Quotes
from Letters to an Altar Boy by
Rev. David E. Rosage published by The Bruce Publishing Co.
"Some of you are little fellows, but you are the biggest men
[and women] in your parish. Serving
Mass is one of the most important jobs in any parish.
To serve Mass is a great privilege and honor, but at the same time
is does demand sacrifice.......
...........The Gospel tells us that our Lord loved His first altar
boy very much. St. John, the first Altar boy, was very close to our Lord at
the Last Supper when the first Mass was offered.......St. John was the
only Apostle who remained until the end of the first Sacrifice. Yes, he stood beneath the cross until our Lord died.
.......Our Blessed Lady also has a special place in her heart for
all altar boys [and girls] because of their generosity and devotion to her
Son.
Do you know that as an altar [server] you are one of the most
important people of the parish? At
Mass you are more important than the janitor, [Eucharistic Ministers], and
the ushers. Yes, you are more important than the choir.
Today, our Lord wants to come to live with us.
Each day He wants to come into our hearts in Holy Communion so that
He may help us to be good; so
that He may help us to live and work as we should.......Therefore, the
Mass is the most important action which can take place in the whole world.
You are so important,....because you are helping the priest to say
Mass; to bring our Lord into
the world......... You are the priest's first assistant.
In fact, the Church considers you so important that the law of the
Church requires a priest to have an altar [server] before he may say
Mass.............
Whether you realize it or not, you are more important at Mass than
your dear mother, or a princess in a royal castle, or the mother of a
bishop, or even the sister of the Holy Father............
..........They may not walk up the altar steps during
the Mass............Yes, you are the only person who may come so
close to our Lord during Mass.
......Isn't that strange and wonderful?
Our Lord, who is the Master of Heaven and earth, asks you to help
Him come down among men.
Each day when you serve Mass, you can look up at the Scared Host at
the Elevation and smile as you say to our Lord: "Jesus, I have helped
You in my own small way to come into the world ........I hope my serving
Holy Mass has pleased you. Thank You, Jesus, for giving me this wonderful
privilege."
I
hope this will help all of you see how important your job is as an altar
server. This is why it is so
important to get a replacement when you are unable to serve when you are
assigned. I urge each of you
to get a copy of Letters to an Altar Boy, by Rev. David E Rosage.
It will not only help you in serving at Mass, but in your daily
lives as you grow in age and in grace.
Back to top
