UPDATED RUBRICS

Addendum to Palm Sunday Notes 2026 for Masters of Ceremonies

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Re the following note: "Following the Homily, ...  At the end of the Creed, he should then come up the steps to the footpace, genuflect, make the Sign of the Cross with the celebrant as the Creed concludes, and attend the missal."

RN11 (p.43) has, "The lesser ministers (servers) always make the reverence on the pavement."

A slight amendment is required and approved. The MC, standing facing East during the Creed on the pavement at the Gospel-side, will - near the conclusion of the Creed - turn toward the Blessed Sacrament, genuflect before ascending to the footpace, then ascend and “make the Sign of the Cross with the celebrant as the Creed concludes, and attend the missal.”

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For the sake of uniformity, the MC should turn at the beginning of the last paragraph – “And I believe one Holy Catholic… ,” then genuflect on the pavement at the Gospel-side (horn), then ascend to the footpace and facing toward the Altar Cross, the Sign of our Salvation, close to the missal, and make the Sign of the Cross with the Celebrant. Give yourselves ample time to move efficiently and reverently to reach the missal in time to make the Sign of the Cross at the last clause.

The note from Ritual Notes 11 preserves the distinction between the ordained - who may ascend directly to the footpace, and the sub-deacon, too, in the Solemn High Mass - and “lesser ministers.”

 

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At the Epiclesis
 
The matter of when Servers 1 & 2 should move prior to the consecration to ascend to the footpace, and when to descend from the footpace after the consecration.
 
In order to preserve decorum and to avoid disrupting the ritual action, Servers 1 & 2 rise promptly at the conclusion of the “We beseech then… in the fold of thine elect,” per our present custom. Servers rise, turn, meet at centre, ascend, flank the Celebrant, kneel. The servers kneel at the side of the Celebrant to avoid cramping his movements. Do not kneel directly behind the Celebrant. Do not lift the chasuble above your shoulder. Taller servers should match the height of the lift of the chasuble by the shorter servers so no one is seen to be reaching.
 
Once the consecration is completed, Servers (1 and 2) should depart at the beginning of the Mysterium Fidei to clear the footpace for the MC to attend to the missal.

Given the MC’s forthcoming return to the Missal, the attending servers rise promptly with the Celebrant’s genuflection following the consecration of the Precious Blood, and certainly no later than the end of the chant “The mystery of faith.” Server 1 should promptly move the bells toward the usual position closer to his position at the Epistle-side.
 
The servers move in the usual manner:

1. rise

2. turn inward

3. descend

4. turn inward

5. genuflect (to the Blessed Sacrament)

6. move to their respective positions at the Gospel and Epistle sides.

7. Server 1 moves the bells closer to his position.