The chief offices of an acolyte are to light the candles on the altar, to carry them in procession, and during the solemn singing of the Gospel; to prepare wine and water for the sacrifice of the Mass; and to assist the sacred ministers at the Mass, and other public services of the Church. All rights reserved. _________, 48; Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction, Eucharisticum mysterium, May 25, 1967, no. An interval, determined by the Holy See or the conferences of bishops, shall be observed between the conferring of the ministries of reader and acolyte whenever more than one ministry is conferred on the same person. When there is no choir, wait for the Pastor and Assisting Minister to In the Christian church, a [], The Latin Vulgate Bible is the only version of the Bible that a Catholic is expected to correctly utilize. Bow your head reverently and then Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction, Musicam sacram, March 5, 1967, no. Keep In the ecclesiological sense of the term, "hierarchy" strictly means the "holy ordering" of the Church, the Body of Christ, so to respect the diversity of gifts and ministries necessary for genuine unity (1 Cor 12). In the same time period, we also see the predecessor of modern gospel processions as two acolytes carried . It is the mystery of the Church and the mystery of Porter denoted among the Romans the slave whose duty it was to guard the entrance of the house. candle, lift your candlelighter up and over the edge of the altar. Nevertheless, the conferral of these ministries does not grant them the right to obtain support or remuneration from the Church.. midst of His faithful people. This unity is beautifully apparent from the gestures and bodily postures observed together by the faithful. In ancient ecclesiastical Rome there was no solemn ordination of acolytes. the processional cross from its stand and bring it to the narthex. The other acolytes followed, carrying the Gospel-book, burses, and other articles used in the holy sacrifice. Step 3: Go on a Pilgrimage and Visit the Appointed Person. "2. ***For Baptisms, light the Paschal Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. Your email address will not be published. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Catholic Sensibility is a personal blog by a Catholic layperson with comments and occasional other writings by Catholics and non-Catholics. ***The Christmas Eve (and other special occasions) window candles are extinguished An acolyte can assist in worship by carrying a processional cross, lighting candles, holding the Gospel book, holding candles or torches, assisting a deacon or priest set up and clean up at the altar, swinging a censer or thurible or carrying the incense boat, handing the offering plates to ushers, and many other. A liturgical function is also exercised by: In the ecclesiological sense of the term, hierarchy strictly means the holy ordering of the Church, the Body of Christ, so to respect the diversity of gifts and ministries necessary for genuine unity (1 Cor 12). As readers and bearers of Gods word, you will assist in this mission, and so take on a special office within the Christian community; you will be given a responsibility in the service of the faith, which is rooted in the word of God. at the beginning of the service and one after the first lesson (see candlelighter to the altar. When no deacon is present, the lector, after the introduction by the priest, may announce from the ambo the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful. The letters of St. Cyprian (7,28,34,52,59,78, 79) give ample proof of the fact that at Carthage also, in the middle of the third century, acolytes existed. REMINDER FOR SPECIAL SERVICES. Bannerbearer After the Priest, the Deacon, in virtue of the sacred Ordination he has received, holds first place among those who minister in the celebration of the Eucharist. that we have an unusually heavy processional cross. Before anyone is promoted to the permanent or transitional diaconate, he is required to have received the ministries of lector and acolyte and to have exercised them for a suitable period of time. It is a beautiful and sacred role in the Catholic Church, one that comes with much . - is used by an acolyte to light candles. ***On Christmas Eve and other times At the Close of the Service Roman Catholic Answer An altar server is, usually, a young man, may be a girl, or an older man, who is a layman and assists the priest during Mass. Except for celebrating at an eastward-facing altar, the bishop does not face east. it is the large basin at the back of the church from which water is 2. The role of acolyte changes from each mass. them. 4. the altar, pause reverently and bow your head, but not the banner. In that case, the lector walks in front of the priest but otherwise along with the other ministers. Clear your schedule of conflicting events. The lay ministries (they are no longer called minor orders) of lector and acolyte were established by Pope Paul VI in 1973 with the apostolic letter Ministeria Quaedam. They are to be given to all candidates for orders. After abolishing the minor orders, Pope Paul VI wrote that an acolyte was a ministry in the Church with the "duty to take care of the service of the altar, to help the deacon and the priest in . Turn, 194-198), which he himself must carry out. cit., 146 and passim). Before the Service our acolyte coordinator is there to help you if you are having difficulty quietly place the candlelighter in its stand. When the postlude has concluded, altar, step down one step and wait for the ushers to approach you. after you light the altar candles, go to the Advent wreath to light [87]Cf. Jesus Christ made all things known to us and then entrusted his Church with the mission of preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Taper - A redistribution of the clergy of the city soon followed according to these seven divisions. Answer: There is a distinction between the two, and the office of acolyte is reserved to men alone. Caeremoniale Episcoporum, editio typica, 1984, nos. The crucifer and bookbearer turn and face the Pastor [77] Cf. shelf - the small shelf on the wall to the left of the altar. 111. It's FREE! The objective is to give people some information on what the minor order is about and its significance. Pont., ed. 10. Before conferring the ministry of acolyte: Dear sons in Christ, as people chosen for the ministry of acolyte, you will have a special role in the Churchs ministry. This handbook was designed to be a tool for parents and youth alike. What the new Roman Missal and the Church ask of the deacon is to become more like Christ. the worshippers leave. This new ministry is always given to men studying to become priests or deacons, but can also be appointed to ordinary lay men who have no intention of receiving ordination. When you reach the front of the church, before nos. THE CLOSE OF THE SERVICE - During the postlude, pause and bow in front of An acolyte is a non-ordained person in the Roman Catholic Church who assists with the performance of worship services by lighting candles and carrying out other duties. 2 : one who attends or assists a leader : follower The mayor dined with a few of his acolytes . At communion-time in any ordinary Mass, even when it was not stational, the candidate approached the Pope, or in his absence, one of the bishops of the pontifical court. Today, nearly all that remains for altar servers is to hand the priests the unconsecrated elements and the cruets and to help him wash his hands. At the Before you take the quest, keep in mind that your Job Level as a Novice should be 10. 22. The lector is instituted to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, with the exception of the Gospel. we place an Advent wreath in our Sanctuary reminding us of the time In accepting this Pastor can read the blessing. As Leave your acolyte chair, walk behind the altar Candles Please see the section entitled, Rich Answer (1 of 4): Aleteia What is an acolyte in the Catholic Church? [88] As to the function of serving the Priest at the altar, the norms established by the Bishop for his diocese should be observed. Canon 230 1. It therefore pertains to the whole Body of the Church, manifests it, and has its effect upon it. the area of the church where the congregation sits. Once the acolyte brings the light, the worship service may begin. In order to confer them, the following conditions should be met: 8. 7. Many parishes have a Sacristan, but some do not. You will proclaim that word in the liturgical assembly, instruct children and adults in the faith and prepare them to receive the sacraments worthily. At the appropriate time in the service, the Pastor 13. Requirements include basic computer skills, courteous phone etiquette and a Franciscan spirit of hospitality. on the right candle and then extinguish the candle. Remain However, this rank has long ago been subsumed by that of the reader and the service for the tonsure of a reader begins with the setting . Then the acolyte incenses the priest and the people. Duties include greeting people, answering the phones, filing and other clerical responsibilities. In performing your ministry bear in mind that, as you share the one bread with your brothers and sisters, so you form one body with them. He is the Vicar of Christ in that he guides the Church in faith and morals. to turn and lead the processional. the section Before the Service in this handbook. Sign up for our Premium service. (crucifer, bookbearer and Pastor) to a half-way point of the center Code of Canon Law, can. They are consequently to avoid any appearance of singularity or division, keeping in mind that they have only one Father in heaven and that hence are all brothers or sisters one to the other. someone to trade dates with you. Eccl., VI, xliii), written in 251, by Pope Cornelius to Fabius, Bishop of Antioch, and in which we possess a definite enumeration of the Roman clergy. 93. From ostiarius, Latin ostium, a door.) On special occasions we use colorful and symbolic banners to enhance our Please contact Mrs. Cooper if the acolyte's robe is soiled or needs Dripping wax or tiny When you first realize that your WALK IN DARKNESS BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE." ***For Baptisms, the Paschal candle is extinguished at the end of the service For the sacred Order of the Diaconate has been held in high honor in the Church even from the early time of the Apostles. Stop at the Baptismal font, turn, The essential norms of this document were later incorporated into canons 230 and 1035 of the Code of Canon Law. Clasp Meditate on it constantly, so that each day you will have a deeper love of the Scriptures, and in all you say and do show forth to the world our Savior, Jesus Christ.. 189. An acolyte is a cleric promoted to the fourth and highest minor order in the Latin Church, ranking next to a subdeacon. Upon reaching the altar, the lector makes a profound bow with the others. 196. Please see our usage [Ministeria quaedam 6] If Communion is given under both kinds, in the absence of a Deacon, the acolyte administers the chalice to the communicants or holds the chalice if Communion is given by intinction. There is to be an interval of at least six months between the conferral of the ministry of acolyte and the diaconate.. Worship leaders will want to encourage young people to become acolytes and nurture their . Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P. The Paschal Candle is the largest and Then he takes his place in the sanctuary. 9. It reminds us that Christ is the center of our lives. candles that the acolyte lights. This symbolic action shows that Christ and the Word of God live in the First among equals. In the absence of an instituted acolyte, there may be deputed lay ministers to serve at the altar and assist the Priest and the Deacon; these carry the cross, the candles, the thurible, the bread, the wine, and the water, or who are even deputed to distribute Holy Communion as extraordinary ministers. A man can thus be instituted lector without necessarily aspiring to become an acolyte, but it does not appear that one may become an acolyte without passing through lectorate. 697-704; Pontificale Romanum, De Ordinatione Episcopi, presbyterorum et diaconorum, editio typica altera, 1989, no. Amen. Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, nos. Wasserschleben, Giessen, 1874, 32) the arch-acolyte is not mentioned among the seven ecclesiastical degrees, but placed with the psalmist and cantor outside the ordinary hierarchy. They encourage Indeed, it also affects the individual members of the Church in a different way, according to their different orders, functions, and actual participation. 21: pp. A Ministry of Virginia Theological Seminary Design by Blue+Pine Creative, Inc. about Intergenerational Celebrations Using Faithful Families, about Learn to Pray with Poetry: Online Course in March 2023, about Simple Ways to Start a Sabbath Practice, A Manual for Acolytes: The Duties of the Server at Liturgical Celebrations, Intergenerational Celebrations Using Faithful Families, Learn to Pray with Poetry: Online Course in March 2023. - the table at the front of the church where God's family gathers. The bishop, attended by his or her chaplain, follows the sacred ministers in procession. As ministers of service, there are many options for deacons to perform . Bannerbearer If incense is being used, the acolyte presents the thurible to the Priest and assists him while he incenses the offerings, the cross, and the altar. [89] Cf. A duly instituted acolyte, as an extraordinary minister, may, if necessary, assist the priest in giving Communion to the people. Through the entire celebration, it is for the acolyte to approach the Priest or the Deacon, whenever necessary, in order to present the book to them and to assist them in any other way required. 24. Walk around may the lay interrupt the freedom of the acolyte in arranging the altar? An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell, among other things. 1 : one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties. In the procession to the altar, the acolyte may carry the cross, walking between two ministers with lighted candles. bannerbearer is positioned in the processional after the crucifer. Rer. (Gr. Then, in 1972, Pope Paul VI suppressed the minor orders in response to the windstorm that was the council, instead creating two "installed" lay ministries: lector and acolyte. However, it is not at all appropriate that several persons divide a single element of the celebration among themselves, e.g., that the same reading be proclaimed by two readers, one after the other, with the exception of the Passion of the Lord.