Female Altar Servers

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July 11, 1992
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Can I ask if this is the correct date that female Altar servers were allowed??

If this is correct, I’m confused…I began serving in 5th grade, and that was 1986-87. Archdiocese of Chicago.

Having been a female altar server, I can now confidently tell my daughter ‘no honey’ when she ever asks if she can be one.

The whole idea behind girls being allowed to serve mass is that “It doesn’t matter to God if you are a boy or a girl”, which flies in the face of Catholic theology. It does matter. Immensely. And, as a woman, I have the opportunity to serve God in a way no man can.

I don’t get why people try SO hard trying to make men and women equal with the jobs, or vocations they have, when we are all profoundly MORE equal and valuable in God’s eyes then we can comprehend. Nothing we do in this life can make our value more ‘equal’ than it already is.
 
Glennon_P said:
We have never had female altar servers. And our Diocese has had a good number of seminarians since at least the late 1960s.

My point was this: If not having female altar servers was the key factor in the number of seminarians a Diocese has, then Lincoln should have seen a spike in the number of our seminarians in the past 5-7 years. This is not the case.

That’s painting with an awfully broad brush. I think there are many examples of posters on this board who are supportive of female altar servers who are not promoting female priests.
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I was an altar server for 10 years, and only once has their ever been a girl altar server. She left within a few weeks because she knew we boys thought of her as, well, a distraction. We were too young (as boys) to think sexual thoughts, but their was something else behind this.

The real truth is that only the priest can consecrate the eucharist, theifore only men (altar servers, acolytes) should help the one who consecrates the eucharist. Even our Blessed Mother in a private apparition to a women, said that even after all the graces given to her by Jesus, she doesn’t have the grace of consecrating the eucharist or administer it. Theirfore all women must be like Mary, and give adoration to the eucharist and give homage to Jesus. Allow men (priets) to give out the consecrated host (Jesus) to the people at mass. and altar boys to be the ones privaliged to assist the priest. Women have so many special roles men can never have.

I have nothing against women, but remeber that the devil has plans to destroy the church. So be carefull women of pride and jealousy, that if not resisted can cause you to hate men for their special roles in the church. Remember that men also serve God and love him.

Mary Mother of God Pray for us Sinners.
 
I haven’t read this whole thread, so I hope this post doesn’t sound out in left field.

Our diocese encourages female altar servers. And we actually have a surplus of seminarians. 🙂
 
It’s interesting…

In my fairly progressive parish we have one Spanish-language Mass that is celebrated each week by our Spanish-speaking parochial vicar. They wouldn’t even consider a female server, for one very important reason. They are obviously trying to foster possible vocations.

Economics is not the only reason (nor is it the primary reason) Mexico and other countries have a surplus of vocations…
 
at the risk of seeming a fence sitter, my daughters do not serve at the altar and my sons do. Our parish does have female altar servers and I’m good with that. I like the way it’s handled in our parish and I trust our pastor and our bishop. I do NOT believe in female ordinations of any type (priest, deaconess, etc.) and I accept the catechism and canon law in toto with no reservations. The church has changed disciplines and practices many times over the past 2000 years and that’s okay. The doctrine has never changed, God has never changed and thus I do not see these things as leading us astray or being unchristian. I do not believe that God will allow that to happen to HIS church. We have bishops for a reason. Let’s support them in the decisions that they make as a governing body led by the pope. They want to encourage altar boys, great, I send my sons. BUT, if they allow altar girls then I thank God for the young ladies who volunteer to serve. Christ is still present in the eucharist and mass is truly a holy celebration, EMOHC, altar girls, lay lectors (even women 😃 ), communion in the hand and all. Praise God and pray for my sons to thoughtfully consider the priesthood. (BTW, I am a convert through RCIA from the Mormon religion)
 
majick275 said:
at the risk of seeming a fence sitter, my daughters do not serve at the altar and my sons do. Our parish does have female altar servers and I’m good with that. I like the way it’s handled in our parish and I trust our pastor and our bishop. I do NOT believe in female ordinations of any type (priest, deaconess, etc.) and I accept the catechism and canon law in toto with no reservations. The church has changed disciplines and practices many times over the past 2000 years and that’s okay. The doctrine has never changed, God has never changed and thus I do not see these things as leading us astray or being unchristian. I do not believe that God will allow that to happen to HIS church. We have bishops for a reason. Let’s support them in the decisions that they make as a governing body led by the pope. They want to encourage altar boys, great, I send my sons. BUT, if they allow altar girls then I thank God for the young ladies who volunteer to serve. Christ is still present in the eucharist and mass is truly a holy celebration, EMOHC, altar girls, lay lectors (even women 😃 ), communion in the hand and all. Praise God and pray for my sons to thoughtfully consider the priesthood. (BTW, I am a convert through RCIA from the Mormon religion)
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Welcome Home.

Doctrine frequently changes, but the Church Deposit of Faith, Her Dogma cannot change.

I accept female altar servers too because the Church says to, but it did a very poor job in explaining the change and this has caused a great deal of consternation.
 
If you doubt that the female priest agenda is behind the promotion of altar girls please provide some evidence to the contrary as I have already provided a link which shows directly this is the group that pushed for them the most.

Here are some more links from the recent past…
catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9309ltrs.asp
womensordination.org/pages/action_pages/action24.htm

are.as.wvu.edu/Scheible.html

Altar girls have been around since the 1960’s it seems
pbs.org/newshour/bb/religion/july-dec98/church_11-23.html
Down around the middle…

I know there are many that do not agree with me, they want to promote women priests and they would not think of women priests as wrong. I agree, they do not agree and they don’t think it is wrong.
Yet to understand the role of a priest and how the priest stands in Persona Christi is to understand how evil it would be to promote women priests. Of course that is another thread and if you would like we can discuss that.

In Christ
Scylla

Doctrine doesn’t change either, tradition shouldn’t as it is a reflection of doctrine. How we practice our faith can change, yet it must be reflecting truth.
 
this is the group that pushed for them the most.
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is different than
the promotors of altar girls support an anti-christian agenda of female priests and disobedience.
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Did promoters of womens’ ordination push for female altar servers?

Yes.

Are all of the promoters of female altar servers pushing for womens’ ordination?

No.

Does the Church allow female altar servers, subject to the approval of the local Bishop?

Yes.
 
scylla said:
If you doubt that the female priest agenda is behind the promotion of altar girls please provide some evidence to the contrary as I have already provided a link which shows directly this is the group that pushed for them the most.

Here are some more links from the recent past…
catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9309ltrs.asp
womensordination.org/pages/action_pages/action24.htm

are.as.wvu.edu/Scheible.html

Altar girls have been around since the 1960’s it seems
pbs.org/newshour/bb/religion/july-dec98/church_11-23.html
Down around the middle…

I know there are many that do not agree with me, they want to promote women priests and they would not think of women priests as wrong. I agree, they do not agree and they don’t think it is wrong.
Yet to understand the role of a priest and how the priest stands in Persona Christi is to understand how evil it would be to promote women priests. Of course that is another thread and if you would like we can discuss that.

In Christ
Scylla
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No where have you shown an explanation by the Holy See for the allowance of female altar servers. I don’t believe one exists. That very fact is what bothers me. Because an official explanation does not exist, it leaves things wide-open for people to spew their own perception for the change, spreading discord and dissent in their wake.

The Church blew it on this one. Not by allowing female altar servers but by not explaining the change to the laity. The Church further ensured future problems when it left the ultimate decision up to local bishops/priests…
 
With all due respect, as this is not an attack on the previous poster or anyone else personally -

If you think that Rome owes you an explanation, then this is an obedience issue.

Rome made a change. They did so without comment. Nothing can or should be read into what they did not comment. The change is law. Period.

It is a very “American view” to make commentary on what is or is not said and how it is said.
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
With all due respect, as this is not an attack on the previous poster or anyone else personally -

If you think that Rome owes you an explanation, then this is an obedience issue.

Rome made a change. They did so without comment. Nothing can or should be read into what they did not comment. The change is law. Period.

It is a very “American view” to make commentary on what is or is not said and how it is said.
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First of all, “Rome” did not make a change – the Holy See did.

Second it comes across as very “political” and even cowardly to institute a change that was guaranteed to create confusion and discord, without an explanation. Just look at this forum and a thousand other places on the web. It’s not a matter of “obedience.” It’s a matter of good leadership.

This confusion is amplified by leaving the final decision up to the local bishop/priest which absolutely ensures there will be time and emotion wasted on fruitless debate. Keep in mind I’m not suggesting the Church made a mistake by allowing female altar servers. I suggest it made a big mistake by not explaining the change to us. And no, it’s not up to me to approve or reject any explanation. Just tell us why, Holy Mother Church.

Oh yeah, and it’s not “law”, it’s an instruction…
 
What comes from Rome IS law. Call it an instruction, call it a guideline, call it an indult. It’s all the same: the final word on what is allowed or not allowed.

Now, you yearn for the “WHY”. And that’s ok. But when you do not get it, you have to simply submit to the fact that there will not be a “why”, and leave it at that.

As for leaving the discretion up to the individual bishops of the dioceses of the world, that will always be done on these such matters. It’s kind of like the Church’s version of “state’s rights”. The Church will always give the most authority to individual bishops to determine what is best for their diocese.
 
John Paul II said:
3. The altar server occupies a privileged place in the liturgical celebration. He who serves at Mass, presents himself to a community. He experiences firsthand that Jesus Christ is present and active in every liturgical act. Jesus is present when the community comes together to pray and render praise to God. Jesus is present in the Word of sacred Scripture. Jesus is present above all in the Eucharist under the signs of bread and wine. He acts through the priest who, in the person of Christ, celebrates the holy Mass and administers the sacraments.
Therefore, in the liturgy, you are much more than simple “helpers of the parish priest.” Above all, you are servers of Jesus Christ, of the eternal High Priest. Thus, you, altar servers, are called in particular to be young friends of Jesus. Be determined to go deeper and to cultivate this friendship with him. You will discover that in Jesus you have found a true friend for life.
  1. I have spoken of friendship with Jesus. How happy I would be if something more sprang from this friendship! How beautiful it would be if some of you were to discover a vocation to the priesthood! Jesus Christ has urgent need of youths who will be at his disposition with generosity and no reservations. Moreover, might not the Lord also call one or two of you girls to embrace the consecrated life to serve the Church and the brothers and sisters? Even for those who wish to be united in marriage, the service of altar servers teaches that a real union must always include readiness for reciprocal and free service.
adoremus.org/JPII-Altarservers.html
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Some folks remind me of Thomas, who refused to believe until he put his fingers in the wounds. “I will not believe until I see it in writing.” No wonder Jesus praised the simplicity of children, who just trust their parents without shadows of doubts that they have their best interest at heart.
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
As for leaving the discretion up to the individual bishops of the dioceses of the world, that will always be done on these such matters. It’s kind of like the Church’s version of “state’s rights”. The Church will always give the most authority to individual bishops to determine what is best for their diocese.
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FYI, the final decision lies with the celebrant of the Mass, not with the bishop.

A bishop can only choose to allow or disallow them.

If the bishop chooses to allow them, he cannot mandate them.

So if a celebrant (even if it is a visiting priest) choosed not to allow altar girls at the Mass he is saying, the girls cannot serve.
 
I really don’t understand what the big deal is with the New Mass Altar Servers. The whole sanctuary has already been infiltrated with cantors, readers, eucharistic ministers, many, if not most, are women, even kids around the table. So who still notices the servers who already had been relegated to some minor function at the Mass? I mean, what do they do that’s so important now anyway? No wonder the boys left.
 
BobP123 said:
I really don’t understand what the big deal is with the New Mass Altar Servers. The whole sanctuary has already been infiltrated with cantors, readers, eucharistic ministers, many, if not most, are women, even kids around the table. So who still notices the servers who already had been relegated to some minor function at the Mass? I mean, what do they do that’s so important now anyway? No wonder the boys left.
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My understanding is that the eucharistic ministers have always been present for 2000 years. I have not seen a woman being one yet, and I know I will never see one.
 
Did promoters of womens’ ordination push for female altar servers?
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Yes.
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Are all of the promoters of female altar servers pushing for womens’ ordination?
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No.
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Does the Church allow female altar servers, subject to the approval of the local Bishop?
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Yes.
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I agree with all these points, yet I ask what is your point?

I know the Church allows female altar servers, that doesn’t mean that we should use them.

Peter was allowed by Christ to deny Him. Jesus knew it was going to happen and He allowed it to happen for a greater good, does this mean that everything allowed should be promoted?

In Christ
Scylla
 
scylla said:
I agree with all these points, yet I ask what is your point?

I know the Church allows female altar servers, that doesn’t mean that we should use them.

Peter was allowed by Christ to deny Him. Jesus knew it was going to happen and He allowed it to happen for a greater good, does this mean that everything allowed should be promoted?

In Christ
Scylla
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My point is…if the Church allows it, the case is closed.

At the same time, if the Church forbids it, the case is closed.

And your point about Peter denying Christ…are you saying that those who follow a lawful directive of the Church are denying Christ? Committing a sin?
 
No, they are not committing a sin, those girls who serve are not committing sins in serving. They are serving Christ and in doing so are doing a good thing.
Yes, I agree even when my Bishop states that we must pour the consecrated blood into separate chalices I must obey. The case is closed as I am just a servant who follows, yet I can certainly say why we shouldn’t be doing certain things and why we should do others.

Those who do commit sin are those who misrepresent truth to mislead people. This is done by doing seemingly harmless acts which subvert faith and can be easily denied as not meaning to subvert faith.

It is not a directive to have Altar Girls, they are permitted much like I am permitted to miss Mass under certain circumstances, such as saving the life of someone. That is a good act in itself just like the girls at the altar are doing a good act in serving Christ.

The reasons behind the actions are what is wrong and what is right or more faithful should be promoted.

Is it preferable to only have boys serve, the Church says yes.

Should we do what is preferable?

God Bless
Scylla
 
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