A woman's place in the Mass

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The boys are touching the Priest, it makes my blood run cold.
The Priest is looking away. I think it’s terrible.
 
sosayi1960 said:
The boys are touching the Priest, it makes my blood run cold.
The Priest is looking away. I think it’s terrible.
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I guess they might be touching him, but I don’t think so.
And the pries tis facing the altar as is customary in a TLM
 
sosayi1960 said:
The boys are touching the Priest, it makes my blood run cold.
The Priest is looking away. I think it’s terrible.
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I think that they are holding up the back of his garment. Up until the Vatican two the priest faced the altar not the congregation.

even if the boys were touching his back this is not something sinful. My priest has touched my daughter’s shoulder, I certainly don’t think that he meant it in a sexual way.

Perhaps you are reading too much of the recent sexual controversies into this older painting
 
The boys are touching the Priest, it makes my blood run cold.
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Neurotic or psychotic maybe. I was an altar server for over 5 years in the Old Rite. They’re not touching the priest. Nor is he touching them. 😃
 
sosayi1960 said:
Our parish is like a catacomb before mass. Feels rather empty. The silence is not always golden. I can’t imagine the followers of the Lord never spoke around him. They talked and eat with him even after the Resurrection.
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Except when Christ was on Earth, He was in his human form. In the Church, He is in His Godly form. Were not the men of the OT reverent in their address to God? Did they not fall on their faces? Was not Moses’ appearance changed because He looked upon God?

It only makes sense that we are silent in the presence of Christ to prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually to receive Him in most Holy Communion?
If you want to chat with people, stand in the vestibule or outside and chat there. The sanctuary should be silent out of respect.
 
Were not the men of the OT reverent in their address to God?
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Very much so. In fact, only the high priest was allowed in the Holy of Holies and it was only permitted once a year.

Big contrast between then and now.
 
BobP123 said:
Very much so. In fact, only the high priest was allowed in the Holy of Holies and it was only permitted once a year.

Big contrast between then and now.
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Very true. But my point is that sacred silence is not only important, but it is necessary in the sanctuary.
 
But my point is that sacred silence is not only important, but it is necessary …
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Exactly, now that the Church has removed the communion rail and basically made the “Holy of Holies” accessible to all.
 
gallo said:
Vatican 2 clarified that women have a ministry role in the Mass so there really isn’t an explanation as to why we shouldn’t have girl alter servers other than the preference of the bishop…
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Actually, Vat II did nothing of the sort.

In fact, JP II specifically forbit the practice in 1980. In 1992, he allowed it, but with the caveat that a priest does not have to use altar girls if he chooses not to.

adoremus.org/CDW-AltarServers.html

So the very fact that the priest doesn’t want altar girls is good enough reason for the Vatican, and so it should be good enough reason for any of us.
 
Like said:
Wow! P and L, I think it was beautiful & you shouldn’t changed it!🤷
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Yes, well… I didn’t want to get a message from the mods regarding my picture offending someone, so I just changed it.
But thank you!
 
wp61 said:
My pastor is a very traditional sort of priest, and I consider myself a traditional catholic also. He told me that he doesn’t want girl altar servers, and I agree with him. I tried to explain to my sister and she thought I was being sexist. I know that traditionally women shouldn’t be in the sanctuary during the Mass, but I couldn’t explain why. Someone Please Help me in explaining why we shouldn’t have girl altar servers!!!
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Really, I know alot of people in my class who left Christianity because some parts were such racism. Back in the day, women didn’t have rights. The Bible only focuses on the rights of men, because it was written by men. Men didn’t think women had any place in religion, so that is the real reason behind why all priests are male, no girl alter servers, etc.
 
For women to serve on the altar is not a sin.

However, I’ve heard priests say that often the first time a priest began to discern his call to the priesthood is when he was an altar server. We have a priest shortage. When girls (who cannot be priests) serve as altar servers then they are taking the spot of a boy who might discover his vocation.

Also 1,950+ years of Church tradition held that liturgical service was a male role. I’m nearly 100% sure that before Vatican 2 there were no women serving on the altar to do anything - no reading, no altar server, etc. This was universally true in the Roman Catholic church, Eastern Catholic churches, and even in the Eastern Orthodox church. Men tend to want to do things they perceive to be “manly” - when women get involved then men do not as readily identify with liturgical service and less of them want to do it. Before women were allowed on the altar there was no priest shortage… Is this the only reason for a priest shortage? No, of course not. Is it a factor - in my opinion definitely. One of the local priests does not allow women on the altar and he has a couple of young men interested in being priests (which is much better than most parishes).
 
deb1 said:
In other sections of the bible Paul speaks of females who prophesies, so he couldn’t have been against women ever taking part in church. If you look at the culture of the people who he was addressing, you will see that the Corinthians were very controlling of wives. Some women were not allowed to leave their homes. So when they met in groups they tended to be very talkative. It would be very rude for anyone-male or female-to talk during mass.
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Deb,…thanks…you just lowered my blood pressure. I will read on…in this thread.👍
 
She is serving, she is growing spiritually.
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I don’t know if I’d agree with that. I served as altar boy for over 5 years because I thought that that was my role within the Church. I did nothing to deserve thanks or praise for it; it was my job. I didn’t receive any special blessings from God or had any more assurances from heaven for doing it. What I did outside of the altar service, though, added or subtracted from my spiritual life.

I guess the same case can be made for ushers who take up collections and find empty pews for the late-comers. Talk about another thankless job. 🙂
 
blacktiger057 said:
Really, I know alot of people in my class who left Christianity because some parts were such racism. Back in the day, women didn’t have rights. The Bible only focuses on the rights of men, because it was written by men. Men didn’t think women had any place in religion, so that is the real reason behind why all priests are male, no girl alter servers, etc.
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taking it a step further, blacktiger…if God the Father had sent a “female”…(back in the day)…would anyone have taken her seriously? Doubtful…she would have been labeled a heretic and more than likely stoned to death with hours of her first time at preaching. He sent his Son, a male. He knew He would be sacrificed and not well received by all people…but because of times…as you stated…a man had a chance…though briefly to organize a band of followers…who would continue the message.
 
Really, I know alot of people in my class who left Christianity because some parts were such racism. Back in the day, women didn’t have rights. The Bible only focuses on the rights of men, because it was written by men. Men didn’t think women had any place in religion, so that is the real reason behind why all priests are male, no girl alter servers, etc.
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Good arguments, though women did serve as priestesses in the Old Testament. However, would you accuse Christ of being a “racist” for selecting only men to carry forth the priesthood? It’s part of the New Testament, I thought.
 
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