Manner of Serving at Mass.
Consider it a great privilege to be allowed to serve the Priest at Mass. Where the angels tremblingly adore, you are their companion. You represent the faithful and respond for them. Diligently learn the prayers, and everything pertaining to so holy a ministry. Make a genuflexion whenever you pass the altar where the Blessed Sacrament is kept—with one knee, when it is enclosed in the tabernacle; with both, when it is exposed on the altar. Do everything about the altar with the greatest care and devotion; avoid undue haste, looking about, laughing and talking. "This is no other but the house of God and the gate of heaven."
The Priest commences the Mass at the foot of the altar, standing. The Clerk must remember that his place is always on the side opposite to the book; if the book is at the Epistle side, the right hand side if we face the altar, his place is on the Gospel side, or to the left of the Priest. Kneeling, then, at the foot of the altar, to the left of the Priest, answer him as follows:
