The New Complete Server

Christopher Heller

Description

This classic guide helps servers to perform with confidence and reverence, allowing the liturgy to unfold in a smooth and prayerful manner. A glossary of words and objects accompanies illustrations of vessels, linens, altar preparation, vestments, posture symbols, and examples of processions. Also contains easy-to-draw symbols that servers can use to make a diagram of their sanctuary's layout for study and practice.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Organizations
• Philosophie et théologie
• Institutions

Informations

• Publié par: Church Publishing Incorporated
• Date de parution: 01 février 1996
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780819224859
• Langue: English

Extrait

The New Complete Server
Rev. Christopher J. Heller, M. Div., M.A.
Illustrations by Eleanor Smith
and W. Ellwood Post

An imprint of Church Publishing Incorporated
Harrisburg-New York
NIHIL OBSTAT:
Thomas J. Driscoll
February 22, 1995
Censor Liborum
IMPRIMATUR:
Edward M. Egan
February 24, 1995
Bishop of Bridgeport
The Nihil Obstadt and Imprimatur are official declarations that a book is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions or statements expressed.
Copyright 1995 by Morehouse Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.
Excerpts from the English translation of the Roman Missal, copyright 1975, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Morehouse Publishing, 4775 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112
Morehouse Publishing, 445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Morehouse Publishing is an imprint of Church Publishing Incorporated
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Heller, Christopher
The new complete server / Christopher J. Heller ; illustrations by Eleanor Smith and W. Ellwood Post.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-8192-1649-6
1. Acolytes-Catholic Church-Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title
BX1972 .H45 1995
264/.02 dc21
96191602
Printed in the United States of America
08 09 10 11 12 5 4 3 2
Contents
Introduction
Acolyte or Server?
Parish Differences
Examples of Servers
Familiar Words and Objects For Servers to Know
Familiar Objects Illustrated
Illustrations of Some Vestments
Workbook
People Symbols
Posture Symbols
Outline of the Mass
Before Mass
Processions
Examples of Processions
Beginning of Mass
Introductory Rites
Blessing and Sprinkling with Holy Water
Penitential Rite
Glory to God
Opening Prayer
Liturgy of the Word
Profession of Faith
General Intercessions
Preparation and Presentation of the Gifts
Eucharistic Prayer
Communion Rite
Communion Time
After Communion
Concluding Rites
After Mass
Weddings
Funerals
Altar Server Investiture Ceremony
Investiture Ceremony
I NTRODUCTION
The server is an important person. In addition to the other ministers who serve God s Holy People at liturgical celebrations, every priest and every congregation needs the server s help to celebrate the Eucharist well. The server is the priest and deacon s right-hand helper. This manual is designed to assist the altar server in doing a good job.
Being a server is a very important calling. God asks the server for special dedication in fulfilling those sacred duties at or near the altar. As the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy says in paragraph 29 concerning liturgical ministers, servers ought to discharge their office with the sincere devotion and decorum demanded by so exalted a ministry and rightly expected of them by God s People. Also, the server reminds the assembly that each person is called by the sacrament of Baptism to live a holy life, and to reflect often on the mystery of God s free and unconditional love.
In spite of changes in Church ceremonies since the Second Vatican Council, the server still has much to do. This manual will be useful in showing some of the ways in which servers function in parishes and other worship settings.
While it is called The New Complete Server , this booklet cannot be complete until it is understood and digested by the reader. Just as musical notes on a page only become true music when a person understands, digests and shares that knowledge outwardly with others, the server must become comfortable with the information contained in this manual, and be ready and willing to put this knowledge into practice.
In most cases, the server will assist the priest who leads those who have assembled to celebrate the Eucharist. For this reason, the word priest rather than celebrant is used most often in the following pages. At other times, the deacon or another person will lead the community in prayer.
On rare occasions, such as the celebration of Confirmation, a bishop will assume the role of principal celebrant, while at the same time recognizing that all of us are called to celebrate with full, conscious and active participation. In all cases, the server s attentiveness to the words and actions of the Mass will assure that the liturgy will unfold in a smooth and prayerful manner for all.
Since there are many differences among parishes and praying communities, the instructions in this manual are flexible. It is really a workbook. Following the instructions of the priest, deacon or other member of the parish charged with teaching and forming liturgical ministers, the server can adapt and adjust the information contained in this book to the specific needs of the faith community of God s People that needs their service.
As a community of believers in the One True God, we have a wonderful tradition of people who serve others in the house of the Lord. The Bible tells the story of a young boy named Samuel (see I Samuel 3). Samuel lived over one thousand years before the birth of Jesus Christ. The young Samuel served in the Temple with a priest named Eli. Eli instructed Samuel to respond to God s voice with the words: Here I am! and Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. God called Samuel to be a faithful and wise servant. Samuel grew up to be a famous prophet and priest, the one who anointed David as the first king of the Hebrew People.
God gives special help to assist each server in responding to this call, especially in fulfilling all assignments faithfully. This manual will help a person to serve well during the Mass and other Church ceremonies, and to grow as Jesus grew: in wisdom, age and grace.
Acolyte or Server?
In the early years of the Church, lay people helped priests in many ways. Some of them assisted at the celebration of the Eucharist and were sometimes called acolytes. This word acolyte has meant different things at different times in our history. Recently, many people have come to equate acolyte with server.
In 1973, the Catholic Church restored the ministry of Acolyte. This means that, as a church community, we recognize that we need this ministry of service. Someone who is called by God to serve the Church as an acolyte is instituted in a special ceremony by the local Bishop or someone selected by the Bishop. Instituted acolytes serve in the following ways:
1. Preparing the altar and sacred vessels before Mass;
2. Preparing the corporal, chalice(s), purificator(s) and Sacramentary for the Eucharist;
3. Helping the priest to receive the bread and wine carried in procession;
4. Assisting with incense, especially when there is no deacon;
5. Helping to distribute Communion as a minister of the Eucharist;
6. Cleaning the vessels after Mass, or after Communion;
7. Bringing Communion to the sick and home-bound of the parish;
8. When necessary, conducting most of the ceremony of the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament;
9. Instructing others who assist at liturgies and other church ceremonies.
This is a longer job description than most people realize when they use the word acolyte. Since most parishes do not have instituted acolytes on a regular basis, other persons perform some of the acolyte s duties. These persons are called servers, as ministers who assist at the liturgy.
This manual is called The New Complete Server to avoid confusion with acolytes. In many parishes, servers are young people from grammar, junior-high and high schools. In other places, servers may be adults or senior adults who help with the ceremonies. This manual is called complete , since it can be used by any age group in any parish or worshipping community.
Parish Differences
Each parish community does things differently from other parishes. Three items that differ from place to place are the use of incense, the use of bells, and the vestment worn by the server. The priest, deacon or person delegated by the pastor will instruct the server in these and other matters. Below is a list of ways some parishes or worship communities use these things.
Incense is optional in any form of Mass. When it is used, it is both a sign of honor and a sign of our prayer rising like smoke to God (see Psalm 141). Servers will be told by the priest or his delegate when and how incense will be used in the parish. There are five times when incense can be used at Mass:
1. In the entrance procession;
2. At the beginning of Mass upon arriving at the sanctuary, to honor the altar and cross;
3. In the Gospel procession, to honor the Word of God;
4. At the preparation of the gifts, to honor the offerings, the altar, the priest, the othe ministers, and all those gathered for the Eucharist;
5. At the consecration of the bread and wine, to honor the Body and Blood of Christ.
In the Middle Ages, bells or chimes alerted the people to the most important parts of the Mass. The bells or chimes were rung before, during and after the priest prayed the words of Jesus: this is my body.... this is my blood. Because people can easily see and hear what is happening today, most parishes do not use bells or chimes. They could be used:
1. During the Eucharistic Prayer, after the Holy, Holy, when the priest holds his hands over the bread and wine;
2. During the words of consecration, also called the institution of the Eucharist narrative.
The final big difference among parishes is the server s vestment. This can vary widely from one parish to another. Servers should take care of the vestment if they have one for use at Mass. Vestments can be: alb and cincture, since the alb is the usual vestment for liturgical ministers; clean, neat clothes;