Holy Helpers Altar Server Guild
"Persevere in God's Service To The End"
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory; have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain for me from God, for Whom you gave up all things and Who loves you as His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, Whose beatific vision you enjoy, and Whom you praise and glorify forever. Amen.
TRAINING GUIDE
The Collect (The Priest Says “Let Us Pray”)
Boys are to wear black pants, black socks, and black dress shoes under the black cassock. There are also black shoes available in the closet in the rear sacristy.
Girls are to wear dress pants or dress/skirt with flat, black dress shoes (ballet flats, for example) under the white alb. Hair should be neatly tied back.
If any of this is a financial burden for you, please speak with Dale Freund or Father.
Altar servers are to arrive 15 minutes before mass.
This guide can be accompanied by two videos of the mass. The videos are fairly close to the textual guide below, however the textual guide is more up to date with our Priest’s requests. So use the textual guide as main source of instruction.
Mass with 3 Servers: https://youtu.be/uWk6ENbpbJM
Mass with 2 Servers: https://youtu.be/zk_WF74h7iQ
Though some responsibilities are shared between altar servers, each altar server does also have unique responsibilities.
Altar Server One (Book Related):
Altar Server Two (Vessel Related):
Process walking slowly. If there are three servers, a server holding the crucifix will process followed by the two servers holding candles walking side by side.
Just prior to approaching the sanctuary, the servers stop, stepping to the side, making room for Father and lector. The server with the crucifix steps to the right. The servers with the candles step to the right and left respectively.
The servers wait until the lector places the Book of the Gospels on the altar and returns, genuflects and Father steps into the sanctuary and approaches the altar for veneration. The servers then step into the sanctuary, proceed into the left sacristy--the crucifix-holding server behind the candle holding servers. Candles and crucifix are placed in the sacristy.
The altar servers with candles exit the sacristy walking in front of the altar, stopping to bow together, and stand in front of their designated seats in the sanctuary. If there is a seat designated for the third altar server with the crucifix he may proceed to his seat similarly.
Altar Servers participate in reciting the penitential rite and striking their chest as they say these words “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault”.
During the Gloria, the Altar Servers will bow their head when they hear the name of Our Lord:
...
For you alone are the Holy One;
you alone are the Lord.
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
...
Altar server one will proceed with the Roman Missal in front of him continuing to hold the missal in a position that is easy for the priest to open. The altar server holds the Missal in a reclined position easy for the Priest to read. If the altar server is taller, he shall stand to the left side of the priest, still holding the missal in front of the priest
The first reading is read and the Psalm is sung or said. After the second reading is finished, both servers get up and proceed around the front of the Altar, pausing and bowing, and continuing to the sacristy to retrieve the candles. They immediately walk to the altar and stand at attention facing the congregation waiting for the priest to retrieve the Gospels between them. They process to the ambo. They position themselves on both sides of the ambo for the duration of the Gospel reading, each facing the ambo. After the reading and when the congregation responds “Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ”, the altar servers return to the sacristy with the candles. They exit the sacristy, leaving the candles, with hands folded and proceed around the front of the altar, pausing to bow and return to their seats for the priest’s homily.
The altar servers are to recite the nicene creed and bow their heads in humility as they say they words:
“ by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.”
After the creed is said, the second lector approaches the sanctuary and altar server one shall bring the prayers of the faithful (often a binder) as he did the Missal. Again, if the altar server is taller, he shall stand slightly to the left of the priest, still holding the binder in front of the priest.
Immediately after the prayers of the faithful, the altar server one brings the Roman Missal to the altar and places it on the stand, unopened. He then proceeds around the front of the altar, pausing to bow, and continues to the table where the sacred vessels are placed.
At the same time, the altar server two proceeds around the front of the altar, pausing to bow and continues to the table where the sacred vessels are placed. This altar server immediately brings the Chalice, Purificator, Paten, and Pall to the altar. This should be place to the right of the center of the altar so the priest does not have to move it to make room for the corporal.
Near the table where the sacred vessels were previously placed, the altar servers stand at prayerful attention facing the altar.
When Father proceeds to the front the sanctuary, the altar servers follow him and stand at his right and left and await the gifts. Money basket goes in front of the altar. The servers each take one of two cruets walking side by side back to the table, removing the lids and leaving them on the table.
The servers then immediately walk side by side and in unison to the altar ready to assist the Priest. The cruets should be handed to the priest with the servers’ right hand with the handle pointed towards the priest. The altar servers bow. The cruets are returned to the table with the lids replaced.
One server stands to the right with the small pitcher and bowl; the other stands to the left with a towel. They immediately approach Father in unison ready to assist. The bow when finished.
The altar servers take their position for the Consecration standing behind the Holy Communion rail, on either side. Altar server one stands behind the right rail. Altar server two stands behind the left rail.
The altar servers kneel after the “Holy, Holy, Holy”
The altar servers’ eyes are fixed on the priest--only the priest.
The bells are firmly rung by altar server two once at blessing of gifts
“Make Holy Therefore these Gifts”...
The bells are firmly rung three times by altar server two when the priest holds high the consecrated host (The Body of Christ) after the prayer of consecration
“This is My Body…”
The altar servers’ eyes are lifted up and fixed on the Jesus in the Eucharist--only Jesus in the Eucharist.
The bells are firmly rung three times by altar server two when the priest holds high the chalice (The Blood of Christ) after the prayer of consecration:
“This is the Chalice of My Blood”
The priest kneels before the Eucharist and the altar servers bow their heads.
The altar servers rise at the “Great Amen”.
At this point, the altar servers go to the priest for sign of peace then retrieve the patens and return to the Holy Communion rail standing at attention.
After the “Lamb of God”, the altar servers kneel at the Communion rail. When the priest or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion approaches them with the Eucharist, they shall receive on the tongue with the paten held closely underneath their chin.
The altar servers shall then stand up and place themselves to the left of the priest and to the right of the Eucharistic minister. Patens should be used carefully, as to catch the Host if it were to fall.
When the communion procession is complete the patens are placed on the altar.
The altar servers stand at attention and wait for the priest to return the ciborium to the tabernacle. When the priest genuflects (kneels) at the tabernacle, the altar servers and anyone on the altar join him with great reverence.
Immediately, altar server two approaches the altar and stands ready with a cruet filled with Holy Water. When needed, he hands this to Father. He bows when finished
The altar servers stand at attention and waiting for patens and vessels to be placed on right side of the altar by the priest. They are retrieved by altar server two.
The servers return to their seats walk in front of the altar pausing to bow. Altar server one retrieves the Roman Missal.
The altar server seated to the left of the Priest will proceed with the Roman Missal in front of him continuing to hold the missal in a position that is easy for the priest to open. The altar server holds the Missal in a reclined position easy for the Priest to read. If the altar server is taller, he shall stand to the left side of the priest, still holding the missal in front of the priest
After the St. Michael prayer, the altar servers proceed to the sacristy in front of the altar pausing to bow. Once retrieving the candles, they immediately stand at the foot of the sanctuary facing the altar. They wait for the priest and bow with him. They turn and exit the church slowly when the priest turns (in the same order they entered the church).