P
poche
Guest
I think it is a good idea for him to cast a wide net. You never know where or your next parish priest of 15 or 20 years in the future will come from.
- Status
P
paperwight
Guest
Didn’t there used to be a poster who said that in his parish, all boys over a certain age were automatically enrolled as servers? He posted a video to prove how many there were.
L
LML
Guest
Reminds me of the old saying, “But other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?”
A
Anne1964
Guest
We use candles that are 51% beeswax for the altar candles. We use oil for the torches carried in procession.
It is common for my parish to have 20+ altar boys for Sunday Mass. our record was 40 for last Christmas Eve Mass.
It is common for my parish to have 20+ altar boys for Sunday Mass. our record was 40 for last Christmas Eve Mass.
D
dochawk
Guest
The bishops upon whose authority the rules depend don’t seem to agree with you . . .
P
Phemie
Guest
I know that in our parish not much thought or research was involved when we went from wax to oil. “Yes, let’s get these, they won’t drip and it’ll be cheaper” is as deep as it went. Same applied to the processional cross, purchased at the same time, that had a Risen Christ on it. That part of the cross was removable so they purchased another part with an actual crucifix, but they still insist on switching to the Risen Christ during the Easter season.CatholicSooner:
The bishops upon whose authority the rules depend don’t seem to agree with you . . .
One consolation is that about 5 months ago, a grateful parishioner donated a beautiful crucifix to replace the Risen Christ cross that had dominated the sanctuary for the last several decades.
D
Dovekin
Guest
This is from the Exsultet, probably is behind the candles being of wax. I am fairly certain some Oriental Catholic Churches use oil, probably vegetable oil, but I could be wrong.
The sanctifying power of this night
dispels wickedness, washes faults away,
restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners,
drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty.
On this, your night of grace, O holy Father,
accept this candle, a solemn offering,
the work of bees and of your servants’ hands,
an evening sacrifice of praise,
this gift from your most holy Church.
But now we know the praises of this pillar,
which glowing fire ignites for God’s honour,
a fire into many flames divided,
yet never dimmed by sharing of its light,
for it is fed by melting wax,
drawn out by mother bees
to build a torch so precious.
O truly blessed night,
when things of heaven are wed to those of earth,
and divine to the human.
The sanctifying power of this night
dispels wickedness, washes faults away,
restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners,
drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty.
On this, your night of grace, O holy Father,
accept this candle, a solemn offering,
the work of bees and of your servants’ hands,
an evening sacrifice of praise,
this gift from your most holy Church.
But now we know the praises of this pillar,
which glowing fire ignites for God’s honour,
a fire into many flames divided,
yet never dimmed by sharing of its light,
for it is fed by melting wax,
drawn out by mother bees
to build a torch so precious.
O truly blessed night,
when things of heaven are wed to those of earth,
and divine to the human.
I
InThePew
Guest
Returning to the original question, it really depends on what he wants to do. How many altar servers (or indeed none at all) is entirely a matter for him as is his choice of which preface/Eucharistic Prayer to use. In some things, flexibility is needed based on the circumstances in which mass is being celebrated but there are limits of course dictated, not just by liturgical law but also by common sense!
S
stpurl
Guest
Common sense, alas, isn’t all that common anymore.
- Status