Ceremonies Explained for Servers may well be called the "mother of all servers' manuals". This is the most detailed guide available for servers and those who train and supervise them at the altar.

In accessible language, Ceremonies covers the roles of servers in a wide range of Catholic liturgical celebrations. These are described in full, such as: the Mass in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary forms, the seven sacraments, the ceremonies of Holy Week, the Liturgy of the Hours, funeral rites, the liturgies that are celebrated by a bishop and major blessings.

Ceremonies also provides accurate explanations for each of these rites, with Catholic teaching on the liturgy and sacraments and a history of the ministry of servers. The skills, techniques and discipline involved in serving are explained, such as: how a procession should move, how to assist with incense, team-work and responding in emergencies and unforeseen situations.

A spirituality of this ministry runs through the manual, with an underlying theme of service and vocation. In an encouraging personal way, Ceremonies sets out high spiritual ideals that can inspire and guide those who enhance Catholic worship through their ministry.

“One of the finest theologians of our time provides crisp studies of the‘octet’ of key documents from the Second Vatican Council, drawing on ‘ the perennial tradition of the Church’ while offering both context and clarity.”— Carl Olson, Editor, Catholic World Report 

“ A wonderful primer that is so much more than a primer. Aidan Nichols provides us with an incisive, balanced, theologically intelligent account of these eight crucial documents and the Council that bequeathed them to us. Accessible erudition at its best, with an almost musical cadence.” — Douglas Farrow, Professor of Theology and Christian Thought, McGill University, Montreal 

“ The pontificates of John paul II and Benedict XVI advanced a ‘hermeneutic of continuity’ as the proper interpretative key for the documents of the Second Vatican Council. Now comes one of the best theologians of the post-conciliar period with exactly the same approach. Taking an ‘octet’ of the most important conciliar ducments, Father Nichols demonstrates the absolute continuity of these texts with the tradition of the Church. A must-read for the Catholics.”— Rev. Peter Stravinskas, Ph.D., S.T.D., Editor, The Catholic Response