The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-30
FROM altar BOZ TO PRIEST.
The Youag Catholics Life from the Time
he SERVES Mass UntiI he Celebrates It.

that not always Insignificant. II occasionally
diminutive. member OF every Catholic parish.
tho altar boy. II the child is father OF the
man. the server Of the mass Is father OF the
cclebrant. Not that every altar boy Inevitably
enters tho priesthood; but the priest Is almost
Invariably q development OF tho hltar boy.
The sedate and dignined middle-aged pastor.
whom the younger members OF his Hook never
dream of associating with concrete boyhood
at all, need only revisit his natal parish to be
greeted by many All old resident who remem-
bers him s q little lad serving mass for Father
John-the Lord be merciful to his souL' and
who very probably reminds the ouondam
server OF particular occasion whom he came
to grief by cracking the bell. upsetting the
cruit stand. or tumbling down the altar
stops in his hurry to "chnnEe the book
Comparatively few. perhaps are familiar with
the nh"t S Of Nee sragon into
Reverence. Father Michael,
1t should DO premised at the outset. that the
lyrical altar boy is prominently the good boy
Of the parish. This staten emit does not at All
imply that he is goody -Goody little prig. with
risks and rTRnLs DO not rot sEps2l t to his
sSympat n lie with ' the n aa indsed
a distinction which every Catholic boy rightly
prizes as the equivalent OF an eYcenuionIIaiiy
OF which misconduct would certainly deprive
him; 30 that his office proves not only strong
deterrent from the practice Of boyiSh vices.
but a potent incentive to the cultivation Of ex-
emplary habits. An altar boy addicted to
Incidence. or the use Of Improper language
would DO an anomaly too great to prove en-
sSe nar s boy ehese nno1ey qualities are
The decade and n half of years that usually
the young Catholic first serves mass. and
the. incomparably happier one whom he
IS avTea nto Sstnet lis
boyhood spent at home: his youth. in college.
The rst psrod aomprsss Some i've SIX
years. Admitted to the sanctuary in his eighth
ninth year he an nrprentt s 81
For months he is a spectator OF tho different
tive participant thcrein.his duties consisting
mainly in wearing his little red cassock and
standing. fneeling. and bowins. II not with
notable grace. Mt least wit bout conspicuous
Ss hader tSe basH Ghie the rsst is
the sanctuaryn candestick considerably taller
HAPPILY mastering the details OF the acolytes
various movements and more gradually ac-
the Opinion nG that he is to low
n0ns tie Sno oidsa
henceiorth n fuIl-nedgcd altar boy. True.
there may stil be some drawtack i to 81 his PEE.
be too 1 lew and his lifting power too limited to
warrant his attempting to move tho ,mtssal
IN the odd chapel" down in st. George. n. b.
about, quartz, OF century ago ,,S
the writer remembers having had. during
his early da{i r.t altar ar. I toy astnes
Sres he had ' wait
many months after his installation in the sane
tuary before GrnwinG tall enough: Even yen, by D;
the stand. Whom that desirable consumma-
ton was ut last achieved he discovered that
raise stand and book from the altar. it would
he perilous undertaking to try TO- carry such
must is have V Weighed more than webster's In
ternational Dictionary. and whether the mus
se stand G he
gravity OF lead 1t was red-letter day in that
altar boys career when he carried the mighty
ability thereafter to change the book o.
Until his tourtoeItt b, or fifteenth rear there
tinGuish 1t from TINT, of the ordinary school
boy. Apart from his habitual presence ut daily
mass. bis, more frequent intsreourae with the
some country mission his greater regularity
in the reception OF the snfraipents. and his
more punctual attendance at school and cate
chism class--our altar boy is much the same rs
other licht:he.rted. fun-loving lads. of his age
to which, in all probability. he has not given
very much OF even such immature considera-
a1 D IL lar m s yet from the do.
main OF the practical to occasion him anxious
days and slecpless nights" or even passing
principle that sufficient for the day is the evil
thereof" he Is far more tai Ken up with the CON
baseball nine. than with remote contingencies
HI, II and Hs The
aaent part he takes IL ali the services Of the
Church. can hardly fail in time, tospgsest 70
h the na aes . the cones sS Of to hi him nmG
castle eas su in tho air rather than real
bly, secuted AS preposterous on tho ground
that no Is not good enough to be priest est .
hoy usually enters uron new phase OF his
development KecoGniznG the moro than or,
pastdT advse paren rem to give him the benz
EFT Of a complete course Of studies: and the
sSf stG e.
OF Sales. are he two eyes Of the perfect ecce-
siastic, SO talent and virtue are two requisites
priestiy dignity; and in point Of fact rtypi-
cal altar hoy IL not more surely the good boy
school. Tho change from home to a college
Is. In many respects. revolutionary one
Our Erown- altar Goy begins thethirn ahd
seminary. The most important epochs In the
hs oy s 6s
grade at tie Christmas or Trinity ordination.
flciently numerous and difficult to warrant his
feeling somewhat nervous at the approach Of
tho examination. Not until he has pored in
turn over Holy Scriptures. Dognatic and
Moral Theology. Canon Law. Ecclesiastical
Liturgy; and Rubrics, and reviewed them all
deal without fear or apprehension. His
calls on the contrary. arc Joyous events. fit
subjects for tho congratulate ons OF friends
and his own acts o! thanksgiving. His promo
tion t. tho suhdeaconship IL the real cmnc-
teriH OF HIS career. Tor tho reception OF that
cred order sets him apart from tie world and
its business. consccratinH him for life 10 the
service Of God and His altar.
Denconship follows, with fuller powers and
nghs, G na sspsnt sceves
the pIontudo Of Holy Orders. With impres-
until nj, length the Bishop pronounces these
words nf tremendous import: "lscriye power
MS well for the living ns the dead Amen
ana our altar hoy Is q priest forever II is no
evaporation to say that words are Inadequate
to describe the VARYING emotions that thrill his
soul rs no fully realizes the cXaltedness OF his
office and the lngOmIFehonsiblo and