Archconfraternity of St. Stephen

For the formation and organization of altar servers, the Archconfraternity of St. Stephen is without peer. This serving guild not only uniquely has the approbation of several popes (starting with St. Pius X), but also over a century's worth of experience throughout the world.

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A Brief History of the Guild

The Archconfraternity of St. Stephen is a guild for altar servers begun in May 1905 by Fr. Hamilton MacDonald at Westminster Cathedral in London, England with the permission of Cardinal Francis Bourne.

 

In November 1905, Pope St. Pius X gave his approval to the Guild (then a confraternity, prima primaria) and his permanent apostolic blessing. In 1906, he raised it to an archconfraternity; this saintly pope also enriched the Guild with many indulgences. The following year, the Guild's first handbook was published.

The Guild spread very quickly throughout Great Britain, but World War I saw the death by military action of many of its members, which nearly caused its extinction.

 

It survived the Great War though, and afterwards, Fr. MacDonald labored hard to ensure its successful re-establishment. In 1925, Cardinal Francis Bourne established a Central Council for the Archconfraternity, thereby ensuring its continuity.

 

In 1933, Fr. MacDonald went to his eternal reward. Less than a year later in 1934, Pope Pius XI had extended the Archconfraternity to the entire British Commonwealth; Father had indeed lived to see his idea firmly established.

 

In 1955, the Archconfraternity of St. Stephen made a Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome, which included an audience with Pope Pius XII. Only a few short months earlier in 1954, he had canonized St. Pius X, who had done so much to forward the Guild's apostolate. With this fresh in the pontiff's mind, he suggested that the Guild also adopt St. Pius X as a patron, which was agreed to.

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How to Obtain Guild Materials

Guild materials such as handbooks, prayer cards, medals and cords may be obtained via the SSPX's Guild National Secretariate.

 

What's the Guild About?

The Archconfraternity of St. Stephen is profoundly infused with a supernatural spirit that seeks a high standard of serving at the altar of God through which the server may sanctify his soul and obtain salvation.

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The following extracts from The Altar Servers' Handbook (1962 edition) admirably demonstrate the underlying spirit of the Guild.

 

Three Fold Object of the Guild

The object of the Guild is the sanctification of the Altar-Server by teaching him that to serve in the Sanctuary is a great religious privilege, by instructing him the manner of observing the rites and ceremonies of the Church according to the rubrics and decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Rites and the interpretations of the most generally accepted authorities, and by encouraging him to understand the meaning and the purpose of the ceremonies in which he takes part.

 

Paraphrased (for easy memorization) as:

To sanctify the server by instructing him:

1. That to serve at the altar is a great religious privilege.

2. How to serve according to the Church.

3. What the ceremonies mean.

 

Four Rules of the Guild

1. To serve at the altar reverently, intelligently and punctually.

2. To make the short acts of preparation before, and of thanksgiving after, serving Mass.

3. To observe silence in the sacristy, and great reverence in the sanctuary.

4. To recite daily the Guild prayer.

 

Guild Promise

I offer myself to God Almighty, to Blessed Mary ever Virgin, and to our Holy Patron, St. Stephen and I promise to do my best to serve reverently, intelligently and punctually, having the glory of God and my own eternal salvation as my object.

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Organization of the Guild

The Archconfraternity of St. Stephen consists of individual chapters and a rank system which helps to maintain the high standards of serving:

• Postulant

• Junior Acolyte (silver medal and plain red cord)

• Senior Acolyte (silver medal and tasseled cord)

• Master of Ceremonies (gold medal and tasseled cord)

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Leading each chapter is a Chapter Director (a priest) and Chapter President (usually a layman).

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The Handbook provides further details about the chapter's organization, rank system and enrollment ceremony.