Altar Boy Responses at the Traditional Latin Mass (Tridentine Mass)
Prayers at the Foot of the Altar
Throughout the Mass: Genuflect whenever approaching, leaving, or walking across the front of the altar, and whenever the priest does (unless you're kneeling).
When all get to the front of the altar and genuflect, the altar boy on the right takes the priest's biretta from him (if he was wearing it) and puts it aside.
The altar boys kneel on the floor on each side of the priest (they can kneel on the bottom step instead of on the floor when kneeling during the rest of the Mass). Make the sign of the cross whenever the priest does. Bow with the priest when the 3 Persons of the Blessed Trinity are said (Gloria Patri...). Bow toward the priest while saying "Misereatur tibi..." Bow down while reciting the Confiteor, and strike the breast 3 times when saying "Mea culpa...", once each time it is repeated.
Introibo...
AdDéum
qui
laetíficatjuventútemméam.
slowfast
Judica...
Quía
tu
es,
Déus,fortitúdoméa:
quáre
me
repulísti,
et
quáretrístisincédo,
dum
afflígit
me
inimícus?
slowfast
Emitte...
Etintroíbo
ad
altáreDéi:
ad
Déum
qui
laetíficatjuventútemméam.
slowfast
Confitebor...
Spéra
in
Déo,
quóniamádhucconfitéborílli:
salutárevúltusméi,
et
Déusméus.
slowfast
Gloria...
Sícutérat
in
princípio,
et
nunc,
et
sémper,
et
in
saéculasaeculórum.
Amén.
slowfast
Introibo...
Ad
Déum
qui
laetíficatjuventútemméam.
slowfast
Adjutorium...
Qui
fécitcaélum
et
térram.
slowfast
Confiteor...
MisereáturtúiomnípotensDéus,
dimíssispeccátistúis,
perdúcat
te
ad
vítamaetérnam.
slowfast
sánctosApóstolosPétrum
et
Paúlum,
ómnesSánctos,
slow
et
te,
páter,
slow
oráre
pro
me
ad
DóminumDéumnóstrum.
slowfast
Misereator...
Amen.
Indulgentiam...
Amen.
Deus,...
Et
plébs
túalaetábitur
in
te.
slowfast
Ostende...
Et
salutáretúum
da
nóbis.
slowfast
Domine,...
Et
clámorméus
ad
te
véniat.
slowfast
Dominus...
Et
cum
spíritutúo.
slowfast
Kyrie
Kýrie,
eléison. [1×]
slowfast
Chríste,
eléison. [2×]
slowfast
Kýrie,
eléison. [1×]
slowfast
Gloria
Dominus...
Et
cum
spíritutúo.
slowfast
Epistle
After the Epistle is over:
DéoGrátias.
slowfast
The altar boy on the right ("Epistle Side") rises when the priest lays his left hand on the altar beside the book and goes to the side, waiting at the bottom of the steps until the priest has finished. When the priest leaves the book, go up the side steps and take the missal. Go diagonally down the front steps.
Go diagonally up the front steps toward the left, toward the Gospel Side. Place the missal on the altar at a slight angle pointing toward the left (Liturgical North). Go down the side steps and turn to face the priest. Both altar boys cross the forehead, lips, and heart along with the priest.
When the name of "Jesus" is read, or after the first sentence if the Holy Name is not in the first sentence of the Gospel, bow and return to place. Face the Gospel.
Gospel
Dominus...
Et
cum
spíritutúo.
slowfast
Sequentia... or Initium...
Glóriatíbi,
Dómine.
slowfast
After the Gospel is over:
Laus
tíbi,
Chríste.
slowfast
Genuflect with the priest when he comes down the front steps. Both altar boys then go to the seats while the priest goes to do the readings in English. Sit for the Epistle and stand for the Gospel, then sit for the Homily.
When the priest is finished, join the priest at the bottom of the steps in front of the altar and genuflect with him, and remain standing for the Creed.
Offertory
Dominus...
Et
cum
spíritutúo.
slowfast
Both altar boys go to the credence table. The altar boy on the right takes the wine. The altar boy on the left takes the wine. Both go up the side step so the priest can take and pour the water and the wine.
Return to the credence table and the altar boy on the right takes the dish, and the altar boy on the left takes the finger towel, and both go up the side steps toward the priest. The altar boy with the water pours it over the priest's hands, while the altar boy on the left holds the towel for the priest to use after washing his hands.
Take the things back to the credence table and then return to kneeling on the front steps.
Orate...
SuscípiatDóminussacrifícium
de
mánibustúis,
ad
laúdem
et
glóriamnóminissúi,
ad
utilitátemquóquenóstram,
totiúsqueEcclésiaesúaesánctae.
slowfast
Secret
At the end of the Secret:
Per...
Amen.
Preface
Before the Preface:
Dominus...
Et
cum
spíritutúo.
slowfast
Sursum...
Habémus
ad
Dóminum.
slowfast
Gratias...
Dígnum
et
jústum
est.
slowfast
The altar boy on the right rings the bell 3 times as the priest says "Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus..."
The bell is rung when the priest holds both hands out over the host and chalice.
During the Consecration of the Host, both altar boys lift slightly the back of the priest's chasuble. Ring the bell when the priest genuflects, when the elevates the Host, and when he genuflects again. During the Consecration of the Chalice, both altar boys lift slightly the back of the priest's chasuble. Ring the bell when the priest genuflects, when the elevates the Chalice, and when he genuflects again.
Ring the bell 3 times while the priest says his own "Domine, non sum dignus...", one time each time he repeats it (do not ring the bell when the priest says it the second time, while facing the congregation). The altar boy on the right gets the paten before the priest turns and says "Domine, non sum dignus..." for the congregation.
Communion
The following is said by the altar boys along with the priest in some places, but it is not said by the altar boys in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Ecce... Dómine,
non
sum
dígnus,
ut
íntres
sub
téctumméum:
sed
tántum
dic
vérbo,
et
sanábituránimaméa. [3×]
slowfast
Each altar boy receives Communion, and the altar boy on the left accompanies the priest while he distributes Communion. Hand the paten to the priest after the last person has received Communion.
After Communion has ended and the ciborium has been returned to the tabernacle, the altar boys go to the credence table. The paten is replaced.
The altar boy on the right takes the wine and goes up the side steps and goes to the center of the altar where the priest is holding out the chalice, and he pours the wine into the chalice. The other altar boy meanwhile takes the water and waits at the bottom of the side steps. The altar boy with the wine goes back and joins the other altar boy.
When the priest comes to the side, the altar boy with the wine pours it over the priest's fingers and into the chalice. Then the altar boy with the water pours the water over the priest's fingers into the chalice.
The altar boys return the cruets and go to the front of the altar.
The altar boy on the right goes around to the side of the altar and goes up the side steps, while the altar boy on the left goes up the side steps on the left side of the altar. The altar boy on the right takes the altar veil and goes diagonally down the front steps, toward the center. The altar boy on the left goes over and takes the missal, and brings it down the front steps diagonally toward the center. When the altar boys meet and genuflect they change sides, so the altar boy with the missal goes diagonally up the front steps toward the right side of the altar, where he places the missal on the side of the altar facing directly front (not on an angle), while the altar boy with the chalice veil goes diagonally left up the front steps and places the veil on the altar next to the priest. Then both altar boys go down the side steps, walk around to the middle and meet and genuflect and kneel back in their places.
Dismissal
Dominus...
Et
cum
spíritutúo.
slowfast
Ite...
Déográtias.
slowfast
Last Gospel
Both altar boys stand and face toward where the priest is reading the Last Gospel from the altar card.
After the Last Gospel:
Déográtias.
slowfast
When the priest comes down the steps, stand, genuflect with the priest, and kneel with the priest for the Prayers after Mass.
After the Prayers after Mass, the altar boy on the right retrieves the priest's biretta if he wore one, and gives it back to the priest so he can put it on. After genuflecting with the priest, the altar boy on the right goes around the priest so both altar boys can go back to the sacristy in front of the priest.
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The directions given here describe the way it is done at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. There can be variations in the details of the way the Mass is served in different places.