Solemn Mass   (with incense)

bb book bearer

(Hold the Sacramentary with two hands.)

C Celebrant (Presider of the Mass)

cr cross bearer

(Make sure the corpus is always facing you.)

D Deacon

EM Eucharistic Minister

Lc Lector

tb thurifer

(Hold the thurible in one hand and the boat of incense with the other hand.)

Entrance Procession

Lc        EM

C (D)                               bb cr th —>

Lc       EM

 

 

 

Assignments:

 

Server #1—book bearer (bb)

Server #2—thurifer (tb)

Server #3—cross bearer (cr)

 

 

 

 

 

When the music begins, tb leads the procession toward the altar, gently swinging the thurible back and forth. Gently bowing to the tabernacle/altar, cr goes directly to his/her place. Meanwhile, tb and bb wait for C at the 1st step of the sanctuary, one on each side.

After the bow or genuflection together with C, tb waits for C at the credence table while bb goes to his/her seat.

When C approaches, tb hands over the boat of incense to C, and then tb opens the thurible. C places incense into the thurible, and then tb closes the lid. C gives the boat of incense back to tb, and then tb hands over the thurible to C. tb puts the boat of incense away and remains waiting for C by the credence table.

After C finishes incensing the altar, C gives the thurible back to tb. tb puts the thurible away and return to his/her seat.

When C says, “Let us pray,” bb goes to C. And when C finishes saying the opening prayer and closes the Sacramentary, bb goes back to his/her seat.

Posture: Stand. If your hands are freed, fold them upright.
After giving something to C, server makes a slight bow.

After D or C says, “A reading from the holy Gospel according to …”, he turns around and tb hands over the thurible to him. When he returns the thurible back to tb, tb steps back and waits there for the entire proclamation of the Gospel.

At the end of the reading of the Gospel, tb returns to his/her seats.

 

Posture: Stand during the proclamation of the Gospels.
(If your hands are freed, fold them upright).

When crossing in front of the altar, bow.

When C, accompanied by tb and bb, is at the 1st step of the sanctuary, at the center aisle, cr leads the gift bearers toward the sanctuary.

cr puts the cross away. C receives the offertory gifts and give them to tb and bb. With gifts in hands, tb and bb go and wait for C by the credence table. One by one, br and bb hand over the gifts to C. bb then gets the water cruet wait for C.

After C returns the cruet of water and the empty flask of wine to tb and bb, tb and bb get the thurible and boat, respectively. bb gives the boat to C while tb opens the thurible. After C places incense into the thurible, tb closes the thurible and gives it to C.

After incensing the offertory gifts, C gives the thurible back to tb and steps back. C and tb gently bow to one another and then tb incenses C three times.

After incensing C, tb goes and stands in the middle, facing the center aisle. After bowing to the congregation, tb motions with the hand for the people to stand up. Then tb incenses the people in the middle section three times; turning toward the left section, tb incenses the people three times; turning toward the right section, tb likewise incenses the people three times. Then facing the middle section again, tb bows and returns the credence table with thurible still in hand.

While tb incenses the congregation, cr and bb get ready to bring water and towel to C for washing his hands. cr places the tower over his/her wrist and holds the bowl, and bb handles the water pitcher. C places his hands over the bowl and bb pours the water over the hands of C.

When C says, “Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice …”, the altar servers go down together and stand by the 2nd step of the sanctuary, facing the altar. bb is near the bell, tb is in the middle, and cr is to the right of tb. At the end of “Holy, Holy …”, all kneel down.

When C elevates the Body of Christ, br rings the bell while tb incenses. When C elevates the Blood of Christ from the chalice, br rings the bell and tb incenses again.

At the end of “Amen” for the doxology (Through him, with him, and in him …”), the servers stand up and remain where they are for the entire prayer of the “Our Father”.

At the invitation to offer the sign of peace (“Let us offer each other the sign of peace”), the servers go directly toward the altar to exchange the sign of peach with C and with one another. tb puts the thurible away. (Note: Servers do not leave the sanctuary.)

At the end of the exchange of the sign of peace, the servers stand by the altar, near the credence table, preparing to receive Holy Communion.

Posture: Kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer

While C is distributing holy communion to the congregation, bb picks up the Sacramentary and places it on the little table next to the chair of C.

When C returns to the altar from giving holy communion, bb gets the cruet of water and be ready to pour water into the chalice of C. bb puts away the cruet and wait by the credence table for C to finish purifying the chalice. C hands to bb the chalice to be put away on the credence table.

 

 

 

Posture: Sit up straight. While standing, if your hands are freed, fold them upright.

Genuflection Line-up:

+

ALTAR

EM Lc bb C tb EM Lc

cr

Facing the tabernacle and altar, all genuflect or bow together with C and proceed down to the center aisle and exit toward the side right side doors. (Note: The line up for exit procession is in the same order as the line up for the entrance procession.)