tuary stand facing one another at either end of the altar steps. As the sacred ministers arrive, they should come together behind them, genuflect together with them, then place their candles on the credence. During the Psalm, Confiteor and versicles, they should kneel in front of the credence. While the Gradual is being sung, they will take their candles, then led by the thurifer, go to the middle and stand together in front of him, facing the altar, a little behind the deacon and subdeacon. When the M.C. gives the sign, the acolytes will genuflect, turn, and follow the thurifer to either side of the lectern or the subdeacon holding the gospel book, facing the Epistle side. The first acolyte on the altar side. They never genuflect during the Gospel. Afterwards they will return to the credence, genuflecting as they pass before the altar, and replace their candles on the credence.
During the Gloria and Credo they will stand one at each end of the sacred ministers' bench in readiness to assist the sacred ministers, handing them their birettas and raising their vestments. They kneel at Et incarnatus est.
At the Offertory the second acolyte will place the humeral veil on the subdeacon's shoulders and tie it in front; meanwhile the first acolyte will have prepared to follow the subdeacon to the altar with the cruets, and will remain standing at the altar side to receive them back again. Whilethe deacon is incensing the celebrant, the first acolyte will take the towel, and the second the water cruet and dish, and approach the celebrant and pour water over his fingers and offer the towel; then bowing slightly they will replace the cruet, dish and lavabo cloth on the credence, and, the first acolyte taking the bell, they will stand up until it is time to kneel down with the sacred ministers for the Elevation.
During the elevation they will make a moderate reverence. After the Pater noster the second acolyte, having genuflected, will ascend the predella and remove the humeral veil from the
|