Altar Server Guidelines
Order of Mass | Serving Procedures | Glossary | St. Tarcisius

Altar Server's Glossary of Terms

Altar. The table in the sanctuary at which the bread and wine are prepared and transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.

Ambo / Pulpit. The lectern at which the Scripture readings are proclaimed by a lector, deacon, or priest.

Ambry. A cabinet which holds the holy oils for Baptism, Confirmation, and the Sacrament of the Sick, etc.; at St. Isidores it is a shelf rather than a cabinet, over behind where the music group sings. At St. Elizabeth's it is a table to the right of the altar.

Aspergillum / Sprinkler. The "wand" or "broom" which is used to sprinkle people with holy water.

Baptismal Font. A stand with a basin or pool containing water in the area of church where Baptism takes place.

Book of Gospels. The book which contains the Gospel readings. It is usually carried in procession and placed on the altar.

Chalice. The cup used by the priest which contains the wine / blood of Christ. Chalices should be made of precious metal.

Ciborium. The bowl which holds the hosts and is stored (when filled with consecrated hosts) in the tabernacle. The ciborium should be made of precious metal. Ciboria is the plural form of ciborium.

Communion Cups. Goblets used for the distribution of Precious Blood during Communion.

Communion Plates. Flat bowls (or at St. Isidore cups) used for distribution of Precious Body during Communion.

Corporal. The square white cloth which is placed on the altar underneath the chalice and paten. When not in use it is place on the shelf under the credence table.

Credence Table. The table on which are placed the cruets, chalice, lavabo bowl, Communion Cups, etc.

Cruets. The glass containers which hold wine and water. At some liturgies a large pitcher or decanter is sometimes used for the wine.

Eucharistic Minister. (Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist) A person who helps distribute the Body and Blood of Christ. Also referred to as an EM.

Incense Boat. The small brass bowl that holds the incense. It has a cover and little spoon that is used to put the incense on the coals.

Lavabo Bowl. The dish or bowl in which the priest washes his hands during Mass.

Lectionary. The book which contains the Scripture passages that are proclaimed at Mass.

Lector. A person who proclaims the first and second scripture readings during Mass.

Missal. The book that contains the various prayers of the Mass. We have a large one that Fr. Walter uses on the altar and a smaller one that Fr. Paul uses both at the chair and on the altar.

Monstrance. A large gold vessel that is used to hold the blessed sacrament (a consecrated host) for adoration and/or Benediction. The name comes from the Latin word monstrare which means "to show".

Paschal Candle. The tall candle which is blessed and used during the Easter season, baptisms, and funerals. Except during the Easter season, it is right behind the baptismal font.

Paten. The plate that holds the large host. Sometimes the paten is a smaller dish with curved side, or as we typically use at Mass a large, bowl-like vessel that holds many hosts.

Presider's Chair (Celebrant's Chair). The chair in which the priest sits.

Sanctuary. The raised area of church which contains the altar, ambo, and presider's chair.

Processional Cross / Crucifix. The cross / crucifix carried in processions.

Purificator. The folded, narrow cloth that is used to wipe the rim of the Communion Cups as people drink from it.

Pyx. The small metal container which is used to hold consecrated host(s) when visiting the sick or homebound.

Sacrarium. The sacrarium is a special sink found in the sacristy of most Catholic churches. The drain opens into a pipe that runs straight down into the earth. The basin often hides beneath a hinged cover. The sacrarium provides for the proper disposal of sacred substances. Most notably, after Mass the vessels which held the Body and Blood of Christ are rinsed and cleansed there.

Sacristan. The person whose ministry is the care of the sacristy, sanctuary, vestments, sacred vessels, etc.

Tabernacle. The large metal or wood container in the church which holds the consecrated hosts. A candle Sanctuary Lamp is left burning at all times by the tabernacle.

Thurible / Censer. The metal container hung by a chain that holds charcoal and is used to burn incense.

Thurifer. The person who carries the thurible and incense boat

Vestments

Alb. White garment that symbolizes baptism. The alb is worn by bishops, priests, deacons, and altar servers.

Stole. The stole resembles a long scarf. The stole symbolizes Holy Orders so it is worn by bishops, priests and deacons. The bishop or priest wears his stole around the back of the neck with the two sides hanging down in front. A deacon wears the stole over the left shoulder and fastened by the right hip like a sash. The stole represents the towel that Jesus wore around his waist to wash the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper.

Chasuble. The outer vestment worn by priests and bishops during the celebration of Eucharist.

Dalmatic. The outer vestment worn by deacons during the celebration of Eucharist.

Cincture. A long white braided rope tied around the waist to hold the alb in place. At St. Isidores and St. Elizabeths only altar servers use a cincture.

Sacred Oils

The sacred oils of Chrism, Oil of Catechumens, and Oil of the Sick are blessed by the (Arch)bishop at the Chrism mass that is celebrated in the Archdiocese of Boston on the Tuesday of Holy Week. Oil has been used through history to anoint those who need strength or courage: kings, priests, knights. It also symbolizes the Holy Spirit because when oil gets on your skin it is hard to know where the oil stops and your skin starts which reminds us the the Holy Spirit is that close to us.

Sacred Chrism. A mixture of olive oil and essence of balsam. Sacred Chrism is used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders.

Oil of Catechumens. Blessed olive oil is used to anoint those who are preparing for initiation into the Catholic Church. For adults, who are almost always baptized, confirmed and make their first communion at the Easter Vigil, the anointing with the oil of Catechumens would typically happen in the fall before their initiation. When used with infants, the anointing takes place just before their baptism.

Oil of the Sick. Blessed olive oil that is used to anoint those who are sick or about to under go surgery, or periodically for those who are chronically sick. This anointing, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated to ask God to give the person strength, and to make them whole.