Altar servers or Acolytes

[Lepanto]

OK, per the motu proprio, acolytes are glorified altar servers and EMHCs. Their only distinctive function, as of this year, is that they can still purify the sacred vessels.

The offices of “instituted” acolyte and reader appear to be pointless vestiges.

 

[japhy]

OK, per the motu proprio, acolytes are glorified altar servers and EMHCs. Their only distinctive function, as of this year, is that they can still purify the sacred vessels. The offices of “instituted” acolyte and reader appear to be pointless vestiges.

They are also ex officio EMHCs (which I think means they should be selected before other EMHCs).

But the problem is that eliminating acolytes and lectors makes it that much harder for the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite to be re-reformed (in a manner more consistent with tradition); it would rather have to be re-formed. It was bad enough eliminating subdeacons and the like.

 

[John_Lilburne]

The Church has a hierarchy. Even if instituted acolytes do similar functions to altar servers, they have a degree of authority.

The 1972 Motu Proprio expresses this as:
“He may also, to the extent needed, take care of instructing other faithful who on a temporary basis are appointed to assist the priest or deacon in liturgical celebrations by carrying the missal, cross, candles, etc., or by performing other such duties.”

The 1988 Directory for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of Priest has:
“30. In the absence of both a priest and a deacon, the pastor is to appoint laypersons, who are to be entrusted with the care of these celebrations, namely, with leading the prayers, with the ministry of the word, and with giving holy communion. Those to be chosen first by the pastor are readers and acolytes who have been duly instituted for the service of the altar are the word of God. If there are no such instituted ministers available, other laypersons, both men and women, may be appointed. …”.

Similarly with blessing ceremonies, from the Book of Blessings:
“18. … d. An acolyte or a reader who by formal institution has this special office in the Church is rightly preferred over another layperson as the minister designated at the discretion of the local Ordinary to impart certain blessings.”

 

[Cristiano]

OK, per the motu proprio, acolytes are glorified altar servers and EMHCs. Their only distinctive function, as of this year, is that they can still purify the sacred vessels.

The offices of “instituted” acolyte and reader appear to be pointless vestiges.

I think that there is a big point here that you are missing here. Servers and EMHCs are not instituted by the Bishop. There is a big difference here. What is critical here it is the such an institution is done by the Bishop with all its implications, it is no just a bureaucratic event.

It is almost like saying (exaggeration here) that the priest is a glorified deacon because the communion service looks like the Mass and the “only” difference is the consecration step.