And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Revelation 8:3-4.

If you are an altar server, you have one of the most amazing ministries there is. At Mass you are closest to all the action and get a view that most of us will never have.

The role is a complex one, incorporating many jobs and skills. And as we will, see, it really shouldn’t be seen as something to keep children occupied in church. But to start, let’s go back to the early days of the church.

The Story of Tarcisius
Tarcisius was a teenager and a devout Christian. The threat of being captured by Roman soldiers and being tortured or killed, didn’t stop him meeting in secret to celebrate the Eucharist with his fellow Christians. They used the underground burial spaces (catacombs) to meet and celebrate the sacraments. Candles on the altar (very often a tomb which many altar tables still resemble) provided light, which we still use today.

On one occasion, when the persecution was particularly bad, communion needed to be taken to those members of the community who were in prison. Tarcisius volunteered. The bishop was reluctant to let such a young person take such a risk, but Tarcisius insisted. He was given the Eucharist wrapped up in a piece of clean linen, which he put in a pouch and hung around his neck.

In spite of being so young, he was recognised as Christian by an angry mob who wanted to know what he was carrying and why he was being so secretive. They attacked him viciously, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t pry the Eucharist from his hands.

Tarcisius died from his injuries and later his body was carried back to the catacombs to be buried. The bishop took from him the linen package containing the Body of Christ that he had been clinging to throughout his torture. Tarcisius was loyal to the end. By the 5^th century, the role of assisting at Mass became part of the ordained ministry.

Tarcisius, whose remains are now in the church of  San Silvestro in Capite, Rome, is the patron saint of Altar Servers and is a great hero for every young Christian.

It’s not a Children’s Ministry
But it is a wonderful way to encourage young people to offer their time and skills and nurture their faith. (The rule generally is that having made their First Holy Communion, children may become servers.)  However, we should be encouraging young people in all areas of lay ministry. Their vitality and enthusiasm would bring life to Welcoming, Proclaiming the Word, Singing and distributing Communion (especially to the sick and housebound). I’m talking about teenagers, not younger children. Let’s encourage older servers that can be role models for the younger. Practically speaking, it can be difficult for a priest to control a sanctuary full of 8-10 year olds while celebrating Mass. Teenage and adult servers should be the norm while training and encouraging those who are younger.  

Training, Practice and Explanation
Young people are sponges for knowledge and have an amazing range of gifts as well as a profound understanding about God and spirituality.

Servers shouldn’t be made to feel nervous because they don’t know what to do.
They need to be instructed and ‘walked through’ their role before their first Mass.
This will foster an appreciation and understanding that they deserve and will carry out their duties so much better.

With younger people, do make training fun and relaxed. Given them the opportunity to express anxieties and ask any questions, this will help their confidence.

I have included some training references at the end of this article, because there are so many things to consider, but here’s a start:
Know what the following are called and their function
Chalice, ciborium, cruets, credence table, purificator, corporal.
Sacristy, Sacrarium.
Thurible, boat, incense, processional cross.
Altar, ambo, tabernacle, presider’s chair, sanctuary lamp, paschal candle.
Cassock, alb, stole, chasuble.
Lectionary, missal.

Practise the various postures and gestures
Walking, sitting, bowing, genuflecting, making the sign of the cross.
How to receive communion.
What to do with your hands at all times.

Practise the various roles
How to safely light and extinguish candles.
Carrying the cross.
Being an acolyte.
Being a thurifer – lots of practical experience needed here. Know how to deal with charcoal, open the thurible, swing safely, and how many swings to do.

Expect High Standards
As the name suggests, this is a ministry of service. We are serving God and each other. At Mass, it involves practical jobs helping the ministers and the faithful. Ultimately it should express our love for God and should therefore be done properly. Nothing will be perfect because we are human, but we can strive. Have clear expectations of attendance, dress and behaviour. Give plenty of explanations and attention to detail as young people thrive on it.

Show Appreciation
Don’t take things for granted. We all like to be thanked and encouraged. Consider enrolling servers into the Guild of St Stephen.

8 Little things that make a Big difference – a handy Checklist.    

1. Sit still.
2. Wear smart but comfortable shoes (not high, noisy heels) and a well-fitting cassock.
3. Do everything slowly.
4. Look and listen to what is going on.
5. Join your hands.
6. Join in the responses.
7. Join in the singing.
8. Say your prayers.

Top Ten Tips for Servers

1. Know what you are doing and know why you are doing it.
   
2. Practise, practise, practise:
   Carrying the cross, candles, cruets, ringing the bell or gong, genuflecting, carrying and swinging the thurible, walking in procession.
   No one should ask you to do something if you haven’t practised it several times first.
   
3. Know your role.
   If you’re not sure, don’t be afraid to ask. Again, you should only do things you have been trained for.
   
4. Turn up early, be helpful and polite.
   Your role begins way before Mass, especially on big occasions. You need to get robed and help get things ready, and not 3 minutes before Mass is due to start. Remember, you should not be a distraction.

The same goes for after Mass. Leave a few minutes before clearing things away.

• Say a prayer.  
  Don’t forget God in all this. You will say a prayer in the Sacristy before and after Mass. But take time to speak to God, sharing your thoughts and concerns.
  
• Be part of a team.
  You are a part of the worshipping community and part of a serving team. It’s a great way to make new friends. As well as training and serving, the team should go for meals, days out or to the cinema.
  
• Be humble.   
  You are not the centre of attention. Everything you do is for God, and God will love you for it. So undertake your role in a quiet and humble way, not drawing attention to yourself in any way. 
  
• Be committed and a good example. 
  Once you are trained and on a rota, people will rely on you to attend and perform a role. You will learn lots of life skills.

Be Safe
It is most important to stress that ALL those involved in the training and pastoral care of young people MUST follow the principles of good practice laid out by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) – www.cbcew.org.uk/safeguarding/

Resources
Guide for Servers. The Liturgical Ministry Series.
Corrina Laughlin, Robert D. Shadduck, Paul Turner, D Todd Williamson. LTP 2012.
Serve the Lord with Gladness. A Manual for Servers.  David Philippart. LTP 1998.

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