above, nos. 202, 374) and the establishing of norms regarding the function of serving the priest at the altar (cf. above, no. 107), …”.

This n. 107 has:

“107. The liturgical duties that are not proper to the priest or the deacon and are listed above (cf. nos. 100-106) may also be entrusted by a liturgical blessing or a temporary deputation to suitable lay persons chosen by the pastor or rector of the church. All should observe the norms established by the Bishop for his diocese regarding the office of those who serve the priest at the altar.”

 

[muledog]

HagiaSophia:

Actually I am under the impression that it works a bit differently; Rome has not mandated that altar girls are “required” it is up to the bishop of each diocese to decide.

Specifically, the local ordinary can allow female servers, but he cannot require their use. It is up to each priest to decide what is best for his parish.

The Adoremus Bulletin published a copy of the Protocol issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship explaining this reasoning. It can be read here.

 

[Angels_Watchin]

Gwyn:

I do not think there are any age restrictions for being a altar boy.

My Dad still serves mass occassionally and he is 72.

The only restriction is they can be an altar boy once they have received communion.

Can you tell (and link) what document makes that restriction, please?
Thank you,
Angel

 

[paramedicgirl]

jayelen:

I imagine it’s just a matter of time before there will be adult women as altar servers

. Won’t that be grand!

It’s important to remember that numerous priests were inspired toward their vocation by service as altar boys. In these days of sparse vocations, at least in some dioceses, boys are to be encouraged to serve on the altar. Some priests utliizing so-called “altar girls” give the reason that they are mandated by Rome or by their bishop. But there is no directive from Rome that permits bishops to mandate that pastors have “altar girls.” A bishop doing that is exceeding his authority.
Well, where I live, the person in charge of the altar servers is an adult woman, and she served with her daughter and one other altar girl one day. That’s the only time I have ever seen this happen at a Sunday Mass. ( At daily Mass, I have seen females get up and help for a few minutes and then go back to their seats). It seemed really strange to see an adult woman altar serving. Has this happened anywhere else?

 

[GoLatin]

paramedicgirl:

jayelen:

Well, where I live, the person in charge of the altar servers is an adult woman, and she served with her daughter and one other altar girl one day. That’s the only time I have ever seen this happen at a Sunday Mass. ( At daily Mass, I have seen females get up and help for a few minutes and then go back to their seats). It seemed really strange to see an adult woman altar serving. Has this happened anywhere else?

I have seen an young adult woman(probably over 20, but under 30) serve at a couple of daily Masses, at a Parish Church in a neighbouring Diocese to my own. I attend daily Mass often at this Church, in part because it is right across the street from a public library, so I can therefore go to Mass, and also go to the library, and get on the Internet, to check the CA Forums!

When I have seen this woman serve, she has not been “vested”(is that the correct term for altar servers?) in any way. Just street clothes, pants of course. At least there were Saunctus bells.

Other than that, I have probably seen one, perhaps two, other female altar servers that were 18 or older. I usually see males of a variety of ages, or girls under 18 years old.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

I believe it was at last weeks Sat 9am Mass that the reader (about 75) also served as the alter boy. It seemed that the alter boy scheduled did not show up for whatever reason. I was impressed and thankful for the versatility of the reader.

 

[Gwyn]

Angels Watchin:

Can you tell (and link) what document makes that restriction, please?
Thank you,
Angel

In the 5 parishes, I have been, in they only take 8 and above, which is after receiving communion @7. Hence the statement.
I had better watch what I say going forth…

Though just last week, my Dad was telling me about a 4 & 6 year old serving mass. So I was wrong.

 

[puzzleannie]

the persons who assist at Mass are altar servers, not altar boys. In some dioceses they may be either male or female, and they may be of any age. they have usually been boys because the Catholic school next door supplied them, and adults are usually not free for weekday Masses, funerals etc. At one time acolyte was a minor order, and therefore reserved to males, but these are rare under the reform of the sacrament of holy orders. the US bishops permit either males or females to serve, but leave the choice to the individual pastor. Our pastor has only young men or boys because he strongly believes this is a major way of discerning and encouraging priestly vocations.