can a lay woman lead a penance service?

[zab]

There is nothing wrong with a woman leading a prayer service, although, with several priests present I question the wisdom of a lay leader at all.

The USCCB allows all ministers to wear albs, which are not priestly garments but rather the garment proper to the baptized. That’s what we put on our adult newly baptized and even on our older children.

*“The Lord be with you” *
***“And with your spirit” ***
is reserved to the ordained, that response is recognizing an ontological difference between the ordained and the laity.

The lay leader should open with the Sign of the Cross and a greeting should be something similar to what we have in the *Sunday Celebration of the Word & Hours *(Canada’s version of Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest):

Blessed be the God of all consolation,
who has shown us his great mercy.
Bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God forever.

I’ve never been to a penitential service where a priest read the examination of conscience. It’s always been a lay person and it’s always been a ‘have I?’ type of reflection.

In some cases the person has the bishop’s OK to preach or give a reflection at these services. At Mass only a priest, bishop or Deacon may give a homily but the same rule doesn’t apply outside of Mass. Then it’s up to the Bishop.

Phemie has the best answer and it shouldn’t get lost in the pages. There are documents to support what she says about lay leaders - they should not say or do anything that is reserved for the priest or deacon to say or do. You can look them up yourself. II will say, though, that it has always been one of the priests that reads the examination of Conscience at our Penance Services.

 

[triumphguy]

So apart from the “Lord be with you” and the “and with your spirit” everything else was by the book.

Everything. Else. Was. By.The. Book.

 

[iloveangels]

So apart from the “Lord be with you” and the “and with your spirit” everything else was by the book.

Everything. Else. Was. By.The. Book.

I DON’T CARE. Penance services are OPTIONAL.

This means that no matter what anybody says or tries to do, I can walk right out. And I do. I don’t have to put up with this and neither does anyone else who doesn’t like it.

 

[LightBound]

I DON’T CARE. Penance services are OPTIONAL.

This means that no matter what anybody says or tries to do, I can walk right out. And I do. I don’t have to put up with this and neither does anyone else who doesn’t like it.

Of course you don’t have to put up with this (whatever it is you don’t happen to care for today), just “don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya on your way out”!

 

[iloveangels]

Anger issues? Anger towards women issues?

Either way, of course you don’t have to put up with this (whatever it is you don’t happen to care for today), just “don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya on your way out”!

No anger issues. Tired of amateur church politics and people trying to chisel the rules. The Catholic church is full of them. It’s astonishing.

 

[LightBound]

No anger issues. Tired of amateur church politics and people trying to chisel the rules.

That’s fine, but for most of us reading your posts, it comes across that you have a distinct disdain for women doing anything in Church other than sitting quietly. Perhaps you don’t mean to sound that way, but it’s coming across with quite a bitter tone towards women…

 

[iloveangels]

That’s fine, but for most of us reading your posts, it comes across that you have a distinct disdain for women doing anything in Church other than sitting quietly. Perhaps you don’t mean to sound that way, but it’s coming across with quite a bitter tone towards women…

Not all women, certainly. But women trying to weasel their way into the priesthood by some backdoor, yes. I’ve had it with that.

 

[LightBound]

Not all women, certainly. But women trying to weasel their way into the priesthood by some backdoor, yes. I’ve had it with that.

Well, I can understand that, but I didn’t see anything in the opening post that would mean this particular women was trying to do that. She wasn’t attempting to administer the Sacraments (confession and Eucharist)- she was just leading a prayer service.

 

[iloveangels]

Well, I can understand that, but I didn’t see anything in the opening post that would mean this particular women was trying to do that. She wasn’t attempting to administer the Sacraments (confession and Eucharist)- she was just leading a prayer service.

Not interested.

 

[triumphguy]

I DON’T CARE. Penance services are OPTIONAL.

This means that no matter what anybody says or tries to do, I can walk right out. And I do. I don’t have to put up with this and neither does anyone else who doesn’t like it.

It’s not all about you ya know.

If you did not post again on this thread I’m sure there’s lots of contributions that people could make.

I don’t care if you walk out of services. It’s your choice.

But why does every post have to be personally rebutted by you, and then why do we have to read yet again that you will walk out. I’m not posting about your opinions, and I’m sure most other posters aren’t either.

It’s fine, we got your POV the first time.

It doesn’t make you right though. And you don’t get more right the more often you post it.

It is, however, rather tedious. and you do come across as rather odious in your latest posts. Until recently I thought you were a poster worth reading. Maybe a teenage child is hacking your account

If you don’t like what’s going on in the Church then start a thread telling what you are doing to help. And maybe other people can chip in with some good things they do to help build the Body of Christ.

 

[iloveangels]

It’s not all about you ya know.

If you did not post again on this thread I’m sure there’s lots of contributions that people could make.

I don;t care if you walk out of services. It;s your choice.

But why does every post have to be rebutted by you, and then why do we have to read yet again that you will walk out.

fine, we got that the first time.

It doesn’t make you right though.

It is, however, rather tedious. and you do come across as rather odious in your latest posts. Until recently I thought you were a poster worth reading. Maybe a teenage child is hacking your account

If you don’t like what’s going on in the Church then start a thread telling what you are doing to help. And maybe other people can chip in with some good things they do to help build the Body of Christ.

If you can post, I can post.

And this is what I can do to help. If more people walked out of things that were inappropriate, we’d all be better off.

 

[triumphguy]

If you can post, I can post.

This is getting childlish.

Fine: you win :yeah_me:

Have fun polishing your trophy.