Altar server - WikiHQ

thumb|A Czech altar server

An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian liturgy. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell, helping bring up the gifts (the bread and wine to become the body and blood of Jesus Christ) and bringing up the liturgical books, among other things. If young, the server is commonly called an altar boy or altar girl. In some Christian denominations, altar servers are known as acolytes.

Latin Church

thumb|left|Fifty altar servers, during a celebration of a 50-year-old church, [[Gennep, Netherlands, September 2004]]

The Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy confirmed that altar servers featured among those who "exercise a genuine liturgical function" within services such as the Mass. According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, "Mass should not be celebrated without a minister, or at least one of the faithful, except for a just and reasonable cause."

While the function of altar server is commonly associated with children, it can be and is carried out by people of any age or dignity.

Acolyte

As in other churches, altar servers are sometimes called acolytes in the Latin Church. Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Saint Tarcisius as "presumably an acolyte, that is, an altar server". However, within the Latin Church, the term "acolyte" is also used in a more restricted sense, often specified as "instituted acolyte", to mean an adult woman or man who has received the instituted ministry of that name. Acolytes in this narrower sense are not necessarily preparing for ordination as deacons and priests. They are authorized to carry out some functions, in particular that of cleansing the Eucharistic vessels, that are not entrusted to ordinary servers. Those who are to be ordained to the diaconate must be instituted as acolytes at least six months previously. This ministry was long classified in the Latin Church as a minor order, as by the Council of Trent. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, which does not use the term "server" and instead speaks of altar servers generically among "other ministers", treats in detail of the functions of the "acolyte", often specifying "instituted acolyte".

Female altar servers

thumb|left|240px|Since the 1990s, girls may serve at the altar in the Catholic Church. The Evangelical-Lutheran Churches have female altar servers as well.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law altered the juridical situation: without distinguishing between male and female, it declared: "Lay persons can fulfill the function of lector in liturgical actions by temporary designation. All lay persons can also perform the functions of commentator or cantor, or other functions, according to the norm of law." On 30 June 1992, the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts issued an authentic interpretation of that canon declaring that service of the altar is one of the "other functions" open to lay persons in general, without distinguishing between male and female.

In reference to this authentic interpretation, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments sent on 15 March 1994 a circular letter to presidents of episcopal conferences, clarifying that the canon in question is only of permissive character. It does not require the use of female altar servers. It is thus for each diocesan bishop to decide whether to allow them in his diocese. A later document from 2001 states that even if a bishop permits female altar servers, the priest in charge of a church in that diocese is not obliged to recruit them, since no one, male or female, has a right to become an altar server. The document also states that "it will always be very appropriate to follow the noble tradition of having boys serve at the altar".

As priests in charge of churches are not obliged to avail of a diocesan bishop's permission in this matter, those belonging to traditionalist Catholic groups such as the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, the Institute of The Good Shepherd, the Society of Saint Pius X and the self-professed Catholic CMRI and some other priests do not.

In the United States, after the Arlington Diocese's decision to allow them, the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska in 2006 became the only diocese in the country that did not allow females to be altar servers. However, it was joined by a church in the Diocese of Phoenix in August 2011, when it was announced that girls would no longer be allowed to altar serve.

Duties at Mass

thumb|left|upright=0.4|An altar server carrying a [[thurible is called a thurifer]]

thumb|right|Altar servers in cassock and surplice and one in alb

In the absence of instituted acolytes, some of their functions at Mass may be carried out by altar servers.

Servers hold liturgical books for the priest when he is not at the altar and is proclaiming the presidential prayers with outstretched hands. They bring and hold such things as books, thuribles, the lavabo water and towel, vessels to hold the consecrated bread, and microphones.
Entrance: The entrance procession is led by a thurifer with burning incense (if incense is used at the Mass) and a cross-bearer carrying a processional cross, who is flanked on either side by another server bearing a lighted candle.
Proclamation of the Gospel: If incense is used, a server presents to the priest at the Alleluia or other pre-Gospel chant the thurible and the incense that he puts in the thurible and blesses, and servers, who may carry the thurible and lighted candles, precede to the ambo the deacon or priest who proclaims the Gospel there.
Preparation of the Gifts: One or more servers assist in arranging the corporal, the purificator(s), the chalice(s), the pall(s), and the Missal on the altar, leaving it to the deacon to take care of the sacred vessels. (At a concelebrated Mass without participation by a deacon, a concelebrating priest carries out the functions assigned to the deacon.) If, as is appropriate, the bread and wine for the Mass are presented by the faithful, servers assist the priest or deacon who receives these and perhaps other gifts and carry the bread and wine to the priest, placing other gifts in a place distinct from the altar. They present the cruets of wine and water for the priest or deacon to pour some into the chalice. If incense is used, a server presents the thurible and incense to the priest, who incenses the offerings, the cross and the altar, after which the deacon or a server incenses the priest and the people. When the priest then washes his hands standing at the side of the altar, a server pours the water over them.
Consecration: An altar server rings a bell shortly before the consecration, generally at the epiclesis (when the priest extends his hands above the gifts). In accordance with local custom, a server also rings the bell when, after the consecrations of the bread and wine, the priest shows the Host and then the Chalice. If incense is used, a server incenses the consecrated host and the chalice while these are being shown to the people.
Sign of Peace: The priest or deacon may give the sign of peace to servers, while remaining within the sanctuary.
Distribution of Holy Communion: In some places it is customary for servers to assist at the distribution of Holy Communion by holding a communion-plate for communicants. Whether it is to be held by communicants or by a server, a communion-plate is placed on the credence table before Mass. Its use (held by the communicants) is prescribed when Holy Communion is given by intinction.
If a bishop celebrates Mass solemnly, two servers, wearing vimpae, hold the mitre and the crosier, and present them at the appropriate times.

Vestments

The vestment common to all ordained and instituted ministers of whatever rank is an alb, which is to be tied at the waist with a cincture unless the alb is made to fit without cincture. Acolytes, readers and other lay ministers (such as altar servers) may wear either an alb or other appropriate attire as determined by the local episcopal conference.

Servers often wear cassock and surplice, with black and red being the most common colors for a server's cassock.

Lutheran Churches

thumb|300px|Priests and altar servers at [[St. Mary's Church, Sigtuna|St. Mary's Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Sigtuna, belonging to the Church of Sweden]]

In the Lutheran Churches, altar servers (acolytes) have various responsibilities, such as ringing the church bells and lighting the candles in the chancel. The various acolytes in the Lutheran Churches have different roles during the celebration of the Mass:

Crucifer
Thurifer
Torchbearer
Biblebearer
Bannerbearer

Certain acolytes are assigned the role of crucifer or thurifer, who carry the processional cross and thurible respectively.

The role of the acolyte is considered important in Lutheranism as those who serve in these roles, typically youth, often develop an interest in holy orders. all who serve in the above positions are called acolytes.

Gallery

File:Giacomo di Chirico Ministrant.jpg|Altar server, by Giacomo di Chirico

File:Escolanets, Josep Benlliure i Gil, Museu de Belles Arts de València.jpg|Escolanets, by José Benlliure y Gil

File:Felix Freiherr von Ende Ministranten beim Gebet.jpg|Ministranten beim Gebet by Felix von Ende, c. 1888

File:Zdzisław Jasiński Palm Sunday 1891.jpg|Palm Sunday mass by Zdzisław Jasiński, 1891

File:Arrecife - Iglesia de San Ginés in 05 ies.jpg|Statue of an altar server in the Iglesia de San Ginés in Arrecife, Lanzarote

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References

External links

Photo of Russian Orthodox bishop surrounded by servers
SanctaMissa.org's Online Altar Server Tutorial with Video and Guides (1962 Roman Missal)
Altar Server Guide
Another Altar Server Manual
Official Website of the Ministry of Altar Servers San Roque Cathedral, Diocese of Caloocan, Philippines
Official Website of the Ministry of Altar Servers of Sto. Niño Parish, Taguig, Philippines
MINISTRANT PRESS