a) What is apostolic zeal?
Apostolic zeal is the enthusiasm or eagerness to do apostolate. Apostolate is the work of all the faithful who carry on the original mission entrusted by Christ to the Twelve Apostles to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19), to bring people to know and to love Christ and, through obedience to his teaching, help them attain life everlasting.
Apostolate can have two forms. Group apostolate means to help many persons at the same time, for example, by giving a catechism class or by helping out in the Altar Servers organization. Personal apostolate, on the other hand, is to help one person at a time, above all through our friendship, adapting our approach to the specific interests and needs of this person.
b) Why should Altar Servers do apostolate?
All of us, through baptism and confirmation, are called by God to be Apostles, in each one’s own way. While not all can do group apostolate, each Altar Server should do personal apostolate by helping those near him, such as his family, relatives and friends, not only in their material needs, but also in their spiritual needs.
Personal apostolate can be done everyday. Through our friendship others will gradually turn to us when they want to know more about our faith or when they have difficulties. Our apostolate can only be the effect, an overflow, of our spiritual growth. That is, only if we are faithful to our prayers, the sacraments and in studying the teachings of the Church will we be able to help others effectively.