Serving for the first time tomorrow

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Outstanding on my end. I had served the NO before, but serving the TLM was really something. I wish I could do it everyday.
 
I hope it went well.

I remember serving my first TLM. I told my priest that it felt like my first date with my future wife. 😃

And I forgot to close the sanctuary gate. Ah well. Lucky for me it was a Low Mass so it was less pressure.
 
Just got back 😃
Some thurifers genuflect with the thurible pulled in. I like it when they hold it at a constant level in one hand off to the side and genuflect. They have to actually raise their hand as they genuflect, thereby maintaining the height so the thurible doesn’t hit the ground. It takes a moment’s practice, but it looks cool!
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The little liturgical preference aside, maintaining a spirit of contemplation is the coolest thing you can do for a Mass and the congregation that is participating. So, above all things, don’t let the cassock catch on fire. It is a little distracting when they have to run for a fire extinguisher.
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Now you’re going to be paranoid about it all night, aren’t you.
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I did make sure to keep my arm level when I could, an no I did not catch the cassock on fire 😉

Three of us servers were new, trained yesterday, so not everything went so smoothly. The acolyte did not remove the Missal during the incensation of the altar before the Intoit; we knelt in the wrong places, at the wrong times at a couple points in the Mass; the bells were put away too early; I forgot to add more incense during the Sanctus (so there wasnt much left for the consecration); and I learned the hard way why the boat should be left on the credence table, not the thurible stand that wobbles. I also learned that you get hot under the cassock and surplice and two shirts, especialy when you are holding a thurible, so extra deordorant might be needed next time…

We have a tight sanctuary to work with, but it was good. I’ll be there next month
Outstanding on my end. I had served the NO before, but serving the TLM was really something. I wish I could do it everyday.
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Great! Congratulations 🙂
 
Caesar said:
I also learned that you get hot under the cassock and surplice and two shirts, especialy when you are holding a thurible
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Ain’t that the truth!

I always remove my tie and don’t wear an undershit when serving. It gets hot quickly.

And congrats. May you serve many, many more. 😃
 
This altar boy down in hot and humid New Orleans wore a simple dress shirt under his cassock and surplice. Same thing went 40 years into the future when I sang in my cathedral choir. When you vest, your vestmants are your garb not what you wear underneath.
 
brotherhrolf said:
This altar boy down in hot and humid New Orleans wore a simple dress shirt under his cassock and surplice. Same thing went 40 years into the future when I sang in my cathedral choir. When you vest, your vestmants are your garb not what you wear underneath.
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Yes, I’ll note that for next time. My collar was soaked when we got back into the sacristy.

I also discovered a pratical reason for the incense. Having a priest and four servers, each in several layers, squashed into a rather cramped sanctuary does not create the best of smells ;).

http://www.queenofangelsoratory.ca/London/londonchapel.jpg
 
Caesar said:
Just got back 😃

I did make sure to keep my arm level when I could, an no I did not catch the cassock on fire 😉

Three of us servers were new, trained yesterday, so not everything went so smoothly. The acolyte did not remove the Missal during the incensation of the altar before the Intoit; we knelt in the wrong places, at the wrong times at a couple points in the Mass; the bells were put away too early; I forgot to add more incense during the Sanctus (so there wasnt much left for the consecration); and I learned the hard way why the boat should be left on the credence table, not the thurible stand that wobbles. I also learned that you get hot under the cassock and surplice and two shirts, especialy when you are holding a thurible, so extra deordorant might be needed next time…

We have a tight sanctuary to work with, but it was good. I’ll be there next month

Great! Congratulations 🙂
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Welcome to the club. Kid:thumbsup:

One day, if I ever get over the embarrasment, I’ll let you know how I almost singlehandedly brought down in flames:eek: :bigyikes: a Mass celebrated by the late Archbishop Joesph Rummel: at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

It is still painful to remember that day.
 
palmas85 said:
Welcome to the club. Kid:thumbsup:

One day, if I ever get over the embarrasment, I’ll let you know how I almost singlehandedly brought down in flames:eek: :bigyikes: a Mass celebrated by the late Archbishop Joesph Rummel: at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

It is still painful to remember that day.
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Oh please share. I’m dying to know.
 
palmas85 said:
Welcome to the club. Kid:thumbsup:

One day, if I ever get over the embarrasment, I’ll let you know how I almost singlehandedly brought down in flames:eek: :bigyikes: a Mass celebrated by the late Archbishop Joesph Rummel: at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

It is still painful to remember that day.
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Palmas the firebug eh? 😃

You know I gotta hear that story now, and I don’t take no for an answer easily 😃
 
This Y’at adds his 2 cents too. I’m old enough to remember Abp. Rummel and to remember who replaced him. 😃
 
Caesar said:
I also learned that you get hot under the cassock and surplice and two shirts, especialy when you are holding a thurible, so extra deordorant might be needed next time…
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LOL! That sounds pretty familiar! :eek: 😉
 
When I was an altar boy growing up, I served for our church dedication. Cardinal Hickey presided. We were told by our pastor that the Cardinal would not incense the gifts before communion. I was the boat boy, so I thought this was great. Easy job, only have to walk in, and I get one of the best seats in the house. Sure enough, at communion time, we’re half dazed, and we notice everyone in the congregation staring at us. I turned to look into the sanctuary, and there was Cdl. Hickey waiting for incense, and our bishop, priest, and about 40 other priests giving us the stare. Oops!

Afterwards, our pastor apologized, and he told me a great story about how when he was a seminarian in Rome, he served as a thurifer at a Pontifical High Mass. John XXIII was Pope, and it was time for incensing the gifts. Fr. Pat, our pastor (now Bp. Patrick Zurek), reached down to lift up the thurible lid so Pope John could add incense, but he grabbed too low and took hold of the metal part. By the time he noticed the heat, the Pope was already adding incense, and he couldn’t just drop the lid on the POPE’S HANDS. So he just stood there bearing it. As the Pope finished, he moved away and Fr. Pat just let the lid fall down on top of the thurible. Pope John realized what happened and said in a gentle Italian-English manner, “Don’t let that happen again.”
 
Good God…

Caesar, I envy you so much…

COngrats on your first time as altar boy…

I serve at my NO parish, not nearly as satisfying as if it were a TLM… tear
 
Windmill said:
When I was an altar boy growing up, I served for our church dedication. Cardinal Hickey presided. We were told by our pastor that the Cardinal would not incense the gifts before communion. I was the boat boy, so I thought this was great. Easy job, only have to walk in, and I get one of the best seats in the house. Sure enough, at communion time, we’re half dazed, and we notice everyone in the congregation staring at us. I turned to look into the sanctuary, and there was Cdl. Hickey waiting for incense, and our bishop, priest, and about 40 other priests giving us the stare. Oops!

Afterwards, our pastor apologized, and he told me a great story about how when he was a seminarian in Rome, he served as a thurifer at a Pontifical High Mass. John XXIII was Pope, and it was time for incensing the gifts. Fr. Pat, our pastor (now Bp. Patrick Zurek), reached down to lift up the thurible lid so Pope John could add incense, but he grabbed too low and took hold of the metal part. By the time he noticed the heat, the Pope was already adding incense, and he couldn’t just drop the lid on the POPE’S HANDS. So he just stood there bearing it. As the Pope finished, he moved away and Fr. Pat just let the lid fall down on top of the thurible. Pope John realized what happened and said in a gentle Italian-English manner, “Don’t let that happen again.”
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Hahaha! Great story 👍
 
Windmill said:
When I was an altar boy growing up, I served for our church dedication. Cardinal Hickey presided. We were told by our pastor that the Cardinal would not incense the gifts before communion. I was the boat boy, so I thought this was great. Easy job, only have to walk in, and I get one of the best seats in the house. Sure enough, at communion time, we’re half dazed, and we notice everyone in the congregation staring at us. I turned to look into the sanctuary, and there was Cdl. Hickey waiting for incense, and our bishop, priest, and about 40 other priests giving us the stare. Oops!
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Was this in Cleveland, Ohio? Cardinal Hickey was Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland when I was growing up. I never actually attended a Mass that he said though. Bishop Pilla became the Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland after Bishop Hickey was transferred (to where I forgot).
 
Brother Hrolf is still waiting to hear his fellow Y’at’s story too.
 
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