Pastor asked me to be a sacristan

[CatholicZ09]

So, I was approached by my pastor today, and out of the blue he asked me to be a sacristan once a month at a Sunday Mass because the other lady that does it cannot do it on certain dates because of her ill husband. I’m thrilled yet terrified at the same time! I don’t feel worthy to prepare everything for Mass! I find it exciting, though.

 

[YoungTradCath]

It should be pretty easy. I would love to get to rummage around sacristies of old churches.

 

[letmebefree]

Im a Sacristan and I love it! Preparing everything getting there before everyone else its a every special time with Jesus.

 

[ConstantineTG]

RC sacristans get to do a lot more. In the Byzantine Rite, only ordained persons can touch the Sacred Vessels, so the preparation is done by the priest. And we can’t stand in the front of the altar, again only for ordained men.

Don’t be nervous or afraid, its an honor to serve the Lord.

 

[Tridentinum]

RC sacristans get to do a lot more. In the Byzantine Rite, only ordained persons can touch the Sacred Vessels, so the preparation is done by the priest.

Don’t be nervous or afraid, its an honor to serve the Lord.

That was the same as the Latin Rite pre-Vatican II. Being consecrated sub-deacon gave the right to help and assist the deacon, to sing the Epistle and to touch the Sacred Vessels.

 

[Joannm]

We have teenage sacristians on Sundays and Holy Days. It’s a pretty easy job once you get to know the layout of things and you get to hang out with the priests.

 

[GwenL]

That was the same as the Latin Rite pre-Vatican II. Being consecrated sub-deacon gave the right to help and assist the deacon, to sing the Epistle and to touch the Sacred Vessels.

Do you have a reference, please? Regarding touching the sacred vessels.

I find your statement very difficult to believe. Women, including many women religious, have been sacristans for centuries.

Who do you think sets up for Mass in a cloistered community of women? Hint: it is not the priest who celebrates Mass.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Who do you think sets up for Mass in a cloistered community of women? Hint: it is not the priest who celebrates Mass.

It isn’t? News to me.

 

[gh4]

I am the weekend sacristan in our church, I was nervous at first, and I did make a few mistakes, but nothing earth shattering. I enjoy opening up the empty church and having some very private prayer time before anyone else arrives. Father has always been very patient with me and very kind and always thanks me for doing it. Occasionally I would love to just walk into church and be a normal ordinary parishioner, but I really do enjoy doing this.

 

[GwenL]

It isn’t? News to me.

You have visited many communities of women? You base your sarcastic comment on what experience?

 

[YoungTradCath]

You have visited many communities of women? You base your sarcastic comment on what experience?

Only a priest can celebrate mass.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Only a priest can celebrate mass.

You wouldn’t be kidding us, would you?

You appear to have chosen to interpret the statement in Post #7 --"*Who do you think sets up for Mass in a cloistered community of women? Hint: it is not the priest who celebrates Mass." *-- for its snark value as supposedly meaning that the poster is stating that the priest isn’t the one who celebrates Mass.

A more mature reading of that statement clearly indicates that the poster is making the point that the priest isn’t the one setting-up for Mass.

 

[CatholicZ09]

 

[YoungTradCath]

You wouldn’t be kidding us, would you?

You appear to have chosen to interpret the statement in Post #7 --"*Who do you think sets up for Mass in a cloistered community of women? Hint: it is not the priest who celebrates Mass." *-- for its snark value as supposedly meaning that the poster is stating that the priest isn’t the one who celebrates Mass.

A more mature reading of that statement clearly indicates that the poster is making the point that the priest isn’t the one setting-up for Mass.

I didn’t intend to have any snark value there. I read it as such not to give a certain effect, but because I read it as such. Sorry.

 

[GwenL]

I didn’t intend to have any snark value there. I read it as such not to give a certain effect, but because I read it as such. Sorry.

I reccomend that you try two things, YTC.

First, read in context. The thread is about sacristans and setting up for Mass.

Second, assume that the people posting regularly here are not ignorant idiots.

 

[airforcemom]

I have been a sacristan for almost 20 years and I really enjoy it. I set up for Sunday Mass and alternate for daily Masses. Our church is small and we do not have many men volunteer for things - just recently obtained a Deacon so it has women who have set up for many years.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I reccomend that you try two things, YTC.

First, read in context. The thread is about sacristans and setting up for Mass.

Second, assume that the people posting regularly here are not ignorant idiots.

1. I did read it in context, but the way it was written was a bit ambiguous, and I didn’t realize that until I re-examined it after I got a comment back.
2. A: I don’t assume people are ignorant, but I do assume that everyone has an agenda. Sorry. B: There are ignorant people here and everywhere.

 

[Tridentinum]

Do you have a reference, please? Regarding touching the sacred vessels.

I find your statement very difficult to believe. Women, including many women religious, have been sacristans for centuries.

Who do you think sets up for Mass in a cloistered community of women? Hint: it is not the priest who celebrates Mass.

Read it straight out of the ‘information’ section of my 1962 Missal.

 

[Tridentinum]

Do you have a reference, please? Regarding touching the sacred vessels.

I find your statement very difficult to believe. Women, including many women religious, have been sacristans for centuries.

Who do you think sets up for Mass in a cloistered community of women? Hint: it is not the priest who celebrates Mass.

The duties of a subdeacon are to serve the deacon at Mass; to prepare the bread and wine and sacred vessels for the Holy Sacrifice; to present the chalice and paten at the Offertory, and pour water into the wine for the Eucharist; to chant the Epistles solemnly; to wash the sacred linen. In the Greek Church, subdeacons prepare the chalice at the prothesis and guard the gates of the sanctuary during the Holy Sacrifice. In the ancient Roman Church, the subdeacons administered in great part the temporal goods of the Holy See and were often employed on important missions by the popes. A candidate for the subdiaconate must have been confirmed and have received minor orders. He must have the knowledge befitting his grade in the Church and have entered on his twenty-second year. He must also have acquired a title to orders. After ordination, he is bound to celibacy and to the recitation of the Divine Office.

• Catholic Encyclopedia

 

[James924]

I reccomend that you try two things, YTC.

First, read in context. The thread is about sacristans and setting up for Mass.

Second, assume that the people posting regularly here are not ignorant idiots.

In defense of YoungTradCath, I also read it in context, and its in english, and I’m a native speaker of english… and here’s what it said:

***“Who do you think sets up for Mass in a cloistered community of women? Hint: it is not the priest who celebrates Mass.” ***

Thats probably the worst possible way to write the second sentence and I don’t blame him for having read it that way, since thats the way it reads most naturally in english.
I recommend YOU and your friend do two things. Do not be horribly rude and snobby any more. Its clear to anyone reading these forums that it was an honest (and very reasonable) mistake and you over-reacted in a very unbecoming manner.