Taken from the book Minor Order:
THE ALTAR SERVER –
- Must have a sincere, generous, vigilant zeal for the honor and the service of the House of God.
- [Out of zeal] will leave nothing undone in his efforts to make silence, recollection and prayer reign in the body of the Church as well as in the sanctuary; he will not hesitate … to banish distractions and disorder. [N.B. There’s a reason why sacristy and sanctuary have the roots for sacred and for holy in their name].
- Must have a deep and sincere humility, for no disposition is more opposed to the character of Satan, inspires him with more aversion, and is more unbearable to him.
- Should have devotion to the Holy Sacrifice through his zeal in serving the priest at ordinary Masses, and by his affection, recollection and piety in the performance of his duties at Solemn Masses.
- Humble as the office may be in the eyes of the world, he may rest assured that it is far above his merits and that there is not an angel in heaven but envies him his lot.
- Who is but little recollected, is a source of distraction to those assisting at Mass and destroys their pious feelings; whereas one that is pious, recollected, and fervent leads them to recollection and prayer.
- Far from shunning the humblest duties, should prefer them and perform them with great love.
–What is more scandalous than to hear in the church, sometimes even in the sanctuary, ecclesiastics speaking in a loud voice, employees talking among themselves or with the faithful about the most profane things, musicians and chanters setting an example of carelessness, at the very time when they should be thinking only of singing the praises of God!
