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From The Work of God's Children

Congratulations on your choice to let your son(s) serve at the Lord's Altar.

To become an altar boy, your son needs to be able to do the following:

An altarboy assists the priest with the celebration of the Mass

Overview

• Can fold hands together in the proper position
• Can remain focused on the altar (can refrain from looking at Mommy, Daddy, or other people during Mass)
• Enjoys serving
• Can refrain from carrying on conversations with other servers during Mass (about video games, school, their friends, their pets, etc.)
• Can focus on and pay attention to what is going on with the Order of the Mass
• Can refrain from playing with their cinctures during Mass
• Can refrain from using bad words, profanity, or obscene speech
• Can refrain from participating in rowdy activities when vested (chasing other servers, jumping on other servers, etc.)
• Can and will hang up their own vestments after Mass
• Can vest themselves, including tying and untying their own cinctures
• Can tie and untie their own shoes
• Can be silent during Mass and speak only when necessary or when they are participating in the prayers or songs
• Can refrain from regularly using the restroom during Mass (less than once a month for Sunday Masses and less than once a week for daily Masses); if they have a hard time with this, they can try not drinking much for two hours before Mass and make sure they get to the restroom before Mass
• Can refrain from regularly falling asleep during Mass (less than once a month for Sunday Masses and less than once a week for daily Masses)
• Can refrain from talking loudly or boisterously in the altar boy sacristy or in any other part of the building unless necessary
• Can refrain from playing around with the books (skimming through the pages without intending to read anything, slamming the books shut, intentionally dropping them on the floor, etc.)
• Can refrain from socializing with the girls 15 minutes before Mass, and can refrain from socializing with the girls after Mass while they are vested
• Can refrain from socializing with each other after the Server's Prayer before Mass
• Can maintain correct posture at all times during the Mass

Details

Can fold hands together in the proper position

• Your son will need to hold his hands together in a reverent praying position for the majority of the Mass (approximately 45 minutes of a 60 minute Mass, of which an estimated 20 minutes is done while kneeling, 5 minutes while walking, and 20 minutes while standing).
• Practice with your son in the pew: have him keep his hands folded while standing and kneeling for the Mass. He can rest his hands on his lap while he is sitting.

Can remain focused on the altar (can refrain from looking at Mommy, Daddy, or other people during Mass)

• Your son will need to be able to practice self-restraint with his eyes, refraining from looking around at the congregation, at the people behind him, at the ushers during the collection, and at children who start crying or making noise.

Enjoys serving

• If your son does not want to serve, DO NOT FORCE HIM!!! Do not pressure him or nag him or give him the guilt trip about it either. For your son to serve, he must want to do so of his own free will.
• If your son does not enjoy serving, do not force him, pressure him, nag him, or give him the guilt trip about it. This usually signifies that he does not understand the Mass or that he needs further spiritual formation.

Can refrain from carrying on conversations with other servers during Mass (about video games, school, their friends, their pets, etc.)

• Your son will need to be able to refrain from carrying on conversations with other altar boys during Mass, and refrain from partaking in them even if some of the other altar boys start them.

Can focus on and pay attention to what is going on with the Order of the Mass

• Your son should know the basic structure of the Mass (Sign of the Cross, Penitential Rite, Gloria, First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Second Reading, Alleluia, Gospel, Homily, Creed, Petitions, Offertory, Preface, Eucharistic Prayer, Our Father, Lamb of God, Communion, Prayer after Communion, Final Blessing), and be able to follow along.
• Your son should become familiar with the organization of the missalettes (which can also be very helpful in teaching your son the parts of the Mass).

Can refrain from playing with their cinctures during Mass

• Your son will need to be able to practice self-restraint with his fingers and refrain from playing with his cincture, hair, hood, or vestments.

Can refrain from using bad words, profanity, or obscene speech

• Using bad words, profanity, and obscene speech is a violation of the Second Commandment. As parents, you cannot use this kind of language yourselves, and you cannot allow your son to use this kind of language.

Can refrain from participating in rowdy activities when vested (chasing other servers, jumping on other servers, etc.)

• Your son will need to be able to practice self-restraint even when his friends are misbehaving. Talk with your son and determine ways that your son can avoid situations where his friends try to provoke him to misbehave.

Can and will hang up their own vestments after Mass

• Have your son practice hanging up his own clothes at home. When he can do that well, have him practice putting one of the vestments in the altar boys' sacristy back on its hanger and hanging it up.

Can vest themselves, including tying and untying their own cinctures

Diagram for tying cinctures

• Have your son practice putting his vestments on and taking them off in the altar boys' sacristy. Have him practice how to tie and untie his own cincture (just a plain double knot).

Can tie and untie their own shoes

• Shoes frequently come untied during Mass, and your son could easily trip if it happens to him unless he knows how to retie it.

Can be silent during Mass and speak only when necessary or when they are participating in the prayers or songs

• Your son will need to practice self-restraint with his mouth and refrain from speaking when unnecessary, making comments, asking irrelevant and unnecessary questions (“Why are Father's vestments green today,” etc.), or complaining during Mass. This can be left for before or after Mass.
• Note: your son will on occasion need to speak with other servers or priests during Mass (if there is a change of plans, something breaks, someone gets sick, etc.)

Can refrain from regularly using the restroom during Mass (less than once a month for Sunday Masses and less than once a week for daily Masses); if they have a hard time with this, they can try not drinking much for two hours before Mass and make sure they get to the restroom before Mass

• Practice with your son in the pew and ensure he can refrain from having to leave for the restroom during Mass. If he can do this when he is in the pew, he will be able to do this as an altar boy.

Can refrain from regularly falling asleep during Mass (less than once a month for Sunday Masses and less than once a week for daily Masses)

• Practice with your son in the pew, and ensure he can remain awake by himself without you needing to intervene. If he can do this when he is in the pew, he will be able to do this as an altar boy.
• Ensure your son gets adequate sleep before Mass, and possibly have him take a nap before Masses late in the day.

Can refrain from talking loudly or boisterously in the altar boy sacristy or in any other part of the building unless necessary

• Practice with your son and make sure that when he is at home, in the store, or in church, he can control his tone of voice and realizes that he rarely needs to shout or talk loudly to be heard. If he can do it, he will be able to do it as an altar boy.

Can refrain from playing around with the books (skimming through the pages without intending to read anything, slamming the books shut, intentionally dropping them on the floor, etc.)

• Practice with your son and ensure he can refrain from doing any of these things when he is by himself. If he can refrain from doing these things in the pew, he will be able to refrain from doing them as an altar boy.

Can refrain from socializing with the girls 15 minutes before Mass, and can refrain from socializing with the girls after Mass while they are vested

• This is a rule primarily directed toward older altar boys.

Can refrain from socializing with each other after the Server's Prayer before Mass

• After the prayer, we begin to quiet ourselves, thinking of the Mass and preparing for our conversation with the Lord.

Can maintain correct posture at all times during the Mass

• Practice with your son and ensure he can stand, sit, and kneel reverently during the Mass, refraining from squirming, swaying, or complaining. If he can already reverently maintain the correct posture in the pew, he will be able to do it as an altar boy.

Glossary

(To view pictures for a glossary entry or to edit a glossary entry, click on its title to go to its page)

• Altar

An altar is an elevated surface (in the form of a table) on which the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. More...

• Alb

An alb may refer to one of two kinds of white vestments worn in religious ceremonies:

• Albs worn by ordained ministers, such as priests or deacons. These are worn on top of the cassock and the amice (if the amice is used), and worn underneath the stole and cincture. This variety of alb never has a hood.
• Albs worn by lay ministers, such as altarboys or acolytes. A cincture is typically also used with it. This variety of alb will sometimes have a hood. More...
• Ambo

The ambo is the speaker's stand from which the Gospel is preached. The ambo is always elevated above the lectern or at the same height as the lectern; the lectern is never elevated above the ambo. More...

• Amice

The amice is a white linen vestment used by some priests. When worn, it is worn underneath the alb, and is fastened with two linen straps. More...

• Baptismal Font

The Baptismal Font is a basin, usually mounted on a pedestal, where the Sacrament of Baptism is administered. Its location inside the church can vary; it is typically near the main entrance of the church, in a side room known as the Baptistry, or on either the right or left side of the sanctuary. More...

• Benediction

Benediction is a religious ceremony in which the blessing of the people is given with the Blessed Sacrament exposed in a monstrance. More...

• Boat

A boat is a vessel in which incense is stored. More...

• Biretta

The biretta was a hat worn by priests before the Second Vatican Council. It is still used in the Tridentine Mass. The biretta is worn during the entrance and exit processions, and while the priest is sitting. At the beginning of Mass, the biretta is handed to a server after the genuflection at the foot of the altar (before the Asperges or the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar) and is placed on the priest's chair. At the end of Mass, a server brings the biretta back to the priest before the genuflection at the foot of the altar (after the Last Gospel and any Prayers after Low Mass). More...

• Burse

The burse is a case for the corporal. More...

• Candelabra

A candelabra is a candlestick that holds seven candles. It is typically used during Exposition, Eucharistic Adoration, and Benediction. Candelabra are used in pairs: one candelabra on each side of the altar. More...

• Candlestick

A candlestick is a holder for a candle. More...

• Cassock

The cassock is a vestment that has two applications:

• The cassock is part of the clerical garb worn by priests and seminarians. It is usually black.
• The cassock is a vestment worn by altarboys. It is usually black, but in some applications can also be red or white. More...

A cassock

• Chalice

The chalice is the cup used by the priest during the Sacrifice of the Mass. More...

• Chalice Veil

A chalice veil is a cloth that covers the chalice when it has been assembled. More...

• Chasuble

The chasuble is the large external vestment worn by the priest during the celebration of the Mass. The chasuble can be one of several colors: red, green, purple, white, gold, black, or rose ("pink"). It is typically worn on top of the stole. It is removed before putting on the cope. More...

• Ciborium

A ciborium is a golden vessel used for containing hosts. It is visually similar to the chalice, but the ciborium has a lid. More...

• Cincture

A cincture is a rope worn around the waist in one of two applications:

• A cincture worn by ordained ministers, such as priests and deacons. This design of cincture is usually about 1/4" in diameter and about 7' in length.
• A cincture worn by lay ministers; the design may vary but it is frequently about 1/2" in diameter and about 4 1/2' in length. More...

A cincture

• Communion Rail

The communion rail is a railing present in some churches that separates the sanctuary from the main body of the church. More...

• Cope

The cope is a cape worn by the priest in religious ceremonies outside the context of the Mass. The priest always takes off his chasuble before putting on the cope. He will always wear the alb, cincture, and stole underneath the cope. The cope is used in ceremonies such as Exposition, Benediction, Good Friday (for the entire service), and the Palm Sunday procession. When the humeral veil is used, it is worn on top of the cope. More...

• Corporal

The corporal is a linen that is spread out underneath the chalice and paten. When not in use, it is folded into one-ninth its original size and placed in a burse (when available). If an embroidered cross is present on the corporal, the side with the cross is placed bordering the edge of the altar, as the paten will be laid on top of the cross. More...

• Crosier

A crosier is a staff used by a bishop. More...

• Cruet

A pair of cruets

A cruet is a vessel (usually glass) that is used for the water or wine that is used during the Mass. More...

• Exposition

The Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is when the Blessed Sacrament is brought out of the tabernacle and placed in the monstrance for adoration. More...

• Humeral Veil

There are four ways to fold a humeral veil

The humeral veil is a veil worn over the shoulders of the priest when holding the monstrance while in procession or while giving Benediction. It is not worn during Exposition or while reposing the Blessed Sacrament. The cope is always worn underneath. There are four ways to fold the humeral veil; it can be folded so that each side is folded individually like an accordion (with the folds either on top of the center or underneath the center of the humeral veil), or it can be folded by folding both sides simultaneously in an accordion style (after offsetting one side, which can be either the left of the right).: More on how to fold it...

• Incense

Incense is the granular substance burned during liturgical ceremonies that produces smoke and a fragrance. The use of incense in the Mass is generally specified to the Entrance Procession, incensing of the altar at the beginning of Mass, the incensing of the Gospel, the incensing of the gifts at the Offertory, the incensing of the Blessed Sacrament during the Eucharistic Prayer, and (in some places) the Exit Procession. It is also used in Exposition, Benediction, and processions with the Blessed Sacrament. More...

• Lectern

The lectern is a lesser speaker's stand from which the songs are announced and, in some cases, the Readings are read. The lectern is never elevated higher than the ambo. More...

• Lectionary

The lectionary is the book used during the Mass that contains the readings and the gospels. More...

• Luna

The luna is a casing for the host while it is in the monstrance. It is mostly composed of glass and has a metal rim with a small handle. More...

• Mitre

The mitre is a folding cap worn by a bishop. More...

• Monstrance

The monstrance is a vessel used to display the Blessed Sacrament during adoration. More...

A monstrance

• Organ

An organ is a musical instrument used in liturgical worship. More...

• Pall

The term pall may refer to one of two articles:

• The pall, a linen-encapsulated square of hardened material that serves to cover the chalice.
• The funeral pall, a linen that is placed over a casket during a funeral. More...
• Paten

A paten may refer to one of two articles used during the Mass:

• The paten, a gold dish on which the large host is placed during the Mass. This type of paten is typically used by only the priest.
• The paten, a gold-plated or brass dish used to prevent the host or any particles from falling on the floor during the reception of Communion. It has either one large wooden handle or two small metal handles. This type of paten is typically used by the altar servers. More...
• Pew

A pew is a bench used for seating in churches. More...

• Procession

A procession is an organized formal ceremonial demonstration involving the advancement of persons from one place to another. More...

• Processional Candle

A processional candle is a portable candle carried by an altar server in a procession. Servers who carry the candles typically walk in a pair with the server carrying the processional cross between them. More...

• Processional Cross

A processional cross is a portable crucifix carried by an altar server in a procession. The server who carries the cross (called the crossbearer) typically walks between the servers who carry the processional candles. The crossbearer generally leads processions unless the thurifer precedes him. More...

• Pulpit

The term pulpit may refer to either the lectern or the ambo, or it may also refer to a third speaker's stand that is designated for the cantor's use. More...

• Sacramentary

The sacramentary is the book used during the Mass that contains the prayers of the Mass, such as the Eucharistic prayers, Prefaces, Opening Prayers, etc. It does not contain the readings, responsorial psalms, or gospels (these can be found in the lectionary). More...

• Stole

The stole is a vestment worn by priests and deacons during the Mass, the administration of the sacraments, and most liturgical ceremonies. Priests wear the stole draped around the neck and hanging down the front; deacons wear it diagonally over the shoulder. The stole can be one of several colors: red, green, purple, white, gold, black, or rose ("pink"). It is typically worn on top of the alb and underneath the chasuble. If a cope is used, it is worn underneath the cope. More...

A stole

• Surplice

A surplice is a white external vestment worn over a cassock. More...

• Thurible / Incensor

The thurible is an enclosed metal bowl suspended from a chain. It is used in liturgical procedures where incense is involved. More...

Gallery

Baptismal Font	A bell	A set of bells	Candelabra
A candlestick (without a candle in it)	A candle snuffer	A cassock	Chalice
A chasuble	Chasuble	Ciborium	A cincture
A pair of cruets	Cruets	Lectionary	Mitre and Crosier
A monstrance	Monstrance	Organ	A paten
A paten and a host	Holding hands in a prayerful position	Sacramentary	A stole
Stole	A tabernacle	A thurible	Thurible / Incensor
A thurible on a stand	A surplice	A vesica on a chasuble

If you are interested in creating an altar boy manual for your parish or getting a general idea of procedures that can be used during the Mass, please consider looking at the Template Parish Training Manual for Altar Boys