Pope Leo receiving in audience altar servers
Are you an altar server? Do you serve at the Mass, as a young woman, or a young man, or even as an adult? His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, has a message for you.
"Help lead the faithful into the Sacred Mystery of the Mass. The dignity of your service helps lead people into the sacred greatness of the Mystery," Pope Leo says to you.
If it needs further breakdown, the Pope is reminding you of the dignity of your ministry of service in the House of God.
He is reminding you of the great importance of the memory of Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross to save mankind which is handed down to us, by the Church, through the Eucharist and daily celebration of Mass, which you, the altar servers, assist the priest in celebrating.
Papa delivers this message Monday, August 25, while receiving a delegation of more than 300 French Alter Servers who are in Rome for pilgrimage as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope.
Addressing the pilgrims, the Pope says, "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.”
He deeply appreciates the generous services of the altar servers to their parishes, but urges them to always “keep in mind the greatness and holiness of what is being celebrated.”
“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,” he said.
The Pope also uses the opportunity to invite young people to consider a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, saying “the lack of priests in most countries is a great misfortune” as it is for France and for the Church, noting that "the altar servers can bear witness to the pride and joy that comes from serving at Mass, as you persevere in offering a sign of hope to the world."
In conclusion, His Holiness turns to all those who take part in the celebration at the altar for a word. "Do not attend Mass out of obligation, but out of genuine love of God, and your need for the life of God."
"Humanity has nothing to fear from God, who loves us so much that He continuously offers His imperishable life to us," he says, adding that"the most wonderful thing about the Catholic faith is that God Himself “willed to suffer and die for the creatures we are. God loved us to the point of dying for us!” he ended.
Thanks for always staying with us.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
The altar servers, wherever they may be, should live the life of Christ they encounter in the sanctuary at Mass, outside the sanctuary in their daily lives.
ReplyDelete