End of Altar Girls?

[Franciscum]

csbyrnes84:

At my Latin Mass Chapel we have several altar boys who are only 8 years old and already have all of the rubrics and the latin responses memorized.

If this is possible, I dont’ see why it would be a problem to have an 8 year old altar boy at a Novus Ordo parish where all they have to do is carry the missal and the cruets.

I’m not sure what a “Novus Ordo parish” is, but I can tell you that altar servers do a great deal more than “carry the missal and the cruets.” In my parish they:

Process in with the processional cross or a candle.

Hold the Sacramentary (not the “Missal.”)

Flank the ambo with a lit candle (2 servers) during the reading of the Gospel.

Place the corporal on the altar.

Place the chalice, paten and a purificator on the altar.

Assist the priest with the procession of the gifts.

Handle the cruets.

Handle the lavabo.

Assist celebrant in purifying the vessels and clearing the altar.

Recess out with the processional cross or a candle.

etc.

Your 8 year olds must be far better trained than out own…

 

[DaveBj]

I will be coming into the Church this Easter at the age of 58, and I wish I could be an altar boy :crying:

DaveBj

 

[MaggieOH]

csbyrnes84:

At my Latin Mass Chapel we have several altar boys who are only 8 years old and already have all of the rubrics and the latin responses memorized.

If this is possible, I dont’ see why it would be a problem to have an 8 year old altar boy at a Novus Ordo parish where all they have to do is carry the missal and the cruets.

I attend the vernacular Mass. We have boys and girls who are 8 years and older who serve at Sunday Masses. The young ones do a good job and they are always guided by one of the older children.

MaggieOH

 

[MaggieOH]

DaveBj:

I will be coming into the Church this Easter at the age of 58, and I wish I could be an altar boy :crying:

DaveBj

Do they have acolytes in your parish? That is reserved for the older men, and yes it would be good for a father/son situation if both were serving on the altar.

MaggieOH

 

[Anna_Elizabeth]

Franciscum:

I would also suggest that 8 years old is too young. I know very few altar servers who have the concentration and knowlege of the Mass at that age to be excellent altar servers.

I’m gonna guess that grade 7 to graduation from college would be close to optimal (longer for those who might become deacons), but that’s just a guess.

Dear Franciscum, I must disagree, also. As the (now aged), mother of four servers who all started at about age 7 or 8, I not only know that they can handle the job competently, but there is nothing as beautiful as young servers so seriously tending to the requirements of their role. In fact, sometimes the movement of the servers I observe at our local Tridentine Mass seems to have been choreographed, especially when they recite the Confiteor both at the foot of the altar and before Communion.

As both mother and teacher I have had the oportunity to compare the competence of servers over a long period of time and under different circumstances. Sad to say, the contemporary NO servers, both male and female, seem less “with the program” than in earlier days.

I also note that, Catholic school notwithstanding, there is an absence of servers at some churches during vacation times and during the summer. That seldom if ever happened when my boys served. Vacation or not, they had to roll out and get up there!

Since neither my daughter nor I ever had the least thought of serving, I can’t comment on how girls feel about this, but I hear that most boys do not want to serve with girls, and I am pretty sure that my sons would have responded, “Yeuch!” at the very idea of it!

God bless,

Anna

 

[Franciscum]

DaveBj:

I will be coming into the Church this Easter at the age of 58, and I wish I could be an altar boy :crying:

DaveBj

Go for it. Serve for a while and discern a possible vocation to the permanent diaconate…

 

[katolik]

Franciscum:

I’m not really sure why you would have up to 20 altar servers per Mass (that in itself seems abusive), but it sure is nice that you have such wonderful participation and behavior from boys as young as 6.

Once again, I don’t think your parish’s situation is the norm…

Her parish is one of the best in the Diocese!
In Poland it was normal to have 20 altar boys at Mass…
Must be your American low Mass mentality.

 

[Franciscum]

A.Pelliccio:

wish I was an altar boy when i was younger. Im almost 19 now and find my youth in church basically empty.

19? Yer just a pup!

Go start serving at the altar. You might have a vocation to the priesthood or permanent diaconate!

(You can even call yourself in “acolyte” the same way readers refer to themselves as “lectors.”)

 

[Exporter]

Annunciata:

We have a father and son who serve together in my parish…I think you are correct!

---

My two oldest boys started serving when one was in third grade and the other was in the fourth grade. They attended our Church School. They stopped after 3 years. Now most are between 9 and 14. We have 2 who may be 15 now.

When mine first started they had to serve the early Mass, I had to drive them. Today many parishoners live several miles from the church. I can see not only a great psychological reason for a father and son team to serve, but also a practical one. I think the younger boys would benifit more by dad’s serving too. I like the idea.

 

[Annunciata]

**************************************************************************
My two oldest boys started serving when one was in third grade and the other was in the fourth grade. They attended our Church School. They stopped after 3 years. Now most are between 9 and 14. We have 2 who may be 15 now.

When mine first started they had to serve the early Mass, I had to drive them. Today many parishoners live several miles from the church. I can see not only a great psychological reason for a father and son team to serve, but also a practical one. I think the younger boys would benifit more by dad’s serving too. I like the idea.

Yes, I think it is so nice to see that… In my grandson’s case, he needs a little encouragement so his sister is trying to help him by becoming a server too. She is not trying to take the place of the boys…just being a good sister…

 

[rayne89]

Franciscum:

I’m not really sure why you would have up to 20 altar servers per Mass (that in itself seems abusive), but it sure is nice that you have such wonderful participation and behavior from boys as young as 6.

Once again, I don’t think your parish’s situation is the norm…

Actually it’s quite beautiful and yes I know it’s not the norm. When they proceed in with the priest many carry (I’m not sure of their technical names) oil burning candles on tall brass poles. Some “candles” are clear glass some are red glass. The ones carrying the candles wear white gloves. And ofcourse there’s one carrying the crucifix on a pole also wears gloves. Those that carry nothing proceed with thier hands together as if in prayer.

All of the older ones wear the tradition black and white alter boy attire. The littlest ones where a simple white garment tied with a rope around the waist. All have noticeable crucifixes hanging on a cord around their necks.

Two boys usually from the oldest ones sit on either side of the priest(s) at Mass, and assist him during the Mass. As I said before we still have the “old fashioned” brass plates that are held under the chin while one recieves communion so that is where the extra alter servers come in.

I’ve never seen anything like it but it is quite breath taking to see all these reverant young men enter in their crisp white and black vestiments (I’m not sure if that’s the proper name), like an army for God.

 

[katherine2]

I think every parish can figure out for themselves what age they would invite young people to be altar servers. We have young men and women from age 9 to first year college students.

Not one boy who thinks he might have a vocation to the priesthood is denied the opportunity to serve but many other young people also serve and find their vocation as laity enhanced.

God bless all of our faithful altar girls and boys.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

A.Pelliccio:

wish I was an altar boy when i was younger. Im almost 19 now and find my youth in church basically empty.

Ask your priest if you can still serve! He may welcome it.

 

[vienna]

If altar service has the strong connection with „guys-only culture“ that some posters seem to want to give it, those seminaries to which its alumni will supposedly flock in droves (and the parishes these men will later serve) will have a problem on their hands.

vienna

 

[Franciscum]

katherine2:

I think every parish can figure out for themselves what age they would invite young people to be altar servers. We have young men and women from age 9 to first year college students.

Not one boy who thinks he might have a vocation to the priesthood is denied the opportunity to serve but many other young people also serve and find their vocation as laity enhanced.

God bless all of our faithful altar girls and boys.

ALL the available altar serving positions should go to males for the purpose of fostering vocations.

 

[Franciscum]

rayne89:

Actually it’s quite beautiful and yes I know it’s not the norm. When they proceed in with the priest many carry (I’m not sure of their technical names) oil burning candles on tall brass poles. Some “candles” are clear glass some are red glass. The ones carrying the candles wear white gloves. And ofcourse there’s one carrying the crucifix on a pole also wears gloves. Those that carry nothing proceed with thier hands together as if in prayer.

All of the older ones wear the tradition black and white alter boy attire. The littlest ones where a simple white garment tied with a rope around the waist. All have noticeable crucifixes hanging on a cord around their necks.

Two boys usually from the oldest ones sit on either side of the priest(s) at Mass, and assist him during the Mass. As I said before we still have the “old fashioned” brass plates that are held under the chin while one recieves communion so that is where the extra alter servers come in.

**I’ve never seen anything like it but it is quite breath taking to see **(what?) all these reverant young men enter in their crisp white and black vestiments (I’m not sure if that’s the proper name), like an army for God.

Does your parish have a website? Mine routinely seats 1200 for Mass and we have 2 servers. 20? hmmm…

NB: It sounds as if your older servers wear the cassock/surplice combo while your younger servers wear albs. The “crucifix on a pole” is the processional cross. The “oil burning candles” are processional torches. The “brass plates” are communion patens. The white gloves sound like an unfortunate Anglican addition.

 

[misericordie]

Franciscum:

I am beginning to wonder if allowing females to become altar servers is coming to an end for one very important reason:

Serving at the altar helps foster vocations to the priesthood and permanent diaconate.

Given this* fact*, one would think that every altar serve position would be granted to males. Each and every one. It seems to be extremely irresponsbible to allow females to server at the altar given this fact. Just too valuable of a resource for vocations.

This position certainly certainly seems in-line with Redemptionis Sacramentum:

RS 47. It is altogether laudable to maintain the noble custom by which boys or youths, customarily termed servers, provide service of the altar after the manner of acolytes, and receive catechesis regarding their function in accordance with their power of comprehension.119 Nor should it be forgotten that a great number of sacred ministers over the course of the centuries have come from among boys such as these.120 Associations for them, including also the participation and assistance of their parents, should be established or promoted, and in such a way greater pastoral care will be provided for the ministers. Whenever such associations are international in nature, it pertains to the competence of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to establish them or to approve and revise their statutes.121 Girls or women may also be admitted to this service of the altar, at the discretion of the diocesan Bishop and in observance of the established norms.122

Yes, some will try to fabricate artificial excuses like a shortage of males willing to serve, that females are “better” servers, etc. but unless the Mass is being celebrated in a convent chapel or the chapel of women’s prison these are simply non-issues (and not necessarily true issues either.) All it takes is some commitment and dilligence to build an all-male altar server group.

I AGREE!!! If only more priests would stop seeing so much TV, playing golf, etc and begin to STUDY “Redemptionis Sacramentum.”

 

[Maccabees]

misericordie:

I AGREE!!! If only more priests would stop seeing so much TV, playing golf, etc and begin to STUDY “Redemptionis Sacramentum.”

Hey this sounds like a good deal where do I sign up to be a priest?

 

[katherine2]

Franciscum:

ALL the available altar serving positions should go to males for the purpose of fostering vocations.

Please come to my parish. Please come to our Catholic Mothers Club. Please tell these ladies that the wonderful, beautiful young man we have as an altar server and who has a mental disability that would make him ineligable as a priestly candidate should step aside for a boy who might be considered or considering the priesthood. I would encourage YOU to then step aside – and cover up that part of your body you need for the priesthood.

I must admit, the devil would tempt me to take amusement in this little interaction.

 

[space_ghost]

take away the female altar servers, and you eliminate the best servers we have… i am the one responsible for training the altar servers in our parish… they are an integral part of our parish… my experience is they do (on average) a much better, more devout, service for the church then the male servers of the same age… who knows, they may become nuns one day…

i see no positive push for the church to eliminate girls from serving at mass…

John Paul II ok’s it,… good enough for me