THE POSTULANT
FIRST THOUGHTS: "No ministry, except that of those who by ordination are set apart for the service of the Altar," wrote the late Cardinal Bourne in his preface to the first edition of this handbook, "deserves greater thought and consideration than the duty entrusted to those laymen and youths who have the office of assisting the priests of God in the discharge of their sacred functions." Willingly you have come forward to take up this exalted office, to enjoy the privilege which Holy Mother Church grants you of wearing the sacred dress of a cleric, namely, cassock and cotta, and of performing duties in the Sanctuary for which originally men were set apart from others by tonsure and minor orders. Your first impulse is a generous one. You value the high privilege and you feel a secret joy at giving yourself to it. You are going to be often in a holy place, performing sacred duties, and you will appear very publicly in the sight of all the congregation. To fulfill such an office worthily you will need to be holy in your own life, and edifying always in the sight of other people. Your great help will be Prayer, Holy Mass and the Sacraments.
GENERAL DIRECTIONS
ALL actions should be done deliberately, thoroughly and without hurry, but not slowly. All the words should be spoken audibly, each syllable articulated, every sentence reverently pronounced.
The Hands, when serving, should be held together on the breast, palm to palm, with the fingers extended and close together pointing upwards, the thumbs being crossed right over left. When one hand is being used, the other should lie with the open palm upon the breast. When not employed the hands may be held merely folded ogether right over left against the
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