SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS

To bear with patience wrongs done to oneself is a mark of perfection, but to bear with patience wrongs done to someone else is a mark of imperfection and even of actual sin.

Pope Leo XIV Inspires Love For Jesus In The Sacred Liturgy

-

For those of us who are privileged to serve in the sanctuary, to serve Jesus and his priest, the recent words of Pope Leo resonate deeply.

Being so close to the sacred actions of Liturgy, how can we not be completely captivated by the Lord? Is the opportunity to serve in the sanctuary not a sublime gift to be treasured beyond Sunday throughout the week? Of course it is! We are loved by Jesus - each one of us! We hope and pray that our actions are grafted to the action of Jesus in the Mass.

The Holy Father spoke recently at a gathering of French altar servers in Rome. A few phrases stand out.

Dear Altar Servers, the celebration of the Mass saves us today! It saves the world today! It is the most important event in the life of the Christian and in the life of the Church, for it is the encounter where God gives Himself to us in love, again and again.

In that paragraph is a flood of inspiration! "The Mass saves us today!" Therein the temple of the Lord, kneeling in the sanctuary, we are drawn into eternity to meet "God gives Himself to us in love, again and again."

How can we not "(k)eep in mind the greatness and holiness of what is being celebrated"?

The Holy Father reminds us of the character of the dedicated altar server.

May your attitude, your silence, the dignity of your service, the liturgical beauty, the order and majesty of your gestures, lead the faithful into the sacred greatness of the Mystery."

  1. Attitude. Our minds are wholly centered on the Lord. We serve God; we serve His priest; we support each other. We "lead the faithful into the sacred greatness of the Mystery."
  2. Silence. We are transparent to the presence of God.
  3. Dignity of service. We are part of the shape of the Mass, the architecture of the Liturgy. We are models of prayer.
  4. Liturgical beauty. Is it possible to exhaust the nature of Divine Worship in a blogpost or even an entire book? The beauty of the earthy liturgy is configured to the heavenly Liturgy. Colour, light, texture/incense, fabric/vestments, movement/gesture, sound, silence... are saturated with the art of worship due to God.
  5. Order and majesty of gestures. As above, liturgical gestures are the actions through which Jesus makes himself present. We see, for example, crosses in the movements of the servers, crosses in the priest's gestures over the Gospel pages, the gifts and the people.

Pope Leo's comments could be considered a form of a charter for altar serving.

Reference: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-08/pope-leo-xiv-france-altar-servers-mystery-mass.html

The Guild of Saint Stephen: https://www.guildofststephen.org/

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments will be appreciated and posted if 1) they are on topic and 2) preserve decorum.

Stand by your word.

Popular Posts

Who is Brian Holdsworth? And Why You Should Watch His Videos.

-
Image
Are you thirsty for solid Catholic content? Do you seek to raise your children in a vibrant Catholic culture that helps them become faithful adults? Are your hungry for truth, goodness and beauty? Are you tired of parish programs that waste resources and do little to feed the soul? Are you seeking to learn how you can help build up the Body of Christ? Introducing Brian Holdsworth. If you haven't watched this articulate, insightful and faithful fellow share a thoroughly Catholic understanding of the Faith, then you are invited to start by watching one of his videos. Visit Mr. Holdsworth's main site at:  https://www.brianholdsworth.ca/ Brian Holdsworth, a Catholic convert, resides in Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife and seven children. His videos are rich with genuine Catholic content, revealing a deep faith. Far from being just another "influencer" or social media personality, he is a true man of God, passionately advocating for truth, goodness, and beauty within the C...
Read more

Canada Undead?

-
Image
"What do vampires and socialists have in common? Both are lifeless bloodsucking monsters that fear the light." Bloodthirsty undead feed on the innocent, all while reveling in the very systems that sustain their grim mission. Vampires inhabit the shadows of society. A vampire will even destroy another to protect its dominance. Vampire culture is parasitic, distorting elements of Christian culture: hospitality transforms into enabling illness, charity transforms into lust and indulgence, and hope transforms into confusion and despair. Vampire culture is fueled by an obsession with gaining and using power to control others and to push corrupt beliefs. The Vampire Slayer Key Principles of Justice in Catholic Social Teaching Dignity of the Human Person. At the heart of Catholic social teaching is the belief that every human life is sacred and possesses inherent dignity. This principle asserts that all individuals deserve respect and protection, which forms the foundation for justi...
Read more

The Mandorla: Shape And Meaning

-
Image
Ever wonder what the curious pointed oval shape in religious art is called, the shape that is also used in various designs adopted by guilds and religious groups? That almond shape is called the mandorla, the Italian word for almond. The mandorla is a significant symbol in Christian art and theology, characterized by its almond shape, which is formed by the intersection of two circles. This shape has deep theological implications and is often used to represent the divine presence, particularly in relation to Christ and the Virgin Mary. Symbolic Meanings Divine Presence. The mandorla is frequently depicted as a radiant shape surrounding Christ in His glory, particularly in scenes of the Transfiguration or the Ascension. It symbolizes the divine light and glory that emanates from Christ, emphasizing His dual nature as both God and man. The use of the mandorla in art serves to highlight the sacredness of the figure it surrounds, marking a clear distinction between the divine and the eart...
Read more

Listen, provide fellowship, and share God's mercy and truth.

-
Image
The good news about many converting to the Faith deserves a heartfelt 'thanks and praise be to God.' Despite the weak practice of the Faith in many places, sanctuaries being turned into spectacles by some clergy and laity, and false teachers spreading half-truths—such as Father James Martin, who on April 16 was recorded trying to normalize sinful practices contrary to Catholic teaching—people are successfully finding their way home to the Church that Christ established. Fr James Martin exposed:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2-EgkkFC9Y&t=9s Despite several decades of timid efforts to promote the Faith in most North American and European nations, people are converting. It seems that, given the weak witness of Catholics of the developed nations, the Holy Ghost has stepped in to reach people through, among additional ways unknown in their totality, social media influencers who are for the most part lay men and women on fire for the communion with Jesus that is found in the ...
Read more

The New Evangelization: What Are We Catholics Not Hearing?

-
Image
Truth, beauty and goodness calling. Is anyone listening? To some, the title of this meditation might come across as a bit pretentious or condescending, but even yours truly, a simple Catholic layman, am not exempt from considering the preceding question. The situation seems somewhat obvious given growing evidence of God's movement drawing people into communion, and yet some (many?) seem deaf to what's happening. If repetition is any indication, then the amount of information - not heterodox thinking, mind you - presented in and through diverse forums heralding truth, goodness and beauty, might be worth taking seriously. There are internet forums wherein self-proclaimed progressive prophets cuddle or where hyper-ultra-trads huddle, but schism-adjacent and alter-magisterium forums aren’t the focus here. Griping and scheming and doing little or nothing but complain that the Church or the Liturgy is not fashioned in our own traddy or faddy image is a waste of time and effort. Rathe...
Read more

Angelic Thrones: The Many-eyed Ones

-
Image
Thrones, also known as Ophanim (Hebrew: אוֹפַנִּים ʼōp̄annīm), meaning “wheels,” are described in Ezekiel’s vision of the merkabah (chariot) in Ezekiel 1:15–21. These wheels are connected to Daniel 7:9, where they are called galgal , often described as “the wheels of galgallin ” in a “fiery flame” and “burning fire.” They are shown as four eye-covered wheels, each formed from two nested wheels, moving together with the winged Cherubim beneath God’s throne. The wheels move in harmony with the Cherubim. The Celestial Hierarchy of Dionysius refers to the Thrones from the Old Testament description as the Third Order of the First Sphere, the other two superior orders being the First Order, the Seraphim, and the Second Order, the Cherubim. CHAPTER VII Of the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones, and their first Hierarchy The name of the most glorious and exalted Thrones denotes that which is exempt from and untainted by any base and earthly thing, and the supermundane ascent up the steep. Fo...
Read more

SAINT (Mother) TERESA OF CALCUTTA

Holiness is not the luxury of a few people, but a simple duty for you and me.

SAINT JOAN OF ARC

Go forward bravely. Fear nothing. Trust in God; all will be well.

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES

Have patience with all things - but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being. You are perfectly valuable, creative, a worthwhile person simply because you exist. And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that.

DOUGLAS MACARTHUR

A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.

GEORGE ORWELL

In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

MARCUS AURELIUS

There is but one thing of real value - to cultivate truth and justice, and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men.