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CHICAGO, IL (AUGUST 11, 2008) - "The General Principles of Ceremonies of the Roman Rite" by Louis J. Tofari

As its name would suggest, the defining element of the Roman Rite is romanitas, an ancient Latin term that refers to what it is to be Roman. As admirably described by Mr. Edmund Bishop in The Genius of the Roman Rite and further elaborated upon by Dom Ferdinand Cabrol in The Excellence of the Roman Mass, the Roman Rite is composed of simplicity and common sense, of sobriety and discipline, of gravity and dignity.

The General Principles of Ceremonies of the Roman Rite by Louis J. Tofari gives an excellent explanation of the rubrics of ceremonies for altar servers. For those Masters of Ceremonies who train servers, this is a wonderful resource and training tool for altar servers.

General Notions
Inferior Ministers
General Deportment
Uniformity of Action
Walking
Sitting
Processions
Common formation patterns
Per breviorem and per longiorem

Rules of Precedence
Walking with a superior
Crossing to the other side of a superior
Giving way to a superior
Where conflict of space occurs
Kneeling and standing with a superior
Precedence of sitting
Proximity
Turning
When turning by oneself
Inward turn
During the reading of the Gospel
Turning coram Sanctissimo

Liturgical Gestures
Hands
Folded hands
Making the large Sign of the Cross
Making the small Sign of the Cross
Striking the Breast
Torches
Books
Communion plate

Reverences
Bows when kneeling
Bows when standing
The simple bow
Bowing when ministering to a sacred minister
Bowing when an act of reverence is required towards another person
The moderate bow
The profound bow
Genuflections
General notions
The single-knee genuflection
The double-knee genuflection
Predella protocol
Direction of genuflection
Kneeling in place instead of genuflecting
Combining genuflections
Special rules of genuflecting coram Sanctissimo
Solita Oscula

Conditions that Affect Reverences
Leaving the view of the altar
When carrying or accompanying an image of Christ
Ratione accomodationis
How this rule affects the bowing for inferior ministers
How this rule affects genuflecting for inferior ministers
Coram Sanctissimo
Who to follow in making reverences
During the Sacred Triduum

Lighting and Extinguishing of Altar Candles
In general
Particular method of lighting and extinguishing the altar candles

Appendix
Privileges of sacred ministers
Diagram of a typical sanctuary
General principles of ceremonies diagram symbols
Outside points in the sanctuary
Outside view of the altar
Common formation patterns
Practical examples of enacting the rules of coram Sanctissimo, in actu functionis for inferior ministers

Glossary of Terms
Sanctuary-related
Rubrically-related

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