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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.