THE DUTIES OF THE ACOLYTE ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL INSTRUCTION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL DUTIES DURING THE INTRODUCTORY RITES: 188. In the procession to the altar, the acolyte may carry the cross, walking between two ministers with lighted candles. Upon reaching the altar, however, the acolyte places the cross upright near the altar so that it may serve as the altar cross; otherwise, he puts it away in a dignified place. Then he takes his place in the sanctuary. 189. Through the entire celebration, it is for the acolyte to approach the Priest or the Deacon, whenever necessary, in order to present the book to them and to assist them in any other way required. Thus it is appropriate that, in so far as possible, the acolyte should occupy a place from which he can easily carry out his ministry either at the chair or at the altar. These duties are very familiar to us; they are usually performed by altar servers, often one or more youths. One item of discussion in some parishes is the last sentence in GIRM 189: where to seat the acolytes? At the priest’s chair in the sanctuary? With the assembly in the front row? Somewhere in between? That largely depends on the practicalities generated by an individual church’s architecture. How is it in your parish?
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 00:40:50 +0000
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