What has happened to the sacristy?
Once, sacristies were recruiting grounds for priests. Now they are often community centres. Fr A. mourns the transformation and calls for a return to silence and prayer.At one time the room where the priest and other ministers prepared for the liturgy was called the sacristy – a holy place for prayer, preparation and peace. The priest said prayers while washing his hands and as he put on each vestment. The servers were quiet to enable the priest to think about the prayers he was saying. Great thought and the experience of hundreds of years meant that the servers had been taught the value of silence, and in many churches they wore gym shoes to move quietly and keep the sanctuary carpet clean! Silence was of the essence. Servers in those days were taught how to do things with reverence, and every gesture and action was done in a spirit of prayer. They learnt the prayers of the Mass and the hymns of Benediction and they knew how to respond to the prayers lead by the priest, with devotion – in a thoughtful and prayerful way. There was a sense of discipline and it wasn’t just a question of getting things right. Common sense as much as Christian faith helped us to know these young servers needed formation, and parents, priests and senior servers all played their part in helping them come to an awareness of God’s plan for them and for each one of us.
From server to priest
The most junior server could progress to becoming an acolyte, a thurifer, a cross-bearer, even Master of Ceremonies, perhaps just for one day a month to begin with and then who knows – the idea of becoming a priest might come to mind. It is often a long road from earth to heaven and it would be a long road from server to priest. Yet, the steps would be wonderful and rewarding: from altar server to Porter, holding the keys for the church, Lector or reader of God’s word, Acolyte, Exorcist, Sub-deacon, Deacon and Priest. In the silence of the sacristy, God was speaking. In the serenity of the Mass Jesus called to His little ones. “Come to me and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke, learn of me. I am gentle and humble of heart”. And some at least, would reply, “Yes. I will go unto the altar of God, the God of my joy and my youth”. Introibo ad altare Dei. Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.
Now the sacristy has become a changing room and a utility room. The prayers once said there have been exchanged for chatter. The silence shattered by noise. The reverence battered by familiarity and, “Are you reading this week?” “No! I'm doing the chalice.” “Who’s doing the Bidding Prayers then?” “Well, if no one else turns up, I’ll do them.”
We’ve becoming a “doing” church. Someone will do the collection. Someone else can do the gifts. She’s doing the chalice and he’s doing the readings. She’s doing the flowers this week and team A are doing the teas after Mass! No wonder in all the activity the gentle voice of God grows faint. If the good Lord wants to call any altar-server to the priesthood, in the sacristy He’ll have to shout in order to be heard!
Priestly vocation
Still, if God can no longer be heard in our sacristies because of all the noise and activity, perhaps He can at least use some other place to remind young men and others of what being a priest is all about. Our priests are called to be men of prayer, channels of God’s peace, witnesses to the silence of the empty tomb; men who stand in awe of the greatness of God and whose hearts beat with the gentle hope of the coming of the kingdom. Priests prepared to preach the word of God with the courage of the martyrs and holiness of the saints. Priests who “take up their cross daily” in order to follow in the footsteps of the Master who leads them certainly to Calvary and the Cross, yet on the sure path that eventually leads to the empty tomb and the glory of Resurrection. Priests who can proclaim the Gospel without feeling the need to punctuate it with jokes. Priests who are unafraid to speak of the suffering and death of the Saviour of the world. Priests who do not hesitate to speak of Our Blessed Lady and who do all this with the generous love that flows through their vocation to celibacy, service and compassion. Oh, the glory that is given to God wsoul wakes up to the real wonder and splendour of our Catholic priesthood and is truly grateful!
Reclaiming the sacristy
Perhaps if we capture again the silence for our sacristies, and abandon the humour of our homilies, and perhaps if we put Christ back at the centre of our liturgy instead of claiming the sanctuary as centre stage for the community, and perhaps if priests could be encouraged to live by the grace and with the dignity of their vocation, and if priests and lay folk could be content to complement one another rather than compete with one another – lay folk wanting to be parish co-ordinators, pastoral assistants and even chaplains! And some priests wanting to be just one of the lads! – then, perhaps, our young people, and even those not so young, might look at coming back to the Church, “to the God of their joy and their youth.”
Next time you call in to the sacristy to get a Mass card signed or speak to the priest; next time you find yourself there among the prizes for the raffle, the vacuum cleaners and the lost property, perhaps you’ll remember it was once a place of prayer, preparation and peace. A place where, once upon a time, many of today’s priests were altar-servers.
Fr A.’s article was submitted anonymously. All priests and religious who wish to treat of some aspect of the crisis in the Church but think it wise to remain anonymous, can be assured of absolute confidentiality. Please feel free to discuss your ideas with the Editor first.
[Taken from the Latin Mass Society's May 2003 Newsletter.]