Serving at the Altar

I first altar served Mass on Easter Sunday in 2001. Since that time, I have served Mass countless times, not only Sunday Mass at my parish but various Masses at the seminary, for special events and pilgrimages, even once for the pope! However, this past Sunday, March 1, I took a further step in my involvement in the Liturgy and in my journey towards the priesthood when my classmates and I were instituted into the Ministry of Acolyte by Bishop Paul Loverde from the Diocese of Arlington, VA. According to the General Instructions of the Roman Missal, “The acolyte is instituted to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. In particular, it is his responsibility to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if it is necessary, as an extraordinary minister, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful.” In theory, a bishop could institute any lay man into the Ministry of Acolyte. In practice, however, this Ministry is usually only conferred on those who are preparing for ordination (both seminarians and candidates for the Permanent Diaconate). An instituted Acolyte differs from ordinary altar servers or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion by his installation. It is only in the absence of sufficient instituted Acolytes that others may be deputed to serve at the altar or to assist in the distribution of Holy Communion (General Instructions of the Roman Missal, 100).

For me, serving Mass has always been a special privilege. The Mass has been called “the source and summit of the Christian life.” For a Christian, participating at Mass is certainly the most important part of the day, of the week, of our entire lives! This is why, during the Rite of Installation of Acolytes, the Bishop hands a ciborium with hosts for Mass to the new Acolyte and says, “Take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.” Knowing the importance of the Mass, the Acolyte must try to conform his life to the life of our Lord. Yet, it is not only the privilege of an acolyte to participate at Mass. Rather, all Christians are called to be “a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) It is the great joy of every Christian to participate, at least on Sundays, in the Mass. Let us all try to heed the words of the Bishop to the new Acolyte and make our lives worthy of our service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.