ALTAR SERVER HANDBOOK

St. Michael the Archangel

Leawood, Kansas
 Thank you for becoming an altar server
at St. Michael the Archangel Parish!

This handbook contains information that you will learn as you advance as an altar
server and will be a useful resource to you for years to come.
Altar servers are ranked based on the level of mastery of knowledge and skills. You will
have the opportunity to advance in rank at your own pace depending on your
willingness to work toward mastery of the skills and knowledge required at each level.

The altar server ranks are:

1 — Altar Server
2 — Lucifer (Light Bearer)
3 — Crucifer (Cross Bearer)
4 — Book Bearer
5 — Altar Minister
6 — Master of Ceremonies

You will notice that all of the prayers, information and vocabulary in this handbook are
color-coded to correspond to the color of the rank as listed above. That means that you
will be working on learning those things while you are at that rank in order to advance
to the next.

We pray that your experience as an altar server brings you into a deeper friendship with
Christ and helps you to realize the great dignity of your service. St. John Paul II,
addressing altar servers, once said:

“Therefore, in the liturgy, you are much more than simple "helpers of the parish priest."
Above all, you are servers of Jesus Christ, of the eternal High Priest.”
 PRAYERS OF THE MASS TO KNOW

CONFITEOR NICENE CREED

I confess to almighty God I believe in one God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters, the Father almighty,
that I have greatly sinned maker of heaven and earth,
in my thoughts and in my words, of all things visible and invisible.
in what I have done and in what I have I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
failed to do, the Only Begotten Son of God,
through my fault, through my fault, born of the Father before all ages.
through my most grievous fault; God from God, Light from Light,
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, true God from true God,
all the Angels and Saints, begotten, not made, consubstantial
and you, my brothers and sisters, with the Father;
to pray for me to the Lord our God. through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
PENITENTIAL OPTION B he came down from heaven,
Priest: Have mercy on us, O Lord. and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of
Response: For we have sinned against you. the Virgin Mary,
Priest: Show us, O Lord, your mercy. and became man.
Response: And grant us your salvation. For our sake he was crucified under
Pontius Pilate,
GLORIA he suffered death and was buried,
Glory to God in the highest, and rose again on the third day
and on earth peace to people of good will. in accordance with the Scriptures.
We praise you, He ascended into heaven
we bless you, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
we adore you, He will come again in glory
we glorify you, to judge the living and the dead
we give you thanks for your great glory, and his kingdom will have no end.
Lord God, heavenly King, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the
O God, almighty Father. giver of life,
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who with the Father and the Son is adored
you take away the sins of the world, and glorified,
have mercy on us; who has spoken through the prophets.
you take away the sins of the world, I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic
receive our prayer; Church.
you are seated at the right hand of I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness
the Father, have mercy on us. of sins
For you alone are the Holy One, and I look forward to the resurrection of
you alone are the Lord, the dead
you alone are the Most High, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
 PRAYERS OF THE MASS TO KNOW

PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE PATER NOSTER (OUR FATHER)

May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands Our Father who art in heaven,
For the praise and glory of his name, hallowed be thy name.
For our good, and the good of all his holy Thy kingdom come.
Church. Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
PREFACE DIALOGUE Give us this day our daily bread;
Priest: The Lord be with you. and forgive us our trespasses,
Response: And with your spirit. as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
Priest: Lift up your hearts. but deliver us from evil.
Response: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Response: It is right and just. Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
SANCTUS (HOLY, HOLY, HOLY) but only say the word
Holy, Holy, Holy and my soul shall be healed.
Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. AGNUS DEI (LAMB OF GOD)
Hosanna in the highest. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the
Blessed is he who comes world: have mercy on us.
In the name of the Lord. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the
Hosanna in the highest. world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the
MEMORIAL ACCLAMATIONS world: grant us peace.
We proclaim your death, O Lord,
and profess your resurrection PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL
until you come again. St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle,
OR be our protection against the wickedness and
When we eat this bread and drink this cup, snares of the devil.
we proclaim your death, O Lord, May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do
until you come again. thou,
O Prince of the Heavenly host,
OR by the power of God,
Save us, Savior of the world, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
for by your cross and resurrection who prowl about the world
You have set us free. seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

PROSIT/OMNIBUS ET SINGULIS
Priest: Prosit.
Response: Pro omnibus et singulis.
 The Order of Mass
Introductory Rites—Preparing our hearts
Entrance Chant: We gather as God’s family and praise God in song.
Greeting: We pray the Sign of the Cross. The priest welcomes us.
Penitential Act: We bring to mind our sins and ask God for mercy.
Gloria: We praise God in song.
Collect: We ask God to hear our prayers of this Mass.

Liturgy of the Word—God speaks to his children

First Reading: We listen to God’s Word, usually from the Old Testament.
Responsorial Psalm: We respond to God’s Word in song.
Second Reading: We listen to God’s Word from the New Testament.
Gospel Acclamation: We sing “Alleluia!” to praise God for the Good News. During Lent, we use a different
acclamation.
Gospel Reading: We stand to listen attentively to the Gospel of the Lord.
Homily: The priest or the deacon explains God’s Word.
Profession of Faith: We proclaim our faith through the Creed.
Universal Prayer: We pray for the needs of people throughout the world and in our own community.

Liturgy of the Eucharist—Bread and wine become Christ’s Body and Blood
Presentation and Preparation of the Gifts: We bring gifts of bread and wine to the altar.
Prayer over the Offerings: The priest prays that God will accept our sacrifice.

Eucharistic Prayer: Eucharist comes from the Greek word for “thanksgiving.”
Preface: “It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks…”
Holy, Holy, Holy: We praise God in song.
Epiclesis: The priest calls down the Holy Spirit.
Anamnesis: The priest says the words of Jesus at the Last Supper.
The Mystery of Faith: We proclaim the mystery of our faith.
Amen: We give our assent to the words and actions of the Eucharistic Prayer.

Communion Rite—Receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ

Lord’s Prayer—We pray the Our Father.
Sign of Peace—We offer Christ’s peace to one another.
Lamb of God—We ask God for his mercy and peace.
Communion—We receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
Prayer After Communion—We pray that the Eucharist will strengthen us to live like Jesus.

Concluding Rites—We are sent forth

Final Blessing: We receive God’s blessing.
Dismissal: We go forth to announce the Gospel of the Lord.
 LITURGICAL VOCABULARY
ALTAR The table on which the Eucharistic
Sacrifice is offered.

AMBO The pulpit from which the Scriptures are

proclaimed and the homily is delivered

CASSOCK The black robe worn by clerics and altar

servers that buttons up the front.

PROCESSIONAL A set of candles which accompany

CANDLES symbols of the Lord such as the cross and
the Book of the Gospels in procession.

ROMAN The book which contains the prayers and

MISSAL directives for Mass and a number of
sacramental rites

SACRISTY A room, usually adjacent to the

sanctuary, where the sacred vessels and
all else that is necessary to perform the
sacred functions of the Church are kept.

SANCTUARY The area of the church where the main

ritual actions of the liturgy take place and
where the Word of God is proclaimed.
 SURPLICE An outer white garment worn over a cassock by
clerics and altar servers.

TABERNACLE A safe-like container in the church where the

Blessed Sacrament is reserved.

TAPER A hollow brass rod with a wick inside used for

or lighting candles. The cup is used to extinguish
candles. The wick should be left extended after
CANDLE LIGHTER
use to prevent the cooled wax from sticking
WITH SNUFFER
inside the rod.
PROCESSIONAL A crucifix which is carried in liturgical
CROSS processions.

SANCTUS A small set of bells rung during the Liturgy of

BELLS the Eucharist to call the attention of the
assembly to the fact that a supernatural event is
taking place on the altar.
BOAT The small metal container that holds the
incense. It has a cover and also contains a
small spoon.

CHARCOAL Flammable material placed in the thurible to

burn the incense.

MISSAL STAND A stand placed on the altar to hold the Roman

Missal
 THURIBLE The vessel in which incense is burned at
liturgical celebrations.

CHALICE The large cup or goblet used by the priest at

Mass in which the wine is consecrated and
becomes the Precious Blood of Christ

PURIFICATOR A folded, rectangular piece of white linen that

is used to purify the chalices, ciboria, and
paten

PATEN A plate-like, gold or brass-colored dish that

holds the presider’s host that will become the
Body of Christ

PALL A square, cloth-covered piece of cardboard

used to cover a chalice

CORPORAL A square piece of linen placed in the center

of the altar upon which the Eucharist is
consecrated. It folds up to contain any
fragments of the Body of Christ that might be
scattered.
CIBORIUM A bowl-like vessel, sometimes with a lid, that
contains the hosts which are consecrated and
become the Body of Christ

CRUET A small glass vessel with a narrow neck and

handle which contains the water or wine
 LAVABO A bowl used in the washing of the priest’s
BOWL hands after he has offered the bread and wine
to the Lord and before the consecration.

LOW-GLUTEN A vessel designated to hold only low-gluten

hosts
VESSEL

PYX A small container that is used to take Holy

Communion to the sick and those confined to
their homes

CREDENCE A table which holds the objects necessary for

TABLE the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass

BURSE A receptacle made of two pieces of cardboard

covered in fabric in which the folded
corporal is carried to and from the altar.

CHALICE A piece of cloth used to cover the chalice when

it is carried to and from the altar during the
VEIL
celebration of Mass.

ASPERGILLUM The instrument used to sprinkle people and

objects with holy water

ASPERSORIUM The small bucket with a handle that holds holy

water to be sprinkled during liturgies and
blessings

AMICE A short linen cloth which covers the shoulders

and is the first to be put on by the priest in
vesting for the Mass. As the priest puts it on he
prays, “Lord, set the helmet of salvation on my
head to fend off all the assaults of the devil.”
 ALB A white linen vestment. As the priest puts it on
he prays, “Make me white, O Lord, and cleanse
my heart; that being made white in the Blood
of the Lamb I may deserve an eternal reward.“

BIRETTA A square cap with three ridges or peaks on its

upper surface, worn by clergy.

CINCTURE A rope tied at the waist over the alb. As the

priest puts it on he prays, “Gird me, O Lord,
with the cincture of purity, and quench in my
heart the fire of concupiscence, that the virtue
of continence and chastity may abide in me.”
CHASABLE The sleeveless outer vestment worn by the
priest when celebrating Mass. As the priest
puts it on he prays, “O Lord, who has said, ‘My
yoke is sweet and My burden light,’ grant that I
may so carry it as to merit Thy grace.”

COPE A cape-like vestment that is put on over the

shoulders and hangs to the ankles. It is open at
the front and clasped at the neck. The priest or
deacon wears this during Benediction and
certain processions.
HUMERAL A long, narrow, shawl-like vestment used at
VEIL Benediction and when the Blessed Sacrament
is carried in processions

STOLE A liturgical vestment composed of a strip of

material worn by deacons, priests and bishops.
 BOOK OF A special book containing all the Gospel texts
THE used for liturgies on Sundays and solemnities.
GOSPELS It is carried in the entrance procession and
placed on the altar until the Gospel
acclamation.

LECTIONARY The book containing the Scriptural readings

for each Mass throughout the year.

MONSTRANCE An elaborate gold vessel for displaying the

Sacred Host. In the center is a small round
glass the size of a host through which the
Blessed Sacrament can be seen.

PASCHAL The large candle lit from the new fire at the
CANDLE Easter Vigil symbolizing the resurrection of
Christ. It is lit in the sanctuary during the
Easter Season until Pentecost. It is also lit for
baptisms and funerals.

SANCTUARY A wax candle, generally in a red glass container,

LAMP kept burning day and night wherever the
Blessed Sacrament is reserved.

ABLUTION A bowl-like container filled with water for the

BOWL purpose of purifying fingers after distributing
Holy Communion. The water from this bowl
must be poured into the sacrarium.

SACRARIUM A “sink” in the sacristy that drains directly into

the earth rather than the sewer system. This
sink is used only for sacred items or water used
to cleanse items that have been used in contact
with the Precious Body or Blood of Christ.