Altar Boys

To serve at the altar of God is a great privilege, which will only be properly understood in heaven! After the priest, the altar boy has the next greatest share in graces available from the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Every measure should be taken to increase the attention, devotion, and respect of all who are present at the Mass that the altar boy serves.

For this reason, great effort is necessary on the part of those boys who wish to become servers. To learn the proper movements for Mass and other liturgies takes attention and self-discipline, and to pronounce the Latin responses perfectly requires much practice and perseverance.

Before training, boys must receive their first Holy Communion and must be properly catechized regarding Our Lord’s True Presence in the Holy Eucharist and Holy Mass.

To begin the process of becoming a server, please email Mark Schulz at sacristan@olmcfssp.org.

St. John Berchmans, patron saint of altar boys, pray for us!

Resources

• OLMC Low Mass Server Video
• How To Serve Low Mass – Fr. William A. O’Brien (Can be loaned from the sacristy)

Audio Recordings

These audio recordings are designed to help new servers learn the proper pronunciation of the Latin responses. Aspiring servers should follow along with the pronunciation guides, pronouncing the words with the audio until they are able to recite the prayers perfectly and without assistance. Pronunciation guides for English speakers have been added in parentheses after the Latin spelling.

Server

Ad Deum qui lætíficat juventútem meam. (Ahd DAY-oom kwee lay-TEE-fee-caht yoo-ven-TOO-tem MEY-ahm.)

Quia tu es Deus, fortitúdo mea: quare me repulísti, et quare tristis incédo, dum afflígit me inimícus? (KWEE-ah too es DAY-oos, for-tee-TOO-doe MAY-ah: QUA-ray may                re-poo-LEE-stee, et KWA-ray TREE-stees in-CHAY-doe, doom aff-LEE-geet may ee-nee-MEE-coos)

Et introíbo ad altáre Dei: ad Deum qui lætíficat juventútem meam. (Et een-tro-EE-bo ahd al-TAR-ay Day-ee: ahd DAY-oom kwee lay-TEE-fee-caht yoo-ven-TOO-tem MEY-ahm.)

Spera in Deo, quóniam adhuc confitébor illi: salutáre vultus mei, et Deus meus. (Spay-RAH een Day-o, KWO-nee-am ahd-hooc con-fee-TAY-bor eel-lee: sah-loo-TAH-ray vool-toos may-ee, et DAY-oos may-oos)

Sicut erat in princípio et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen. (See-coot er-aht een preen-CEE-pee-o et noonc, et sem-per, et een SAY-coo-la say-cu-LOR-oom. Ah-men)

(Repeat)

Ad Deum qui lætíficat juventútem meam. (Ahd DAY-oom kwee lay-TEE-fee-caht yoo-ven-TOO-tem MEY-ahm.)

Qui fecit cælum et terram. (Kwee fay-ceet CHAY-loom et ter-rahm.)

Misereátur tui omnípotens Deus, et, dimíssis peccátis tuis, perdúcat te ad vitam ætérnam. (Mee-ser-ray-AH-tour    TOO-ee ohm-NEE-po-tens DAY-oos, eht dee-MEE-sees peh-CAH-tees TOO-ees, pehr-DOO-caht tay ahd VEE-tam ay-TEHR-nahm.)

Confíteor Deo omnipoténti, beátæ Maríæ semper Vírgini, beáto Michaéli Archángelo, beáto Joanni Baptístæ, sanctis Apóstolis Petro et Paulo, ómnibus Sanctis, et tibi, pater: quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo et ópere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa. Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, beátum Michaélem Archángelum, beátum Joánnem Baptístam, sanctos Apóstolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et te, pater, oráre pro me ad Dóminum Deum nostrum.

Et plebs tua lætábitur in te.

Et salutáre tuum da nobis.

Et clamor meus ad te véniat.

Et cum spíritu tuo.

Server

Suscípiat Dóminus sacrifícium de mánibus tuis ad laudem et glóriam nóminis sui, ad utilitátem quoque nostram, totiúsque Ecclésiæ suæ sanctæ.