All Altar Servers must make themselves
available for all the Mass times at which ever church site they
choose to server at. Of course we would appreciate if servers would
being willing to serve at both of our Parish's church sites. Please
check the church site you are willing to serve at:
Our Lady of Sorrows
_________ St. Anthony _________
The Altar Servers form a very important part of
the church and every parish is enriched through their dedication and
service. It is a very important responsibility, and requires a
sincere commitment. Only if you are serious about committing to the
following expectations should you apply to be an Altar Server. Your
signature indicates your agreement to these expectations.
__________________________________________
_________________
Signature
Date
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Preface
It is a great privilege to serve at the Altar of our God and therefore
servers are chosen from those who display a desire for a more intimate union
with Our Lord and God, Jesus Christ. Our loving Savior becomes present on the
Altar, just as He was at the Last Supper and Calvary. Accordingly, servers have
a solemn responsibility to do their assigned duties with dignity and reverence.
The primary duty of an Altar Server is to assist the priest, as a
representative of the people of the parish, in a visible manner, as the mystery
of Calvary unfolds on the Altar. All actions of the server are woven from signs
and symbols whose meaning is rooted in the works of creation and in human
culture, specified by events in the Old Testament and fully revealed in the
person and work of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is imperative that all servers do
their assigned tasks in the prescribed form and manner.
Table of Contents
Since page numbers have no significance in HTML Documents.
Numbers have been removed in this document.
- Introduction
- Requirements for Altar Servers Candidates
- Responsibilities of Altar Servers
- Order of Preparation
- Arrival for The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
- Preparation for Mass
- Wine & Water
- Paten
- Chalice
- Bowl, plate and towel
- Candles
- General Instructions
- Order of the Mass
- Entrance Procession
- Opening Prayers
- The Alleluia
- The Gospel
- The Collection
- Preparation of the Gifts
- The Eucharistic Prayer
- The Closing Prayers
- The Exit Procession
- Duties after Mass
- Wine & Water Cruets
- The Chalice
- Bowl, Plate, & Towel
- The Candles
- General Closing Duties
- Appendices
- A Prayers
- The Greeting
- The Penitential Rite
- The Glory to God
- The Profession of Faith
- The Presentation
- The Prayer over Gifts
- The Holy Holy Holy
- The Memorial Acclimation
- The Lord's Prayer
- The Lamb of God
- The Communion Prayer
- The Altar Server Prayer
- B Genuflecting
- C The Sign of the Cross
- D Receiving Holy Communion
- E Prayer Position
- F Liturgical Objects
Introduction
Many parishes have Altar Servers start as young as seven years old and some
of these continue serving well into their seventies. All people of good faith
are welcome and those who think they may desire to sever are encouraged to do
so. All that is required is a desire to serve at the Altar of Our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
Saint Thomas said, "The celebration of the Holy Mass is as valuable as
the death of Jesus on the Cross." Padre Pio said, "It would be easier
for the world to survive without the sun than to do so without the Holy
Mass." What a honor to serve our Lord at this most praiseworthy gift of
love.
Requirements for Altar Servers Candidates
- A strong desire to serve at the Altar of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
- Be an active member of the parish community and believe in the teachings of
The Holy Catholic Church.
- Have already made their First Holy Communion. Know all the prayers of the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass from memory. The required prayers can be found in
Appendix A, Prayers.
- Know how to properly genuflect. See Appendix B, Genuflecting.
- Know how to make the sign of the Cross. See Appendix C, Sign of the Cross.
- Know how to receive Holy Communion in the approved manner. (See Appendix D,
Reverence in Receiving Holy Communion).
- Know the Real Presence of Jesus the Christ begins at the moment of the
consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsists.
"Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore
Masked by these bare shadows, shapes and nothing more,
See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.
Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived;
How says trusty hearing? That shall be believed;
What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do;
Truth himself speaks truly or there's nothing true."
St. Thomas Aquinas, "Adoro te devote"
Responsibilities of Altar Servers
The Altar Server must comply with all the following rules to continue to
serve at The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
- Attend Holy Mass on every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation when physically
possible.
- Cultivate a personal prayer life within the Church. The acts of faith, hope,
and charity enjoined by the first commandment are accomplished in prayer.
Lifting up the mind toward God is an expression of our adoration of God: prayer
of praise and thanksgiving, intercession and petition. Prayer is an
indispensable condition of being able to obey God's commandments.
- Altar Servers are not to leave the sanctuary after the start of the Mass for
any reason except bathroom emergencies, illness, or when directed to do so by
the deacon or priest. There are no other exceptions. If you think that there is
another good reason, ask the priest or deacon before leaving the sanctuary.
Thirst is never a good reason.
- Attend all Altar Server prayer and scheduling meeting as announced. Failure
to attend without sufficient reason will result in being removed from the Altar
Server list.
- Serve at every Mass they are scheduled for. When you fail to serve at a Mass
without sufficient cause you are denying the whole parish of one member of the
team. See on how to arrange for a substitute when you know in advance of a
scheduling conflict.
- Arrive at the Mass to be served at least ten minutes before the starting
time to prepare for the Celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist.
- Perform the duties assigned during the Mass in the prescribed orderly
manner. Never trade positions with other servers without the permission of the
server director, priest or deacon.
- Maintain a prayerful posture during at all times in the Sacristy. See the
posture requirements at end of this manual
- Stay for at least ten minutes after the Mass to return the Sanctuary,
Sacristy, and preparation areas to a neat and orderly appearance.
- Call the rectory office whenever you server cannot make a scheduled prayer
meeting.
- Make your own arrangements for another Altar Server to take your place when
you will miss a Mass you are scheduled to serve. Do not call the rectory if you
cannot make the Mass, you must find your own substitute. This requirement is not
in effect in the case of sudden illness or family emergencies but is to be
adhered to for sporting events, family scheduled events, and school events.
Order of Preparation
Arrival for Mass
Every Altar Server should perform these tasks when scheduled to serve at
Mass.
- Servers must arrive 15 minutes early for every Mass they are scheduled to
serve at.
- Quietly put on your alb and cincture in space designated for the Altar
Servers to dress in.
- At ten minutes to Mass time light one alter candle in the sanctuary if all
scheduled Altar Servers are not yet present. This will be a sign to anyone in
the main body of the church to come forward and volunteer to replace the missing
server(s).
Preparation for Mass:
Wine & water:
- Rinse wine and wine cruets with clean water and allow to drip dry for a few
seconds.
- Fill the wine cruet with the wine bottle. Depending on parish needs more
than one wine cruet may be required. The priest or deacon can inform you about
any unusual needs.
- Fill the other cruet with cold fresh water from the cooler, tap or bottled
water container.
- Place wine and water cruets on the offertory gift table in the designated
spot near the front entrance of the church or where ever designated by the
priest.
Paten:
- Remove the gold paten from where it is stored.
- Arrange about 25 small unconsecrated hosts and one large unconsecrated host
neatly on the gold paten.
- Place gold paten and unconsecrated hosts on the offertory gift table with
the wine and water cruets.
- The priest or deacon will tell you if further ciborium and hosts will be
required for the Mass. If they are place them on the Credence Table in the
Sanctuary.
Chalice:
- Get a clean Purificator from the Purificator drawer of the Preparation Table
in the sacristy.
- Open the first fold and drape it over the Chalice so the cross on the
Purificator is in the center of the Chalice and aligned with the cross at the
base of the Chalice.
- Remove the linen covered plastic Pall from the drawer and place it on the
chalice over the Purificator.
- Check the small book on the preparation table for the proper vestment color
or ask the priest or deacon.
- Get the proper color Chalice Veil and Burse from the drawer in the
preparation table.
- Cover the Chalice with the Veil.
- Make sure there is a Corporal in the Burse. If there is none then get one
form the Purificator drawer and place it into the Burse.
- Place the Burse, containing the Corporal, on the top of the Chalice.
- Place the prepared Chalice on the Credence Table in the Sanctuary.
- Arrange the Chalice on the Credence Table so the Chalice Veil is neat and
square with the table. The veil should hide the Chalice from the view of the
people.
Bowl, plate and towel:
- Remove the washing bowl from its storage spot and clean it if required.
- Get a clean, fresh towel from the towel drawer in the preparation table.
Place the bowl, and towel on the Credence Table.
Candles:
- At ten minutes to mass time light one candle (the one near the sacramentary)
if all Altar Servers are not present. If all scheduled servers are present or
some servers attending the Mass volunteer to replace the late scheduled servers,
light all the candles.
- After lighting the candles, extinguish the lighter. When using a taper
candle lighter the taper is to be extinguished by pulling the taper into the
lighter for a few seconds. After the taper is out, immediately push the taper
back out of the lighter body to keep it from sticking inside the lighter.
Note: If the taper is stuck when you go to use the lighter, the taper can be
freed by heating the lighter tip with matches until the wax holding the taper
melts. Be careful when working with wax and flames.
General Instructions:
- Get the sacramentary for the opening prayer from it place in the sanctuary.
- Check with the priest or deacon to make sure that the place marker is in the
pages for the day's Mass.
- Return the sacramentary to the its storage location in the Sanctuary for use
at the opening and closing prayers of the Mass.
- Ask the priest or your parents how many collections there will be and then
tell the other servers.
- Server Number One, The Cross Bearer, is the group leader and should check to
see that all the preparations have been properly carried out by the other
servers.
- At five minutes to Mass time, Server Number One should lead the group in the
Altar Servers' Prayer.
- A four minutes to Mass time light the altar and tabernacle candles for Mass.
- At three minutes to Mass time move to the front doors to wait for the ushers
to prepare for the procession.
Order of the Mass
Entrance Procession:
Wait for the priest at the entrance where the Entrance Procession is to
begin. Sometimes the usher will close the front doors and clear the center isle
for you. When signaled to go, the cross-bearer and the candle-bearers will
proceed into the isle and wait for the priest. The cross-bearer should stand at
the third pew from the back with the two candle bearers one pew behind him. If
more servers are present, they should line up behind the candle bearers. Servers
should wait in these positions for the start of the entrance hymn. At the start
of the entrance hymn, the servers will lead the entrance procession to the
Altar.
After entering the Sanctuary, the cross-bearer will face the altar, bow, and
move to the cross-bearer Mass position. Following the cross-bearer, the
candle-bearers will enter the Sanctuary and will also bow to the Altar and then
proceed to place their candles in their Mass places and then go to their Mass
positions. The cross-bearer will place the processional cross in the stand. All
servers will then genuflect to the tabernacle (at their assigned positions) when
the priest (and deacon) genuflect.
Opening Prayers:
During the Glory to God in the Highest (Lord have mercy
. during lent), the server behind the priest's chair (server number three)
will pick up the sacramentary and wait for the priest to say, Let us pray.
When the priest says, Let us pray, server three will proceed directly in
front of the priest. Server three will then give the priest the sacramentary.
The priest will then open the book and give it to server three to hold. Hold the
sacramentary at the height that the priest hands it to you. Keep the pages flat,
and do not move about while the priest is reading.
When the priest is finished, close the sacramentary and return it to its
place. Sit down in your chair for the first readings.
The Alleluia:
At the end of the second reading, during the Alleluia, servers two and three
should get up and walk to the procession candles on the Altar Steps. Servers two
and three should genuflect to the tabernacle and then pick up their candles.
They should stand facing the Altar with their candles and wait for the priest or
deacon.
The Gospel:
Servers two and three should then bow to the Altar with the priest or deacon
and then proceed to the gospel stations at either side of the podium when the
priest or deacon move to the podium. The other servers should stand at their
normal positions when the people and stand.
Servers two and three should stand at the gospel positions. The servers
holding the candles should face the reader during the Gospel. All servers should
pay very close attention to the words of Jesus in the gospel and face the reader
to demonstrate to the people how they are paying attention.. The arm that is
holding the upper part of the candle should point toward the people.
Maintain these positions during the gospel and then return the candles to
altar step again when the Gospel is over, Genuflect to the tabernacle, and
return to your seats. Sit down and listen to the homily.
The Collection:
All servers sit with the people during the collection. Candle-bearers, during
the last collection, when the ushers are about half of the way down the middle
aisle, will stand up and proceed to their candles and then genuflect to the
tabernacle in unison. After genuflecting, they should pick up the candles and
proceed to the back of the church.
When the ushers have the procession ready, turn toward the altar and lead the
gift procession to the priest. Do not wait for the priest to tell you to move.
Start as soon as you are ready. It is always better to be ready than caught off
guard. The cross bearer (server #1) and the optional server (server #4) should
stand when the priest and deacon stand and follow them to receive the gifts.
Servers should wait at the left side, and behind, the priest. Server one should
take the water and wine cruets from the priest and place them on the credence
table. If there is no deacon. Take the gold paten with the unconsecrated hosts
first, then the cruets. The optional server(s) can take whatever the priest or
deacon hands them.
The candle-bearers should walk together (starting on your left foot) toward
the sanctuary. Never carry anything but your candle! When you reach the
sanctuary, pass around the priest and deacon and proceed to the front of the
altar. Set down your candles and genuflect to the tabernacle and move to
positions where they can help the priest and deacon accept the gifts.
Servers should take the intention book and place it on the lower shelf of the
credence table. Never set it on the Altar. The priest will take the collection
basket and place it in front of the altar or another appointed place.
Preparation of the Gifts:
Server one should remove the tops from the wine and water cruets and give
them to servers two (wine) and three (water). With server two having the open
wine cruet and server three having the water cruet, they should stand with their
toes touching the Altar step and wait.
Server two and three should hand the deacon or priest the wine or water as
directed. Stand together until the deacon or priest is finished. If it is the
priest who takes the wine and water, bow together to the priest when he is
finished and returns the cruets to them (never bow to the deacon). Return to the
credence table with the water cruet where server number one should give server
two an unfolded finger towel and server three the washing bowel.
Server one should then stand ready to assist the younger servers if the need
arises.
Servers two and three should return to the altar step and stand there with
your toes touching the step. When the priest comes to you, server three should
hold out the bowl. Server three should then pour the water over the priest's
hands, collecting the water in the bowl until the priest signals the server to
stop pouring. Server two will then hand the towel to the priest. When server
three has the towel back, both servers should bow to the priest and return to
the credence table. Server number one should then neatly arrange the cruets,
towel, and bowl on the table.
No server is to sit down. They are to return to the altar and stand. Remain
standing there until all kneel. Server number one should stay in this position
until after all are kneeling.
The Eucharistic Prayer:
All servers return to there normal positions and kneel on the Altar Step.
The Altar Bells
The bells will be rung at three separate times during the Consecration:
First:
- When the priest holds his hands over the gifts of wine and water and says:
Eucharistic Prayer No 1: "Bless and approve . . . Let it become for us the
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord."
Eucharistic Prayer No 2: "Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make
them holy, so that they may become the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Eucharistic Prayer No 3: "We ask you to make them holy by the Power of Your
Spirit, that they may become the Body and Blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ."
Eucharistic Prayer No 4: "Father, may this Holy Spirit sanctify these
offerings. Let them become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. . . .
- The server should ring the bell again (three distinct rings; one for the
Father, one for the Son, and one for the Holy Spirit) during the elevation of
the Body of Jesus Christ our God.
- The server should ring the bell for the last time (three distinct rings as
before) during the elevation of the Blood of Jesus Christ.
Because these are solemn times, (the bread and wine we offered just before
has now become the real BODY and BLOOD of Our God, Jesus Christ) ring the bells
reverently. At the two elevations, the bells are to be shaken three distinct
times in honor for the Holy Trinity: Once for the Father, Once for the Son, and
Once for the Holy Spirit.
The Closing Prayers:
Server number two should assist the priest or deacon in removing all objects
from the Altar after the purification of the chalice, paten, and ciborium(s). If
any chalice, paten or ciborium which has held the Eucharistic Bread and/or Wine
has not been purified by the priest or deacon for some reason it must be handled
in a very reverent manner since the Real Body of Jesus Christ is still present
in them. Even after these items have been purified, they must still be held in
reverence because of the sacramental use of these items during the Consecration.
All servers are to sit until the priest says: "Let us pray" then
server three will proceed directly in front of the priest and give the priest
the sacramentary. The priest will then open the book and give it to server three
to hold. Hold the sacramentary at the height that the priest hands it to you.
Keep the pages flat, and do not move about while the priest is reading. When the
priest is finished, close the sacramentary and return it to the stand behind the
deacon's chair.
Note: Some times the priest will say the final prayer from the Altar and the
book will not be needed.
All servers should then be standing in front of their chairs and follow along
with the people.
The Exit Procession:
When the priest and deacon are kissing the altar, servers two and three
should proceeded to the front of the Altar, genuflect to the tabernacle, pick up
the candles, and return to their standard positions. Cross-bearer should pick up
the processional cross. When the priest and deacon have walked around to the
center of the altar the servers should take up their final procession positions.
When the priest and deacon genuflect, all servers bow to altar. All servers then
turn and proceed quickly down the center aisle. Extinguish candles in rear of
the church and get back to the sacristy as quickly as possible.
Duties after Mass
The Wine & Water Cruets:
- Water and wine cruets when the wine cruet did not contain the Blood of
Jesus:
- Remove cruets from credence table.
- Pour unused wine back into bottle.
- Rinse wine and wine cruets with clean water.
- Place wine and water cruets on drainer.
- Wine cruets when the wine cruet contains the Blood of Jesus:
- Remove the cruets from credence table.
- Set the wine cruet on the special locked sink in the sacristy for the priest
or deacon to purify. Do not rinse out the wine cruet if it contains the Precious
Blood of Jesus.
The Chalice:
- Remove the Chalice and Ciboria from the Credence Table. Also remove any
other cups used in the distribution of the Precious Blood of Jesus during the
Mass.
- Place all used Purificators in the special linen bag reserved for their
keeping.
- Return Chalice Veil to drawer.
- Place Corporal and Burse in the drawer.
- Place Chalice and gold Paten in their proper places.
- Place linen covered Pall in the drawer.
- Place Chalice and Ciboria in their proper places.
- Place any cups used in the distribution of the Precious Blood on the sink
specially reserved for the purification of Holy Objects. The priest or deacon
will take care of these.
Note: When they are not available, you should be sure that nothing from these
cups gets into a regular sink. Only the special sink (with locking cover) is
specially set aside for this purpose.
The Bowl, plate and towel:
- Remove bowl, towel, and dish from credence table.
- Dry bowl with towel.
- Place towel in linen bag.
- Place bowl and dish in proper places.
The Candles:
Extinguish the candles by using the proper tool. Do not smash the wicks. If
you use your fingers instead of the tools provided, look like you feel no pain.
It is distracting to see servers acting scared of a little candle.
General Closing Duties:
- Return the intention book to the front door of the Church. Clean up any mess
you made.
- Pick up the lectionary (book of readings) from the Sanctuary and place it
closed on the pulpit.
- Remove all notes and papers from the sanctuary and Pulpit and place them on
the preparation table in the Sacristy.
- Quickly and quietly take off your cincture and alb. Place it neatly on a
hanger (in the Altar Server closet).
Appendix A Prayers
Every Altar Server must be able to recite the prayers of the Mass from memory
before he or she is allowed to start Altar Server Training.
These prayers are to be memorized as printed here:
The Greeting:
Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Servers: Amen.
The Penitential Rite:
I confess to Almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have
sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have
done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask Blessed Mary, ever virgin, all
the angles and saints, and you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the
Lord our God.
The Glory to God:
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth. Lord God,
heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship You, we give You thanks, we
praise You for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God,
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. You are
seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For You alone are
the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father, Amen.
The Profession of Faith:
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all
that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of
God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God
from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through Him all
things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven:
server(s) bow here as you say
by the Power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became
man.
server(s) end bow here and continue saying
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and
was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures; He
ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come
again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no
end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from
the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and
glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one
baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen
The Presentation:
Priest: Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we
have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It
will become for us the bread of life.
Server: Blessed be God forever.
Priest: Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we
have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will
become our spiritual drink.
Server: Blessed be God forever.
The Prayer over Gifts:
Priest: Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the
almighty Father.
Server: May the Lord accept this sacrifice at your hands for the praise and
glory of His Name, for our good, and the good of the whole church.
The Holy Holy Holy:
Server: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are
full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the Name
of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Memorial Acclimation:
Server: Christ has died.
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
The Lord's Prayer:
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and
forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead
us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
The Lamb of God:
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.
The Communion Prayer:
Priest: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are
those who are called to His Supper.
Server: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I
shall be healed.
The Altar Server Prayer:
Oh Lord, My God, I humbly come to serve at your Altar by assisting your priest
in offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Please give me the grace to perform
my duties with reverence, attention, and devotion for you are worthy of all my
love. I ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Appendix B
Genuflecting
Whenever an Altar Server is entering the sanctuary or crossing in front of
the tabernacle, the server must genuflect. (Exception: do not genuflect while
carrying anything. Genuflect after you have set down what you were carrying).
You should genuflect this way:
- Stop in front of the tabernacle then turn and face the tabernacle.
- Genuflect on the right knee so the right knee touches the floor.
- Pause with knee on the floor and bow your head to Jesus present in the
tabernacle.
- Rise from the floor, still facing the tabernacle.
- Turn and continue in the direction you were heading.
Genuflection is one of the two preferred ways to witness to the Real Presence
of Our God, Jesus Christ, when receiving Holy Communion in the standing posture.
Genuflection is used in the Roman Rite and the profound bow is used in the
Eastern Rites. Do not use the wrong method in your Rite.
Note: In private devotions, it is acceptable to make the Sign of the Cross
while genuflecting. For serving uniformity in the sanctuary, omit the Sign of
the Cross.
Never genuflect to anything but the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharistic
Bread or Wine. Catholics do not genuflect to bishops, priests, statues, altars,
crosses, crucifixes, or anything else but the Real Presence of our God. If you
see someone else doing this, ignore them they are misinformed about our
faith.
Note: Never genuflect when carrying the Procession Cross, books, or lit
candles as you may harm yourself or others.
Appendix C
The Sign of the Cross
The sign of the cross is an external acknowledgment of our Triune God
(Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and our salvation through the Cross of Jesus.
Each Altar Server should make the sign of the cross in a uniform military
fashion when in the Sanctuary. This is to promote a simple statement of order
flowing from the Peace of Jesus, and the Unity of the Holy Trinity present in
the Sanctuary.
The Sign of the Cross is done in the following manner:
- Start with the hands held in the prayer position shown on the previous page
and say, " In the name of " . . . With the right hand touch the center
of the forehead with the tip of your right index finger and say, . . . "
The Father and of ". . .
- Move the right hand to the center of your chest and touch it as you say, . .
." The Son, and of " . . .
- Move the right hand and touch your left shoulder as you say, . . . "
The Holy " . . .
- Move the right hand and touch your right shoulder as you say, . . . "
Spirit " . . .
- Return to the prayer hand position and say, . . . " AMEN. "
Appendix D,
Receiving of Holy Communion
The presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is a real and true presence. The whole
substance of the bread and wine is transformed into the real substance of Jesus'
resurrected Body and Blood. While the appearance of the bread and wine remain,
it is no longer bread and wine. It is, after the words of Consecration, the
whole Jesus Christ, truly, really, and substantially contained. The whole
substance of the bread is changes into the substance of the body of Jesus Christ
and the whole substance of the wine is changed into the substance of his blood.
This change is called transubstantiation.
All Catholics may receive Holy Communion either standing or kneeling. If
received kneeling, there is no further requirement for an outward sign of
reverence; if receiving while standing, an appropriate acknowledgment of the
Real Presence of Jesus Christ (e.g. Liturgical norms call for an act of
adoration before reception of the Body and Blood of Our God, Jesus Christ. This
is, in most parishes, either a genuflection (or a profound bow) should be given.
For the purposes of uniformity, all Altar Servers will receive Holy Communion
on the tongue, not in the hand. Prior to receiving Holy Communion, the server is
to bow from the waist to Jesus in the consecrated bread and wine as the priest,
deacon, or extraordinary minister says: "The Body of Christ" or
"The Blood of Christ."
Altar Servers are permitted to receive both the Body and Blood (if they so
wish) of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. If the server has not yet received the
Sacrament of Confirmation, check with your parents or guardians before receiving
the Blood of Jesus as it still has the appearance and taste of strong wine even
though it is truly the Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. As stated above, this
is called the Transubstantiation.
Because of the congestion around the Altar at the start of the Communion of
the Faithful, Altar Servers may have to move to the sides of the church to
receive the Blood of Jesus with the rest of the parishioners. It will look more
orderly because of servers on both sides of the Altar at this time. This should,
in no way, deter any server from proceeding to the side of the church to receive
the Blood of Jesus.
Altar servers are encouraged to receive every Sunday and receive the
Sacrament of Penance at least once a month.
Appendix E
Prayer Position
Jul-Sep
