Tuesday, September 4, 2007

An Invitation: An Evening with the Fraternity of Altar Servers

St. John Berchman, patron of Altar Servers
+J.M.J.+

Dear Friends-in-Christ,

"The beauty of the liturgy is part of this mystery; it is a sublime expression of God's glory and, in a certain sense, a glimpse of heaven on earth. ... Beauty, then, is not mere decoration, but rather an essential element of the liturgical action, since it is an attribute of God himself and his revelation. These considerations should make us realize the care which is needed, if the liturgical action is to reflect its innate splendour." H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis.

The Fraternity of Altar Servers was recently formed to foster bonds and windows of interactive learning amongst Altar Servers in the Archdiocese of Singapore. Under the spiritual directorship of Rev. Fr. Gerard Weerakoon, we seek to organize reverent celebrations of the Sacred Liturgy for the glory of God and deepen the spiritual and catechical understanding of the Sacred Mysteries of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass of all who are present. We desire that our liturgies and fraternal atmosphere will inspire many young men (altar servers or otherwise) to the holy order of priesthood.

Our young Fraternity is currently represented by the twelve following parishes: Christ the King, St. Joseph’s (Victoria St.), Holy Family, Holy Trinity, St. Francis Xavier’s, Holy Spirit, St. Mary of the Angels, St. Stephen’s, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Bernadette’s, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Ss. Peter and Paul.
We are still actively looking for servers to be part of our fraternal brotherhood.

Our inaugural Mass will be celebrated on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Do join us if you can; the Mass is offered for all secondary and tertiary students throughout the various institutions of learning across Singapore (among other intentions).

All altar servers, aspirants to the Diocesan Priesthood, and Seminarians are cordially invited to come and serve in their cassock/alb; as the (22) active roles have already been taken, all other servers will 'serve from the pews'. Dinner will be provided after the Mass and all are welcomed to join in fellowship. Do send me an email to let me know if you wish to serve.

14 Sep 2007, Friday
Solemn Mass
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
1830hr
Church of St. Francis Xavier

N.B. All Masses organized by the Fraternity adhere strictly to the norms set out in the General Instructions to the Roman Missal Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite.

"By praying the Psalms, the Scripture readings and the readings drawn from the great tradition which are included in the Divine Office, we can come to a deeper experience of the Christ-event and the economy of salvation, which in turn can enrich our understanding and participation in the celebration of the Eucharist." H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis.

Hence, do join us in our evening sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God for our redemption by praying the office of Vespers with us as well.

14 Sep 2007, Friday
Simple Vespers
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
1700hr
Church of St. Francis Xavier

Do forward this to all your friends and relations if you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to help support our cause.

I look forward to having you on the 14th. Till then, take care and God bless. I am yours sincerely


In the Eucharistic Lord,
Paul D. Molina
Fraternity of Altar Servers

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# posted by Vidimusdominum : Tuesday, September 04, 2007  0 Comments

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Photos: Corpus Christi Mass 2007

Happy Feast Day!

My sister took these photos with her Nokia mobile from the pew while I served the Mass at Saint Joseph's Church. Enjoy!

Was the Crucifer for Corpus Christi Mass today; taken before the procession.

My brother servers preparing the incense before the procession.

Rector, Rev. Fr. Michael Teo with the monstrance; the monstrance's about 8-9 decades old.

The canopy was held by 6 Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist.

Benediction; apologies for the blurred snapshot.

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# posted by Vidimusdominum : Sunday, June 10, 2007  5 Comments

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

History and Graces received from Altar Serving

(By Seminarian Matthew of A Catholic Life)

For hundreds of years, the usage of altar servers has brought about countless priestly vocations. In the words of the Archbishop of Westminster, Bernard Cardinal Griffen, "To serve at the altar, as to sing in the choir, is next to the priesthood the highest privilege which a human can enjoy. He represents the faithful and takes a most intimate part in the rich treasures of the church's liturgy and ceremonial. Those sacred ceremonies should be carried out with devotion, dignity and attention to detail."

History:

An altar server is a lay assistant to the priest during the Mass or to other members of the clergy in other religious functions including Benediction and Eucharistic Adoration. An altar server is not to be confused with an acolyte. Before the Second Vatican Council, the acolyte was the highest of the minor orders, having duties including the lighting of the altar-candles, carrying the candles in procession, assisting the subdeacon and deacon, and the ministering of water and wine to the priest at Mass. Acolytes wore either the alb or the surplice over a cassock. The order of acolyte was conferred on a seminarian at a minor ordination. After the reforms of the minor orders in 1972, the acolyte survived but became one of two lay ministries (along with that of lector) instead of an order. Today, Indult Catholic societies such as the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter are still permitted to ordain seminarians to all the minor orders, including the acolytate. Therefore, the acolyte is not to be confused with the altar server even though the altar server can do the already mentioned duties of the acolyte.

In the post-Vatican II Church, an acolyte has all the responsibilities of an altar server except a few additional ones. The acolyte is also permanent extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and can also be entrusted with celebrating Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. He is also the only lay minister who can do the purification of the vessels at Mass. Furthermore, an acolyte is given a priority to lead blessing ceremonies (Book of Blessings, Introduction, n. 18). In the absence of both a priest and deacon, the acolyte has priority to lead Sunday Celebrations (Directions for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest, 1988, n. 30).

Traditionally, the role of altar server has always been reserved to males and rightfully so. By having males serve at the altar, a young man is better able to discern the priesthood since he is involved with the Liturgy. Personally, I support the return of an all-male group of altar servers for the entire Catholic Church. Some parishes are even returning to the practice of all-male altar servers. Historically, the role of altar server has always been reserved to males. In the Encyclical Allatae Sunt on July, 26, 1755, Pope Benedict XIV stated in paragraph 29:

Pope Gelasius in his ninth letter (chap. 26) to the bishops of Lucania condemned
the evil practice which had been introduced of women serving the priest at the
celebration of Mass. Since this abuse had spread to the Greeks, Innocent IV
strictly forbade it in his letter to the bishop of Tusculum: "Women should not
dare to serve at the altar; they should be altogether refused this ministry." We
too have forbidden this practice in the same words in Our oft-repeated
constitution Etsi Pastoralis, sect. 6, no. 21."
In 1970 the Vatican condemned female altar serving in Liturgicae instaurationes as well as in 1980's Inaestimabile donum. Not until a circular letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to presidents of episcopal conferences on March 15, 1994, did the Vatican officially allow female altar serving.

Graces:

To serve at the altar as an altar server is one of the greatest sources of graces. The altar server assists the priest at the Sacred Liturgy; he is privileged to walk into the sanctuary. Remember, the Mass is the Sacrifice of Calvary. It is not a memorial but rather the Mass truly is the Sacrifice of Calvary. For that reason, all altar servers must display the utmost respect and reverence. For example, each and every single time that the server walks past the Tabernacle, he is to genuflect on his right knee to our Lord who is truly present in the Eucharist.

All altar servers must listen attentively during the Mass and should remain in a state of prayer with their hands in a prayer position. Talking amongst each other is absolutely forbidden. Likewise, all altar servers should wear proper shoes and never flip-flops, sandals, boots, or gym shoes. An altar servers must also learn the proper name to all of the items used during the Liturgy. Such items are listed at the bottom of the webpage of the Altar Server Manual. Altar Servers must ensure that no particle of Our Lord's Body or Blood falls to the ground. With the use of the paten, altar servers perform an extremely important sacred ministry. They must ensure that no particle of the Eucharist is desecrated accidentally at any portion during the Mass. Furthermore, altar servers must know the basic prayers of the Mass at least in the vernacular and perhaps some of them in Latin. The altar server must have a basic understanding of the Catholic Faith and understand the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

To all altar servers, please take these suggestions to heart. I strongly suggest you read the words expressed on the article Advice for Altar Servers. Remember, as an altar server, you stand next to the priest who stands at the Cross of Calvary. At the Consecration, you stand near the altar on which the Bread and Wine become Jesus Christ. You should humble yourself and bow your head before the power of God. You are assisting at the Holy of Holies. Display reverence and worship Our God. Undoubtedly, altar servers receive countless blessings from Almighty God from serving devoutly at Mass. Even attending Holy Mass is the source of numerous graces. It is certainly more grace-filled for altar servers.

Prayer before Serving:

Heavenly Father, we ask your blessing upon us, that we may serve at your altar with reverence, attention, and love, in order to draw others to do the same. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Additional Information:


"To serve is beautiful,but only if it is done with joy
and a whole heartand a free mind." Pearl S. Buck

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# posted by Vidimusdominum : Tuesday, May 29, 2007  2 Comments

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