First to correct some terms. The term “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” is wrong. A eucharistic minister says the Eucharist prayer, so it is only a priest or bishop. Lay people are never permitted to say this prayer, they can never be “extraordinary Eucharistic ministers”. The correct term is “extraordinary minister of Holy Communion”.
An instituted acolyte is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. As it has in 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum: “[155.] In addition to the ordinary ministers there is the formally instituted acolyte, who by virtue of his institution is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion even outside the celebration of Mass.” So an instituted acolyte should not be used if the priest or priests can distribute Communion in a reasonable time.
Those preparing for ordination as deacons and priests are required to be instituted as lectors and acolytes. So virtually all bishops are instituting some men.
Some bishops are instituting men who are not preparing for ordination. For example, Bishop Robert Vasa wrote about the importance of doing this at
sentinel.org/articles/2006-38/14947.html . Cardinal Pell in Sydney, Australia, seems to be encouraging this with the February 2007 “Liturgy and Ministry” newsletter of the Liturgy Office of the Archdiocese of Sydney having:
"Call for new acolytes, inservice for current acolytes planned
The most recent edition of the GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal), soon to be put into effect in Australia, indicate that some liturgical duties presently delegated to extraordinary ministers of holy communion will be reserved to priests, deacons or acolytes.
The ministry of acolytes, a liturgical office from patristic times, was for many centuries restricted to men preparing for holy orders. Upon recommendation of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI renewed the acolythate as a ministry open to lay men as well.
Names of candidates for the ministry of acolyte, along with a recommendation from their parish priest, may be forwarded to the Liturgy Office. Formation sessions for new and current acolytes will be announced after Easter."
It can be downloaded from
liturgy.sydney.catholic.org.au/newsletter/index.shtml .
But why don’t more bishops institute lectors and acolyes (except as required for those preparing for ordination)? Offending women is the usual reason given, but I think there is more to it.
Here is a list of 10 ideas on the excuses they may give for not implementing the 1972 Motu Proprio Ministeria Quaedam “3. Ministries may be assigned to lay Christians; hence they are no longer to be considered as reserved to candidates for the sacrament of orders.”:
- Embarrassment about old minor orders.
Most bishops would be of an age that before their ordination they were required to become Exorcists who did not do exorcisms. It did not make much sense and perhaps they would rather forget it and keep quiet about the steps required for ordination today.
- Undermining parish priests.
An instituted lector it forced upon a parish to do the readings. The parish priest is not free to pick and choose who they would like to encourage and reward.
- Promote celibate vocations.
Often there will be prayers for “vocations to priesthood and the religious life.” To encourage this one approach would be to reduce other options, such as vocations to be instituted lectors and acolytes.
- Females may be disheartened by more “male only” ministries.
- Inertia, lack of confidence in this reform of the liturgy. Unsure how this new ministry will work out.
- Apparent lukewarm encouragement of instituted ministers by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. I have only found 4 mentions of them by John Paul II, which I have listed at romanrite.com/johnpaul.html . Only recently has Benedict XVI promoted instituted acolytes in the USA by refusing the purification indult there. The 2007 Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis had no direct references to them, despite encouraging resolutions from the Synod of Bishops discussed at romanrite.com/synodoninstituted.html .
- Concern about lay people in the hierarchy.
The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church has:
“178. How are the people of God formed? 873 934
Among the faithful by divine institution there exist sacred ministers who have received the sacrament of Holy Orders and who form the hierarchy of the Church. The other members of the Church are called the laity. …”. But the liturgical books give a special leadership role to instituted ministers, such as leading blessings in the Book of Blessings.
- A preference for children altar servers, rather than adults.
- Institution is quiet permanent. It is not clear how to stop someone being an instituted minister, short of a tribunal penalty of “loss of office” or excommunication.
- Nobody asks the bishop to be instituted.
