Formacja oraz posługa ministrantów i ministrantek

Abstract

The ministry of altar boys during the liturgy is a true liturgical function (Sacrosanctuin Concilium 29), which results from the fulfillment of the function of universal priesthood of the faithful. Its meaning and range is to be regulated by bishops on the basis of liturgical traditions and pastoral needs in a given local church. The local bishop may appoint men and women to still other liturgical function, including the ministry of altar girls. All the people who minister in the liturgy are to be formed in its spirit according to the principles contained in the functions they play. The ministry of altar boys, carried out from the Carolingian times on by alumni and religious, in the Middle Ages there were pupils of cathedral, religious, and parochial schools fulfilled these functions. From the eighteenth century onward special text books and directories were prepared, e.g. by Martin of Cochem (d. 1712), which apart from traditional acolyte’s responses contained also prayers and spiritual-formative instructions for altar boys. In Poland there were eminent authors of such text books, like the Silesian pastor Rev Józef Szafranek (d. 1874), or the representative of the liturgical movement in Lvov Rev. Gerard Szmyd (d. 1938), and the charismatic of the post-conciliar Church in Poland the Venerable Rev. Franciszek Blachnicki (d. 1987). Both the encyclical Mediator Dei regarded as the great chart of altar boys, and the documents of post-conciliar regeneration point out that their formation needs to take into account various aspects: human, theological, pastoral, and spiritual. The principles of the formation of altar boys and altar girls refer to the spirituality of the well-known church movements, and to the principles of formation in youth pastoral care connected with scouting.