Holding the priest's chasuble during TLM

[StatCrux]

Why do the altar servers do this (especially during the consecration/elevation)?

I know that the altar servers lift the priest’s vestments when he is walking up stairs (for a very practical reason), but don’t know why this is happening during the elevation.

Thanks,

SC

 

[Catholig]

The server lifts up the bottom of the priest’s chasuble on two occasions immediately after consecration to enable the priest to more easily raise up high, the precious host and blood respectively. In the past often the chasuble was quite heavy and it was in a sense a necessity to have the server’s assistance in this way - it has continued as a part of the ritual even though the chasuble is usually now not so heavy as it often would have been. While custom may vary from place to place, in my experience it is unusual for there to be a solita oscula when the server lifts the chasuble.