Editing Altar server

{{Short description|Assistant to a member of the clergy}}
[[File:Biskupské svěcení Z. Wasserbauer 2018-05-19 průvod 17 „Lahvoun“.jpg|thumb|A Czech altar server]]
{{Catholic Church hierarchy sidebar|Additional titles}}
An '''altar server''' is a [[laity|lay]] assistant to a member of the [[clergy]] during a [[Christian liturgy]]. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the [[altar]] such as fetching and carrying, ringing the [[altar bell]], helping bring up the gifts, and bringing up the liturgical books, among other things. If young, the server is commonly called an '''altar boy''' or '''altar girl'''. In some Christian denominations, altar servers are known as [[acolyte]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Eaton |first1=Robert |title=How to Motivate, Train and Nurture Acolytes: Five Workshops and Other Resources |date=2001 |publisher=Church Publishing, Inc. |isbn=9780819224569 |page=46 |language=en |quote="Server" and "Acolyte" are often interchangeable words.}}</ref>

== Latin Church ==
{{Further|Latin Church}}
[[File:Vijftig misdienaars in 2004 bij 50-jarig bestaan Sint Martinuskerk, Gennep.jpg|thumb|Fifty altar servers, during a celebration of a 50-year-old church, [[Gennep]], Netherlands, September 2004]]
While the function of altar server is commonly associated with children, it can be and is carried out by people of any age or dignity.<ref>{{cite book |author=Leonard of Port Maurice |date=1970 |title=The Hidden Treasure: Holy Mass |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RjsqCgAAQBAJ&q=%22hidden+treasure%22+%22thomas+more%22&pg=PT66 |publisher=TAN Books |isbn=9781618905314 |author-link=Leonard of Port Maurice}}</ref>

According to the ''General Instruction of the Roman Missal'', "Mass should not be celebrated without a minister, or at least one of the faithful, except for a just and reasonable cause."<ref>''[http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/GIRM/Documents/GIRM.pdf General Instruction of the Roman Missal]'', 254; cf. [https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P38.HTM Code of Canon Law, canon 906].</ref>

=== The term "acolyte" ===

As in other churches,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=lhN2DwAAQBAJ&q=speer+%22altar+server%22 Roger Speer Jr., Sharon Ely Pearson, ''I Serve at God's Altar: The Ministry of Acolytes'' (Church Publishing 2018)]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=tIr-zGe0SFQC&dq=server+acolyte+interchangeable&pg=PA46 Robert Eaton, ''How to Motivate, Train and Nurture Acolytes'' (Church Publishing 2001), p. 46]</ref> altar servers are sometimes called acolytes in the [[Latin Church]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=DtPfyf1JRvEC&dq=%22another+name+for+server+is+acolyte%22&pg=PA106 David Philippart, ''Serve God with Gladness: A Manual for Servers'' (Liturgy Training Publications 1998), p. 106]</ref><ref>[https://quizlet.com/108393189/st-peter-server-training-glossary-flash-cards/ St. Peter Server Training Glossary]</ref> [[Pope Benedict XVI]] spoke of Saint [[Tarcisius]] as "presumably an acolyte, that is, an altar server".<ref>[https://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20100804.html Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 4 August 2010]</ref> However, within the Latin Church, the term "acolyte" is also used in a more restricted sense, often specified as "instituted acolyte",<ref>{{cite book|last1=Laughlin |first1=Corinna |last2=Riley |first2=Kenneth A. |last3=Turner |first3=Paul |date=2014 |title=Guide for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iIOgBAAAQBAJ&q=%22altar+server%22&pg=PA57 |publisher=LiturgyTrainingPublications |page=57 |isbn=9781616711283}}</ref> to mean an adult woman or man who has received the [[Minister (Catholic Church)#Instituted ministries|instituted ministry]] of that name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-changes-catholic-church-law-women-explicitly-allowed-lectors-altar-servers|title=Francis changes Catholic Church law: women explicitly allowed as lectors, altar servers|date=January 11, 2021|website=National Catholic Reporter}}</ref><ref>[https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PV.HTM Code of Canon Law, canon 230]</ref> Acolytes in this narrower sense are not necessarily preparing for ordination as deacons and priests.<ref>[https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/40154/six-lay-men-installed-as-acolytes-in-spokane Six lay men installed as acolytes in Spokane (Catholic News Service, 14 December 2018)]</ref> They are authorized to carry out some functions, in particular that of cleansing the Eucharistic vessels, that are not entrusted to ordinary servers.<ref>[http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/GIRM/Documents/GIRM.pdf General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 192]</ref> Those who are to be ordained to the [[diaconate]] must be instituted as acolytes at least six months previously.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3R.HTM Code of Canon Law, canon 1035 §2]</ref> This ministry was long classified in the Latin Church as a [[minor order]], as by the [[Council of Trent]].<ref>[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Canons_and_Decrees_of_the_Council_of_Trent/Session_XXIII/Sacrament_of_Orders Council of Trent, session XXIII]</ref><ref>[https://history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/trentall.html J. Waterworth, ed. (1848), ''The Canons and Decrees of the Sacred and Oecumenical Council of Trent'', pp. 170−192]</ref> The ''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', which does not use the term "server" and instead speaks of altar servers generically among "other ministers", treats in detail of the functions of the "acolyte", often specifying "instituted acolyte".<ref>[http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/GIRM/Documents/GIRM.pdf General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 98, 100, 162, 191, 192, 247, 249, 279, 284]</ref>

=== Female altar servers ===
{{Main|Female altar servers}}
[[File:Altar servers.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Since the 1990s, girls may serve at altar]]

The [[1983 Code of Canon Law]] altered the juridical situation: without distinguishing between male and female, it declared: "Lay persons can fulfill the function of [[reader (liturgy)|lector]] in liturgical actions by temporary designation. All lay persons can also perform the functions of commentator or [[cantor]], or other functions, according to the norm of law."<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PV.HTM Code of Canon Law, canon 230 §2]</ref> On 30 June 1992, the [[Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts]] issued an [[Interpretation (Catholic canon law)#Authentic interpretation|authentic interpretation]] of that canon declaring that service of the altar is one of the "other functions" open to lay persons in general, without distinguishing between male and female.<ref>[http://www.delegumtextibus.va/content/testilegislativi/it/attivita/interpretazioni/can230-par2.html Authentic interpretation of canon 230 §2]</ref>

In reference to this authentic interpretation, the [[Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments]] sent on 15 March 1994 a circular letter to presidents of [[episcopal conference]]s, clarifying that the canon in question is only of permissive character. It does not require the use of female altar servers. It is thus for each diocesan bishop to decide whether to allow them in his diocese.<ref>[https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/vatican-communication-on-female-altar-servers-2162 Vatican Communication on Female Altar Servers]</ref> A later document from 2001 states that even if a bishop permits female altar servers, the priest in charge of a church in that diocese is not obliged to recruit them, since no one, male or female, has a ''right'' to become an altar server. The document also states that "it will always be very appropriate to follow the noble tradition of having boys serve at the altar".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/DocumentContents/DocumentIndex/556|title=The Catholic Liturgical Library}}</ref>

As priests in charge of churches are not obliged to avail of a diocesan bishop's permission in this matter, those belonging to [[traditionalist Catholic]] groups such as the [[Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter|Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter]], the [[Institute of Christ the King|Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest]], the [[Institute of the Good Shepherd|Institute of The Good Shepherd]], the [[Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X|Society of Saint Pius X]] and the self-professed Catholic [[Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen|CMRI]] and some other priests do not.

In the United States, after the Arlington Diocese's decision to allow them, the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln|Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska]] in 2006 became the only diocese in the country that did not allow females to be altar servers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2006-03-22-altar-girls_x.htm|title=USATODAY.com - Neb. diocese is lone U.S. holdout on allowing altar girls|website=[[USA Today]] }}</ref> However, it was joined by a church in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix|Diocese of Phoenix]] in August 2011, when it was announced that girls would no longer be allowed to altar serve.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clancy |first1=Michael |title=Phoenix diocese cathedral won't allow girl altar servers |url=http://archive.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/20110821phoenix-catholic-diocese-girl-servers.html#ixzz2HBvJANlK |website=The Arizona Republic |access-date=2 November 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181102160627/http://archive.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/20110821phoenix-catholic-diocese-girl-servers.html%23ixzz2HBvJANlK |archive-date=2 November 2018| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Duties at Mass ===
[[File:Priest_or_seminarian_with_thurible.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|An altar server carrying a [[thurible]] is called a thurifer]]
In the absence of instituted acolytes, some of their functions at [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] may be carried out by altar servers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/GIRM/Documents/GIRM.pdf|title=General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 100|website=liturgyoffice.org.uk}}</ref>
*Servers hold liturgical books for the priest when he is not at the altar and is proclaiming the presidential prayers with outstretched hands. They bring and hold such things as books, thuribles, the [[lavabo]] water and towel, vessels to hold the consecrated bread, and microphones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/GIRM/Documents/CTM.pdf|title=Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales, ''Celebrating the Mass: A Pastoral Introduction'' (Catholic Truth Society 2005), p. 19|website=liturgyoffice.org.uk}}</ref>
* Entrance: The entrance procession is led by a [[thurifer]] with burning incense (if incense is used at the Mass) and a [[cross-bearer]] carrying a [[processional cross]], who is flanked on either side by another server bearing a lighted [[candle]].<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', no. 120</ref>
* Proclamation of the Gospel: If incense is used, a server presents to the priest at the [[Alleluia]] or other pre-Gospel chant the thurible and the incense that he puts in the thurible and blesses,<ref>General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 132</ref> and servers, who may carry the thurible and lighted candles, precede to the [[ambo (liturgy)|ambo]] the deacon or priest who proclaims the Gospel there.<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', nos. 133, 175</ref>
* Preparation of the Gifts: One or more servers assist in arranging the corporal, the purificator(s), the chalice(s), the pall(s), and the Missal on the altar, leaving it to the deacon to take care of the sacred vessels.<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', nos. 139, 178</ref> (At a concelebrated Mass without participation by a deacon, a concelebrating priest carries out the functions assigned to the deacon.)<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', no. 208</ref> If, as is appropriate, the bread and wine for the Mass are presented by the faithful, servers assist the priest or deacon who receives these and perhaps other gifts and carry the bread and wine to the priest, placing other gifts in a place distinct from the altar.<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', nos. 73, 140</ref> They present the [[cruet]]s of wine and water for the priest or deacon to pour some into the chalice.<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', no. 142</ref> If incense is used, a server presents the thurible and incense to the priest, who incenses the offerings, the cross and the altar, after which the deacon or a server incenses the priest and the people.<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', nos. 144, 178</ref><ref>The ''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'' makes no reference to a separate incensing of concelebrants (cf. [https://www.ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur256.htm Edward McNamara, "Incensing the Congregation"]).</ref> When the priest then washes his hands standing at the side of the altar, a server pours the water over them.<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', no. 145</ref>
* Consecration: An altar server rings a bell shortly before the consecration, generally at the [[epiclesis]] (when the priest extends his hands above the gifts). In accordance with local custom, a server also rings the bell when, after the consecrations of the bread and wine, the priest shows the Host and then the Chalice. If incense is used, a server incenses the consecrated host and the chalice while these are being shown to the people.<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', no. 150</ref>
* Sign of Peace: The priest or deacon may give the sign of peace to servers, while remaining within the sanctuary.<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', nos. 154, 181</ref>
* Distribution of Holy Communion: In some places it is customary for servers to assist at the distribution of Holy Communion by holding a [[communion-plate]] for communicants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.holytrinityparish.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Holy-Trinity-Altar-Boy-Handbook-to-Print-9-8-09.pdf |title=''Altar Boy Handbook'' of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Gainesville, Virginia (2009), p. 16 |access-date=2018-07-14}}</ref> Whether it is to be held by communicants or by a server, a communion-plate is placed on the [[credence table]] before Mass.<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', no. 118</ref><ref>[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html#_ftnref180 Instruction ''Redemptionis sacramentum'', 93]</ref> Its use (held by the communicants) is prescribed when Holy Communion is given by [[intinction]].<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', no. 118</ref>
* Recessional: The servers lead the priest and any other clergy as at the entrance procession, except that a server who acted as thurifer at the entrance now follows the cross-bearer.<ref>General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 169</ref>
* If a bishop celebrates Mass solemnly, two servers, wearing [[vimpa]]e, hold the [[mitre]] and the [[crosier]], and present them at the appropriate times.

===Vestments===
[[File:Ministranti-ctyrak.jpg|thumb|right|Altar servers in cassock and surplice and one in alb]]
[[File:Altar Boy in Holy Day Vestments (1965) (PICT1209).jpg|thumb|Altar Boy in Holy Day Vestments (1965)]]
The vestment common to all ordained and instituted ministers of whatever rank is an [[alb]], which is to be tied at the waist with a [[cincture]] unless the alb is made to fit without cincture.<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', 336</ref> Acolytes, readers and other lay ministers (such as altar servers) may wear either an alb or other appropriate attire as determined by the local [[episcopal conference]].<ref>''[[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]]'', 339</ref>

Servers often wear [[cassock]] and [[surplice]], with black and red being the most common colors for a server's cassock.<ref>[http://www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur303.htm Edward McNamara "Colors of Cassocks and Altar Cloths"]</ref>

==Byzantine Rite==
[[File:Me in church with bishop.jpg|right|thumb|[[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|Ukrainian Catholic]] bishop and priests during the [[Divine Liturgy]], with altar servers in front (note the crossed [[orarion|oraria]] the servers are wearing)]]

In the [[Byzantine Rite]], altar servers assist the higher clergy during services. They might carry the cross, candles or [[Flabellum|liturgical fans]] in [[Crucession|processions]] and [[Entrance (Liturgical)|entrances]]; maintain the [[thurible|censer]], ensuring it has enough live charcoal, loading it with [[incense]] and handing it to the priest or deacon when required; preparing the hot water (''[[Zeon (liturgy)|zeon]]'') in time for it to be added to the [[Chalice (cup)|chalice]] at the [[Divine Liturgy]]; prepare the [[antidoron]] for the people to receive after [[Holy Communion]]; and any other necessary tasks so that the priest need not be distracted during the service. An altar server is vested in the [[sticharion]] only.

In the [[early Church]], before someone could be a server he had to be [[Tonsure#Eastern Christianity|tonsured]]. Nowadays, in many places it is not necessary to be tonsured before one is allowed to serve (since the tonsure must be done by a bishop or higher-ranking priest). The rites of "Setting Aside a Taper-bearer" and "Tonsuring a [[Reader (liturgy)#Orthodoxy|Reader]]" have now been combined into one service. It is the custom in some traditions, such as the [[Greek Orthodox Church|Greek Orthodox]] or [[Melkite]] Catholic, to allow tonsured altar servers to also vest in the [[orarion]], worn crossed over the back like that of a [[subdeacon]] but with the ends hanging parallel in front. Among the [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russians]], however, the orarion is not usually worn by servers, but only by duly ordained subdeacons and deacons, with the exception that laymen who are blessed to perform some of the functions of subdeacons may sometimes be blessed to wear the orar.

Before vesting, the server must fold his sticharion and bring it to the priest for him to bless. The priest blesses and lays his hand on the folded sticharion. The server kisses the priest's hand and the Cross on the vestment, and then withdraws to vest. Any server who has not been tonsured must remove the sticharion when he receives [[Holy Communion]], because communicants receive the Mysteries according to their order within the Church (so tonsured clergy vest while laymen remove their vestments). Before divesting at the end of the service, the server must receive the priest's blessing.

The minimum age varies by local circumstance, but boys must be mature enough to carry out their duties without disrupting the sanctity of the altar. Although it is common in North America for boys to act as altar servers, in some places this practice is virtually unknown and these duties are always carried out by adult men. In other places where altar servers are normally boys, adult men will not vest if called upon to serve. In yet other places, boys are not permitted to serve in the Altar on reaching their teens on the grounds that the young man is no longer innocent enough to serve in the altar. <!-- This last sounds like BS to me, but am preserving the information for reasons of AGF on the part of the editor who added it. I'd delete it as OR if this article were at all referenced. -->

Altar servers, regardless of age, are subject to all the normal restrictions for those not of higher clerical position. Anyone who is bleeding, or has an open sore, is not permitted to enter the altar. They may not touch the altar table or anything on it under any circumstances, nor the [[prothesis (liturgy)#Architecture|prothesis]] without a blessing. They may not touch the sacred vessels, the chalice and [[paten|diskos]] (paten) at any time. They may not stand directly in front of the altar table or pass between the front of it and the [[iconostasis]], but must cross between the altar and the [[High Place]] if they need to move to the opposite side.

In general, women do not serve in the altar except in women's [[monastery|monasteries]]. In that case they do not receive the clerical tonsure (though they must be tonsured [[nun]]s), and do not vest in the sticharion, but wear their normal [[religious habit]] for attending services, and serve at a certain distance from the actual altar table. Normally, only older nuns may serve in the altar; but the [[Hegumen]]ia ([[Abbess]]) is permitted to enter even if she is younger. A few parishes have begun to use women as altar servers.

== Anglican Church ==
In [[Anglo-Catholic]] and some [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopal]] Churches, the vast majority of roles associated with an altar server are the same as those in the Catholic Church, and the same titles for each individual role are retained from Catholic tradition – mostly restored during the [[Oxford Movement]] in the 19th century.

Unlike the Roman Church, lay servers and sacristans were not conferred into the minor order, as defined by the [[ Council of Trent]]. These orders were not continued in the Anglican tradition.

==Other churches==
{{Main|Acolyte}}
In many [[Lutheran]] and [[Methodist]] churches,<ref>{{cite web|title=Acolytes and deacons|url=http://augustanadc.org/acolytes-and-deacons/|website=augustanadc.org|access-date=28 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028200816/http://augustanadc.org/acolytes-and-deacons/|archive-date=28 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Glossary: acolyte {{!}} UMC.org |url=https://umc.org/en/content/glossary-acolyte |website=The United Methodist Church |language=en}}</ref> all who serve in the above positions are called acolytes.



<gallery widths="154px" heights="200px" class="center" caption="Altar servers in art">
File:Giacomo di Chirico Ministrant.jpg|''Altar server'', by [[Giacomo di Chirico]]
File:Escolanets, Josep Benlliure i Gil, Museu de Belles Arts de València.jpg|''Escolanets'', by [[José Benlliure y Gil]]
File:Felix Freiherr von Ende Ministranten beim Gebet.jpg|''Ministranten beim Gebet'' by [[Felix von Ende]], c. 1888
File:Zdzisław Jasiński Palm Sunday 1891.jpg|''Palm Sunday mass'' by [[Zdzisław Jasiński]], 1891
File:Arrecife - Iglesia de San Ginés in 05 ies.jpg|Statue of an altar server in the [[Iglesia de San Ginés]] in [[Arrecife]], [[Lanzarote]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Altar servers}}
{{Portal-inline|Christianity}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071007142135/http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2006/images/auspetrapavla.jpg Photo of Russian Orthodox bishop surrounded by servers]
* [http://www.sanctamissa.org/en/serving/ SanctaMissa.org's Online Altar Server Tutorial with Video and Guides (1962 Roman Missal)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003042639/http://www.sanctamissa.org/en/serving/ |date=2017-10-03 }}
* [http://www.thesacredheart.com/altguide.htm Altar Server Guide]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080424113905/http://www.rc.net/providence/stwillri/altarservers.html Another Altar Server Manual]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090520061122/http://moas-srcp.catholicweb.com/ Official Website of the Ministry of Altar Servers San Roque Cathedral, Diocese of Caloocan, Philippines]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110714132029/http://snpmas.multiply.com/ Official Website of the Ministry of Altar Servers of Sto. Niño Parish, Taguig, Philippines]
* [https://t.me/ministrantpress/ MINISTRANT PRESS]

{{CatholicMass|collapsed}}
{{TridentineLatinMass}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Altar Server}}
[[Category:Catholic ecclesiastical titles]]
[[Category:Catholic liturgy]]
[[Category:Christian worship roles]]
[[Category:Eastern Christian ecclesiastical offices]]
[[Category:Mass (liturgy)]]
[[Category:Christianity and children]]
[[Category:Byzantine Rite]]