Pope speaks to altar servers

On 4 August 2010, the Holy Father addressed a large gathering of altar servers in St. Peter's Square. He said (with my emphases and comments):

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to express my joy at being here with you today in this Square, where you have gathered festively for this General Audience, attended by such large numbers of the great European pilgrimage for altar servers! Dear boys and girls and young people, welcome to Rome! Since the vast majority of the altar servers present in the Square are German-speaking, I shall speak to them first of all in my mother tongue.

Dear altar servers, dear friends, dear German-speaking pilgrims, welcome to Rome! I greet cordially all of you and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State. He is called "Tarcisio" like your Patron Saint. You have had the courtesy to invite him and he, who is called Tarcisius after the Saint, is happy to be able to be here among the world's altar servers and the German altar servers. I greet my dear Brothers in the episcopate and in the Priesthood, and the Deacons who have wished to take part in this Audience. I warmly thank Bishop Martin Gächter, Auxiliary of Basel, President of "Coetus Internationalis Ministrantium", for his greeting to me, for the important gift of the statue of St Tarcisius and for the scarf he has given me. It all reminds me of the time when I too was an altar boy [Pope Benedict often includes a personal touch in such addresses]. I also thank Bishop Gächter on your behalf for the great work he carries out among you. I likewise thank your co-workers and all who got together to make this joyful meeting possible. My gratitude also goes to the Swiss sponsors and to all who have worked in their various capacities to make the large statue of St Tarcisius a reality.

How many of you there are! While flying over St Peter's Square in the helicopter I saw all the colours and the joy filling this Square! Thus not only do you create a festive atmosphere in the Square but you also fill my heart with joy! Thank you! The statue of St Tarcisius has come to us after a long pilgrimage. In September 2008 it was unveiled in Switzerland in the presence of 8.000 altar servers; some of you were certainly present. From Switzerland it travelled through Luxembourg on the way to Hungary. Let us greet it festively today, glad at being able to become better acquainted with this figure of the early Church. Later, as Bishop Gächter told us, the statue will be taken to the Catacombs of St Calixtus, where St Tarcius was buried. The hope that I express to all is that this place, namely the Catacombs of St Calixtus, and this statue, may become a reference point for altar servers, boys and girls, and for all who wish to follow Jesus more closely through the priestly, religious or missionary life. May they all be able to look at this strong and courageous boy and renew their commitment to friendship with the Lord, to learn to live with him always, following the path he points out to us with his word and the witness of so many Saints and Martyrs whose brothers and sisters we have become through Baptism.

Who was St Tarcisius? We do not have much information about him. We are dealing with the early centuries of the Church's history or, to be more precise, with the third century. It is said that he was a boy who came regularly to the Catacombs of St Calixtus here in Rome and took his special Christian duties very seriously. He had great love for the Eucharist and various hints lead us to conclude that he was presumably an acolyte, that is, an altar server. Those were years in which the Emperor Valerian was harshly persecuting Christians who were forced to meet secretly in private houses or, at times, also in the Catacombs, to hear the word of God, to pray and to celebrate Holy Mass. Even the custom of taking the Eucharist to prisoners and the sick became increasingly dangerous. One day, when, as was his habit, the priest asked who was prepared to take the Eucharist to the other brothers and sisters who were waiting for it, young Tarcisius stood up and said: "send me!". This boy seemed too young for such a demanding service! "My youth", Tarcisius said, "will be the best shield for the Eucharist". Convinced, the priest entrusted to him the precious Bread, saying: "Tarcisius, remember that a heavenly treasure has been entrusted to your weak hands. Avoid crowded streets and do not forget that holy things must never be thrown to dogs nor pearls to pigs. Will you guard the Sacred Mysteries faithfully and safely?". "I would die", Tarcisio answered with determination, "rather than let go of them". As he went on his way he met some friends who approached him and asked him to join them. As pagans they became suspicious and insistent at his refusal and realized he was clasping something to his breast that he appeared to be protecting. They tried to prize it away from him, but in vain; the struggle became ever fiercer, especially when they realized that Tarcisius was a Christian; They kicked him, they threw stones at him, but he did not surrender. While Tarcisius was dying a Pretoria guard called Quadratus, who had also, secretly, become a Christian, carried him to the priest.

Tarcisius was already dead when they arrived but was still clutching to his breast a small linen bag containing the Eucharist. He was buried straight away in the Catacombs of St Calixtus. Pope Damasus had an inscription carved on St Tarcisius' grave; it says that the boy died in 257. The Roman Martyrology fixed the date as 15 August and in the same Martyrology a beautiful oral tradition is also recorded. It claims that the Most Blessed Sacrament was not found on St Tarcisius' body, either in his hands or his clothing. It explains that the consecrated Host which the little Martyr had defended with his life, had become flesh of his flesh thereby forming, together with his body, a single immaculate Host offered to God.

Dear altar servers, St Tarcisius' testimony and this beautiful tradition teach us the deep love and great veneration that we must have for the Eucharist: it is a precious good, a treasure of incomparable value; it is the Bread of life, it is Jesus himself who becomes our nourishment, support and strength on our daily journey and on the open road that leads to eternal life; the Eucharist is the greatest gift that Jesus bequeathed to us.

I am addressing those of you who are present here and, through you, all the altar servers of the world! Serve Jesus present in the Eucharist generously. It is an important task that enables you to be particularly close to the Lord and to grow in true and profound friendship with him. Guard this friendship in your hearts jealously, like St Tarcisius, ready to commit yourselves, to fight and to give your lives so that Jesus may reach all peoples. May you too communicate to your peers the gift of this friendship with joy, with enthusiasm, without fear, so that they may feel that you know this Mystery, that is true and that you love it! Every time that you approach the altar, you have the good fortune to assist in God's great loving gesture as he continues to want to give himself to each one of us, to be close to us, to help us, to give us strength to live in the right way. With consecration, as you know, that little piece of bread becomes Christ's Body, that wine becomes Christ's Blood. You are lucky to be able to live this indescribable Mystery from close at hand! Do your task as altar servers with love, devotion and faithfulness; do not enter a church for the celebration with superficiality but rather, prepare yourselves inwardly for Holy Mass! Assisting your priests in service at the altar helps to make Jesus closer, so that people can understand, can realize better: he is here. You collaborate to make him more present in the world, in every day life, in the Church and everywhere. Dear friends! You lend Jesus your hands, your thoughts, your time. He will not fail to reward you, giving you true joy and enabling you to feel where the fullest happiness is. St Tarcisius has shown us that love can even bring us to give our life for an authentic good, for the true good, for the Lord.

Martyrdom will probably not be required of us, but Jesus asks of us fidelity in small things, inner recollection, inner participation, our faith and our efforts to keep this treasure present in every day life. He asks of us fidelity in daily tasks, a witness to his love, going to church through inner conviction and for the joy of his presence. Thus we can also make known to our friends that Jesus is alive. May St John Mary Vianney's intercession help us in this commitment. Today is the liturgical Memorial of this humble French Parish Priest who changed a small community and thus gave the world a new light. May the example of St Tarcisius and St John Mary Vianney impel us every day to love Jesus and to do his will, as did the Virgin Mary, faithful to her Son to the end. Thank you all once again! May God bless you in these days and I wish you a good journey home!

Translation via Zenit.

Traditio

The word "tradition" comes from the Latin traditio, meaning "to hand on."

This morning I was able to hand on a practical gem to the servers relating to things liturgical.

I have always been both practical [when first typing "practical" I missed the first "c" and spell check suggested "piratical;" that might also fit] and cautious, which is often a good combination, but not always.

When I first learned to serve Mass back in fifth grade there were two things that I did not want to do: carry the processional crucifix (which was at least twice my height) and light the candles.

Being cautious by nature, I was always worried about burning my thumb as I attempted (ever in vain) to light a match by striking it along that little strip of whatever it is on the back of the match booklet. (For this same reason I don't use cigarette lighters.)

Observing me one day, my Pastor, Fr. John, of whom I cannot speak highly enough, taught me a little trick about lighting matches. It was this trick I handed on this morning; a little traditio in action (albeit with a small "t").

The trick is this: fold the cover of the match booklet over so that you can place a match in between the striking strip and the cover. like a little sandwich. Press the three together and pull the match out. Voila! One easily lit match without any burns or fear of them whatever. It's very handy, though I doubt many moms would appreciate me sharing this. I did mention that this morning to the boys. Oh, they liked the trick.

But that's part of the joy of serving, isn't it? At church you get to do what you don't always get to do at home, like playing with fire.

The boys then laughed at me a bit as they saw my attempt to leave their sacristy for the priests', not once but three times. First, I forgot my paper with a little note for the homily (which you'll see momentarily). Second, I forgot to grab the chasuble I used at the nursing home yesterday which needed to be put away. Third, I forgot my little glass of water that I need half-way through Mass because of these nasty allergies. They're getting better, but still. If the day keeps on like this, it's going to be a long one!

And now, a thought for the day, from the Saint of the Day, Pope Saint Pius X:

Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven. There are others: innocence, but that is for little children; penance, but we are afraid of it; generous endurance of trials of life, but when they come we weep and ask to be spared. The surest, easiest, shortest way is the Eucharist.

To an Altar Boy

To be Christ's page at the altar,

To serve Him freely there,

Where even the angels falter,

Bowed low in reverent prayer.

To touch the throne most holy,

To hand the gifts for the feast,

To see Him meekly, lowly,

Descend at the word of the priest.

To hear man's poor petition,

To sound the silver bell,

When He in sweet submission,

Comes down with us to dwell.

No grander mission surely

Could saints or men enjoy;

No heart should love more purely,

Than yours, my altar boy.

God bless you, lad, forever,

And keep you in His care,

And guard you that you never

Belie the robes you wear.

For white bespeaks untainted

A heart both tried and true;

And red tells love the sainted

And holy martyrs knew.

Throughout life, then, endeavor

God's graces to employ;

And be in heart forever

A holy altar boy.

St. John Berchman,

Patron of Altar Boys,

Pray for us!

Hat tip to a Shower of Roses.

A little surprise at Mass

Typically here at the parish we have three servers at the weekend Masses, one crucifer and two candle-bearers.

The three scheduled servers for the anticipated Mass on Saturday evening apparently arrived early enough for another server not to see them.

About ten minutes before Mass was to begin, a fourth server popped into the sacristy. He looked around and, with a bit of disappointment in his voice, said something like, "I was just seeing if you had enough servers."

"You can serve, too, if you want," I said.

"Four servers?" he replied.

"Why not?"

"What will I do?" he asked.

"I don't know, but I'm sure we can find something for you to do," answered I. "If I could have a dozen servers, I would."

Then, with a smile on his face, he asked, "Can I get my brother, too?"

Knowing that his brother was a freshman, I said, "Sure, if he wants to serve, too."

To my surprise - and to my delight - he came back with his brother and we had five servers last night. It was a hoot! During the sign of peace, the fourth server - who is quite a character in and of himself - said to me, "It's like a party here." I chuckled a bit and agreed, giving thanks to God for such a generous soul.

I'm not really sure what the two extra servers did, but I am pretty certain we had a good number of people worried as we processed up the aisle!

If only all of our servers were as energetic and as generous as that fourth server. He's in the sixth grade now and I hope he keeps at it.

He reminded me last night of what I was like in grade school. By no means did I ever have his exuberance, but his desire to serve Mass I did have. I always hoped that servers would not show up so that I could serve. Serving became for me a great love and joy, one that fostered - I am sure - my vocation to the priesthood. May the same be said of other servers today!