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Wherever services are required to be rendered during liturgical and para-liturgical functions, there are certain designated ministers who are called to task. To minister means to serve. Thus the ministry of Knights and Ladies of the Altar (KNOLTA) or Mass Servers, or Altar Servers is one where its members assist the

Priest and other officiating ministers in making celebrations worthy to the honour and glory of God.

Before performing their assigned duties, members of KNOLTA are expected to have an appreciable knowledge of the sacred items (sacred vestments, sacred vessels, sacred linens) – their names, when they are used, and how they are used. Apart from these, members are carefully guided and taught to appreciate the teachings of the faith, and trained to become responsible Catholics at al times, and to transfer the discipline of their training to their homes, schools, workplaces, etc.

This revised edition of the book, especially takes into consideration the new Order of Mass which came into effect on the First Sunday of Advent in the year 2011. Most of the revisions concern the Order of Mass.

Other aspects revised include further explanation of some terms for clearer understanding.

As you read this book, it is my hope that you enjoy it and come to cherish the ministry of KNOLTA, and also expand your knowledge of some matters concerning the Catholic Church. God bless you richly.

SERVERS’ PLEDGE

I (Name), Knight/ Lady of the altar, promise solemnly that I will do my best to be a close fol ower of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

I promise to be obedient to His representatives on earth – Our Priests, our Bishops and our Holy Father, the Pope. With the help and intercession of Mary, I will try to promote friendship and co-operation

especial y among my fellow Knights and Ladies.

I also pledge al egiance to my country Ghana, and I wil do whatever I can to promote prosperity and

peace in the country. I will obey and support the lawful authorities in their effort to promote the wel -being of al citizens.

I wil especial y try to help the Priest to make the church service a worthy celebration for the greater honour and glory of God. Amen.

Meaning of KNIGHT / LADY

K: Knowledge, Kindness, Kingly, Knowing.

N: Neatness, Noble.

I: Intelligence, Inventive, Initiative.

G: Goodness, Generous, Gifted, Gentleness.

H: Holiness, Helpfulness, Humility.

T: Truthfulness, Trustworthiness, Tolerance.

L: Lenience, Lovely, Light.

A: Awareness, Alertness, Accommodative.

D: Determination, Desire.

Y: Youthfulness.

GREETING

P: At your service…

R: Lord

MOTTO

P: Fel ow Knights and Ladies… R: Learn and Serve

CHAPTER ONE

THE HOLY MASS

The word ‘Mass’ is derived from the Latin word missio, meaning ‘sending forth’. Thus at the end of each Mass we are sent to extend to al the love of God which we have received. When was the last time you

told someone of the love of God? If you can’t remember, or have not done so before, you must start right away! As a matter of fact your ministry as a Mass Server is not limited to the sanctuary and the sacristy.

You must do well to reach to all.

The Mass is a very important aspect in the lives of Catholics. It is the center of our worship of God. It is the celebration that gives us the strength we need to live a Christian life. Because of its relevance the Church places a serious obligation on al its members to take part in the Mass every Sunday and Holy

day.

This is contained in the first commandment of the Church: “You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on

Holy Days of Obligation and rest from servile labour.”

In your call to ministry as a Mass Server, you wil assist at other services, but none is as important as your service at Mass as one of the leaders of the community.

The Mass is the re-enactment of the Last Supper when Jesus instituted the Eucharist and told his

followers, ‘Do this in memory of me.’ Although the Mass is a mystery, we accept the fact that bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ because he told us that this is so. Some descriptions

will help us to understand it better.

First and foremost, the Mass is a sacrifice. The idea of sacrifice to God is at the very heart of religion. The Bible tells us how Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam, offered sacrifice to God. Abraham, whom the liturgy calls ‘our father in faith’, was prepared to offer to God, his only son, Isaac. The Old Testament Jews

through their Priests, offered sacrifices of lambs and goats to God. Jesus offered his Father a sacrifice: himself. Jesus promised us that ‘when we eat this bread and drink this cup’ he would continue his great sacrifice until he comes again. The sacrifice with reference to the Mass is a non-bloody sacrifice offered on the altar. Christ, who is offered for us is referred to as the Priest and the victim, for Christ is the High Priest, as wel as the Lamb who offered to die for our sins.

The Mass is a memorial. It is an event that helps people to remember. The most important event, the one remembered at every Mass, is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also remember through the

readings other great deeds the Lord has done for his people. In fact, Jesus, at the Last Supper said, ‘…

do this in memory of me’.

The Mass is also a sacred meal called the Eucharist (from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning

‘thanksgiving’). In the Mass we give thanks for al that God has done for us, and we al eat the same food

– ‘the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation.’ Jesus has told us that this bread and wine are his body and blood. So in this sacred meal, we Catholics believe that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are continued for al of us through our celebration of this holy meal, begun at the Last Supper. The way in which the Mass is celebrated has developed for about two thousand years. The early Christians cal ed it

‘the breaking of the bread.’ Despite its development, two elements have always been the same: listening to God’s word in Scripture and partaking of the consecrated bread and wine, the Eucharistic meal. Today we refer to these elements as the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The fol owing is the basic outline of the Mass, which you should learn well.

The Order of Mass

The Mass is made up as it were of the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, two

interwoven parts that form but one single act of worship. For in the Mass the table of God’s word and of Christ’s Body is laid for the people of God to receive from it instruction and spiritual food for our journey in life. Let me pause here and explain the term liturgy. Taken literally from the Greek term leiturgia, meaning “work of the people” or “the action/activity of the people”, it is meant to be a public rite that al of us take part in and share in, not only with our minds and hearts, but also with our voices and our bodies.

The liturgy being the ‘work of the people’ implies that al who are present at Mass are participants and not spectators who have come to watch what is going on.

Now let us take a walk through the individual parts of the Mass:

Introductory Rites

· Procession: Usually from the back or main entrance of the Church down the centre aisle. Usual participants: Cross bearer, Other Servers, Lector, Concelebrants, Deacon, and Priest. The order of

procession is usual y as follows:

i.

A Server with a lighted censer, if incense is used

ii.

The Servers, who, according to the occasion, carry lighted candles, and between them the cross-

bearer if the cross is to be carried.

i i.

Acolytes and other ministers

iv.

A reader, who may carry the Book of the Gospel

Where a Deacon is part of the procession he carries the Book of the Gospels.

v.

The Priest who is to celebrate the Mass.

If incense is used, the Priest puts some in the censer before the procession begins.

· Veneration of the altar and Greeting: Upon reaching the sanctuary, the main celebrant, together with other ministers make a bow or genuflection. Afterwards, the Priest(s) kiss the altar. The main celebrant then incenses the altar and introduces the Mass.

· Blessing and sprinkling holy water: This is not always done, depending on the feast and local custom.

When it is done, the Kyrie is omitted.

· Penitential Rite: This can be done in various ways.

· Kyrie (Lord, have mercy): Said or sung unless used in one of the penitential rites.

· Gloria: This is an ancient hymn, in which the Church, assembled in the Holy Spirit, praises and entreats the Father and the Lamb. It is sung on all Sundays and Solemnities except during Lent and Advent. If any Solemnity falls in the season of Lent or Advent, the Gloria is sung.

· Opening prayer or Col ect: The Opening prayer or Col ect ends the Introductory Rites.

Liturgy of the Word

Through the Scripture readings God speaks to His people. Al are expected to remain silent and attentive to the Word of God. Movements should be minimized at this point so as to avoid distracting attention.

· First Reading: Read by a Lector, usually (but not always) from the Old Testament

· Responsorial Psalm: Usually led by the Cantor (song leader) but may be recited. It is never omitted.

· Second Reading: Usually from the New Testament Letters or Epistles. Also read by the Lector. On most weekdays, there is no second reading. When incense is used at Mass (especially during weddings and

funerals), the thurifer should find out if there will be a second reading or not. This enables him to know when to go out for hot coals in the thurible for use during the Gospel reading.

· Gospel Acclamation: This is the verse before the Gospel reading, and it is either read or sung by the lector or Cantor. During the singing of the Alleluia or other chant (as done during the season of Lent), if incense is used, the Priest puts some into the thurible. If the Book of the Gospels is on the altar, the

Priest or Deacon takes it and proceeds to the lectern, while the Servers, carrying the thurible and candles walk ahead of him.

· Gospel: Taken from one of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), it is read by the Priest or Deacon.

· Homily: By Priest or Deacon, explaining the Scriptures. While some call this part homily, others call it sermon. The difference between homily and sermon would be looked at later in this book.

· Profession of faith: The symbol of the profession of faith in the Mass serves as a means by which the Priest and people gathered give assent to the words of Scripture and cal to mind the truths of faith. As an obligation, it is said by all on Sundays and on Solemnities.

· The Universal Prayer: We also cal these the Prayer of the Faithful. As a rule the sequence of intentions is to be:

i.

For the needs of the Church

ii.

For public authorities and the salvation of the world

i i.

For those oppressed by any need

iv.

For the local community.

In particular celebrations, such as confirmations, marriages, funerals, the series of intercessions may refer more specifically to the occasion (GIRM 70).

Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Eucharist or Lord's Supper, is the central rite of the Christian religion, in which bread and wine are consecrated by an ordained minister and consumed by the minister and members of the congregation in

obedience to Jesus' command at the Last Supper, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

The Liturgy of the Eucharist is made up of the fol owing components:

· Presentation of the gifts: This is also cal ed the offertory. Usually, the cross-bearer, the candle-bearers, the thurifer and boat-bearer, go and lead the people bearing the gifts up to the altar. Meanwhile other Servers help prepare the altar. The purificators, the chalice and the Roman Missal are also placed on the altar. Servers then accompany the Priest to receive the offertory gifts.

· Preparation of the Gifts: Here the focus is on the praise of God rather than on offering. The Priest, with both hands, slightly raises the paten with the bread above the altar and says the accompanying prayer.

Then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal. Next, as a Server presents the cruets, the Priest stands at the side of the altar and pours wine and a little water into the chalice, saying the accompanying prayer softly. He returns to the middle of the altar, takes the chalice, raises it a little with both hands, and says the approved prayer. Then he places the chalice on the corporal and may cover it with a pal .

· Incensation: Incense is a traditional symbol of prayer rising to God. If incense is used, the Priest incenses the gifts and the altar. A Server incenses the Priest and the congregation. During the

incensation of the altar, the Roman Missal and other books are taken from the altar and returned after the Priest has been incensed.

· Washing of Hands: While the incensation of the altar is going on, other Servers get ready with water in a bowl and a finger towel, which the Priest uses in washing his hands and drying them after incensation.

The washing of hands by the Priest is a sign of desire for inner purity.

· Eucharistic prayer: It is the center and summit of the entire celebration of the Mass. There are various Eucharistic prayers, but the responses you need to know are pretty much the same for each. Here are

parts of the Eucharistic prayer you should know:

¨

Preface: It is basical y a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.

¨

Sanctus: (Holy, Holy, Holy Lord) This is the acclamation.

Ëpiclesis: It is the invocation of the Holy Spirit upon the gifts and the whole assembly.

¨

Narrative of institution: These are either the direct words of Jesus or paraphrases of the words of

Jesus.

Änamnesis: This is the Mystery of Faith

Öffering

Ïntercessions

¨

Final Doxology: Trinitarian Gloria

A little before the consecration, the Server may ring a bell as a signal to the faithful. Depending on local custom, he also rings the bell at the showing of both the host and the chalice.

· Communion rite: This part begins with the Lord’s Prayer and ends with the Post-Communion Prayer.

There are several prayers you should know here. After the sign of peace is the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).

Before communion, a Server rings the bell immediately after the Priest has drunk from the chalice as a

signal to the faithful that it is time for communion. During communion, Servers accompany the Priest or Eucharistic ministers with a communion plate which they hold under the chin of communicants. After

communion Servers place the communion plate on the altar, which will be purified with the chalice by the Priest. Another Server, at the side of the altar, carries water in a cruet, which the Priest uses in purifying the chalice. Next, the chalice, communion plate, empty ciborium, and Roman Missal are removed from

the altar and are put at their appropriate places in the sanctuary (usually on the credence table). After a brief silence the Post-Communion Prayer follows.

Concluding Rites

· Brief announcements may be made here.

· Greeting and blessing: There are varied forms for this to which you respond.

· Dismissal: The Priest sends the congregation out to serve God and his people. Thus after every Eucharistic celebration we are sent as missionaries to tell others what we have heard and received from the table of the Lord. After the appropriate veneration, the ministers then recess, departing the altar area in the order by which they entered.

In your ministry as a Mass Server, you play a very important role in the celebration of the Mass.

Therefore, you should be familiar with the Order of the Mass so that you can carry out your duties

confidently.

CHAPTER TWO

THE SERVER AS A PRAYER LEADER

Prayer is the way Christians communicate with God. It is not just a matter of pouring out to Him what

you have in heart. It goes beyond that. Prayer is also an act of listening to God and doing what He

instructs us in His Word. At Mass, we listen to God in many forms — the Scripture readings, the

songs/hymns of music, the Priest’s prayers and the people’s prayers.

Active participation in the Mass is very necessary. As a Mass Server, you are expected to take part in the singing, prayers and responses. All that you do should not be a distraction to others. Remember that you are a full participant and not a spectator at Mass. The Server is a minister of the Eucharistic celebration.

Your active participation in the Mass has the tendency of getting the faithful gathered to be fully involved in the celebration. Therefore it is necessary that you know al prayers and responses, and be as well

involved in the singing. This will get others join you.

Not only at Mass are you to lead others in participation. During Rosary prayers, Eucharistic adoration and other Intercessory prayers, you should be ready to take up the responsibility of leading the faithful.

The example you give outside of the church is also very important. Many people know you but you do not

know most of them. Thus your actions and words wherever you go should lead others closer to God.

Interestingly, many people feel shy to pray when in the presence of others. Others too do not actually

know where to start from, how to proceed, and how to end. Oftentimes they end up confusing others.

Never be a culprit of this!

How often do you lead people in prayer? Do you feel shy to pray in the midst of your colleagues or

congregation? How does your way of living affect others — does it draw them closer to God or far from

Him?

Ponder over these questions and see how best you can improve upon your spirituality in terms of prayer.

Prayers to know

As earlier indicated, prayer is a communication between man and God. The important thing to keep in

mind is that prayers are never mumbled. They are always said clearly and in a conversational tone. You

don’t need to shout so that you would be heard above the people, but you do have to be clear. Here are

some of the prayers that you might wish to look over to be sure you know them accurately and well.

Prayer before Mass:

Priest: I wil go to the altar of God

Servers: To God who gives joy to my youth

Priest: Our help is in the name of the Lord

Servers: Who made heaven and earth

All: Go before us O Lord in this our sacrifice of prayer and praise and grant that what we say and sing with our lips, we may believe in our hearts and that what we believe in our hearts we may practise and

show forth in our daily lives. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers at Holy Mass

For Catholics, the Mass is the highest form of prayer. If this is so, then as a Mass Server, your duty is to know al the responses made during Mass. Let’s go through the prayers and responses you have to

know.

Penitential Rite

This is the point in the Mass when we go deep within ourselves with a heart of penitence, acknowledge

our sins, and ask for forgiveness.

Confiteor:

(Priest, Servers, and People)

I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, (and striking the breast, they say) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; (then they continue) therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, al the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The absolution by the Priest then fol ows, and everyone responds: Amen.

The ‘Gloria’ is sung or said on Solemnities and feasts and on Sundays except during Advent and Lent.

The Servers should sing or say the ‘Gloria’ in a firm voice matching their cadence to that of the cantor or Priest.

Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good wil . We praise you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins

of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

On Sundays and Solemnities the Creed (Profession of Faith) is recited or sung.

Profession of Faith (Nicene Creed):

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, make of heaven and earth, of al things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before al ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, ( at the words that fol ow up to and

including) and became man, ( all bow) and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He wil come again in glory to

judge the living and the dead and his kingdom wil have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Instead of the Nicene Creed, especially during the seasons of Lent and Easter, the baptismal symbol of the Catholic Church, known as the Apostles’ Creed, may be used.