RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION GUIDEBOOK, NORMS OF PIETY AND VIRTUES:
- Nihil Obstat: Fr. Genaro O. Diwa, Censor Deputatus, August 4, 2007
- Imprimatur: + Gaudencio B. Card. Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, August 4, 2007
FOREWORD OF HIS EMINENCE, JAIME L. CARD. SIN,
ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA,
FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION GUIDEBOOK.
This edition of Religious Instruction Guidebook is a concrete response to the call of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, to come up with local catechisms using the recently published Catechism of the Catholic Church as point of reference. The author, in a well structured and easily understood manner, presents the basics of our faith, facilitating the study of the Altar Servers, as well as of all those who wish to grow more in their Christian life.
Likewise, the guidebook could very well serve as part of a permanent campaign program for vocations to the priesthood. I am sure that many of our Altar Servers could become good priests, but this vocation of theirs has to be nurtured and brought to maturity through an intense and well-organized plan of formation.
I thus recommend this Religious Instruction Guidebook to our Altar Servers. May those who see their vocation be very generous in answering this call, full of courage and trust in the Lord. And may Our Lady be with them always.
+ Jaime L. Card. SIN,
Archbishop of Manila.
November 4, 1993, Pontificio Collegio Filippino, Rome,
Feast of St. Charles Borromeo.
FOREWORD OF HIS EMINENCE, JAIME L. CARD. SIN,
ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA,
FOR NORMS OF PIETY.
I highly recommend this little book to all Altar Servers and to those who may wish to start on the road of true Christian piety. It gathers together a good number of traditional norms of piety, divinely inspired and tested through history to be effective in preparing young Christians for their daily encounter with our Lord.
The author, in words simple and clear, has given ample explanations of each norm. With these, it can be expected that our young servers of the altar, authentic knights in the army of Christ, could gain greater understanding of their faith and thus grow always in their life of piety. For their service is not only one of adornment nor an answer to some social need, but a real organic part of our living act of worship to Almighty God. Such is the essence of Liturgy in which in some intimate way the Altar Servers participate.
The author has also made available in the Appendix some specific prayers for the norms of piety and other prayers, a guide to Confession, and some prayers for Holy Communion. To the young Altar Servers, this little book indeed is a most handy friend and companion.
May our Altar Servers with this book be inspired to appreciate fully the grandeur and beauty of serving. May they realize the need to prepare themselves adequately in body and soul for it. May their every act of service fill them with thanksgiving and with a holy desire to serve and to give more of themselves to our Lord.
+ Jaime L. Card. SIN,
Archbishop of Manila.
November 4, 1993, Pontificio Collegio Filippino, Rome,
Feast of St. Charles Borromeo.
FOREWORD OF HIS EMINENCE, JAIME L. CARD. SIN,
ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA,
FOR VIRTUES.
I would like to take this opportunity to commend our dear Altar Servers, who have committed themselves to serve in our parishes and schools. May this dedication of theirs bear much fruit.
With this Virtues for Altar Servers, the author has complemented his two other booklets for Altar Servers, one entitled Religious Instruction Guidebook (Doctrinal Formation), and the other, Norms of Piety (Christian Devotions). They provide a well-rounded exposition of the three important aspects of our spiritual life (doctrine, prayers and good works). All these, when truly lived, will surely affect the Altar Server’s relationship with others, making him love and serve them more, and bringing them closer to God.
I entrust our Altar Servers, and all those who, in one way or another, are involved in their formation, to the care of Mary, Help of Christians and Mother of Priests.
+ Jaime L. Card. SIN,
Archbishop of Manila.
November 4, 1993, Pontificio Collegio Filippino, Rome,
Feast of St. Charles Borromeo.
MESSAGE FROM HIS EMINENCE GAUDENCIO B. CARD. ROSALES,
ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA,
FOR THE THREE BOOKLETS
It is my pleasure to recommend Fr. Gregory D. Gaston’s booklets for Altar Servers: Religious Instruction Guidebook (3rd Edition), Norms of Piety (Christian Devotions) (2nd Edition), and Virtues (2nd Edition). May this trilogy contribute towards a well-rounded character formation of our dear Altar Servers, as they grow to become responsible Christians and citizens, with the praiseworthy supervision and example of those in charge of their training.
“Take good care of Jesus in the Eucharist, and Jesus will take good care of us.” This saying applies not only to priests but also to all the faithful, since the Eucharist is the font and summit of the Church’s life. It applies in a special way to our Altar Servers whose study of the Church’s teachings, prayer life and virtues will help them care for Jesus whom they serve in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and in other celebrations, a service which is to overflow into the love of neighbor in daily life.
For those who, with God’s grace, discover their vocation to the priesthood, whether early on or later in life, the themes tackled in these booklets in a practical way will serve as a modest preview of their seminary formation. Indeed, he who knows the doctrine, prays and lives and the virtues will find the priestly life and its challenges truly attractive, fulfilling and a source of true happiness.
I entrust these booklets especially to our priests whose responsibility it is to care for Altar Servers, who, according to Pope John Paul II, represent a kind of “garden” of priestly vocations.
May Mary, our Mother, accompany us always.
+ Gaudencio B. Card. ROSALES,
Archbishop of Manila.
August 4, 2007,
Feast of the Curé of Ars, St. John Marie Vianney, Patron Saint of Parish Priests.
MESSAGE FROM HIS EMINENCE, LUIS ANTONIO CARD. TAGLE,
ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA.
Rome, June 16, 2013
Your Excellencies, dear Sirs and Madames,
Please allow me to humbly endorse the request for assistance made by a priest from Manila and current Rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, Rev. Fr. Gregory Ramon D. Gaston, SThD, in connection with the booklets he wrote for Altar Servers. These three booklets, namely, (1) Religious Instruction Guidebook, (2) Norms of Piety and (3) Virtues, were written primarily to help promote vocations to the priesthood from among the Altar Servers.
Fr. Gaston plans to come up with a new printing of these booklets in English, and, funds permitting, in their translation into some local languages in the Philippines. This is indeed timely, considering that this year 2013 marks the 450th year of the institution of Seminaries mandated by the Council of Trent. We hope to be able to make these booklets available at a very reasonable price, or in some cases, for free, considering that not all Altar Servers can afford to buy them.
Through these booklets, we hope that our young Altar Servers could be guided into knowing their catechism, living a life of prayer, and acquiring the virtues at an early age, to become ready to respond affirmatively to God’s call to the priesthood.
Thank you very much for whatever assistance you might be able to offer. Rest assured of my prayers for you and all your endeavors. With every best wish, I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Luis Antonio G. Card. TAGLE,
Archbishop of Manila.
MESSAGE FROM HIS EMINENCE, MAURO CARD. PIACENZA,
PREFECT, CONGREGATION FOR THE CLERGY, VATICAN.
The Gospels teach us that on the night before our Lord was to suffer and die on the cross for our salvation, at his Last Supper with his disciples he gave us the gift of the Eucharist. This truly is the most precious gift entrusted to the Church, the true Body and Blood of the Lord. As we receive Our Lord Jesus Christ, we are strengthened by the Bread of Life to live out our Christian pilgrimage, which leads us ultimately to that complete union with him in his heavenly Kingdom.
In the daily celebration of Holy Mass, we are nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ, strengthened by the word of God, and immersed by Christ into the entire mystery of his life, death and resurrection, which is made present to us. Each celebration of the Mass is an act of the universal Church, and unites us with Christians of every time and place, as we offer to the Father the Sacrifice of his Son for the salvation of all his people.
It is only when we understand more fully the truly awesome events taking place every time the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered, that we can begin to appreciate the tremendous honour the Lord affords our altar servers when he invites them, in such an active way, to assist in the dignified celebration of this great mystery. Their service at the altar enables all God’s people to pray the Mass with greater devotion, and so to benefit more fully from the abundant graces the Lord offers them.
It is my true prayer that this series of books will enable our altar servers to develop an ever deeper love for the Lord whom they serve, and a true appreciation of the Eucharistic celebration at which they assist. I pray too that Mary, Mother of the Church, by her powerful intercession, will draw each of our altar servers ever closer to her Son, and that their love for our Holy Father, the Roman Pontiff, who is the focus of unity for all Christians, will inspire them with the knowledge that, wherever they serve, their ministry enriches the whole Church and gives true praise and glory to God.
+ Mauro Card. Piacenza,
Prefect, Congregation for the Clergy.
Vatican City, February 22,2013,
Feast of the Chair of St. Peter
MESSAGE FROM HIS EMINENCE, ORLANDO CARDINAL QUEVEDO, OMI,
ARCHBISHOP OF COTABATO.
Watching altar boys is usually the beginning of a desire to join the Knights of the altar. It is often the beginning of a vocation to be a priest—to be the one who celebrates the Mass.
As the altar boy begins to serve Mass regularly, he begins to realize, slowly, the awesome holiness of the Mass and the action of Christ through the priest. Gradually he becomes aware of the presence and love of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
He begins to ask questions. How can I serve Mass devoutly? How can I better appreciate the meaning of Holy Mass? How can I be a good server of Christ at Mass?
Such questions are answered by the three booklets that Fr. Gregory Ramon D. Gaston has capably written.
May the prayerful reading of these booklets guide altar servers to serve the Lord at Mass with deeper devotion, greater reverence and zeal.
Orlando B. Cardinal Quevedo, OMI,
Archbishop of Cotabato.
April 27, 2014,
Canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II.