Alter Servers

[Giggly_Giraffe]

Current and former alter servers, what did this experience do for your spirituality?

 

[baliano]

I was an altar boy in the '50’s and the experience led me to consider the Priesthood however I did not take that path. The function of an altar boy at that time was not only to assist the priest (there were no Deacons) but to respond in Latin for the congregation during the Mass, quite a responsibility for a sixth grader. What I see today are altar servers being used primarily as gofers and candle bearers, not sure what that does for vocations.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

I was an altar boy in the '50’s and the experience led me to consider the Priesthood however I did not take that path. The function of an altar boy at that time was not only to assist the priest (there were no Deacons) but to respond in Latin for the congregation during the Mass, quite a responsibility for a sixth grader. What I see today are altar servers being used primarily as gofers and candle bearers, not sure what that does for vocations.

A fair question. Carrying the processional cross and bringing over the cruets just doesn’t immerse servers in the liturgy the way it was back in the day - which I can say with many fond memories of serving 1955 - 1964. Perhaps their role could be enriched somehow.