Standby Formation

Usage

Used in [[Roman Rite]] Masses, when one or more Servers have duties to attend to at the Altar or Credence Table, and are waiting for the appropriate time to take those actions.

Form

All of the Servers who are not performing a liturgical action stand in a line perpendicular to the Altar and facing it.

• Servers who do not need to take a liturgical action sit in the Choir Stalls to free up space. For example, the Thurifer during the Roman Rite Solemn Mass#Ablutions¹.
• Servers who do need to take a liturgical action, stand in the line to promote ease of movement.
  • If the server will act next, he should be in the line closest to the Altar. For example, the Acolytes waiting to bring the Cruets while the Chalice Stack is being disassembled.
  • If the Server will not act next, he should be in the line, but in a position not closest to the Altar.
  • If needed, Servers should temporarily step back or to the side to let other Servers in and out of the formation. For example, after the Book Bearer places the Missal and stand on the Crossing Altar during the Roman Rite Solemn Mass#Offertory, his liturgical actions are done, and the Server closest to the Choir Stalls#Low, likely the Thurifer, should step back to allow the Book Bearer into the Choir Stalls.
  • Servers should hold whatever items they need for their next liturgical action while in this formation, so as not to cause delay. For example, during the Roman Rite Solemn Mass#Offertory the Thurifer should stand in formation with the Thurible and Incense Boat while other servers are presenting the Cruets.
  • Servers should make space for others to return to formation after their action according to the guidelines above. For example, during the Roman Rite Solemn Mass#Ablutions, when one Acolyte is returning to formation from retrieving a Personal Chalice, the other Acolyte, who is still in formation and will retrieve the next item from the Altar, should step right so as to make room for the returning Server, while still preserving himself in the position of the next actor.

Considerations for the Crossing Altar

For Masses at the Crossing Altar, the formation looks best if the line of Servers extends out of the Choir Stalls. This way, Servers who are standing or sitting in the Choir Stalls are in line with the formation, and all look to be one unit.

Considerations for the High Altar

For Masses at the High Altar:

• There is more space in the Presbytery, so the Acolytes can stand in front of the Presbytery#Niche so as to have easy access to it, and the Thurifer can stand to their left when not acting next, and to their right when acting next. All three stand in an orderly line facing North.
• The Book Bearer waits for cues and approaches the High Altar from the Gospel side. He should wait in a position that mirrors the Acolytes and Thurifer on the Gospel side, facing South. He must be mindful to Profound Bow to the High Altar when crossing the middle of it.
• When assisting at the High Altar, all Servers approach from the steps on the sides of the Altar, never from the steps in front of it.

---

1. Should they stand in the formation? At the High Altar this is probably silly, but at the Crossing Altar it can look sloppy if some Servers are sitting while others are not. #liturgy-todo ↩