Why do I get the feeling that you LOVED the incense?  lol.  I’m sure you’ve got a story or two there that involved a lot of smoke and burnt cassock!

Love this!  Great writing!  You’ve just drawn much attention to the miracle and I’m now wide awake here in the back row!

Well, you are not the only one thinking the ringing of the bells was miraculous! My young son,Thomas thought there was a double miracle at the consecration and that the bells were just another of God’s actions. Probably underscored by the fact that he was too short then to see much at the side of the altar!
He went on to become an altar boy too and will be ordained to the priesthood in December in Rome. Praise the good God!

Thanks for writing about you “crisis of faith”!

Thanks! And, Matt, since you know at least 2 other real-live former altar boys, I have a question. I have sometimes really worried about them catching things on fire.
Has that ever happened?

“And then it happened. The priest taught us to ring the bells as he raised the Eucharist. Now, this was a catastrophic moment because up until that very moment I’d assumed that God Himself made the bell ringing noise to signify the miracle of transubstantiation”
I always remember the day that I saw that the bell was ranged by an altar man. I was disappointed! As you, I used to think that transubstantiation included the ringing bell. I was like 5 and it took me some month to understand what was happening!
God bless you!
From Argentina,
Juan.
PD: Sorry for my English, I don’t know if the verb “ranged” exists, I wanted to put the past of ring.

Matt -

It’s not “cassock and surplus”. It’s “cassock and surplice”.

AnneG - I have seen an altar girl catch her alb sleeve on fire while lighting candles!

@Cindy Montanaro…Thank You for your precious gift to God!  Today far too many of the Dioceses allow Altar girls…(even Archbishop-Cardinals)...I’m sure that is a contributor to the lack in vocations to the Priesthood.

Matt:

Thanks so much for your article!  It certainly woke me up - in the best way possible;-)

Dear Mr. Archbold.  You look old enough not to have been forced to share service at the Altar with a girl. That was a Blessing.

Loved your essay on the holy and wonderful meaning of ringing bells to alert the congregation to the holiest part of Mass.  How I long for the day when “bells” will be ringing in every Catholic Church in the world agin.

@Felix, women can’t have a vocation?  I was an altar boy for 9 years and now have been working for 2 decades in full time music ministry.  I’m not sure how I can attribute that to being a server, or not.  I’ve been a musician longer than a liturgical minister.

Blessings on anyone who is willing to answer a vocation, whether it be ordained, professed, or lay.  When I was an altar boy, my pastor insisted that we actively participate in the Mass - we BETTER or else - while we were on “his” altar.  Today, too many servers are observers rather than participators in the Mass.  But whether that server is male or female depends mainly on who is willing to do it.  Not enough boys is one reason girls have been allowed, isn’t it?

Another hilarious account of how God works in and through people to bring us closer to Him.  I couldn’t help but read a blog post having to do with Altar boys.  My dad was one many years ago, and he caused all sorts of trouble with his friends.  You’ve got such great stories! Thanks for sharing!

Dear Mr. Reded. That “participation” demanded of you seems to have been the ideological detritus left over after The Protestant Revolution.

Prior to the Protestant revolution, whose errors, sadly, infected the intellects of far too many of the liturgical “experts,” the men in the Sanctuary were men and they were dedicated and committed to carrying-out the Sacred Mystery of The Holy Sacrifice of The Mass and, believe it or not, back in the day Priests were strong enough to read the Epistle and The Gospel and to distribute Communion, etc.

But since the revolution within the form of the Mass, we have Peter and Paula Pew Denizen exiting their seats to trudge up into the Sanctuary and read to us while the Priest - in personna Christi - sits on a chair silently.

Well, that is sure one way to ensure that we increase and He decreases, isnt it?

@Rick Reed…WOMEN DO NOT BELONG IN THE SANCTUARY.!
Let me guess…you are a convert?  protestants have ruined our Catholic Faith and It’s Traditions by the stupid youth, music, hand holding etc.etc.etc…everything to you people is a “ministry”...only thing worse than a bad-catholic…a protestant.  You don’t understand our Traditions so you try and change them to fit your “style” of “praise and worship”.  From the Altar boys came the Faithful and Authentic Priests!
+JMJ

Love this, Matt! I’m printing it out for my son, who at 15 is the Master server in our parish. He just finished training 6 new altar boys during Lent. Every Saturday, after altar boy practice, II’d get to hear what dopes the poor lil’ guys were. I think my boy will get a kick out of this and may also get a poignant reminder of why it is he’s up at that altar in the first place.

@Mr Vermont
Dear brother,
      I don’t know how old are you, I don’t know were are you from and how you were instructed in faith. But as I said in some other comment (And I think it was to you) we have to search God’s will, and in Mathew 28 he order us to make all people his followers. I think that it’s important to open the church to everybody, and also the liturgy.
    I don’t consider myself progresit or tradisionalis, but I accept what the church says and specially our Bishops in the council.
    Since 8, I was an altar boy, and now, at 22, I distribute Communion at the mass and I take it to those who can’t psychically participate in the celebration (I don’t know how it’s called in English, I was “named minster”). I consider my self too young for this, and I’d love that priest make this jobs;  but the truth is that we don not have priest enaught to attend the people and we have many priest that are more concentrated in other stuff… 
    The solution is not in the way we do (Latin or Spanish, or if the letter is read by the priest or a people) the solution is in the essence: Is Christ the center? Are we doing this in sanctity? Do we search ways to take salvation to all people?
God Bless you!
(Sorry for my English)
From Argentina, Juan.-

@Felix Culpa:
Take a chill pill - it’s only Monday; you need to pace yourself.

As a convert(former Lutheran), please allow me to say that I can’t stand ‘youth’ music in church, hand holding and the endless employment of the term ‘ministry.’  Please don’t try to blame us for everything.  (And FYI, back in seventies - when I was a Lutheran - the Catholics were getting the blame for any mod and groovy changes taking place in my parish.)

I learned how to serve from my brother telling me at home.  I went to mass with my dad one evening and told him that my brother was teaching me.  He made me go up and serve and I did not know what I was doing.  I rang the bells every time the pries raised his hands.

@Felix, when you act this way, those who agree with you are embarrassed by you, and those who disagree find you offensive and not at all convincing.

In one short post you make unfounded assumptions, refer to another person as “you people”, and show no respect for our Protestant brethren.

I think that is a problem, sir.  You appear to lack respect for your fellow man, no matter how wrong they may be.  Perhaps this is because you assume you are always right.

At any rate, please stop posting like this.  You are not helping the faith, the Magisterium, or the Church with that attitude.  Correction should be done in a fraternal spirit.

-Andrew

that is adorable!

I’m not sure where the hatred of women (Vermont & Felix?) comes from, but can we meet halfway and say that women are permitted in the sanctuary - to at least clean?

Seriously, after years of working for the Church (and I’m a cradle Catholic who loves all music, and don’t dare to tell God that he should only be prayed to with a certain era’s music), I’m still amazed that some of the most vile statements seem to emanate from those who call themselves Christians.  It’s embarrassing.

I spent 9 happy years in a cassock and surplice, and the ensuing years since at the organ or piano raising a joyful noise to the Lord.  I’ve yet to see a Gospel passage where Jesus puts a limit on who can be saved, beyond accepting God into your life.  Please don’t drag “history” into things - we’ll be back to married popes and bishops, or we’ll be back to 11 of 12 of our bishops being married Jewish men (and 11 of them being martyred).

We all are unworthy of the love and passion of God, but it is his gift that he so graciously gave us.  Please treat that gift with the respect due.  Let God decide who can and can’t serve him.

Love it. Thanks.

Love your blogs !  But I was never an altar boy because as a Presbyterian youngster….that was not allowed. But I did sing in the choir. In my early teens I used to sneak into the “impressive Cathedral” and light all the candles that I figured the people forgot! And to look better in case anyone saw me in there….I used to wet down my hair with the handy water that was supplied just inside the main doors.  Well The Holy Spirit had enough of me….and gave me a full fledge membership….59 years ago.  Praise God for the Candles and the Holy Water…..  DGM

Wondering about altar girls? I do not. I always remember that were women who valiently stood at the cross until the last minute and prepared His body for the tomb…therefore, those little women deserve a place at the altar where the sacrifice of the cross is repeated.I am sure that Jesus is glad to see them so close to Him.

I really needed a laugh today, and this was it!  Thanks!

As a side note, we still tease my son (who is now in the military, and serving in Afghanistan,) for sitting on the Bishops mitre.  Our Priest was very nervous about the Bishops visit, and schooled the Alter servers well before he arrived.  Fr. told Aaron (my son,) that after giving the homily, the Bishop would sit, and remove the mitre.  Aaron was to recieve it, and sit it on the chair.  Fr. forgot to remind him to remove it before he sat back down.  I’ll never forget the look on Aaron’s face as he sat down, and realized what he did!  (Fr. and the good Bishop never found out!)

@Ellyn wrote: “Take a chill pill” ...whatever that means? 
: : : : : : : :
“And FYI, back in seventies - when I was a Lutheran - the Catholics were getting the blame for any mod and groovy changes taking place in my parish.)”
If you read my post i wrote bad-Catholics AND protestants…share equally in the destruction of the Traditions of our precious Catholic Faith.
+JMJ

@Andrew correction was done with a “fraternal spirit” (and while I am not often correct) in this case I can assure you (if you care to research it) I am.  Research the changes from the council you will find a free-for-all existed…but MOSTLY in the US.  I stand by ALL of my remarks and will continue to make them wherever and whenever I can…wake up and fight or stay quiet and let it happen…your choice.

@Adolfo “...women who valiently stood at the cross” I suppose you think they also should be allowed to receive Holy Orders as well?  Let the women clean and pray for us unworthy men

I’m sorry, but to me this is sad. It serves as another example highlighting the sobering fact that many parents & parish CCD classes (past & present)are not adequately educating youths in the Catholic faith. Although I was born & raised in the Catholic faith and went to Sunday School as a kid, I too (due to lack of proper teaching of the faith) had a crisis of faith in my teenage years. I had sent my own children to the current CCD classes and accompanied them as an “class mom” & witnessed first hand how the classes are still lacking in the proper teaching of the faith. Some of it is the curriculum chosen, some the instructors who could use some basic instructing themselves or “liberalize” the material to their liking. I attempted to become a CCD instructor myself, but soon found that my hands were tied by the parish to use the curriculum (from a secular publisher!!) that they had purchased. I now homeschool (CCD) my children and when it came time for them to attend their mandatory sacramental classes they made the instructors nervous, because they found out that my children knew more than them & corrected them. One teacher came up to me and said,“I thought I’d be teaching your son, but instead I learned from him. I wish everyone would have a proper Catholic education.

The “hatred” came from Pope Blessed John Paul I who, in 1980 issued Inaestimable Donum which stated that women were not permitted to serve at the Altar (#18). Oh, and also two thousand years of Ecclesiastical tradition.

But, pfftt…tradition shmadition…it’s a revolution, baby.  We’s about change

Thankfully, that ghastly 2000 years of Ecclesiastical Orthopraxic Hatred was made to walk the plank off the Barque of Peter and so now we are just like the Protestants.

Yea!!!!!

@Annika4 ...you have nailed it exactly and it started long before Vatican II…ABp Sheen speaks clearly about this in his early radio shows from the 30’s and 40’s…and now ...even when it is clear…the people who want to destroy our Sacred Traditions ignore it or whine about “being nice” like @Rick Reed and @Andrew instead of defending It.

@Vermont Crank no Pope EVER wrote, spoke or encouraged hatred toward women.  and just a nit but Pope John Paul I is not a Blessed nor did he issue INAESTIMABILE DONUM!  Blessed John Paul II issued INAESTIMABILE DONUM due to “concern at the varied and frequent abuses being reported from different parts of the Catholic world: the confusion of roles, especially regarding the priestly ministry and the role of the laity” and in article 18. “There are, of course, various roles that women can perform in the liturgical assembly: these include reading the Word of God and proclaiming the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful. Women are not, however, permitted to act as altar servers.”...this too has been completely ignored by bad-catholics.  If I (as I have been accused) “hate” women my wife will be greatly surprised (among others)!

Dear Felix Culpa. Of course no Pope ever encouraged hatred. I thought the response set in the context of the man’s accusations of our putative hatred of women would not need to be explained.

And yes, that was a typo re Pope Blessed John Paul II.

Pope Blessed John Paul II issued two apologies about Liturgical abuse but they were simply ignored and not taken seriously by Bishops or Laity.

The Bishops kept right on doing what they wanted to and the Laity knew that absent Ecclesiastical Discipline, they were just empty words; especially when considering that the Bishops ignoring those apologies, corrections, etc were the very Bishops Pope Blessed John Paul II appointed,

Without Ecclesiastical Discipline chaos reigns

That’s one of the most refreshing bits of writing I’ve read in a long time!  thank you, Matt.  By the way, my grandson is named Matt…great name!!

My 1st Mass I served terrorized me. At Communion I held the Paton under my Nun’s neck, chopped her right in the Adams apple. I quit same day but countinujed Acolyte at processions because I was so short. JMJ

Great article, but you were certainly not the worst altar boy, perhaps one of the most thoughtful, actually, I got you beat in the worst category.

Around the same age, I signed up to be an altar boy, but didnt feel like having to go to the practies afterschool. So, when I was first scheduled, I thought I’d just show up and work my way thru it.  What a disaster..I’m sure many of the grown ups were ready to ban me from the Church after that one.

And later, when I started to fugure out how it was done, I was exiting the sacristy one day (it was in the back of the church) carrying the (glass) water, wine, and the tray they rest in and got my cassock sleeve caught in a doorknow and well.. not good…

If one wants to really look closely, one must remember that the Bishop is the final authority in his diocese, not the Pope.  In recent years, unfortunately, too many bishops have allowed their responsibility to be taken over by the Vatican.  One tradition they’ve let slip through is that a bishop (by Canon law) is to be elected from the priests of his own diocese, then approved by the Vatican.  Also, a bishop wasn’t allowed to move to another diocese.

Just one example of being careful to look at the past with rose-colored glasses.  The bulk of today’s bishops are figure-heads put in place by the Vatican, not strong leaders that they should be.  One only has to look at the multitude of scandals permeating the church today to see an appalling lack of strength and conviction in the ranks of bishops.

None of these problems were brought on by female altar servers or women in other liturgical ministry roles.  Those who think the “golden age” of the Church was prior to Vatican II should take the time to look just a bit further, then a bit further, and then keep going.  You won’t find a time where there wasn’t change.  You WILL find things that will disturb you in both positive and negative ways.

Every Catholic should try to take the time to study the entire history of our Church.  Most of the problems - okay, all - come about because we are humans.  God created males and females, but didn’t say one was better than the other, nor did he allow or dictate that either male or female was allowed to worship in particular ways.  The male dominant pattern we know in church hierarchy is kept in place by those who don’t want to lose power.  It has little or nothing to do with faith.

Dear Mr Reed. It was Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ, who established His Church with a male exclusive Pope, Bishopric, Priesthood,  and Hierarchy

It is also of Catholic Faith that the Pope has immediate and universal authority over every one - including a Bishop with his own Jurisdiction. A Pope can excommunicate a Bishop or remove him from the Bishopric.

A Bishop can not excommunicate a Pope or remove him from the Papacy.

The proliferation of “ministries” is yet another example of the protestantising propensity of prelates.

This too shall pass.

Is the future, some great Pope will fire an ecclesiastical bullet into the back of the skull of the Bugnini Rite and put it out of its revolutionary misery.

@Matthew: This is a delightful post.

@ Rick Reed: “He made them male and female” God is the Person of the Father, and of the Son and the LOVE between them WHO is masculine. Jesus Christ said: “He who sees me sees the Father”. It is the human race Who God made male and female. Man is the glory of God. Woman is the glory of man. While some say that God has a female part in Him because HE created them male and female, it is the human race who has a female participant.

Okay, I’m out of this conversation.  Too many misogynists for me.  Respond all you want, I’m off of the “notify” box, so won’t see them.  I’ll continue to pray for the Church, which will survive, in spite of the Church.

Women have vocations to be women. I have heard it said that it is unfair for an altar girl to be allowed to believe that she may ever become a priest. Whenever I see a woman at the altar, I wonder where the men are. Do we have any men anymore? We need priests, men, to become priests

@Rick Reed wrote: “Every Catholic should try to take the time to study the entire history of our Church.”  then he wrote:  “The male dominant pattern we know in church hierarchy is kept in place by those who don’t want to lose power.  It has little or nothing to do with faith.”
This is simply illogical ranting…like that of a hot and uncomfortable child on a hot summer day…I suggest reading (A LOT!) maybe start with the Fathers of The Church (St. Augustine, St. Basil, Clement of Alexandria etc.)then work your way up to recent Papal Encyclicals…start with INAESTIMABILE DONUM, AD PETRI CATHEDRAM and AD SINARUM GENTEM

Has it ever occurred to some posters of the “no women in the sanctuary during liturgy” position that convents and abbeys for orders of nuns often have a priest come to celebrate Mass for them?  If anyone is going to “help” - bring water over, hold the “Book” and so on, let alone bring the more formal wear when the just consecrated Host is put in the monstrance for adoration - it is going to be a female?
Since this is usually (not always) an older priest, I doubt that this participation by adult females discourages many priestly vocations.
TeaPot562

I recall when I first learned about the bells.  It was during practice for First Holy Communion.  I, too, was disappointed.  Now I am a mother of a young man who serves on the altar.  It is amazing how much more aware you become of altar server behavior and who does a “good” job and who is a bit of slacker when your kid is one of the servers.  I must say that I don’t like seeing girls on the altar.  Of course, I also don’t like seeing “Eucharistic Ministers” or female lectors, either.

I LOVE this story, I got a great laugh. Too cute.

I am pretty much in agreement with the male altar servers thing. However I don’t understand why people don’t want female lectors….??? Are women some how unqualified to read the Word of God in a public setting? I would love to hear an reasonable explanation for that.

You know, as a convert to the Catholic faith, I can tell you that most of us [former Protestants] LOVE the Catholic Church - AS SHE IS - and want to see her Traditions preserved whole and intact. What we must do, however, is distinguish between “Tradition” [CAPITAL “T”] and “tradition” [lower-case “t”]. The first [“T”] are the Traditions mentioned by Saint Paul that are to be “held fast to”, and passed down unchanged, world without end, amen. The others, however, [“t”], are the “traditions” of the Church that have developed over the years in regard to the “way we do certain things”. These “traditions” have nothing to do with the Deposit of Faith, and changed in them in NO WAY changes our True, Catholic Faith. One of these “little t” traditions is that of ONLY MALE Altar Servers. Some of you have quoted Inaestimabile Donum, written by our dear Bl. Pope John Paul II… which, by the way was written in 1980. YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN [or completely ignored] the communique from the Holy See from the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to the presidents of episcopal conferences permitting altar girls. This details the change in the “little t” tradition, why it was done, how it should be governed in diocese where it is permitted, and the fact that the “norm” should still be male Altar Servers to encourage holy Priests. BUT, it does NOT say females are not allowed - QUITE the contrary. Pope John Paul II both “confirmed the decision and ordered its promulgation”. Go here to read it in its entirety: http://www.ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwcomm.htm

By the way - my reference to the date of Inaestimabile Donum is due to the fact that the Vatican Communication on Female Altar Servers was published in 1994.

“The Worst Altar Boy Ever” is a very bold claim - there is a lot of competition for that honor.

@TeaPot562 “Has it ever occurred to some posters of the “no women in the sanctuary during liturgy” position that convents and abbeys for orders of nuns often have a priest come to celebrate Mass for them?”  Naturally…but the context of the posts is the “typical average suburban Parish”.

@Claire MT 28:16-20 “And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them ...And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.” Note two item here “the eleven disciples” only those He Choose and “even to the consummation of the world” unchangeable.

@Jenn Perkins wrote: most of us [former Protestants] LOVE the Catholic Church - AS SHE IS - and want to see her Traditions preserved whole and intact”  Of course you do because it is exactly what you left…it has been protestant branded by youth ministers, music ministers, liberal Priests and Bishops (GOD alone will judge them)...clown Masses, handing holding, stupid methodist, lutheran and praise & worship music, Altar girls etc.  Frankly explaining Our Authentic Catholic Traditions to a convert is a little like describing color to a blind man.  Wake up…and listen to Our Holy Father, pay close attention to what He wrote during Easter…Our Church is in SERIOUS DANGER…need more proof…look at Egypt, Jerusalem, ALL of Europe, Iraq….I repeat wake up!

I assume you would like to remove female DREs, confirmation teachers, and summer Bible camp teachers as well then? And What about all the Catholic nuns who teach in schools?

I appreciate the verse, but you haven’t explained how that translates into “women should not read the Word at mass”. You are interpreting it selectively. Or maybe you do think women shouldn’t teach anything related to the faith, I don’t know you. :)

I know I am speaking in a teasing manner but I am genuinely interested and always open to good explanations/reasons.

No, the Catholic Church isn’t like what we left, thank you very much. Because the churches we left had no authority and didn’t have the Body of Christ.  And just because we are Protestant converts doesn’t mean we are all liberal Catholics. And quite frankly many of the protestant churches I went to had great music and great programs for families etc which is not what I can say at all for churches “trying” to have modern music etc. and making half hearted attempts to try to involve the youth. But the Church has Christ’s real presence and Apostolic succession, and that is way more important than what awful song I have to hear at mass.

I agree with what Jenn has said on Tradition vs. traditions. But I also agree with you Felix in that it is worthwhile to preserve many of these small t traditions. However, many of us took huge cultural, personal, spiritual and emotional risks by joining the Catholic Church and it wasn’t just like waltzing into a slightly more traditionalized version of our old churches. At all. And if you haven’t been there, then you don’t know what it is like.

I am the only one who is more than a little flummoxed at the way this winsome yet deep anecdote has deteriorated into a bile filled exchange?

@ Felix: Ok, firstly, you know NOTHING about me. Speaking to me - virtually YELLING @ me through these comments - is NOT the “Christian” thing to do. Aren’t we Catholics CHRISTIAN?? Converting was a HUGE deal in my life. I went through RCIA EIGHT times! That’s right - not a typo. 8 TIMES! I have heard the explanations of our beautiful Catholic Faith more than most “cradle Catholics” have. As for the Catholic Church being “exactly” what I left - again - you have NO CLUE what I left! And you are only PARTIALLY correct - it IS like what I left, in that BOTH Protestants AND Catholics LOVE JESUS. BUT, it is a FAR CRY from what I left in terms of style of worship and liturgy. Stop making assumptions and commenting on them. You will make more enemies of the Catholic Church than friends… and YOU WILL have to answer for that one day - not to any Pope - but to the Lord Jesus Himself.

A few things: someone said “not enough boys is a reason to have altar girls”. I disagree. Not enough boys means we need more boys. I recommend taking some time out of every weekend to review how to serve at Mass. There are plenty of resources for learning how to serve the Mass online. Every Catholic boy should know how to serve at the Mass. When you think about it, it is a strange fate that we should suffer so much pain over so small a thing… Such a little thing… /end Lord of the Rings reference

Really, serving at a Novus Ordo is SO easy I don’t know why more people don’t teach themselves or others how to serve. Is there an age limit for a Novus Ordo server? Not that I’m aware of, there certainly isn’t one for acolytes at the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Like I said before, it looks incredibly easy. Correct me if I’m wrong about this if you’ve served before, but there are no responses to memorize (in English, at least; much less so in Latin), and basically no movements around the altar except during the consecration and so forth. To me this seems incredibly easy, given that I am now serving at the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.

This at last brings me to my main point: Matt, this is a very good article and very well done on highlighting a strange part (in my humble opinion, humble as I am) of the Novus Ordo about which I shall spend the remainder of this comment opining.

I always understood the great argument against the Extraordinary Form (which shall from now on be referred to as EF) and in favor of the Novus Ordo (NO) was that it isn’t open and inviting participation enough. So I guess I’m wondering why are the bells hidden? In the EF the server is kneeling to the right of the priest, in full view of the congregation. In nearly every NO Mass I attended in the time before my family discovered the EF, the server would disappear behind the credence table to ring the bell. I keenly remember looking up at nearly every consecration and expressing childlike surprise every time young me didn’t see the bell-ringer. Eventually, of course, I figured things out, when one Sunday I made a point to follow the movements of the server.

Since then my family discovered the EF, and in every EF Mass that I can remember the server(s) would, at consecration time, move from his place at the first altar step to ascend the altar steps and kneel beside the priest. From that point you can clearly see that he is the one ringing the bell.

Now that I’ve made that point, I would like to again say what a good article Matt has written. Your point about the discovery of the true miracle of Consecration through your learning the truth about the bells just reinforces my belief that the EF does not distract the congregation by tempting them to guess where the bells are being rung from, and rather that it avoids all such trouble by directing such curious peoples’ attention to the priest who is conveniently right next to the person ringing the bells.

I hope my point(s) is(are) clear in this(these) comment(comments), friend(friends). :-P
Take care, and God bless you all

@ Felix: You are insulting to ALL converts out there, and I am CERTAIN the Holy Father would NOT approve of your “style” of communication! Remember, Saint Paul is virtually the most “famous” CONVERT of them all! Converts have a HUGE role to play in the Catholic Church - which is eternally spreading the good news of the Gospel to ALL - not JUST to “cradle Catholics”! Are you not generous enough of spirit to sing a couple songs you don’t “feel” are the “right style” for the sake of your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you SERIOUSLY believe everything sung in Heaven will be in monophonic Latin CHANT?! Get real! If ANY language will be used exclusively, I am betting it will be HEBREW, so better start studying up on that if you want to be in the “IN” crowd there… since you apparently consider yourself in the “IN” crowd here - and the rest of us are unfortunate side-effects of evangelization you have to “put up with”. I see NONE of the “Fruits of the Spirit” in your comments. Might want to look those up, while you’re telling everyone else what to read.

@Jenn Perkins wrote: “Get real! If ANY language will be used exclusively, I am betting it will be HEBREW, so better start studying up on that if you want to be in the “IN” crowd there…”(presume she refers to HEAVEN)you nailed me…I am “insensitive”.  The official language of the Church Militant is Latin.  I would not presume to know what the language of The Heavenly Host will be or if there will be one?  As for the rest of your rant I would need my own blog to reply…but I stand by my earlier comment ...explaining Our Authentic Catholic Traditions to a convert is a little like describing color to a blind man.

@Claire wrote: “However, many of us took huge cultural, personal, spiritual and emotional risks by joining the Catholic Church and it wasn’t just like waltzing into a slightly more traditionalized version of our old churches.”
Then maybe it should stir you to pray unceasingly for those who risk their very lives by doing so in Egypt, Iraq etc…if you did not experience the changes then “you” cannot understand the betrayal most of us felt and the division continues.  Our Holy Father wrote to not believe in a united Church is to lack Faith ...but sometimes I fear what the Church will look like…perhaps the one in China?

@ Felix Culpa. Felix, as a convert to the Roman Catholic Faith, I must say that I was offended by one of your previous comments in which you attacked converts to the Faith who come from Protestant origins. Not only are your comments divisive, aggressive, and ill-informed, but they are also anti-Catholic in their tone and purpose. As Catholics we are all called to love one another as God has loved us, this applies to all of humanity but even more surely so to those who are our brothers and sisters in faith. Furthermore, Christianity and Catholicism more specifically, is not and never has been an ancestral or culture-based faith, we are a Church of Converts. I’m sorry to break your bubble, but if you think you are from an ancestral line that runs unbroken to the first Apostles you are dreadfully mistaken. Even if this were so, even they were converts! And on the “ministry” issue, I find that people who are against the idea of ministry, change their minds on the matter rather quickly when faced with a situation that renders them in dire need of ministry themselves. I do agree with you that the liturgy itself should remain solemn and prayerful, but outside of liturgical observance, in venues such as a youth group meeting, the manner in which they worship the Lord is personal to them. If their form of praise is not your “thing” then by all means stay home and proclaim your opinions in silence. Your attitude is helpful neither to Mother Church, nor to her cause.

@ Felix: You are right - you ARE insensitive. My sarcasm in responding was an attempt at covering the fact that your comments hurt - DEEPLY. To tell me that attempting to explain the Catholic Faith to me - a convert - is like trying to explain color to a blind man - which comment you have restated TWICE - is saying I am fundamentally incapable or unworthy of receiving the guidance of the Holy Spirit into ALL “knowledge”, ALL “truth” and ALL “understanding” that [apparently, by your comments], only CRADLE Catholics of the Pre-Vatican II variety are “worthy” of receiving. Wow. You have failed to comment on the OFFICIAL statement - from the Vatican - on the validity of female Altar servers in certain cases. You have failed to even SEEM sorry for offending a sister in Christ. I feel for you… you have been hurt - I get that. You feel “betrayed”... but neither I NOR my convert brothers and sisters have betrayed you - and neither has the Catholic Church. God is CONTINUALLY renewing the face of the earth, and infusing life into His Church. If you believe that - TRULY believe that - then your anti-Convert rants are unnecessary. If you do NOT believe that, well, then it’s time for you to come on out of the “Protestant” closet - ‘cause me thinks thou doest PROTEST too much.

THANK YOU.  That was just what I needed to read at this time.

@Jenn Perkins “You have failed to comment on the OFFICIAL statement - from the Vatican - on the validity of female Altar servers in certain cases.”
INAESTIMABILE DONUM was one of the official documents from the Vatican which was ignored by the USCCB and some diocese…specifically article 27 “If anything has been introduced that is at variance with these indications, it is to be corrected.” per the violation of article 18 “Women are not, however, permitted to act as altar servers.”
As for your hurt feelings, I AM SORRY!, that was not my intention.  And since I know your handle I will offer a prayer for your intentions to St Joseph and to St Faustina.

@Matthew Kobukowski wrote:  “Not only are your comments divisive, aggressive, and ill-informed, but they are also anti-Catholic in their tone and purpose.”
My comments probably are insensitive and direct but not “ill-informed”.  They are anti-Catholic… to those “in name only” Catholics who destroy the Faith.  I have stated nothing incorrectly.  You can research (outside the internet) and find that my ascertains are in fact correct.  Previous posts have indicated where you might start researching.  On a personal attack toward me you wrote: “but if you think you are from an ancestral line that runs unbroken to the first Apostles you are dreadfully mistaken”
I am curious to know how you believe that you know that about me?

@Felix: Felix, you are certainly angry.  You have continually attacked converts to our faith and made remarks which are divisive.  I agree that women and girls do not belong on the altar, however, I am not going to harp and make nasty comments to people.  Yes, there are issues in the church.  The Pope has made that clear.  Pushing away people who were not “born” Catholic does not build up the Church.  It tears it down.  The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength.  The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  Your neighbor is EVERY OTHER PERSON ON EARTH!!!!!  That includes people who have converted to the one true Church.  I must say that as a post Vatican II Catholic, that the problems in the church are not from converts but are from the lack of catechesis within the church.  I have learned more about my faith from converts than I ever did in my formation from “cradle Catholics.”  Scott Hahn, Tim Staples, Marcus Grodi and Rosalind Moss are all converts, and they know more about the Catholic Church than most “cradle” Catholics.

@Felix Culpa: or shall I call you “Happy Fault”? You would certainly agree, as it appears you have a depth of knowledge of Augustine, Aquinas and many other Church fathers, that our most important duty as Catholics is reflection on the Word of Christ, the Body of Christ and the Promise of Christ, would you not? Mind and nourish the temple that is within you before you pillage the temples of others. Your passion belies the trust we should all have in Christ Our Lord. Each to answer to Him, and only Him. May God bless you.

Felix, I am going to pray for you because you are obviously an angry, bitter man. Your comments concerning converts to the Catholic Church deeply offend me. As a convert, I certainly do not need you to explain Roman Catholic Traditions to me. I have 2,000+ years of Godly men and women and the Catechism to do that for me. By the way, it would give a blind man great pleasure if someone took the time and showed love and human compassion to try to explain color to him…...  I can only hope that God will soften your heart. We converts love the Catholic Church just as much you who were blessed to be born Catholic do. I would like for you to remember that you had no choice in becoming Catholic. It was a decision made for you by your family. We chose to become Catholic of our own free will because of our love for Christ and His Church.

Ellyn, I am with you.  Thank you for this writing, I laughed out loud, and I can’t wait to read it to my son!

@ Felix Culpa - to even suggest I am Catholic in name only is insanely rude. I have spent my life searching for the truth and when I had found it, I was received into the Church through the same sacraments that you received. We were all born into original sin, and as such were not Catholic until baptism. Therefore you yourself are a convert, as is every Catholic on earth. And I spend as much of my resources as is reasonable defending the faith and upholding its dogma and orthodox teachings. I, a convert, do this for the Church you have claimed converts seek to destroy. I did not use the internet to research the topic of “Protestant converts who seek to destroy the church”, perhaps mainly because such an extravagant and unfounded accusation renders no need for research. If anything is destroying the Church (as if that were even possible) today, it is those “cradle” Catholics who understand very little about their own faith and cling to it only for cultural or “blind-faith” reasons. Of course, I am not in the least implying you are one of these, only that the accusation was misdirected. As it has stood in my experience, converts are more learned in the Faith they have been received into than most cradle catholics ever will be. There is no denying that there are Liberal Catholics who are attempting to tear apart the liturgy and Catholic dogma, but where you began to associate those liberals with converts is a mystery to me. The Great Commission was “Go into all the world…..”, not “Please keep it to yourself.” And any Catholic who has a problem with conversion, has no idea whatsoever what the Catholic Faith is all about. As for me, I assure you, I have made no attempts to change the Church, my only attempts have been to change myself to fit into the mold of the Church. On occasion the Church is in need of reform, but in dogma and in the Liturgy, reverence and orthodoxy should reign supreme. In conclusion, please remember that our words could be the very thing which draws others to the Faith, or pushes them away, and I assure you, your words have so far only served the latter.

@Christine Hebert @JP & @Libby K…thank you all for your prayers…it should be obvious that I need them…but rather than praying for me (which would be very nice indeed) please PRAY FOR THE CHURCH MILITANT!...and @Libby K I have always considered myself privileged to be a Catholic.  I am not bitter…I just hate the sin but I love and pray for the sinners (myself included)+JMJ

I am amazed that a small war of words has erupted here.  Matt, you must be scratching your head right about now, seeing all the venom that has come out as a result of your very delightful article.  We all definitely and always need prayers as we turn ourselves to Christ, our one and only Savior.  He will be with us, His church, shepherding us away from sin, leading us toward Him, until the end of time.  May His peace reign among us, always.

Matt, I printed this article off, and mailed it to my son in Afghanistan.  Not only did you brighten my day, you’ll brighten his as well!  Thanks again.

I expect nobody is interested in my thoughts given that I came late to the party, but I’m pretty sure all of you who are fussing about who’s more Catholic-y than who and who’s a CINO and who’s not are not Catholic at all and are atheists, agnostics, or Protestant Christians who are fixing to make us Catholics look like a bunch of infighting numbskulls, which is, no offense, exactly what you appear to be. So stop with the ad hominem abuse, focus on the issues, and carry on a nice conversation on the faith we all hold dear.

I agree dervorin… I just resent those who attack converts to the Catholic faith ;) There’s no point to it and, if anything, it hurts our witness in the world.

absolutely loved your article, it was so funny and really brought a smile to my face on a rainy day in Glasgow. It also brought back a lot of happy memories. I remember,back in the day, learning the latin when I was about six so I could serve mass; lots of incense, bell ringing,occasionally finishing off what was left of the altar wine that the priest hadn’t used and oh yes the gifts of cash when you served a wedding mass. Those were the days. N ow I am having a hard time persuading my two youngest boys to serve,they tell me ‘it’s sissy’. Anyway I will keep working on it. You also brought back happy memories of my mum in that context and some tears. Thanks a lot for brightening up my day. AMDG. May god bless you and your family.

Re Cathy Hebert, I couldn’t agree more. The standard of catechesis in our church is woeful. Most of the converts I know are way better informed about the faith than I am as a cradle catholic. I am pretty sure that my instruction in the faith etc ended after high school I am ashamed to say. The good news however is that I am now trying much harder and this internet business is a great help. Some of the best catholics I know are converts and are just what the holy spirit sent to help gee me up in terms of living and learning my own faith. On a somewhat sadder note I can’t understand how a really cheerful article can be so distorted by others and degenerate into vitriol. AMDG

Matthew, it must be conceded that there are certain liturgical abuses present in the Church. Whether they are attributable to converts such as yourself is not up to Felix to decide. However the matter is not entirely out of question, considering that the Catholic church is looking, in various ways, more and more like the Protestant church. I think that was Felix’s point, though he was wrong to blame it directly on the, I am sure, fine people who have commented on this article.

The Church as a whole is not looking in any respect like the Protestant church, coming from a Protestant background I know what that looks like, and trust me, not even the most liberal Catholic parish even comes close to the Protestant church. I agree that those who take the Liturgy lightly and contest the Church’s doctrine on ever small issue are indeed wrong, however, terrible as it is to take the liturgy lightly, at least they didn’t follow the Protestants in eliminating the Liturgy altogether. But yes, I see what you are saying, I just feel his accusation is misdirected, and indeed harmful to the many converts who frequent this site. Anyone who attacks someone’s belief in the Catholic Faith as insincere based purely on a broad generalization about a people group, is in fact harming the Church with each convert he discourages.

Sorry I have come onto this Post a bit late.  But how refreshing the responses I have quickly read through!!! My humble request to all of us is that we need to recognize that the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church - resting on the Three Pillars - The Scriptures, the Tradition and the Magisterium - is under the Guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Any changes the Magisterium introduces into the mode of Worship and Liturgy is inspired by the Holy Spirit.  With our Faith, we know our Church teaches, protects, preserves and proclaims the Teachings of Jesus Christ, The Way, The Truth and the Life.  With the Power of the Keys given to St. Peter by Christ Himself, the Holy Father, in collaboration of the College of Cardinals, has Authority to govern, guide, and shepherd the Universal Church.  All Archbishops and Bishops - as Heads of their individual Sees, are under the Authority of the Vicar of Christ on Earth.  I, therefore, humbly beg our Converted Catholics to enter into our Catholic Church and respect, observe and obey and celebrate the Liturgical Seasons of the Catholic Church, following faithfully the Lubrics, the Hymns, and all the other Church Prayers for the particular Liturgical Season we are celebrating.  However, we do observe their tendency, no doubt very well-meaning, of attempting to introduce into our Worship during different Liturgical Seasons, their form of Protestant Worship into our Church, especially their Hymns which are fitted into the Liturgical Season where they are totally unsuitable. I will give only one example.  We are in the Easter Season.  The Catholic Church has particular Hymns, Lubrics, Vestments and the Psalms which we Pray and which are proper for the Easter Season.  Bu when a Hymn - like, say,  Amazing Grace - is introduced to be sung before the Liturgy of the Word - it is certainly improper and does not conform to this particular Liturgy during the Holy Mass. Those in Charge of the Liturgy and the Choirs, must ensure the appropriate Hymns are sung at the appropriate time in our Liturgical Seasons of Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time, Advent and Christmas.  When one has answered the Call to leave their Protestant Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and decide to return to the Church Jesus Christ founded on St. Peter, one is bound and expected to ensure they understand the Catholic Church Teachings very well, and follow the Worship of the Catholic Church and not try to assimilate the Protestant way of Worship into the Catholic Church.  We also need to accept that the changes that the Church introduces in the Church in accordance with the particular times and development of human knowledge and understanding of God as He reveals Himself to the Church through the Holy Spirit as the ages run on, are quite in order. This is quite clear and unambiguous to Cradle Catholics and those who have studied the History of the Catholic Church and how She has survived the onslaught of the Evil One and the Power of Hell up to now and not only survived, but becomes stronger by the day.  Let us love our Mother Church and be obedient to the Vicar of Christ and our Shepherds always obeying the world of Christ: “He who hears you, hears me and the One who sent Me.  He who does not hear you, does not hear Me or the One who sent Me”.  This Edict stands firm until the End of Time.  Le us read more about the experiences of Cradle Catholics like this refreshing and oh, so hilarious ex-Altar Boy!!!!!

Mary42,

You said “The Catholic Church has particular Hymns, Rubrics, Vestments and the Psalms which we pray and which are proper for the Easter Season.  But when a Hymn - like, say,  Amazing Grace - is introduced to be sung before the Liturgy of the Word - it is certainly improper and does not conform to this particular Liturgy during the Holy Mass.”

I agree with you completely.  However, these songs are in our OCP music books.  I occasionally pick the songs for weekday Mass, and have looked for a good source to find a recommended list of songs suitable for the liturgy.  (We are a very small rural parish, and any given weekday there might be 10-15 ppl at Mass.)  Even better yet, would be songs recommended for seasons and to fit the “topic” of Mass.  (I’ve heard you can use the responsorial psalm as a “theme” for that Mass.)

Can you recommend any sources to navigate through and find the music that is appropriate?

Kathy16670, just go to the Glossary of any Catholic Hymnal and you will see the Hymns listed in accordance with the specific Liturgical Seasons and the Three Liturgies of the Holy Mass. There are Hymns for the Advent Season, Christmas Season, Ordinary Time of the Liturgical Year, Lenten Season, Easter Season up to Pentecost Sunday.  We even have special Hymns for Baptism, Confirmation, and Matrimony, Funerals and Ordination Ceremonies. The most beautiful of them all, are the Hymns for the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during Exposition, the Prayers and Benediction.  But the tendency to find a niche and slot the Protestant Hymns where they are not in consonant with the Catholic Liturgical Seasons is prevalent and, at times very disruptive.  As a consequence, they never come to learn and appreciate the actual meaning and depth of the Catholic Prayers and Worship of the Church to which they have converted as they attempt to Protestanize the Catholic Prayers and Worship.

Mary42,

Right, I understand what you are saying about the Glossary.  My problem is that our books are the OCP books, and are FULL of the Protestant Hymns you mention.

My question is geared toward can you recommend a reliable source where the Catholic music, suited for Liturgy can be found, and categorized by theme?

You can always use some good ol’ Gregorian Chant. ;)

I am sure you will love for gift   to your friends