In that case, the lector walks in front of the priest but otherwise along with the other ministers. the steps to the altar. These orders over time became linked to preparation for the priesthood and were divided between "minor orders" (porter, exorcist, lector, and acolyte) and "major orders" (subdeacon, deacon, and priest). It's FREE! 48; Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction, Eucharisticum mysterium, May 25, 1967, no. The wreath holds five They also carried the sacred species to the absent, especially to confessors of the faith detained in prison (see St. Tarsicius). nos. Be obedient to the commandment which the Lord gave to his apostles at the Last Supper: Love one another as I also have loved you., Follow-up: Ministries of Lector and Acolyte [5-24-2016], In the wake of our May 3 piece on ministries a Nebraska reader asked: If an acolyte is reposing the Blessed Sacrament after a time of exposition, can he say the invocation and prayer normally done by the priest or deacon (i.e., everything except the Benediction itself), or should he only do the parts normally done by all, the hymn and Divine Praises?. worshippers enter the sanctuary. It is his place principally to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if necessary, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful as an extraordinary minister. Many parishes have a Sacristan, but some do not. As 24. 15 minutes before the service and look neat and well groomed. An acolyte is a cleric promoted to the fourth and highest minor order in the Latin Church, ranking next to a subdeacon. Nothing. How is it in your parish? Can you please help with me with a short introduction for this liturgy? the altar, holding the banner. ***On Christmas Eve and other times There is a formally installed office for these ministries. [75] All, therefore, whether ordained ministers or lay Christian faithful, in fulfilling their function or their duty, should carry out solely but totally that which pertains to them. NOW WAIT. Ital, II, 1, 473), where it stands for a Dignity (q.v.) In ancient ecclesiastical Rome there was no solemn ordination of acolytes. 5. It may be well to mention here the two prayers of the ancient Roman Mass-book known as the Sacramentarium Gregorianum (Mabillon, Lit. That is the one that is utilized in the masses presided over by the Pope. Canon 230 1 says: Lay men whose age and talents meet the requirements prescribed by decree of the bishops conference can be given the stable ministry of lector and of acolyte, through the prescribed liturgical rite . Please see our usage Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more all for only $19.99. It would not be correct, however, to sing the Tantum Ergo and its accompanying prayer as this is tied up with the rite of incensing before Benediction and its use could cause confusion. Turn to your left, passing by the crucifer, and place the banner in First among equals. when you walk to the back of the Sanctuary. Rem. candlelighter to the altar. Please contact Mrs. Cooper if the acolyte's robe is soiled or needs repair. 193. schedule conflicts, you and your youth have the responsibility of finding ***For Baptisms, the Paschal candle is extinguished at the end of the service However, the information may benefit others. Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, no. You are a worship leader, and with that role comes great responsibility. The linens on the altar are very precious. 2. During the baptism, from fidgeting. 1. it so the text is facing away from your body. The vocation of an acolyte is more than just serving at the altar; it is helping others encounter God via the sacred. Font - helped with the worship service since the early Christian church. where the banners and altar linens are kept and where the communion On the first Sunday, light one Instead, after lighting the 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. Taper - 26. This is where the acolyte robes and crosses are kept. For many practical reasons these ministries are almost exclusively conferred upon candidates for the priesthood and diaconate. Alms basin As you sit or stand during the worship service, Want to see fewer ads on Aleteia? At the The Distribution of Functions and the Preparation of the Celebration. . You, therefore, are a minister of St. Philip have left the foot of the altar. After the celebration of Mass, the acolyte and other ministers return together with the Deacon and the Priest in procession to the sacristy, in the same manner and in the same order in which they entered. Rom., in his Musaeum Italicum, II, 20; for an old epigraph in Aringhius, 156, see Ferraris, I, 100; Magani, Antica Lit. What are the duties of an acolyte in the Catholic Church? With lighted candles, two acolytes accompanied the deacon to the Ambo (q.v.) Step 2: Get Briefed About the Mission. 225 1 Since lay people, like all Christ 's faithful, are deputed to the apostolate by baptism and confirmation . This is all according to the 1972 document by Pope Paul VI called "Ministeria Quaedam," and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (187-193), which define the ministry and proper functions of acolyte. 12. It is a beautiful and sacred role in the Catholic Church, one that comes with much responsibility in assisting priests and deacons during the celebration of Mass. These are to apply to those ministering during Sunday Mass, as well as other liturgical celebrations. and the Assisting Minister go to the altar. As evidence of their origin these prelates still retain, at papal functions, many of the offices or duties described above. Thomas Aquinas Novena, Day Seven: KeepingVigil, GIRM 187-193: The Functions of theAcolyte, Sacramentum Caritatis 20: Eucharist andReconciliation, Sacramentum Caritatis 19: FirstEucharist, Sacramentum Caritatis 18: Ordering the InitiationSacraments, Sacramentum Caritatis 17: The Eucharist and ChristianInitiation. Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction, Immensae caritatis, January 29, 1973, no. 10. Answer (1 of 4): An acolyte can either refer to the minor order of acolyte, preserved in some traditional societies, or the instituted ministry that replaced it in 1972. Rom., Milan, 1899, III, 61see also Rome). Canon 230 1 says: "Lay men whose age and talents meet the requirements prescribed by decree of the bishops' conference can be given the stable ministry of lector and of acolyte, through the prescribed liturgical rite . deck shoes are all appropriate and look much nice than sneakers. and place them on the acolyte chair. At times Catholics may see the word . Defined as the proper duties of an acolyte are altar serving, serving as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, purifying vessels . 96. bannerbearer or bookbearer, you are joining the ranks of those who have 11. 1 : one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties. Q:Im a seminarian, and I am interested in the liturgy of lector and acolyte minor orders. Canon 910.2: The extraordinary minister of Holy Communion is an acolyte or other member of the Christian faithful deputed in accord with Canon 230.3. Walk 92). the hymn begins, slowly walk to the foot of the altar. a person newly converted to a belief, as a heathen, heretic, or nonbeliever; proselyte. They accompanied the Pope to the secretarium or sacristy (see Basilica). The acolyte is the proper server at Mass and other liturgical. A: I might be too late to help this particular seminarian, as it is likely that he has already received these ministries. THE BEGINNING OF THE SERVICE - [ TOP ], A REMINDER FOR SPECIAL The Statuta Ecclesiae Antiqua, often referred to as the decrees of the so-called Fourth Synod of Carthage (398), but really belonging to the end of the fifth, or the early part of the sixth, century (Duchesne, Christian Worship, 332, 350), prove that this order was then known in the ecclesiastical province of Aries in Gaul, where these decrees were enacted. This one GIRM role folds in the duties covered by three ministries in most American parishes, those of the sacristan, lay Communion minister, and altar server. If at a Mass with the people only one minister is present, that minister may exercise several different functions. Then the acolyte incenses the Priest and the people. there, facing the altar until after the Pastor and Assisting Minister out. The celebration of the Eucharist is the action of Christ and of the Church, namely, of the holy people united and ordered under the Bishop. chret. The Ministry of the Instituted Acolyte and Lector, 98. sacramental candles. For this reason we hope Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 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. the postlude is beginning, take the candlelighter from its stand and the altar candles. way: Place your hands at the very bottom of the the above directions to light the second candle (see diagram). The Role of the Acolyte In the early days of the church, being an acolyte was the first Order into which new Christians could begin to take on roles assisting or leading the communal worship of the church. Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P. Initially the ministries of lector and acolyte were expanded, but recently Pope Francis added the ministry of catechist. At the Close of the Service above no. the altar and stand facing the altar, holding the cross. These are lit before the worshippers enter the sanctuary. foot of the steps and again when you reach the altar. Please contact Mrs. Cooper if the acolyte's robe is soiled or needs Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 107. ; The earlier you arrive, the more time you will have to prepare. 9. This should take place under the direction of the rector of the church and after consultation with the faithful in things that directly pertain to them. Arrive for church services on time, prepared to fulfill your duties. The first is a regular visit to someone suffering from the effects of age, illness or infirmity. Women may be delegated to perform some of the functions of an acolyte. On the fourth Sunday, you will light three candles [82] They should, moreover, take care to show this by their deep religious sense and their charity toward brothers and sisters who participate with them in the same celebration. It is worthy of note that two hundred and fifty years later the Constitutum Silvestri, a document of about 501 (Mansi, Coll. The functions that the acolyte may carry out are of various kinds and several may occur at the same moment. ***For Baptisms, light the Paschal 2 : follower, attendant. Can. The Between the fifth and ninth centuries, in a series of ancient directions to the clergy known as the Ordines Romani, acolyte duties are described and include the information that acolytes led and organized processions preceding the Pope. Despite the changing landscape of our churches' membership, one worship-based ministry gets little attention: the acolyte. If there are several present who are able to exercise the same ministry, nothing forbids their distributing among themselves and performing different parts of the same ministry or duty. Extinguish the walk up the side aisle and return the cross to its stand. book is called the Bookbearer. damaging. If there is no singing at the Entrance or at Communion and the antiphons in the Missal are not recited by the faithful, the lector may read them at the appropriate time (cf. above, nos. Caeremoniale Episcoporum, editio typica, 1984, nos. Then, bow your head. 191. Assisting Minister return to the altar. On Christmas Eve, light Setting up the church. See more. Regardless, this usage corresponds with the ancient duties of the acolyte that have been passed down over the centuries. Liturgical lay ministries include lectors (Ministers of the Word) who proclaim scriptural (the Bible) passages during the Eucharist, altar servers and acolytes who assist the presider at the altar, cantors and music ministers who lead the singing, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion who serve during Mass and/or. 111. If Communion is given under both kinds, when no deacon is present, the acolyte administers the chalice to the communicants or holds the chalice if Communion is given by intinction. Acolytes of the palace were destined in a particular manner to the service of the Pope, assisting him not only in church functions, but also as ablegates, messengers of the papal court, in distributing alms, carrying pontifical documents and notices, and performing other duties of like character. ; Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reachmore than 20 million unique users per month! Carefully and the altar, pause reverently and bow your head, but not the banner. also the Interdicasterial Instruction on certain questions regarding the collaboration of the non-ordained faithful in the sacred ministry of Priests, Ecclesiae de mysterio, August 15, 1997, art. At the priests chair in the sanctuary? check the acolyte schedule when it first comes out. Rer. Today that is the case in most parishes, and therefore the position of altar server has come to predominate at most Masses. Help 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. Moreover, they are to form one body, whether in hearing the Word of God, or in taking part in the prayers and in the singing, or above all by the common offering of the Sacrifice and by participating together at the Lords table. Acolyte. at the beginning of the service and one after the first lesson (see 21: pp. The exception to this rule is contained in canon 910.2, which notes that the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion is either an acolyte, or another member of the faithful deputed in accord with canon 230.3. Return As a St. Philip acolyte, crucifer, However, the Priest who presides at the celebration always retains the right of arranging those things that pertain to him.[89]. adjust the knob that regulates the length of the taper. - we have two candles on our altar symbolizing that Christ is man and 7. Therefore, when he celebrates the Eucharist, he must serve God and the people with dignity and humility, and by his bearing and by the way he pronounces the divine words he must convey to the faithful the living presence of Christ. 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 . bannerbearer is positioned in the processional after the crucifer. 2. - the place in our sanctuary where the scripture lessons are read and That largely depends on the practicalities generated by an individual churchs architecture. At an earlier moment of the Mass he had been vested with the stole and the chasuble. What is a Catholic lector called? Dripping wax or tiny Hopefully, it will answer any last minute questions your acolyte may 193. We do this because our Baptism candle - the large white candle symbolizing the risen Christ. someone to trade dates with you. (LogOut/ Bookbearer Go to the left side of the altar and light your One elbow may rest on your hip, if you need extra support. Pope Zosimus reduced (418) this term to four years. or bookbearer - you are considered an acolyte. On Christmas Eve, we have candles in Canon 230.3: When the need of the Church warrants it and ministers are lacking, lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply certain of their duties, What was once a new and innovative paradigm shift in the way the Church thinks about and does ministry has now become accepted I, 161). The ministries are conferred by the Ordinary (the bishop and, in clerical institutes, the major superior) through the liturgical rite De institutione lectoris and De institutione acolythi as revised by the Apostolic See. the section Before the Service in this handbook. Please sit up straight and refrain the staff with both hands with a space of about 12 inches in between Thats it. [76]Cf. wreath is called the Christ candle. The following are requirements for admission to the ministries: a) the presentation of a petition that has been freely made out and signed by the aspirant to the Ordinary (the bishop and, in clerical institutes, the major superior) who has the right to accept the petition; b) a suitable age and special qualities to be determined by the conference of bishops; c) a firm will to give faithful service to God and the Christian people. 224 Lay members of Christ 's faithful have the duties and rights enumerated in the canons of this title, in addition to those duties and rights which are common to all Christ 's faithful and those stated in other canons. The liturgical duties of an acolyte were maintained, as Pope Paul VI describes the updated role. shelf - the small shelf on the wall to the left of the altar. ***The Paschal candle used during the Easter season, is extinguished after This handbook was designed to be a tool for parents and youth alike. Either way the functions of the acolyte are relatively the same. Dress shoes, loafers, 100-106) may even be entrusted by means of a liturgical blessing or a temporary deputation to suitable lay persons chosen by the pastor or the rector of the church. Extinguish your taper and return to your chair. It is true that in some places it is customary for the priest or deacon to recite some prayers or litanies immediately before intoning the Tantum Ergo before Benediction. when there are candles in the windows, they are lit before the The objective is to give people some information on what the minor order is about and its significance. that we are carrying the light of Christ into the world. finds most comfortable and secure. Keep Sanctuary Remember to light your taper 1 : one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties.
duties of an acolyte in the catholic church