Liturgical matters

One way of enriching our Sunday liturgy is for the altar servers to be much more actively involved in celebrating the Mass. And that is what has now happened.
Vested in their distinctive hooded albs with red cinctures at St Columba’s, servers have the privilege of assisting the priest (or bishop) at the Eucharist and other liturgical rites. In addition, they add to the solemnity and tone of the celebration by their reverence and attention to the action of the rite. They also play a leading role, along with the congregation, in giving the responses to the various spoken parts of the liturgy.

But before we go any further, let’s get the terms right.
Altar servers perform their duties at the altar – not on the altar – and they serve in the sanctuary. The altar is essentially a table at which the Mass, a re-creation both of the Last Supper and of the sacrifice of Calvary, takes place. The altar is within the sanctuary, that clearly-defined and distinctive area of the church where liturgical rites are carried out.

The term ‘altar boy’ used to be common but that is no longer appropriate. To start with, although this ministry was once the exclusive preserve of males, girls and young women are now just as welcome to serve at Mass as boys and young men. In addition, the ministry of server, which is a great privilege, is not restricted just to youngsters. Mature men and women are also welcome. Two of our three new MC’s – it stands for Master of Ceremonies – are mature family men. In other words, age is irrelevant. (Any adult members of the parish, of whatever age, who would like to serve would be most welcome either on Sundays or at weekday Masses – if you are interested, contact Deacon Philip.) The important thing is that the altar server, whether male or female, should have reached what the Church describes as the ‘age of reason’. That’s the point at which a Catholic is considered to have attained a state of moral responsibility and is old enough to observe various legal and moral prescriptions, for example the obligation to fast and abstain.

We are all familiar with the way our altar servers have carried out their duties in the past. That has basically entailed processing in front of the priest to the altar at the beginning of Mass, accompanying and assisting him throughout as necessary. Their main duties have been to help with the gifts at the Offertory procession, bring forward the water and wine, wash the priest’s fingers at the Lavabo and ring the bell at the (four) appropriate times.

So what’s happening now? See if you spotted the changes…

Cross bearer The procession from the sacristy to the sanctuary may be headed by one of the servers carrying a processional cross. (Have you seen our impressive new cross, a gift in memory of Tony Gibbs, a former parishioner and collector…?) At sung Masses, that procession makes its entrance into the church through the main doors, with the priest, deacon and servers approaching the altar via the centre aisle. The cross bearer also leads the procession out of church at the end of Mass. Thurifer Leading the way on special occasions is a server carrying a thurible accompanied by another with the boat containing incense. The thurible is used for incensing/blessing during the Mass on four separate occasions. Those are at the beginning – to incense the altar; at the Gospel – to incense the Book of the Gospels before it is proclaimed; at the Offertory – to incense the gifts and the altar, also the priest himself and the congregation; and at the Consecration – to incense the consecrated bread and wine (or rather, the body and blood of Christ) as they are elevated for adoration by the congregation.

Acolytes
At most Sunday Masses now there will be acolytes, two servers carrying ceremonial candles. They take up position on either side of the lectern from which the Gospel is being proclaimed in order to emphasise the importance of the Word of God. They lead the Offertory procession up the centre aisle from the back of the church as it brings forward the gifts of bread and wine and people’s offerings. Finally, they take up position below the altar step for the Consecration, again in order to highlight the importance of this central part of the Mass.

So next time you go to Mass, watch out for the changes – and do be patient with our young servers, some of whom are still learning their new duties…

Deacon Philip

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