Answering the Call: Preparing the Heart and Mind
The church was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, the air thick with the mingling scents of incense and polished wood. Young Anna stood just outside the sanctuary, her fingers nervously clutching the crisp white alb that draped over her small frame. She could hear the gentle hum of voices rising in prayer, the faint rustling of pages turning in hymnals, and the measured footsteps of the priest making his way toward the altar. Every sound seemed magnified in the sacred stillness of the early morning Mass.
She had been an altar server for only a few weeks, but tonight felt different. The familiar routine—the folding of hands, the careful carrying of the candles, the precise timing of each gesture—suddenly took on a new weight, a deeper significance. It was as though a veil had lifted, revealing a glimpse into the true heart of her role.
Anna’s mind drifted back to the moment that had sparked this transformation. It was during a weekend Mass not long ago when Father Michael had called her aside after the service. She remembered his warm smile, the way his eyes twinkled kindly as he spoke.
“Anna,” he had said gently, “do you know why serving at the altar is such a special…