Too old to be an Altar Boy?

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DerKreuzritter

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My parish is one of few Diocesan traditional catholic parishes. I’ve always wanted to be an altar boy but my parish is about 45 minutes away and my parents never wanted to drive me. But I just turned 16 and I got my license. But I feel it would be kind of weird because my little cousin serves the Latin Mass and would be teaching me the ropes per say. Now reading over this it seems kinda of amusing.
 
I started serving the Latin Mass when I was 16. Most of the servers in my parish are from 14 to 17.
 
I’ve seen young kids, older kids, adults, and adult sacristans all serving at some FSSP Masses I’ve been to. I can’t imagine them turning you away just because you’re 16. So don’t let your embarrassment about your cousin’s involvement keep you from doing something you want to do. 🙂 Be happy for him that he has his experience, and be happy that you have the opportunity to share it with him, and be happy that you give him the opportunity to help you grow. 💙
 
You are not too old. Go for it. It is a great privilege to be close to the alter. I like seeing guys your age serving!
 
It’s good to know I’m not the only one. My friend and I are the one of the only boys that aren’t altar boys.
 
A quote from a 50 year-old man that I know that began serving the TLM, “There’s nothing as humiliating as having a 14 year-old having to tell me what to do.” But he hung in there and became a very important part of our community, and the priests relied on him heavily. If a 50 year old can do it, you certainly can.
 
I’ve known of men well into their senior years serving. I’d say you’re only too old when the earthly form is no longer in possession of the soul.
 
I’m 25 and I serve TLM, as well as a man who’s around 50 years old at my parish. Don’t worry!
 
At the FSSP Parish near me, there are Altar Servers who are little kids and others who are in their 20s, 40s, 60s, and 70s
 
The SSPX mass I go to has one altar server in his teens but the other one is probably pushing 40!
 
One of our altar servers is an elderly retiree who assists at weekday masses.

He’s older than our pastor, who is also no spring chicken.
 
I have six grandchildren, and am up on the altar serving most weeks.

Granted, byzantine practice is generally adult men, with a few boys to help when available, but my daughter’s get a kick out of “Daddy is an altar boy!”

I volunteered one week when there was only one man up there, telling Fr. Nils that I had no idea what I was doing, and that it had been decades since being a roman rite altar boy.

After that, if I didn’t enter the sacristy and vest when I arrive, he would come down and pull me 🙂

Go ahead; ask the priest. I’m sure that he’ll are happy to have the help.

hawk
 
The altar servers at my parish are in their 70s. Lotta greyhairs in the pews, as well. One parishioer at the early mass is 99! He doesn’t serve, though.
 
Go for it! In our parish they go until high school graduation, or thereabouts. You’ll get two years in. Just for the experience, do it!
 
Go for it! I did it from fourth grade until my junior year in high school. I loved it. Occasionally I’ll still serve at funerals if they need me. It’s an awesome experience.
 
I was in my 50’s when I would fill in as an “Altar Boy” when the younger folks did not show up. So no, at 16 you are not too old to be an altar boy. One can serve at the Supper of the Lord at any age!
 
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Humility, learning from a younger person, is a lesson in itself.
 
Not only are you not too old, but a priest would probably welcome a high-school age altar server as being more likely to use the opportunity as part of discerning a vocation to the priesthood. In my experience, altar servers who begin after 8th grade come up to speed very quickly. They aren’t beginners for very long and typically take their place with servers their own age who started many years before they did.
 
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