Solemn Mass - Ritual notes
The following describes the ritual actions and respective duties of the sacred ministers and altar servers at a solemn Mass as currently celebrated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston, Texas.
Solemn Mass is here described based on the typical Order of Mass. This outline also presupposes the full complement of servers for the celebration of this principal form of the Mass. With fewer servers, various elements are either eliminated or assigned to other servers. Similarly, for a pontifical Mass, there are additional duties and variations in roles.
There are also separate summaries of the actions for each of the individual roles. The typical complement of servers for a Sunday Mass is: Acolyte (or Subdeacon), MC, Thurifer, Boat boy, Crucifer, Taperers (2), Mitre and Crozier Bearers (acting as extra servers if the Bishop is not celebrating).
BEFORE MASS
At least thirty minutes before the beginning of mass (or as soon as the previous mass is over), the MC vests in cassock and goes to place service leaflets in the places of the ministers and servers in the chancel. He also checks that the processional cross is ready in the vestry. He cleans out the bowl of the thurible, re-stocks the incense boat, sets out the coals, and readies things for the other servers.
The acolyte makes sure that the lectionary is open to the first reading at the lectern, that the Gospel reading is marked in the evangeliary, that the ribbons are in the proper places in the altar missal, and that the sacred vessels are properly set at the credence table by the altar guild.
At the principal mass, the acolyte typically carries the Gospel book in the entrance procession. If so, he takes the Gospel book to the vestry before mass. If the mass is preceded by a litany, the Asperges or another such rite, the Gospel book is not carried in the entrance procession.
At least twenty minutes before mass, the rest of the servers arrive and vest in their cassocks to prepare for mass.
Fifteen minutes before mass is due to begin, the thurifer lights the coals and prepares the thurible. Only the thurifer, the MC or the acolyte should handle the lighting of the coals.
Ten minutes before mass, all the servers put on their surplices. The taperers also put on their white gloves. The acolyte puts on his tunicle. In a mass without the Bishop, the mitre and crozier bearers act as extra servers and do not put on the vimpae. If the Bishop is celebrating, they put on the vimpae over their surplices.
A full five minutes before mass begins, the crucifer takes up the processional cross, the thurifer his censer, the boat boy his boat, and the taperers their processional candles; as the acolyte and MC conduct everyone to the sacristy. The thurifer remains just outside the sacristy door with the thurible, but with the door open
The ministers and servers then pray the Prayers before Mass together in the sacristy. They then make their way out the sacristy door, going around the church to the narthex.
The Entrance Procession
As the church bells toll for mass, the ministers and servers lineup in position just inside the passage between the narthex and the nave. The MC assists the taperers in lighting the processional candles.
The thurifer and boat boy proceed down the aisle to about the third pew. They are met by the celebrant, who places incense in the thurible.
At a signal from the MC, the organist starts the Entrance hymn. When the singing begins, the procession enters the nave in the following order:
Mitre & Crozier bearers (Extra servers)
Choir
Servers should maintain a distance of about three pews between themselves and the servers immediately ahead in the procession.
The thurifer and boat boy should process side by side.
The taperers should process on either side of the crucifer, holding the processional candles at an even height. They should stay in line with the crucifer whenever possible. If for some reason space does not allow, they should fall back slightly behind the crucifer (never in ahead) until there is room to move even with him again.
The acolyte carries the Gospel book in the procession, except in the cases noted in the "Before Mass" section above . It is held at eye level, with the binding to the right. If he is a subdeacon, he wears the biretta.
Arriving in the chancel, the thurifer and boat boy genuflect at the foot of the altar and move to the right, standing in front of the first two cushions on the Epistle side, facing the altar.
The crucifer and taperers, arriving at the foot of the altar, give a simple bow of the head toward the altar, and turn immediately to the right toward the vestry. The taperers go into the vestry to put their candles away, while the crucifer moves through the back pew of the Epistle-side stall, and places the processional cross in its rack in the chancel.
Once the crucifer puts away the cross, he takes his place in the chancel pew nearest the cross and remains standing.
The taperers return from putting away the candles and take their places in the Epistle-side chancel pews and remain standing.
The mitre and crozier bearers, in their roles as extra servers, genuflect at the foot of the altar and then move directly to their places in the Gospel-side chancel pews where they remain standing.
The MC, upon arriving at the foot of the altar, genuflects and moves to the right, standing on the Epistle side in front of the Sanctus bell, facing liturgical North.
Meanwhile, the choir divides before the chancel gates, and the choristers make their way via the side aisles to the choir loft.
The acolyte, arriving at the foot of the altar, bows and steps to the left (Gospel side), facing the altar at the altar step, still holding the Gospel Book.
The deacon arrives, bows, and steps just to the right on the Epistle side.
The celebrant arrives and stands between the acolyte and deacon. The celebrant and the deacon (and subdeacon if there is one) remove their birettas and hold them over their shoulders. The MC takes the birettas and places them in the ministers’ seats.
The celebrant and deacon genuflect together. The subdeacon, still holding the Gospel book, does not genuflect with the others but makes a simple bow of the head. The ministers, thurifer and boat boy then await the beginning of the Introit.
As the Introit is sung, the sacred ministers step up to the footpace. The celebrant and deacon kiss the altar while the acolyte makes a profound bow; when the celebrant turns to charge incense, the acolyte places the Gospel book on its stand at the Gospel-side credence table and returns to his place at the Gospel side of the altar, facing liturgical east.
During the Introit, all make a profound bow at the Gloria Patri.
The First Censing of the Altar
As soon as the celebrant and deacon kiss the altar, the thurifer and boat boy step up to the footpace on the Epistle side and stand near the credence table, ready to present the thurible and boat. The boat boy usually stands on the thurifer's right, but now he stands on the left ready to present the boat to the deacon.
The celebrant turns to the right, and the deacon takes a step back, to impose and bless incense. The acolyte remains facing liturgical East towards the altar during the preparation of incense.
The thurifer holds the open thurible while the celebrant imposes incense. After the celebrant blesses the incense, the thurifer closes the thurible and hands it to the deacon who in turn gives it to the celebrant.
After incense is imposed the thurifer and boat boy step down to the foot of the altar. The boat boy returns the boat to the vestry and then returns to his place in the chancel pew. The thurifer remains at his place at the altar steps during the censing.
In Masses without the Bishop:
Just before the censing begins, the MC steps up to the altar and takes the missal stand from the Epistle-side corner and holds it during the censing, standing off to the right against the South wall of the sanctuary, facing liturgical North. The MC should make sure that the missal is open to the propers (red ribbon).
The celebrant censes the crucifix and altar, assisted by the deacon and acolyte, concluding at the Epistle-side horn of the altar.
During the censing, the acolyte, holds the edge of the celebrant’s chasuble, as does the deacon, for the censing of the altar. If the celebrant prefers not to have his chasuble held, the deacon and acolyte merely stand at his side. When the Bishop is celebrating, his chasuble is not held. The deacon “tucks in” at the Epistle-side of the altar, and the acolyte does the same at the Gospel-side.
After the altar is censed, the acolyte moves to the side of the deacon, standing at his left shoulder. The celebrant hands the thurible to the deacon, who censes him with three double swings.
The thurifer steps up to the footpace and the deacon returns the thurible to him.
In masses without the Bishop:
After the celebrant is censed, the acolyte meanwhile moves back to his position at the Gospel-side horn of the altar, facing South.
After the censing, the celebrant remains at the Epistle-side of the altar, facing the altar to begin the Introductory Rites. The deacon moves to the celebrant’s side, facing North.
In masses with the Bishop:
After the celebrant is censed, the subdeacon proceeds down the steps on the Epistle-side, then over to his place on the Gospel-side, facing the altar (without genuflecting).
The sacred ministers return together to the cathedra for the Introductory rites.
The thurifer takes the thurible to the vestry and then goes to his place in the chancel pew.
As soon as the censing is done, the MC returns the missal stand to the Epistle-side corner of the altar, square with the edges. He then returns to the foot of the altar, genuflects in the center, and takes his place in the pews on the Gospel side.
With the sacred ministers at the altar, the celebrant signs the cross, singing "In the name of the Father, and…", and goes on to say the Collect for Purity. The deacon then turns to the people to say the Summary of the Law. The deacon then turns back to face the altar.
The sacred ministers move to the center for the Kyrie. The celebrant kisses the altar, then the celebrant intones the opening of the Gloria (except in Lent and Advent when the Gloria is omitted), reading from the small red book placed on the altar.
During the Gloria, everyone bows at the phrases "we worship thee"; "Jesus Christ"; and "receive our prayer". At the words "art most high", everyone makes the sign of the cross. The MC prompts these reverences for the other servers.
Towards the end of the Gloria, the celebrant closes the small red book and the acolyte takes it and places it under his left arm.
When the Gloria is finished, the celebrant turns to the people, while the acolyte and deacon turn inward, and sings "The Lord be with you". He goes then to the missal at the Epistle-side corner, sings "Let us pray", turns to the missal, and with hands extended intones the Collect, as pointed by the deacon, standing just to his right.
If the Gloria is not said (eg during Lent or Advent), the celebrant proceeds directly to chanting the Collect after the Kyrie is concluded.
At the Collect, and elsewhere throughout the mass, when the celebrant turns to address the people, the deacon and acolyte face north and south respectively, and draw aside, so as not to come between the celebrant and the people.
When the name of Jesus is heard during the Collect everyone makes a simple bow, without turning.
After the Collect, the ministers turn again to face the altar, bow, and return to their places at the foot of the altar.
At the foot of the altar, the ministers and all the servers genuflect in tandem. Then the ministers turn and go to their places at the sedilia.
Everyone sits simultaneously when the celebrant does so.
As a general rule, the servers sit in the rear choir stalls. The taperers, with the crucifer, thurifer and boat boy sit in the Epistle-side choir stall. The MC with the other servers, and especially the mitre and crozier bearers, sit on the Gospel side.
The ministers wear their birettas during the readings. They touch the biretta with a simple bow at the Name of Mary, or that of the saint of the day. They doff their biretta with a simple bow at the Name of Jesus. They remove their biretta before standing for the Gospel, and place them in their seats.
During the reading of the First Lesson, all the servers remain seated in the chancel pews.
Midway through the singing of the psalm, the two taperers, thurifer and boat boy rise and go to the vestry to prepare the candles for the Gospel.
At the last verse of the psalm, the acolyte rises and moves to the lectern to sing or read the Epistle.
The Gospel
In Masses without the Bishop:
At the end of the the Epistle, the celebrant, deacon, and acolyte line up just inside the chancel gate, and go to the foot of the altar in preparation for the Gospel.
The MC moves to the Epistle-side foot of the altar step as the sacred ministers approach. They genuflect together at the foot of the altar. The acolyte and MC ascend simultaneously to the footpace from the sides and retrieve the Gospel book and Missal respectively.
The MC moves the missal to the Gospel-side of the altar, genuflecting in the middle, and (if necessary) turning the missal to the Creed. Then both men descend along the Gospel-side of the sanctuary to the foot of the altar. The MC takes his place standing on the Gospel side of the altar steps, facing the Gospel.
As the MC and acolyte approach the altar, the thurifer and boat boy enter from the vestry and meet the deacon and celebrant at the center of the altar step. The celebrant and deacon charge the thurible at the foot of the altar. As soon as incense has been imposed and blessed, the thurifer walks to the front of the chancel and takes his place, facing the altar. The boat boy goes to the vestry to put away the incense boat, and then returns to his place in the chancel pew.
After the imposition of incense, the taperers exit the vestry and take up places at the foot of the altar on either side of the deacon, and a little behind him so as not to be in the way.
Then the celebrant steps up to the edge of the footpace and turns around to face the deacon. The acolyte hands the Gospel book to the deacon, who holds it with the binding to his left. The celebrant blesses the deacon, and the acolyte steps to the center of the chancel, between the deacon and the thurifer.
In Masses with the Bishop:
Upon returning from the Epistle, the subdeacon meets the deacon just inside the chancel gate, and they go together to the foot of the altar.
The MC remains standing at the Gospel-side. The deacon and subdeacon genuflect at the altar steps, and the subdeacon ascends to retrieve the Gospel book and gives it to the deacon.
While the subdeacon fetches the Gospel book, the thurifer and boat boy approach the Bishop at his cathedra. He will impose and bless the incense, after which the thurifer moves to the front of the chancel and takes his place, facing the altar. The boat boy goes to the vestry to put away the incense boat, and then returns to his place in the chancel pew.
During the imposition of incense, the taperers exit the vestry and take up places at the foot of the altar on either side of the deacon, and a little behind him so as not to be in the way.
The deacon approaches the bishop at his cathedra for the blessing, then returns to the altar steps.
As soon as the deacon raises the Evangeliary and turns, the Gospel party turns likewise and walks into the nave.
The celebrant follows at a distance and takes up a place at the chancel gate. The MC remains standing at the foot of the altar, on the Gospel side, facing toward the Gospel book. Servers in the chancel pews turn to continue facing the Gospel as it moves to the nave.
The thurifer leads the party out of the chancel and into the nave, then peels off in front of the Gospel-side pew screen, facing South, to allow the rest to pass.
The acolyte continues to the middle of the nave, in line with the first stained glass window, and turns around, ready to hold the Gospel book.
The taperers, now flanking the acolyte, stop and face inward toward the Gospel book.
The thurifer follows behind the Deacon and stands just behind him and to his right, braced against the Gospel-side pews.
The deacon lays the Gospel book into the acolyte’s hands, opening the Evangeliary at the ribbon marking the Gospel reading.
When the choir finishes chanting the Gospel acclamation (if it is not already concluded), the deacon sings "The Lord be with you," the people respond, and he announces the Gospel.
He then receives the thurible from the thurifer, censes the Gospel book, and returns the thurible, as everyone chants "Glory be to thee, O Lord". The deacon then proclaims the Gospel.
When the thurifer receives the thurible back from the deacon, he steps directly behind the deacon and remains standing there, gently swinging the thurible, through the proclamation of the Gospel.
As soon as the Gospel is finished and all have sung "Praise be to thee, O Christ", the deacon kisses the periscope, and the acolyte closes the Gospel book, except during Mass with the bishop, when the bishop alone kisses the periscope.
The thurifer leads the party back through the nave toward the chancel. He is followed by the deacon, and finally the acolyte carrying the Gospel book flanked by the taperers.
The thurifer again peels off at the first pew, in front of the Gospel-side pew screen, facing south. Similarly, the deacon peels off in front of the Epistle-side pew screen, facing north.
The acolyte and taperers pass directly up to the foot of the altar, and bow. The taperers stop short, on the two crosses in the pavement, turn to the right, and take their candles back to the vestry. The acolyte turns to the left and returns the evangeliary back to its credence table.
The Homily
The thurifer gives the thurible to the deacon who censes the celebrant before the homily. The celebrant then proceeds to the pulpit for the homily.
If the deacon preaches the homily, he is censed by the thurifer before he goes to the pulpit, and the celebrant takes his place at the sedilia.
The thurifer goes to the foot of the altar, genuflects, and takes the thurible back to the vestry.
The acolyte joins the deacon just inside the chancel gate, where they genuflect together before moving to the sedilia.
Standing at their places in the chancel, the ministers and servers sit simultaneously at the invitation from the homilist. The ministers don their birettas.
About half way through the homily, the thurifer goes to the vestry and refreshes the coals, usually by lighting an additional coal and placing it in the thurible on top of the already burning coals.
The Creed
Once the homily concludes and as the homilist begins to make his way back to the chancel, the other ministers rise.
The deacon and acolyte move into the center of the chancel and await the celebrant just inside the gate, facing each other. As they rise, the other servers stand at their places in the pews.
The celebrant, deacon, and acolyte proceed together to the foot of the altar where they genuflect together.
As they step up to the altar, the servers all turn to the East, facing the altar for the Creed.
The celebrant begins the Creed intoning "I believe in one God … "
The ministers and servers make the appropriate reverences during the singing of the Creed: they bow at "Jesus Christ" and "together is worshiped", and genuflect at "And was incarnate . . . made man". Near the end of the Creed at the words “the life of the world to come” they make the sign of the cross.
The Creed ended, the acolyte turns the missal to the Prayers of the People (pink ribbon).
The servers in the chancel pews, turn to the center of the chancel facing directly North or South.
The celebrant sings or says, "With all our heart…”
The deacon, standing on his right, then leads the Prayers of the People.
Everyone makes the sign of the cross at the commendation of the faithful departed. As the deacon concludes the petitions, everyone bows slightly at the name of Mary, and then the celebrant closes with a suitable collect or doxology.
The acolyte then turns the missal to the Penitential Rite (green ribbon).
The Penitential Rite
Turning to the people, the deacon says the invitation, "Let us humbly confess … " or “Draw near with faith…” and then turns back to the altar for the general confession.
The servers, at their places in the chancel pews, kneel and bow their heads during the confession, striking their breasts three times at "by thought, word, and deed …" but otherwise keeping their hands together in the normal position, not resting on the back of the pew in front of them. They kneel upright at the end of the confession.
The deacon then says the Comfortable Words while the servers remain kneeling.
The ministers return to the foot of the altar and genuflect together. They then walk to the chancel step for the announcements.
The servers all stand until the ministers have reached the chancel gate for the announcements. Then, at a cue from the MC, they all sit.
The celebrant makes any relevant announcements.
The celebrant offers birthday and anniversary blessings as the deacon holds the red book for him.
During the announcements and blessings, the acolyte stands just inside the chancel gate, to the celebrant's right, facing liturgical south (toward the celebrant).
The celebrant concludes by saying the Offertory Sentence, before the ministers return to the foot of the altar.
As soon as the celebrant begins the Offertory Sentence, the servers rise promptly and move to their places at the foot of the altar and await the ministers.
When the ministers arrive at the altar step, the ministers and servers all genuflect together.
As the choir sings the Offertory Antiphon, the celebrant, deacon and acolyte/subdeacon go up to the altar to prepare the gifts.
If a Subdeacon:
The subdeacon crosses to the right (behind the celebrant and deacon) at the foot, and goes up to the credence table. He takes the veiled chalice to the altar, setting it there to the Epistle-side. Standing at the epistle side of the altar, the subdeacon hands the burse to the deacon, unveils the chalice (carefully folding the veil and setting it at the back of the altar), and then places the paten and chalice next to the corporal that the deacon is unfolding.
Meanwhile, the crucifer goes to the credence table and removes the lids from the bread box and the thumb ciborium. He holds the bread box at the south end of the altar.
The subdeacon retrieves the thumb ciborium and the intinctorium from the credence table, and places them at the south end of the altar, where the deacon can conveniently put bread on them from the bread box.
As the deacon is placing bread, the subdeacon should retrieve the cruets, and hand the wine to the deacon, who will give the wine cruet back to the crucifer. After the wine is poured, the celebrant will approach the altar and the subdeacon presents the water to the celebrant, saying “Pray, Father, a blessing”; the subdeacon then adds a drop of water into the chalice then the intinctorium, saying “By the mystery…”. The cruet is then handed back to the crucifer and returned to the credence table.
If an Instituted Acolyte exercising the subdiaconal ministry:
The acolyte crosses to the right (behind the celebrant and deacon) at the foot, and goes up to the credence table, standing to the south of the altar. He takes the veiled chalice to the altar, setting it there to the Epistle-side. The deacon removes the burse, sets out the corporal, and puts the key in the tabernacle. Meanwhile, the acolyte brings the thumb ciborium and intinctorium to the deacon, who arranges them.
At the same time, the crucifer steps up to the credence table. Standing at the horn of the altar, he presents the bread box to the deacon, while the acolyte holds the glass bowl (not the ablution bowl)‒‒if the bread box is partially emptied by the deacon, the remainder goes into this bowl. The crucifer then ministers the cruets for the deacon. The deacon pours wine into the chalice and intinctorium cup. The cruets are then handed back to the crucifer and returned to the credence table.
The crucifer goes back to his place at the altar step, and the subdeacon or acolyte returns to the Gospel side.
Meanwhile, the MC may assist the mitre and crozier bearers (extra servers) with the alms basins.
The two servers genuflect together at the foot of the altar and go to meet the ushers at the chancel steps. They present the alms basins to the ushers, bowing before and after, and then they set out the communion cushions and close the chancel gate.
As soon as the chancel gate has been closed, one server goes back to his spot at the altar step, while the other waits, at the pavement light on the Gospel side (facing liturgical south), for an usher to return with the alms basins.
The MC watches carefully and makes sure that neither the ministers nor the ushers are kept waiting as the servers attend to their duties. He may also light the torches in the vestry for the taperers.
When the usher approaches, the waiting server genuflects at the foot of the altar, meets the usher at the chancel gate, takes the alms basins from the usher, carries them to the foot of altar, genuflects again, and places them at their place on the little table near the sacristy door.
While the altar is being prepared, the thurifer and boat boy go to the vestry to retrieve the thurible and boat.
They stand at the ready near the vestry door for the second censing of the altar.
As soon as the bread and wine have been offered, the thurifer and boat boy step up to the footpace and stand near the credence table for the blessing and imposition of incense. The boat boy, usually on the thurifer’s right, now stands on his left to present the boat to the Deacon.
As the incense is prepared, the acolyte returns to his position on the Gospel side of the altar. There he remains, facing the altar as before, as the deacon and celebrant prepare incense.
Just before the censing begins, the MC steps up to the footpace, on the Gospel side, and takes and holds the missal stand. He stands with the missal off to the left against the North wall of the sanctuary, facing liturgical south.
The acolyte holds the edge of the celebrant’s chasuble while the deacon holds the other edge for the censing.
The thurifer returns to his place at the altar step during the censing of the oblations. The boat boy returns the incense boat to the vestry and then goes to his place at the cushion on the Epistle-side step.
Once the altar and gifts have been censed, the celebrant hands the thurible to the deacon who censes him (three double swings).
As the celebrant is being censed, the crucifer steps up to the credence for the lavabo. The crucifer holds the water cruet and bowl, with the towel draped over his left arm, as the celebrant washes his hands. The crucifer then returns to his position at the foot of the altar.
After the celebrant has been censed, the MC returns the missal stand to the altar, setting it just to the left of the corporal, angled inward.
Meanwhile, the acolyte and deacon move to the center of the footpace, still to the left and right of center, respectively. The deacon gives the thurible to the acolyte who in turn censes him (two double swings). The deacon returns to his place at the celebrant’s right.
The acolyte, remaining in place, then gives the thurible to the thurifer, who has approached the spot where the deacon had been, and who in turn censes him (one double swing). The acolyte returns to his place at the celebrant’s left.
The thurifer then goes immediately down to the foot of the altar, in the center, and genuflects. He then moves to the chancel step where he censes the people, bowing before and after, with three single swings (center, left, and then right).
Having censed the people, the thurifer goes to stand for a moment in front of the Epistle-side choir stall, near the pavement light, until the celebrant has bid the Orate Fratres.
Just after the celebrant says, "Pray brethren …," and as the people respond, the thurifer goes to the foot of the altar, in the center, where the taperers meet him on either side. They genuflect together, turn to the right, and go to the vestry.
The thurifer puts a little more incense into the thurible, and the taperers light and take up their torches and wait.
The acolyte turns the missal to the Propers (red ribbon).
The celebrant says the Prayer over the Offerings, then the acolyte turns the missal to the Preface (yellow ribbon).
The Sursum Corda, Preface, and Sanctus
The celebrant sings the salutation "The Lord be with you" and proceeds to the Sursum Corda. He then sings the Preface, pointed by the acolyte.
At the words, "Therefore with Angels …", the thurifer and taperers return from the vestry with torches. They move to the foot of the altar, at the center, and bow as the thurifer genuflects. The taperers then move to their cushions and kneel, while the thurifer remains standing in the center.
Only the crucifer and taperers kneel at this point.
At the Sanctus, the servers bow low while standing, until the Benedictus when they come up and sign the cross.
At the conclusion of the Sanctus and Benedictus, the servers all kneel.
The acolyte turns the missal to the Canon of the Mass (fourth red tab).
The crucifer strikes the bell three times, at each repetition of the "Holy".
All sign themselves with the cross as they say “Blessed is he…”; at the conclusion of the Benedictus, the other servers all kneel.
The celebrant now prays the Canon of the Mass as the acolyte points the missal, standing on his left, and as the deacon, on the right, covers and uncovers the chalice and intinctorium at the appropriate moments.
At the words, "Vouchsafe, O God … ", as the celebrant extends his hands over the sacred elements, the crucifer strikes the bell once.
At this cue, the acolyte kneels, bowing low, in his position on the celebrant’s left.
All the servers, kneeling at the altar step, also bow low, although the taperers do not bow as low as the others since they must keep their torches stable and fully upright.
At the Consecration, when the celebrant genuflects, the crucifer strikes the bell, again when he elevates the Sacred Host, and once again when he genuflects.
The thurifer censes the Sacred Host with three double swings, one double at the first genuflection, another at the elevation, and a third at the second genuflection.
When the bell rings, all the servers look up, adore the Precious Body, and then bow low again when the bell rings for the second genuflection.
The same sequence occurs when the celebrant consecrates the Precious Blood: the bell rings at the first genuflection, again when the chalice is elevated, as everyone looks up and adores, and the bell rings a third time at the second genuflection at which point the servers bow low again. The thurifer censes the chalice with three double swings.
When the celebrant bids the Mystery of Faith, the acolyte stands up, along with the deacon, and continues pointing the missal. The servers remain kneeling upright.
The acolyte and deacon should genuflect with the celebrant at the end of the Canon just after the singing of the Per Ipsum.
The Lord’s Prayer and the Peace
The servers stand as the celebrant bids the Lord’s Prayer.
The taperers move to the center, next to the thurifer and bow as he genuflects. They then turn tight and move to quickly put the thurible and torches back into the vestry. They then promptly return to their places at the foot of the altar, the Gospel-side taperer remembering to genuflect as he crosses the chancel.
The Embolism and Doxology follow.
The celebrant turns to the people and offers the Peace, singing or saying, "The peace of the Lord …"
Everyone responds, and the celebrant gives the Pax to the deacon, who in turn exchanges the Peace with the acolyte.
The servers do not exchange the Peace among themselves. Once the Peace has been exchanged between the ministers, the servers kneel.
The Fraction, Agnus Dei, and Prayer of Humble Access
The celebrant breaks the Sacred Host, and sings the Pascha Nostrum, just before the choir chants the Agnus Dei.
During the Agnus Dei, the ministers and servers all strike their breasts three times, at each repetition of the phrase, "sins of the world".
After the Agnus Dei has been sung, the ministers bowing low at the altar, say the Prayer of Humble Access.
The servers bow while kneeling for this prayer.
The crucifer now watches carefully and strikes the bell just as the celebrant turns to show the Sacred Species to the people (i.e., the bell should ring once just before the celebrant says, "Behold the Lamb of God …").
All the servers should look up, adore, and sign the cross. All the servers should strike their breasts with each repetition of the words, "Lord, I am not worthy …"
After the celebrant has communicated, the acolyte goes to the center of the footpace, genuflects, and goes to the credence to take up the communion patens. He gives one of them to the crucifer kneeling before the bell, then he goes to stand next to the deacon on the epistle-side of the altar, facing liturgical north.
The crucifer, now holding the communion paten, goes to the center at the foot of the altar, genuflects, and goes to kneel then on the gospel-side, next to (or between) the MC and the gospel-side taperer, and hands the paten to the MC. (If the crucifer is a tunicled crucifer, he retains the paten to himself.)
The acolyte holds the paten under the deacon’s chin as the deacon receives the Body of Christ.
Then the acolyte kneels on the footpace, holding the paten for himself as the celebrant communicates him.
Meanwhile, the deacon takes the intinctorium and communicates the MC (or tunicled crucifer) holding the paten for himself, and then the other servers on that side.
The acolyte holds the paten for the celebrant as he communicates the rest of the servers.
The ministers then move together to the chancel rail to communicate the people.
As the ministers leave the sanctuary to distribute communion at the chancel rail, the servers return to their pews to kneel, except the crucifer, who stands next to the pavement light watching carefully in case the ministers of communion need any assistance. If required, he should be ready to fetch a purificator from the sacristy in case of a spill, or to open the gate if they need to bring communion to someone in need of assistance.
While holding the paten, the acolyte and MC/tunicled crucifer stay generally on the right of the ministers of communion, giving the ministers as much room as possible to move about. The paten-bearers take special care to catch any particle of the Precious Body or any drop of the Precious Blood.
If the celebrant or deacon needs to return to the altar to get additional Sacred Hosts, the paten bearers accompany them to the foot of the altar and remain standing there until the ministers of communion turn to resume communicating the faithful.
As the ministers return to the altar from communion, the acolyte and MC place their patens on the epistle-side of the altar. The acolyte remains at the altar to assist the deacon with the ablutions, while the MC steps down to retrieve the birettas and stand ready to move the missal.
Also, as the ministers return to the altar, the other servers rise and go to their duties; the crucifer ascends to help at the credence table, the extra servers (or, in their absence, taperers) go to open the chancel gates, while the thurifer and boat boy remain kneeling at their places in the chancel pews.
The Ablutions
While the ablutions are made, the extra servers go and open the chancel gate, setting the cushions inside, and genuflecting before and after at the foot of the altar. They then go to kneel in their places in the chancel pews.
The MC retrieves the birettas from the sedilia, and sets the celebrant’s and deacon’s, together with a hymnal for the celebrant (with the recessional hymn marked) on the edge of the carpet a bit to the left of the bell so that they can easily be taken up and given to the deacon after the Dismissal; he places the subdeacon’s biretta in a similar location on the gospel-side.
The MC then returns to his place against the North wall of the sanctuary and waits for the ablutions to be completed.
At the altar, the celebrant and the deacon consume what remains of the Precious Blood, and repose any remaining hosts in the tabernacle. Meanwhile, the acolyte receives the cruets from the crucifer.
The acolyte pours the cruets for the ablutions, taking care to drape a cloth over the left forearm and to wipe the lip of the wine cruet. He pours wine and water over the celebrant and deacon’s fingers, then water into the intinctorium plate and thumb ciborium. He returns the cruets to the crucifer while the ministers consume.
At this point, the celebrant stands back from the altar while the deacon moves to the center, pours the water from the ciborium and intinctorium into the chalice, and consumes it while the acolyte wipes the ciborium and intinctorium and returns them to the credence table.
If a Subdeacon:
The deacon hands the chalice to the subdeacon to wipe, cover with the paten and pall, and veil it. Meanwhile, the deacon places the corporal, key, and card into the burse, which he then puts on top of the veiled chalice. The subdeacon then places the veiled chalice set on the credence table, and returns to his place at the Epistle-side horn of the altar, genuflecting as he crosses.
If an Instituted Acolyte exercising the subdiaconal ministry:
The deacon himself wipes the chalice, covers it with the paten and pall, and sets it off the corporal to the right; he then folds the corporal and replaces it, along with the tabernacle key and Mass Intention card, into the burse. The deacon veils the chalice, places the burse on top of it, and hands the set to the acolyte to be placed on the credence table. The acolyte then returns to his place at the Epistle-side horn of the altar, genuflecting as he crosses.
As the chalice is being veiled, the MC retrieves the missal and missal stand from the altar. He moves with the missal to the South side of the sanctuary, genuflecting in the middle as he goes.
When the chalice is taken from the altar, the MC moves to the deacon’s right side and places the missal and missal stand on the epistle-side corner of the altar. He then moves down, by the epistle-side foot of the altar, to his place in the chancel pews, genuflecting at the center along the way.
The Post Communion
The ablutions concluded, the celebrant returns to the altar, moves to the epistle-side horn, and leads the people in saying the Prayer of Thanksgiving and Post Communion Prayer.
The deacon stands on his right, facing North, and points the prayer. The acolyte stands at the gospel-side horn of the altar, facing South. All the servers remain kneeling at their places in the chancel pews.
The Concluding Rites
Then the Celebrant returns to the center. He kisses the altar with the Deacon as the acolyte faces the altar and bows.
The celebrant then turns to the People, and says "The Lord be with you". He then gives the Blessing. The Deacon and acolyte turn inward (facing North and South, respectively).
The Deacon turns to the people and sings the Dismissal. The Acolyte continues to face South.
The Celebrant, Deacon and Acolyte go to the foot of the altar, and turn to face the altar, while the recessional party forms.
The Recessional
As the recessional hymn begins, the crucifer gets the cross and stands in the middle of the chancel, facing the altar.
Meanwhile, the taperers go to the vestry and get their lighted processional candles; they return to the chancel and stand, flanking the crucifer.
The thurifer and boat boy (without thurible and boat), and any other altar servers, then line up by twos in front of the crucifer, facing the altar.
The MC crosses to the Epistle-side of the altar step and passes the celebrant his hymnal for the recessional hymn, and that the celebrant and deacon their birettas.
The MC then takes his place, facing the altar, behind the celebrant and just in front of the other altar servers.
When ready, the celebrant cues the deacon and acolyte to genuflect with him, and then he turns to recess to the narthex.
As the celebrant turns, so do the servers, and the crucifer leads the recessional party into the nave and thence to the narthex at a stately pace.
Arriving in the narthex, the taperers extinguish their candles.
The acolyte and all the servers kneel near the front doors, with the crucifer in the central position. All face the cross as the celebrant begins “Praised, hallowed, and adored…” or some other reverence, and imparts his blessing to the servers.
After Mass
Then the acolyte assists the celebrant in taking any of his vestments he may want to remove, and takes them to the sacristy, while MC escorts the other servers to the vestry.
At the close of the recessional hymn, the deacon, having remained behind at the back of the nave, bids the closing Invocation of the Saints.
The taperers with candle-snuffers enter the chancel by way of the vestry door, genuflect at the foot of the altar, and extinguish the altar candles and pavement lights, in unison, in the designated order.
The crucifer returns the cross to its bracket, first bowing at the foot of the altar and then genuflecting as he returns to the vestry.
The servers then unvest and carefully hang their cassocks and surplices.
Lastly, the acolyte and MC tidy the vestry and make sure the service leaflets are picked up from the chancel and that all is in order, before they too unvest.