Need prayers: serving TLM, first time

[Magnum_V8]

Tomorrow, I will be serving in the Extraordinary Form for the first time. Its a Low Mass with two servers.

Please, pray that I serve Him well at His altar. I’ve wanted to do this since my first TLM on Easter of 2007. I’m so excited, and NERVOUS at the same time.

And, if this isn’t enough, the altar server coordinator told me that he’s planning on having me serve High Mass on the second Sunday after Easter. Geeeez, can I get a few Low Masses under my belt first?!

St. John Berchmans, pray for me, please, that I may serve the altar with devotion and focus, with love and humility, with respect and reverence for the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

 

[markadm]

God bless you! May you receive all the graces of serving at the Altar.

I would not worry too much because there are two other servers there; just make sure you are aware in advance which things you are meant to do, and then don’t get too distracted. (It’s when you have to do it all on your own that you become petrified.)

 

[keepitreal]

We used to write out the responses and some movement directions on very small cut up paper and tape them to our wrists. This worked wonders and eased our nervousness.

 

[Magnum_V8]

Okay!

I just got back. What an experience! It was me and another guy that has only served about 3 times. We got tripped up only a couple times, and I’m still trying to figure out how to keep my foot from getting caught on my cassock and/or pant leg.

Really, the only big hick-up was that my partner started to early to get the Communion paten. He stood up almost right after the Pater Noster, threw me completely off, started towards the center, so I got up too, we genuflected, I stayed on the Gospel side in the center, he went back to the Epistle side and knelt down, realizing what he did, so I retreated back to kneeling at the Gospel side.

Other than that, though, I was very comfortable up there, but sweating uncontrollably.

The server coordinator now wants me to serve on Easter. I told him that I wasn’t so sure about that, being how I’m not so well versed in the rubrics yet. He said that he and I would spend most of the time in the sacristy…that he’d be the master of ceremonies, and I’d be the thurifier. I need to practice swinging that thing.

Finally, I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. I felt everyones’ prayers, and know the Lord heard them. I certainly needed that.

 

[ProVobis]

Congratulations on making it through your first Mass. It is indeed an honor to be chosen to serve and humility and practice are the keys of a successful ministry in altar serving.

 

[pete_29]

 

[Silver_Thread]

Okay!

I just got back. What an experience! It was me and another guy that has only served about 3 times. We got tripped up only a couple times, and I’m still trying to figure out how to keep my foot from getting caught on my cassock and/or pant leg.

Really, the only big hick-up was that my partner started to early to get the Communion paten. He stood up almost right after the Pater Noster, threw me completely off, started towards the center, so I got up too, we genuflected, I stayed on the Gospel side in the center, he went back to the Epistle side and knelt down, realizing what he did, so I retreated back to kneeling at the Gospel side.

Other than that, though, I was very comfortable up there, but sweating uncontrollably.

The server coordinator now wants me to serve on Easter. I told him that I wasn’t so sure about that, being how I’m not so well versed in the rubrics yet. He said that he and I would spend most of the time in the sacristy…that he’d be the master of ceremonies, and I’d be the thurifier. I need to practice swinging that thing.

Finally, I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. I felt everyones’ prayers, and know the Lord heard them. I certainly needed that.

I don’t know how old your are , but I’m 65. You’ll appreciate this. I was an altar server when is was 11 to 14 yrs old. One morning I was attending our Latin Mass.l Father came out without an altar server. I could see that he wasn’t set up to do it without a server. Soooooo I stepped forward without hesitation (yeah right) and served mass. I can tell you about sweating. Needless to say I made a couple of minor errors but my mind quickly reminded me. It was just like riding a bike once you learn you never forget. Stay with it. Also, a web site www.sanctamissa.org/EN/serving/low-mass/ is a good tutorial. God Bless

 

[palmas85]

Okay!

I just got back. What an experience! It was me and another guy that has only served about 3 times. We got tripped up only a couple times, and I’m still trying to figure out how to keep my foot from getting caught on my cassock and/or pant leg.

Really, the only big hick-up was that my partner started to early to get the Communion paten. He stood up almost right after the Pater Noster, threw me completely off, started towards the center, so I got up too, we genuflected, I stayed on the Gospel side in the center, he went back to the Epistle side and knelt down, realizing what he did, so I retreated back to kneeling at the Gospel side.

Other than that, though, I was very comfortable up there, but sweating uncontrollably.

The server coordinator now wants me to serve on Easter. I told him that I wasn’t so sure about that, being how I’m not so well versed in the rubrics yet. He said that he and I would spend most of the time in the sacristy…that he’d be the master of ceremonies, and I’d be the thurifier. I need to practice swinging that thing.

Finally, I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. I felt everyones’ prayers, and know the Lord heard them. I certainly needed that.

One day, perhaps I will share how a very small clumsy brown skinned Filipino boy got the incredible honor to serve at a Pontifical High Mass:thumbsup: and almost singlehandedly destroyed a 1500 year old tradition::bigyikes:

The again maybe I won’t. It was pretty ugly. Whatever happened to you or ever could happen, it would not even come close.

Believe me.

ps. It doesn’t get much better than serving at Easter. It really doesn’t. And I mean that from my heart.

 

[markadm]

I used to serve at a very “High Church” Anglican Church, but never graduated to more than Crucifer.

Then, as a Roman Catholic, I started learning to serve at missa cantata, but hadn’t done much more than carry a candlestick, when suddenly – as we went on a retreat to an old Abbey – I was thrown in the deepend and forced to serve Low Mass and Benediction all on my own.

Easter’s coming up, and although I’m nervous about everything we have to do, I’m also extremely excited. Though I’m 27, I feel like a kid all over again, but in the best ways.

 

[Conservative]

Congratulations, MagnumV8, on your serving the TLM.
I’ve been off board this week and missed it all.

You’ll do fine in the upcoming High Mass - Just remember, EVERYBODY WILL BE WATCHING YOU !.
But GOD will be smiling the most !

Seriously, I think it’s an honor that you will be the thurifier? (name?) Please remember us all in your next Mass, as I believe God will accept your good assistance at Mass for the many of us who are there in spirit.

 

[Magnum_V8]

I don’t know how old your are , but I’m 65. You’ll appreciate this. I was an altar server when is was 11 to 14 yrs old. One morning I was attending our Latin Mass.l Father came out without an altar server. I could see that he wasn’t set up to do it without a server. Soooooo I stepped forward without hesitation (yeah right) and served mass. I can tell you about sweating. Needless to say I made a couple of minor errors but my mind quickly reminded me. It was just like riding a bike once you learn you never forget. Stay with it. Also, a web site www.sanctamissa.org/EN/serving/low-mass/ is a good tutorial. God Bless

I’m 29. I served in the Novus Ordo as a kid. I’ve started serving in my own parish’s Novus Ordo, and just like you, I was a little nervous at first, but then it all came back to me. Now, I’m certainly not comparing it to the Tridentine Mass. I understand there is a lot more to do, and a lot more rubrics to follow in the TLM.

I do know about SanctaMissa.org. I’ve watched their learn-to-serve Low Mass video a few times.

 

[Magnum_V8]

Easter’s coming up, and although I’m nervous about everything we have to do, I’m also extremely excited. Though I’m 27, I feel like a kid all over again, but in the best ways.

I feel the same way. Luckily, I think I’ll get another Low Mass in this coming Wednesday, before the BIGGIE!

 

[Magnum_V8]

Congratulations, MagnumV8, on your serving the TLM.
I’ve been off board this week and missed it all.

You’ll do fine in the upcoming High Mass - Just remember, EVERYBODY WILL BE WATCHING YOU !.
But GOD will be smiling the most !

Seriously, I think it’s an honor that you will be the thurifier? (name?) Please remember us all in your next Mass, as I believe God will accept your good assistance at Mass for the many of us who are there in spirit.

Thanks a bunch!..even for the reminder that EVERYBODY WILL BE WATCHING ME! As if I didn’t have enough to worry about.

Thurif-E-R, not thurif-I-E-R. My mistake. He carries the censor. I know he’s the one that incenses the people and the Blessed Sacrament during the consecration. Not sure what the other duties are.

Yes, I’ll remember you all…and especially you, Conservative, when I trip on my cassock and look up to see the entire congregation staring at me.:doh2:

 

[markadm]

Yes, I’ll remember you all…and especially you, Conservative, when I trip on my cassock and look up to see the entire congregation staring at me.:doh2:

Trust me, nobody notices that.

A simple trick is that when you kneel down, to make sure the heels of your shoes are outside the cassock. Equally, when you get up, use your free hand to hold the lower ‘leg’-area of your Cassock. It will help you get up.

I would not worry about what anyone else sees or thinks (except the Priest). To serve at the altar is an immense privilege – you are right up there, near the Priest – just do your best, but truly your absolute best.

God bless you,
Mark

 

[Conservative]

Thanks a bunch!..even for the reminder that EVERYBODY WILL BE WATCHING ME! As if I didn’t have enough to worry about.

Thurif-E-R, not thurif-I-E-R. My mistake. He carries the censor. I know he’s the one that incenses the people and the Blessed Sacrament during the consecration. Not sure what the other duties are.

Yes, I’ll remember you all…and especially you, Conservative, when I trip on my cassock and look up to see the entire congregation staring at me.:doh2:

I knew I’d hit a high note with the ‘everybody watching you’ warning ! Thanks for the education re the censor, and I, too, used to wonder about how priests / altar servers perfect swinging the censor when I hear the methodical sound (all in the wrist maybe?). It’s fascinating. Perhaps, we don’t think of these quiet concerns involved by both altar servers and priests - even after years of offering the Mass.

And I wasn’t going to say anything about tripping on your cassock - not to make you nervous ! You won’t…don’t be nervous - just be holy and enjoy the magnificent experience!
God bless you for the prayers and good laughter…I needed it !

 

[Magnum_V8]

I would not worry about what anyone else sees or thinks

Yeah, I’m exaggerating my fear of the staring eyes and hidden thoughts. I’ve learned to deal with that since I and my family are the only ones that kneel at our Novus Ordo parish…even when my wife and I serve at the altar there…we kneel. I’ve seen the looks and caught the smirks from some of the younger Catholics who are too young to remember the long-gone kneelers of our church. But I digress.

 

[Magnum_V8]

I knew I’d hit a high note with the ‘everybody watching you’ warning ! Thanks for the education re the censor, and I, too, used to wonder about how priests / altar servers perfect swinging the censor when I hear the methodical sound (all in the wrist maybe?). It’s fascinating. Perhaps, we don’t think of these quiet concerns involved by both altar servers and priests - even after years of offering the Mass.

And I wasn’t going to say anything about tripping on your cassock - not to make you nervous ! You won’t…don’t be nervous - just be holy and enjoy the magnificent experience!
God bless you for the prayers and good laughter…I needed it !

Yes, swinging that censer and getting a nice “ching” sound is a work of art. You should have seen me when I was practicing my first and only time last week. I’m 6 ft. tall, 230 lbs, and it seemed like that little censer was throwing me around and completely missing the chain for the “ching.” The server coordinator for the Latin Mass, who’s also going to be the Master of Ceremonies at the High Mass, made it a point to tell me he likes to hear a good “ching.”

 

[Magnum_V8]

One day, perhaps I will share how a very small clumsy brown skinned Filipino boy got the incredible honor to serve at a Pontifical High Mass:thumbsup: and almost singlehandedly destroyed a 1500 year old tradition::bigyikes:

The again maybe I won’t. It was pretty ugly. Whatever happened to you or ever could happen, it would not even come close.

Believe me.

ps. It doesn’t get much better than serving at Easter. It really doesn’t. And I mean that from my heart.

Please tell.

 

[Magnum_V8]

You folks are unbelievable. I know the Lord heard your prayers for me. Tonight went flawless, for both me and the other guy. It seemed like we had been doing it for years.

After Mass, the server coordinator came up to us with the biggest compliments. And if that weren’t enough, he asked me how old my son is, and when did I think he was ready to serve. My son is only seven years old, hasn’t even made his First Communion yet, but I’ve been going over the server’s prayers with him for a while now. I say a few more weeks and I think he’ll be ready.

Of course, this all hinges on whether or not a child that hasn’t made his First Communion is even eligible to serve. Anyone know? I was so excited when the coordinator asked me about it, I didn’t even think about this issue.

In Angelus Press’ “How to Serve Low Mass and Benediction”, at the Communion part it says something about “…if the altar boy is to receive Communion…” I take this as meaning its not necessary that the altar server be able to receive Communion.

 

[Conservative]

You folks are unbelievable. I know the Lord heard your prayers for me. Tonight went flawless, for both me and the other guy. It seemed like we had been doing it for years.

After Mass, the server coordinator came up to us with the biggest compliments. And if that weren’t enough, he asked me how old my son is, and when did I think he was ready to serve. My son is only seven years old, hasn’t even made his First Communion yet, but I’ve been going over the server’s prayers with him for a while now. I say a few more weeks and I think he’ll be ready.

Of course, this all hinges on whether or not a child that hasn’t made his First Communion is even eligible to serve. Anyone know? I was so excited when the coordinator asked me about it, I didn’t even think about this issue.

In Angelus Press’ “How to Serve Low Mass and Benediction”, at the Communion part it says something about “…if the altar boy is to receive Communion…” I take this as meaning its not necessary that the altar server be able to receive Communion.

Congratulations, God bless - and Many more Masses !

As for your son - I’m thinking 7 is a bit too young - if anything, I’d zero in on getting him to receive First Communion as early as possible if you see he’s ready. My Mom did that for me in advance of the regulatory age. Apparently, I was approved by the Sisters based on the requirements to begin early instruction, and received Holy Communion about a year or so early.

So, if you think your son is ready for Holy Communion instruction classes, get him enrolled soon. Meantime, are there any attendants that are not “altar servers” per se - but carry the crozier (name of cross? - I may be wrong there) or perhaps are needed in processions, etc.?