Female Altar Servers

[Walking_Home]

But the excuses for not permitting them to do so were the same, in the past.

(I grew up in the era of sex-segregated playgrounds, and I remember being told that my very existence as a girl was a source of intense discomfort and horror to the boys that I wanted to play with, and that therefore, I was not allowed to play on “their” playground, so please go home like a good little girl. The reasons given for not allowing girls to serve at the Altar, despite there being no prohibition against it, sound exactly the same to me, and they bring back all the same feelings I had back then.)

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I am sorry that your experience as girl has left you with this type of feelings. In my childhood—our playgrounds were not segregated–but since our method of play was different --the boys did tend to gravitate toward boys and the girls toward girls.

When I tend to encourage the return of male alter servers–it is not in anyway to diminish the state of girls or women.

At one time–many of our priests came from the ranks of the altar servers. It seems --that by being at the priest’s side–these boys somehow became more receptive to the call of our Lord.

Now it does not seem to be that way anymore.

Girls and women not serving at the Altar–does in no way interfere with what a girl or woman can accomplish. There are so many possibilities and opportunities available to women now.

 

[LeahInancsi]

I’m just not seeing it. Boys and girls do lots of things together - go to school, play on the play-ground, do chores, do service projects, etc. Altar serving comes under the same category.

It’s the “cootie” factor. 10-12 year old boys hate all girls, but their mothers. My younger brother broke my heart when he was that age because I became one of “THEM.” He was my favorite playmate.

 

[LeahInancsi]

Well, of course I’ll allow the ladies to do women’s work. It would be quite appalling for me to ask a man to launder linens. :bigyikes:

Fr. Bombay, you’re breaking my heart. I was so looking forward to being your altar girl.

 

[MrS]

Being an Altar server is not the same thing as being a priest.

A priest is now free, should he so choose, to ask a woman or girl to assist him as an Altar server at Mass, in addition to still being able to ask boys and men to do this, as well, because the role of Altar server is now officially classified as a lay role; it is no longer the first step towards Ordination to the priesthood.

And thankfully, at least in this area, more and more young priests are

choosing only the young men to serve,

setting wonderful examples of what a sincere and holy priest can be

and the results will be more young men thinking, saying and acting “… I want to be like Fr. …”

Unfortunately, the “catholic” women who are being “ordained” by rebel “catholic” bishops is the incentive to both men and women who are weak in their faith, that they can do it their way.

.

 

[jmcrae]

I am sorry that your experience as girl has left you with this type of feelings. In my childhood—our playgrounds were not segregated–but since our method of play was different --the boys did tend to gravitate toward boys and the girls toward girls.

When I tend to encourage the return of male alter servers–it is not in anyway to diminish the state of girls or women.

Good. Then when defending it, don’t say (and don’t permit others to say) that the reason girls shouldn’t serve is because girls are “icky, EWWW!!”

If there is a good reason for boys-only (there used to be a good reason, but that reason no longer exists) then state what it is. But “girls are icky, EWWW” is not a good reason. Male ego is not a good reason. Someone mentioned above that the reason he thought it should be boys-only is that boys are over-sensitive and prideful. Girls who are over-sensitive and prideful get yelled at and spanked - but boys should be rewarded for this kind of behaviour? WHY?

Girls and women not serving at the Altar–does in no way interfere with what a girl or woman can accomplish. There are so many possibilities and opportunities available to women now.

Serving at the Altar is the first opportunity for a child to be able to serve Jesus and the Church, though. Why should girls have to wait until they are adults before being allowed to do anything?

And if a priest asks a girl to serve, what is she supposed to say? “No, Father - I must respect the prideful and oversensitive egotism of the boys - my presence on the Altar will terrify, disgust, and intimidate them, and cause them to not volunteer. So, I must sit on the sidelines while you call upon them to serve, instead.”

 

[ComradeAndrei]

altar server is now a lay role; which it wasn’t, before

NO, to be an altar server was not reserved to clerics. Unless the altar server was enrolled in one of the minor orders (such as acolyte and porter) they were just a lay person that helped out the priest.

My uncles and dad served Mass when they were young, an no they weren’t anything other than laymen. Most altar boys were just that-boys, not ordained in any way, shape, or form nor were they even clerics at all.

The reasons given for not allowing girls to serve at the Altar, despite there being no prohibition against it, sound exactly the same to me, and they bring back all the same feelings I had back then.

Metaphysically speaking, the Sanctuary and the playground are no where close to being the same thing.

Male ego is not a good reason.

But maintaining appropriate male/female roles is. Males belong in the Sanctuary, to do anything there is preferably a male role-except for cleaning or arranging flowers.

Serving at the Altar is the first opportunity for a child to be able to serve Jesus and the Church, though. Why should girls have to wait until they are adults before being allowed to do anything?

She can help her mom clean and arrange flowers.

And if a priest asks a girl to serve, what is she supposed to say?

Ideally, the priest shouldn’t ask. Whoever thought that opening up the Sanctuary to everyone was a good idea was a fool. It is far harder to go back to a more strict discipline than to just throw things out the window and say “Anything goes!”. I don’t blame girls for doing something they are asked to do or are able to do.

 

[jmcrae]

I don’t blame girls for doing something they are asked to do or are able to do.

Good. That’s all I ask.

PS: “Anything goes?” Really, you people make it sound like baptized Catholic girls are a bunch of wild naked heathens, or animals, or something.

They are Christians, you know - they do love Jesus, and they’re not trying to “take” anything away from the boys. There are plenty of jobs for everyone on the Altar.

 

[MrS]

Good. That’s all I ask.

PS: “Anything goes?” Really, you people make it sound like baptized Catholic girls are a bunch of wild naked heathens, or animals, or something.

They are Christians, you know - they do love Jesus, and they’re not trying to “take” anything away from the boys. There are plenty of jobs for everyone on the Altar.

Sometimes I tend to exaggerate for effect… but you have me beat by a long shot.

But you do tend to make those who view threads like this see where the problem lies…

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[jmcrae]

But you do tend to make those who view threads like this see where the problem lies…

Whatever. I’m just calling it as I see it.

Does the term “anything goes” really fit with innocent little girls sincerely doing their best to serve Jesus and the Church?

Usually, I hear that term in the context of activities that are gravely sinful and very shocking. It’s completely surreal to see it being used to describe little Catholic girls serving at Mass.

 

[ComradeAndrei]

PS: “Anything goes?” Really, you people make it sound like baptized Catholic girls are a bunch of wild naked heathens, or animals, or something.

Just because someone is a baptized Catholic doesn’t give them the right to do anything. We all differ metaphysically-men and women just are not the “same”. Lay people and ordained are not the “same”.

Yes, the Vatican allows it-but such was unheard of in the past 1900 yrs. of tradition.

They are Christians, you know - they do love Jesus, and they’re not trying to “take” anything away from the boys.

What did I say? I don’t blame little girls for something that progressives cooked up.

There are plenty of jobs for everyone on the Altar.

We shouldn’t think of service at the altar as a “job”. Actuoso participatio doesn’t translate into “Make up a bunch of stuff for people to do around the altar so they feel important.” Traditionally, only men went beyond the Communion rail at Mass.

This issue is just one small part of a much bigger issue-the whole theology that is being trumpeted by progressives is having a major negative affect on souls. The Sanctuary has often become a mere “worship space” and just anybody can traipse around up there, the Altar is just the “table”, the Priest (an alter Christus ) is now just a “presider” and he faces the people and is the officiator of the Meal.

Not good.

 

[Walking_Home]

Good. Then when defending it, don’t say (and don’t permit others to say) that the reason girls shouldn’t serve is because girls are “icky, EWWW!!”

If there is a good reason for boys-only (there used to be a good reason, but that reason no longer exists) then state what it is. But “girls are icky, EWWW” is not a good reason. Male ego is not a good reason. Someone mentioned above that the reason he thought it should be boys-only is that boys are over-sensitive and prideful. Girls who are over-sensitive and prideful get yelled at and spanked - but boys should be rewarded for this kind of behaviour? WHY?

Serving at the Altar is the first opportunity for a child to be able to serve Jesus and the Church, though. Why should girls have to wait until they are adults before being allowed to do anything?

And if a priest asks a girl to serve, what is she supposed to say? “No, Father - I must respect the prideful and oversensitive egotism of the boys - my presence on the Altar will terrify, disgust, and intimidate them, and cause them to not volunteer. So, I must sit on the sidelines while you call upon them to serve, instead.”

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No more reason exits-----have you looked around lately----we do indeed have a shortage of priests.

Frankly—from reading this post and your prior ones—I am getting the impression that you have some sort of axe to grind. What is all this with spanking girls and all this ego stuff. With every consecutive post --you seem to be twisting things ----to where now —girls are yelled at and spanked.

I am sorry—but you are making statements ----that have no authenticity —into this discussion.

 

[jmcrae]

No more reason exits-----have you looked around lately----we do indeed have a shortage of priests.

Yes, but Altar servers no longer become priests - at least, no more so than anyone else.

It’s no longer “step 1” of the Priesthood, is what I’m trying to get at.

 

[jmcrae]

JThe Sanctuary has often become a mere “worship space” and just anybody can traipse around up there, …

No, not “just anybody” can “traipse up there.”

A girl Altar server is not “just anybody.” She has been appointed for service by her priest. People don’t just appoint themselves as Altar servers, or anything else.

And nobody is allowed up on the Altar whom the priest has not specifically appointed to be there as his helper. Ever.

I have heard of people just “traipsing” up on to the Altar for whatever reason, and YES, this is an abuse of the Mass. But girl Altar servers have been appointed, and are there because they have been appointed to be there by the priest.

Protestants and heathens are still not allowed up there. And even baptized Catholics, if they have not been specificially appointed to some service, are not allowed up there.

 

[ComradeAndrei]

Yes, but Altar servers no longer become priests - at least, no more so than anyone else.

It’s no longer “step 1” of the Priesthood, is what I’m trying to get at.

It could very well be, if it wasn’t just an excuse to sit in front of church.

I can remember when I was an altar boy and it was an exclusively male enterprise. There was more reverence, more uniformity, and a better esprit d’corps and was there when the “change” was made on the local level. Things dropped off like a rock. Now, that wasn’t just because girls could serve (there were other factors too) but it certainly didn’t help. Serving just became a “girly” thing to do.

I served because I wanted to, it introduced me into the ministerial role of the Church and now I’m in the Seminary. Most of my Brother Seminarians say that serving Mass helped them in their discernment-at least at some level.

No, not “just anybody” can “traipse up there.”

Along with the whole context of my last post, it has been the tradition of the Church for a long time that women didn’t go into the Sanctuary-cased closed. We need to change this why?

 

[Brendan]

Yes, but Altar servers no longer become priests - at least, no more so than anyone else.

It’s no longer “step 1” of the Priesthood, is what I’m trying to get at.

I would differ with that.

In our parish, we have a 100% altar boy cadre. The boys start at age 5 and serve into college. Almost every boy in the parish participates, with Sunday Mass having about 30 servers.

So far, about 1/4 of our college age altarboys go into the seminary ( our parish of 900 families has 6 men studying for the priesthood)

 

[whatevergirl]

this very bantering back and forth over something that should be embraced, is one of the many reasons, people view Catholics as more into following rules, than following God, the Bible, etc…

There is nothing wrong with female altar servers. I don’t go to church to pick apart what is* wrong *with mass…I guess I choose to embrace what is right about it.

 

[Brendan]

There is nothing wrong with female altar servers.

Of course, it doesn’t necessarily follow that there is something ‘right’ about them either.

They are simply ‘allowed’

I don’t go to church to pick apart what is* wrong *with mass…I guess I choose to embrace what is right about it.

Exactly,

In our parish we rightly encourage vocations by having only altarboys.

And likewise, when I visit another parish, I try not to focus on how many vocations are being lost in that parish by having girls server instead of boys.

 

[jmcrae]

So far, about 1/4 of our college age altarboys go into the seminary ( our parish of 900 families has 6 men studying for the priesthood)

Congratulations!! Voluntary service at a young age produces wonderful results, doesn’t it?

What is your parish doing for the girls?

 

[adrift]

The question is

But, I would simply like to know why girls serve at the altar when apparently women never will

One thing off topic that I would like to say is why do you think you have to serve on the altar? The best service is the response of the congregation. It isn’t a show but with all this whining about serving on the altar I wonder about our priorities??? WE are there to serve God. The emphasis should be on Him not on us.

The question is an interesting one. Why if the girl will never serve on the altar as an adult is there such a push to have her serve as a child?

 

[jmcrae]

The question is an interesting one. Why if the girl will never serve on the altar as an adult is there such a push to have her serve as a child?

The majority of boys won’t, either. Why should a boy who is planning to get married serve at the Altar, either?

I guess the real question is, why did the Vatican open this role to lay people? Why is it not restricted any more only to boys in youth seminary?