History of Altar Server,

Founder of Knights of the

Altar, Purpose of the
Society
Roger Paul Fuentes
• At a very important time in Jesus’ life, He
accepted the services of a young boy. This
young boy provided five loaves and two fish
for that very momentous miracle with which
Jesus launched his teaching on the Holy
Eucharist.
• In past centuries, only priests or those
ordained to the office of Acolyte were allowed
beyond the Communion rail to assist in the
Worship of God.
• As seminaries grew, the Order of Acolyte
became for the seminarian a step to the
goal of Priesthood, and thus not as many
remained Acolyte to assist priests in the
Sacred Services.
• Therefore the Church allowed lay men to
perform the duties of that office.
Altar Server Sodality – Italy (1858)
St. Dominic Savio and
another boy Joseph
Bongiavanni were close
companions at St. John
Bosco’s Oratory. Together
they founded the Immaculate
Conception Sodality for the
purpose of frequenting Holy
Communion.
• Don Bosco recorded in his publication,
Catholic Letters that the new sodality of
the Knights of the Altar served their first
Mass on January 31, 1858, on the
occasion of the feastday celebration of St.
Francis de Sales.
• Don Bosco celebrated the Mass and
officially commissioned the Knights of the
Altar in Divine Worship on February 2,
1858.
Guild of St. Stephen – England (1905)

• The Guild of St Stephen is an International

Organization of Altar Servers founded in
England in 1904 by Father Hamilton McDonald
when he formed a Society of Altar Servers at
the Convent of the Sacred Heart in London.
• In 1905, Pope Pius X gave his approbation to
the Canonical establishment of the Guild at
Westminster Cathedral.
• In 1906, the Sacred Congregation of Rites
made the Guild an Archconfraternity
prima primaria enabling all the parish
branches to be linked with it.
• In 1934, Pope Pius XI enabled all Guilds
of Altar Servers throughout the British
Commonwealth to be affiliated with the
Archconfraternity at Westminster.
 Knights of the Altar - The United States
(1939)
• A diocesan priest from St. Paul, Minnesota,
Reverend Francis E. Benz, formed the Knights
of the Altar in the United States in September
1938 and it was approved by John G. Murray,
Archbishop of St. Paul on March 28, 1939.
Why the name Knight?
• Medieval Knighthood, in the service of manor
lords, calls forth such ideals as honor, loyalty,
justice, chivalry, and respect for all.
• In the use of the term knight, the Altar Server
is reminded of his duty to serve the Lord of
lords with fidelity and honor, to treat others
with respect and justice, and to live an upright
personal life, defending always the rights of
God and His Holy Church.
KNIGHTS OF THE ALTAR SOCIETY
• An organization of boys and men who serve
Our Blessed Lord at His altar. It was organized
in September 1938, in response to many
requests from priests, brothers and nuns who
felt the need of an organization that would aid
them in solving the many problems they
encounter from time to time in directing an
altar boy society.
• In forming the Knights of the Altar,
studies were made of various local
altar boy organizations. The
successful and outstanding features
were noted and used as a basis for
this national society. Every feature
was tried and tested and was found
to be quite successful.
 PURPOSE OF THE SOCIETY
1. To form a worthy guard of honor to our Divine
Eucharistic King in whose service we willingly
assume the dignity and honor of becoming
Knights of the Altar:
2. To render faithful, reverent and edifying service
to God by assisting His visible representatives,
the Bishops and Priests, in offering the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass and in all other liturgical
and devotional functions.
3. To enkindle in the hearts of the faithful
whom we represent at the altar, greater piety
and devotion by reverently performing the
duties of our holy office and by giving good
example in our daily lives;
4. Finally, to insure the continued and efficient
function of the Knights of the Altar as a
society by attending meetings and giving of
our service to the Church.
SERVING
• When Serving in the presence of Our Savior and
surrounded by His Heavenly Host it is both wise
and necessary for a server to perform all
assigned duties with attention, dignity and
reverence.
• Servers should set aside their own preferences
and attend to every action of the Divine Liturgy
as a team, all rehearsing the Divine Celebration
in the same manner and style as directed by the
parish priest and performed by their companion
servers.
The Sanctuary is holy, and access to it is
restricted to a very few men. Do not abuse the
privilege you have been given to enter the
sanctuary for service by being disrespectful or
entering the holy place unnecessarily
1. Servers will be required to vest in either cassock
with surplice or alb and cincture as directed by
the parish priest.
2. Close worn under an alb should be such that
they so not have patterns, pictures, stripes,
checks or any other design which will show
through the alb.
3. Dress shoes and appropriate socks or stockings
must be worn. The sanctuary is no place for
sneakers, running shoes, or any other sports
footwear.
4. Servers carry the Sacred Vessels.
Who may serve?
• A server can be any person who has
received first confession and Holy
Communion. Each bishop and each
parish may have additional
requirements but basically there are
no other universal restriction about
age or sex.