To be Christ’s page at the altar, to serve Him freely there,
Where even the angels falter, bowed low in reverent prayer.
To touch the throne most holy, to hand the gifts for the feast,
To see Him meekly, lowly, descend at the word of a priest.
To hear man’s poor petition, to sound the silver bell,
When He in sweet submission, comes down with us to dwell.
No grander mission surely could saints or men enjoy;
No heart should love more purely than yours, my altar boy.
God bless you, lad, forever, and keep you in His care,
And guard you that you never belie the robes you wear.
For white bespeaks untainted a heart both tried and true;
And red tells love the sainted and holy martyrs knew.
And guard you that you never belie the robes you wear.
For white bespeaks untainted a heart both tried and true;
And red tells love the sainted and holy martyrs knew.
Throughout life, then, endeavor God’s graces to employ;
And be in heart forever a holy altar boy.
*This morning Snuggles served his very first Mass, alongside his older brothers! We have been very blessed with a dear retired priest in our area who has allowed our boys to start serving Mass for him, on Friday mornings, at the age of five!
That is amazing! Congratulations to you and your son.
Oh Jessica, goosebumps all over. Your three boys look adorable together:){{{}}}Dominic Savio began serving at 5.
My three boys serve together and I admit to shedding tears of joy at times, my ds 17 shared that he will continue serving for a couple more years until his younger brother will be 8 and he can train him, :):) sob:)
Just realised I have no photos of my boys serving during Mass, only a few from Confirmation Masses afterwards, they've been serving for 9, 7 and 5 yrs now.
Jessica, back, just showed my boys and they agree that he was so cute (my words, but they nodded and smiled)
Beautiful… I have a lump in my throat! +JMJ+
What a wonderful blessing for your family! So much grace for your dear boys! Just think of all the extra graces they receive from being blessed to start so young! Deo Gratias!!!
What a blessing!
Jessica, this is simply wonderful! I would like to know the source of your poem. I want to print it out for my two oldest boys (16 and 12) and frame it for them. They eagerly serve at our 10:30 Mass every Sunday!
God bless you all!
Isn't it beautiful?!? I posted it once before, years ago, after one of the older boys received it on the back of a holy card that their Grandpa (my father-in-law) sent to them.
It is titled "To An Altar Boy" and was written by St. John Berchman, Patron of Altar Boys!
What beautiful & special time/memorie. Can't wait for my boys to serve!
Precious! God bless your holy altar boys.
~C.