20 Sacred Heart Altar Server Manual
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Sacred Heart Church
Altar Servers’ Manual
Altar servers are chosen from among the faithful who
display a desire to serve in a more intimate way during the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is an extreme privilege to
kneel so close to the altar as our loving Savior, Jesus Christ,
becomes truly present, body, blood, soul and divinity, at the
moment of Consecration. A server is uniquely joined in the
Heavenly Supper of the Lamb and serves in the company of
those eternally singing "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God
Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Accordingly, a
server has a solemn responsibility to do the assigned duties
with attention, dignity and reverence.
As Jesus “emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant . . .”
servers should set aside their own liturgical preferences and
attend to every action of the Mass as a team.
The primary duty of a server is to assist the priests and
deacons as the mystery of the Upper Room and Calvary
becomes present again at the Consecration. 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.
Altar servers have three primary positions during the Mass
when they are not performing a specific duty. These are
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Purificator - A linen cloth used by the priest or deacon to
dry the chalice after washing and purifying it. Used
Purificators must always be placed in the proper container
for sacred cloths.
Pall - A square piece of cardboard or plastic which is
covered by linen and used to cover the chalice.
Sacramentary - The book containing the prayers said by
the priest during the Mass.
Sacrarium - A sink with it drain going directly into the
ground usually fitted with a cover and lock which is used
for the disposal of the following: The sacred linen wash
and rinse water, used holy water, used baptismal water and
blessed ashes. No other use is allowed.
Stock - The metal containers used to hold the oil of the
catechumen, the oil of chrism and the oil for anointing the
sick.
Stoup - The holy water fonts at the entrances of the
church.
Surplice - A wide sleeved, linen worn over a cassock by
clergy and altar servers in some parishes.
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standing, sitting and kneeling. In any of these positions they
should maintain a straight formal posture. In the standing and
kneeling positions their hands should be held in the praying
position in front of their chest. When sitting the hands should
be held on the lap or at the sides. It is never proper to slouch
or hold hands in any other position which would be more
appropriate at a bus stop. Holding hands in the prayer
position is a medieval sign of submission to a manor lord and
is very appropriate to signify submission to our Divine Lord.
Remember, you are seen by all the parishioners and how you
conduct yourself is important to their understanding of the
Lamb's Supper.
Every altar server must attend every Mass they are scheduled
for. When a server cannot be present, that server must
arrange for a replacement.
Altar servers are on duty from the time they sign-in in the
sacristy before the start of Mass until they finish cleanup
after the end of Mass. During the Mass their duty station is
the sanctuary and a server may not leave the sanctuary
except as directed by a priest or a deacon. Apart from illness,
there is no excuse for leaving the sanctuary before Mass is
over.
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Requirements for serving at Mass
The following requirements apply to all candidates:
A person must have received first confession
and Holy Communion, and must be at least in
5th grade.
A candidate should also be required to know
the responses and principal prayers of the Mass:
The Gloria, Our Father, Nicene Creed,
Lamb of God, Lord, I am not worthy
and Holy, Holy, Holy.
They have shown sufficient effort to prove that
their desire to serve is genuine.
A candidate should know the definitions of items
used for liturgical purposes given at the end of this
manual.
Candidates must demonstrate the ability to make
use of the “tools of the trade” such as
matches, candle lighters, books and candles.
Attire
All altar servers wear the alb with cord. All servers must
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Corporal - A white linen cloth, usually with a cross in the
center, used to protect any particles of the Precious Body
and Blood of Jesus from falling to the altar cloth. It is
always folded and unfolded as to protect any particles
from being lost. The corporal is like the body winding
sheet used to hold the crucified body or Our Lord in the
tomb.
Credence Table - The table in the sanctuary where the
cruets, chalices and ciborium are kept before and after the
Consecration.
IHS - the first three letters of Jesus' Name in Greek and
often used to decorate the altar and other church facades.
Lectionary - The book of reading used for the liturgy of
the word. It usually contains all the biblical reading used
for the three year Sunday cycle of reading and the two
year daily Mass readings.
Monstrance. The monstrance is a glass-framed shrine in
which the Blessed Sacrament is publicly exposed. It may
be of gold, silver, brass, or copper gilt The most
appropriate form is that of the sun emitting its rays to all
sides. The base should be wide, and at a short distance
above it there should be a knob for greater ease in
handling. In the middle of the monstrance is a receptacle
for a large host. The front and back of this receptacle is
usually made of glass.
Paten - A small saucer shaped plate of precious metal that
holds the Host. No lay person should ever touch the paten
so be very careful when handling it in your official duties.
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DEFINITIONS
Ablution Cup - covered dish of water on the side of the
tabernacle which is used by the priest, deacon or
extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist to wash their
fingers after distributing Communion.
Ambo - The platform, lectern or pulpit from which the
reading and homily are given.
Burse - A square container for holding the corporal. It is
selected for the liturgical color of the day. Used Corporals
should always be placed in the proper container for sacred
cloths after mass.
Cassock - A long tunic like garment which reaches from
the neck to the heels which is warn by some servers and
clergy.
Chalice - A cup of precious metal that holds the wine
which becomes the Blood of Jesus after the consecration.
All chalices should be placed in their places after Mass. If
the Chalices were left unpurified by the priest or deacon for
some reason they should be left out on the presentation
table for purification by the priest or deacon. Never put an
unpurified chalice away.
Chalice Veil - A cloth covering used to hide the chalice and
paten up to the offertory and after Communion. It is
selected by the liturgical color for the service.
Ciborium - A large cup or container of precious metal with
a cover of the same material which will hold the Body of
Jesus after the consecration for distribution of Holy
Communion to the faithful.
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be aware that our albs are made of lightweight material
and what you wear underneath an alb will show through.
Dress shoes should be worn whenever possible. Sneakers,
no matter how expensive, are for casual dress and sporting
events and have no place at the Altar of Our God.
Be sure alb is long enough to
touch the top of ankles.
Genuflection
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Catholics only kneel or genuflect to Our Lord and God,
Jesus Christ. Genuflecting to the tabernacle, whenever
Jesus is reserved in the tabernacle, is required. Everyone,
servers included, should genuflect whenever crossing in
front of the tabernacle, or entering a pew. Jesus’ presence
in the tabernacle is usually signified by the lit sanctuary
light. When it is not lit, the tabernacle is empty as on
Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
When should a server genuflect? Whenever entering a
church pew, the sanctuary or crosses in front of the
tabernacle, they should face the tabernacle and genuflect.
Servers should remember that there is an exception to this.
Whenever they are carrying things like crosses or candles,
do not genuflect.
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Duties After Mass
Cross Bearer: after 5:30 and 8:30 Mass
cross goes in stand in sacristy.
After 10/11:00 Mass cross goes in stand in
the church.
Be sure alb is hung on hook in closet, hang
cincture on hook and hang cross of service
back on the correct grade level hook.
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Closing Prayers
All sit until the priest says: “Let us pray.” Server 2 will
get book and proceed directly in front of Father and hold
the book for him as with the opening prayer. When Father
is finished, he will close the Sacramentary. The server will
then return it to its’ stand.
All servers should then be
standing in their assigned
positions and follow along with
the people.
Exit Procession (Recessional)
When the priest and deacon move towards the altar, cross
bearer should get the processional cross, server 2 follows
directly behind and both proceed to the entrance position at
step. Everyone at this time should be facing the altar.
When Father and the deacon genuflect, all servers will
bow. Cross bearer leads followed by server 2.
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Duties of a Server Before Mass
At home, the server should dress in the proper clothes and
footwear for Mass as described above. If not properly
dressed, the server should not be allowed to serve at that
Mass.
After signing-in, get vested with an alb and a cord
corresponding to the proper liturgical color of the day. You
can always tell the color of the day by looking at the color
of Father’s chasuble. Altar Servers will wear the crucifix
which designates their grade level.
Always ask Father if there is anything special for the day.
Upon Father’s instructions, get the procession cross and
meet Father at the back of Church.
Duties of a Server During Mass
In a procession, the cross-bearer (server #1) will lead
everyone to the sanctuary. When incense is used, the
incense bearer will lead the procession.
The
cross-bearer will bear to the left
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standing in front of the altar. Server #2 stand next to the
cross.
After the priest bows, the cross bearer will go put the
processional cross into the stand and be seated.
Near
the end
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After server #2 receives communion, he/she should take
the Sacramentary off the altar and put it on
the table beside the priest’s chair. Then both
sit in their chair during communion.
When Father comes back to Altar after communion both
servers to go altar, one with the cruet of
water, the other stands waiting.
Server with cruet will pour as directed
by Father, other server will return cups,
ciboria and purificators to credence
table as Father hands them to him/her.
Server with water cruet stays at altar
until Father directs other server to take chalice and both
servers go to credence table together.
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As soon as the Holy, Holy, Holy is sung, the servers will
proceed to the server carpet.
Bell Ringing
Server #2 will ring bells at Mass as follows
Once, when the Father holds his hands over the
gifts and calls on the Holy Spirit to come upon them.
Three times, at the elevation of the
Consecrated Host.
Three times, at the elevation of the
Consecrated Wine.
(No longer ringing as Father consumes
Blood of Christ)
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of the Glory to God in the Highest (Lord have mercy...during
Lent), server #2 wait for the priest to say, “Let us pray”.
When the priest says, “Let us pray”, the server will get
Sacramentary and stand in front of Father. Father will open
the book to the pre-marked position. Hold the book open so
the he can read the prayer. Keep the pages flat, your fingers
out of the text and do not move about while the priest is
reading. When the priest is finished, close the Sacramentary
and return it to its’ book stand. Sit down in your chair for the
readings.
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During the offertory, the cross bearer, server #1, will bring
the chalice to the altar and place on right corner then
proceed to processional cross and go to the back of the
church to lead gift bearers forward as Father is ready.
Server #2 will bring the Sacramentary and book stand to
the altar , the cups (2 at a time), 4 purificators and stand
back while Father prepares altar.
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When Father goes to receive the gifts, server #2 should
assist Father in receiving the gifts. The cross bearer will
place the processional cross in the stand, get water cruet
from credence table and wait at altar with server #2.
Both servers go to credence table together to get water
bowl and towel proceed to Father and wait. After Father
washes hands he will give you wine carafe to be taken
back to credence table together and wait, standing at
chairs.