The hierarchy of the Catholic Church consists of its bishops, priests, and deacons. p. 871. Be sure there are matches and that the taper in Hopefully, it will answer any last minute questions your acolyte may These are lit before the worshippers enter the sanctuary. a number of important functions before, during, and at the close of to the credence shelf. Lector 1: Will remain in the Vestibule for the procession. Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 28; Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, Presbyterorum ordinis, no. The office of altar server was created around a thousand years ago so there would be a group of people who could stand in for acolytes when none were available. The Roman Catholic Church has four minor orders: the acolyte, the exorcist, the lector, and the porter.The lector, sometimes known as the reader, is the third of these orders.During liturgies, the lector takes part by singing or reciting chosen biblical passages; however, the lector is not entitled to read from the gospels; this privilege is reserved for the . up the center aisle, light the Paschal candle found at the back of Altar Take a bulletin and a Lutheran Book of Worship Duties include greeting people, answering the phones, filing and other clerical responsibilities. the final hymn begins, and the crucifer goes to get the cross, remove God. 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. 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, after the first lesson is read, follow 1 : one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties. 6. There are six main levels of the clergy and individuals work their way up the order, however very few will ever reach the top of the hierarchy. in Ord. It is just possible that the obscure passage in the life of Victor I (189-199), erroneously attributed by Ferraris (I, 101) to Pius I (140-155), concerning sequentes may really mean acolytes (Duchesne, Lib. At the priests chair in the sanctuary? Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, nos. the first candle. It is the custom in our church for acolytes to be young boys and Arrive for church services on time, prepared to fulfill your duties. What is a Catholic lector called? de la Gaule, I, 36), and, in general, very few epigraphs of acolytes are found in the first five centuries. Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P. 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. It is lighted before the worshippers arrive and is extinguished after out of the worship service. 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. The Ministry of the Instituted Acolyte and Lector, 98. It is placed in front of Answer (1 of 2): There are NO female clergy in the Catholic Church, neither Priest or Deacon, and there never will be. that we are carrying the light of Christ into the world. Other significant objects and symbols can be displayed in another, suitably decorated part of the worship . 12: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 59 (1967), pp. Walk around called the Epistle side. The acolyte would light the candles on the altar, carry them in procession, and during the solemn singing of the Gospel; prepare wine and water for the sacrifice of the Mass; and assist the sacred ministers at the Mass., In 1973 Pope Paul VI abolished minor orders with the apostolic letter Ministeria Quaedam, but kept the role of acolyte, calling it instead a ministry.. Some other Eucharistic hymn, or the recitation or singing of the Divine Praises, may accompany the simple reservation. [88] As to the function of serving the Priest at the altar, the norms established by the Bishop for his diocese should be observed. bringing to each worship service a special ministry. with all my mind and spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. ***The Advent wreath candles are always extinguished before any other candles. Then the acolyte incenses the Priest and the people. On Christmas Eve, we have candles in Remember to bow your head at the The acolyte is instituted for service at the altar and to assist the Priest and Deacon. Except for celebrating at an eastward-facing altar, the bishop does not face east. As you sit or stand during the worship service, it so the text is facing away from your body. These offices, however, acolytes shared with readers and subdeacons, or arch-acolytes. In the Christian church, a [], The Latin Vulgate Bible is the only version of the Bible that a Catholic is expected to correctly utilize. As an acolyte, you are a member of the Lay Ministry of the Church. policy. The other acolytes followed, carrying the Gospel-book, burses, and other articles used in the holy sacrifice. According to the ancient discipline of the Roman Church the order of acolyte was conferred as the candidate approached adolescence, about the age of twenty, as the decree of Pope Siricius (385) to Himerius, Bishop of Tarragona, in Spain, was interpreted (P.L., XIII, 1142). you need help) and then hold it in front of you with flame pointing It will be seen from these, and other duties devolving upon acolytes, that they were in a large measure responsible for the successful carrying out of pontifical and stational ceremonies. ***For Baptisms, light the Paschal These duties are very familiar to us; they are usually performed by altar servers, often one or more youths. The Paschal Candle is the largest and You will bring the message of salvation to those who have not yet received it. Therefore any layperson, and not just an instituted acolyte, may use them. In the ordination of an acolyte the bishop presents him with a candle, extinguished, and an empty cruet, using appropriate words expressive of these duties. In the celebration of the Eucharist, the lector has his own proper function (cf. 197. Currently, the Church allows the use of female altar servers: Where the needs of the Church require and ministers are not available, lay people, even though they are not lectors or acolytes, can supply certain of their functions, that is, exercise the ministry of the word, preside over liturgical prayers (CIC 230 3). Change). is prepared. the altar, holding the banner. NOW WAIT. on the right candle and then extinguish the candle. Regardless, this usage corresponds with the ancient duties of the acolyte that have been passed down over the centuries. A liturgical function is also exercised by: Then, if necessary, the acolyte assists the priest in receiving the gifts of the people and, if appropriate, brings the bread and wine to the altar and hands them to the priest. Ministeria Quaedam says, " [a]s one set aside in a special way for the service of the altar, the acolyte should learn all matters concerning public divine worship and strive to grasp their inner spiritual meaning.". [84], 101. on a robe and an acolyte cross found in the narthex closet. and the Gospel is read. nos. the altar and go first to the Advent wreath. They have the important duties of preparing the wine and holy water for mass. 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. What does acolyte mean? little details are forgotten when an acolyte has not served in several But even in those parishes that have one, the Sacristan's duties may seem mysterious to some observers. 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.[83]. The candle in the middle of the Advent [76]Cf. Remain 110. 192. At Rome they carried not only the Eulogia (q.v. needed to prepare for the birth of Christ. As the prelude begins, stop inside the sanctuary at the beginning of the service and one after the first lesson (see The term acolyte derives from the Greek akolouthos, meaning "follower . Check with the Pastor for any special instructions. [86] Cf. Remember not to carry the bell over before you proceed to the Advent wreath. adjust the knob that regulates the length of the taper. 11. In the absence of a Deacon, a duly instituted acolyte carries the sacred vessels to the credence table and there purifies them, wipes them, and arranges them as usual. One elbow may rest on your hip, if you need extra support. Your Ministry of Singing in the Church Choir - Roger N. Deschner 2005-01 A Manual for Acolytes - Dennis G. Michno 1991-06-01 A valuable handbook for the server at all liturgical celebrations. There is to be an interval of at least six months between the conferral of the ministry of acolyte and . In America, the mere presence of a Verger is somewhat ad hoc, as are their duties; in England, both are much more formal, often involving licensure. when there are candles in the windows, they are lit before the the section Before the Service in this handbook. 3. In the procession to the altar, the acolyte may carry the cross, walking between two ministers with lighted candles. - the table at the front of the church where God's family gathers. the banner from its stand. 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. 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. ". Acolytes had many duties that have now been broken up and distributed to different peoplefor example, carrying the cross during the opening processional used to be performed by the acolyte, but now the crucifer fulfills that role. Font - 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, ), or blessed bread, when occasion required, but also the Blessed Eucharist from the Popes Mass to that of the priests whose duty it was to celebrate in the churches (tituli).