Is this allowed?

[starrs0]

I’m pretty new to the Church I’m a convert whose in RCIA at the moment and I haven’t attened many Masses but during today’s noon Mass we had a child give the first reading and another announce the prayer intentions we also had two kids bring up the bread and wine for the Eucharist I found this to be most puzzling is this even allowed? I’ve also noticed that we have two women that offer the chalice to communicates is This allowed?

 

[Marauder]

Children are allowed to be readers as long as they meet the following guidelines.

1. In the absence of an instituted lector, other laypersons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture. They should be truly suited to perform this function and should receive careful preparation, so that the faithful by listening to the readings from the sacred texts may develop in their hearts a warm and living love for Sacred Scripture.

Based on this, you can see that the readers need to have careful preparation and the person should be able to speak in a way that people listening can get an appreciation of scripture. A child that can barely speak or pronounce the words would not fulfill this requirement.

There is no problem with kids bringing up the gifts as long as they are not playing around and they are doing it in a respectful way.

In the absence of a Deacon, you are allowed to have EMHCs distribute the precious Blood, and EMHCs can be women. But care must be taken not to violate the numerous rules concerning EMHCs, especially concerning their overuse.

P.S. I am betting the Mass you attended was a Mass that kids from the local Catholic school attended. It is common to use kids from the school as altar servers, lectors, and gift bearers at school Masses.

 

[The_Barrister]

Marauder:

Children are allowed to be readers as long as they meet the following quidelines.
Based on this, you can see that the readers have to have careful preperation and the person should be able to speak in a way that people listening can get an appreciation of scripture. A child that can barely speak or pronounce the words would not fulfill this requirement.

There is no problem with kids bringing up the gifts as long as they are not playing around and they are doing it in a respectful way.

In the absence of a Deacon, you are allowed to have EMHCs distribute the precious Blood, and EMHCs can be women. But care must be taken not to violate the numerous rules concerning EMHCs, especially concerning their overuse.

P.S. I am betting the Mass you attended was a Mass that kids from the local Catholic school attended. It is common to use kids from the school as altar servers, lectors, and gift bearers at school Masses.

Good answers, all.

At the teen life Mass I occasionally attend, the lectors are all in their teens, and several do a superior job with the readings - not too fast, not too slow, good annunciation, and pauses at the right spots. Much better job than many of the adults.

 

[SeekerJen]

Marauder:

P.S. I am betting the Mass you attended was a Mass that kids from the local Catholic school attended. It is common to use kids from the school as altar servers, lectors, and gift bearers at school Masses.

Yup, sounds like the school Masses we used to attend while I was in Catholic elem. school. It’s fairly common to see students serving as readers, gift bearers, altar servers, musicians, etc. at a weekday Mass if the parish includes a school.

 

[Jermosh]

This is not that uncommon, and if you go to a parich that has a school its quite common. I have a family and go to the family mass, on certain days we have children readers, greeters, and prayer anouncers. They usually happen on Sundays that have something to do with Children, such as Catholic School offering, liturgy that is about children, or a feast of a saint that has something to do with children.

In the end I think I learn more of my faith sprituality from my child then I do from most of the adults. And always remember there is only one way of entering Heavan and that is to be like a child to God.

Also as a recent convert myself, welcome home and hold your ground till Easter, and buckle up becuase it is going to be a bumpy road. But just keep your eyes on Easter.

Peace
Jermosh

 

[katolik]

Jermosh:

This is not that uncommon, and if you go to a parich that has a school its quite common. I have a family and go to the family mass, on certain days we have children readers, greeters, and prayer anouncers. They usually happen on Sundays that have something to do with Children, such as Catholic School offering, liturgy that is about children, or a feast of a saint that has something to do with children.

In the end I think I learn more of my faith sprituality from my child then I do from most of the adults. And always remember there is only one way of entering Heavan and that is to be like a child to God.

Also as a recent convert myself, welcome home and hold your ground till Easter, and buckle up becuase it is going to be a bumpy road. But just keep your eyes on Easter.

Peace
Jermosh

What are greeters and prayer announcers at Mass?

 

[Jermosh]

katolik:

What are greeters and prayer announcers at Mass?

I am still a neophyte so I most likely off in there terminoligy.
A greeter is someone whos stands at the door and greets people with a handshake and gives them a copy of the weekly bullitains.

Prayer anounceers are the ones who stand over in the corner and anounce people that we should pray for, like the Church leaders, political leaders, certain people in need of prayers, sick parishiners, stuff like that. They also anounce who the weeks tithe is going to and the mass intentions.

Peace
Jermosh

 

[albert_cipriani]

Jermosh:

A greeter is someone whos stands at the door and greets people with a handshake…

Yep. You’ll notice greeters at Wall Mart, too. Isn’t it wonderful how the modern bishops have incorporated elements of secular society into Catholicism’s most sacred mysteries? Makes me want to go shopping. – Sarcastically, Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic

P.S. Am I the only one here who cringes at the sight of greeters? Before I started attending the Traditional Mass (where greeters, the sign of peace, and arm-waving is blessedly banished) I always did my best to avoid them.

 

[Jermosh]

albert cipriani:

Yep. You’ll notice greeters at Wall Mart, too. Isn’t it wonderful how the modern bishops have incorporated elements of secular society into Catholicism’s most sacred mysteries? Makes me want to go shopping. – Sarcastically, Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic

P.S. Am I the only one here who cringes at the sight of greeters? Before I started attending the Traditional Mass (where greeters, the sign of peace, and arm-waving is blessedly banished) I always did my best to avoid them.

Give me one reason why a greeter is bad? They were used in the early church to weed out infiltrators, and to welcome confirmed Catholics.

 

[katolik]

Jermosh:

Give me one reason why a greeter is bad? They were used in the early church to weed out infiltrators, and to welcome confirmed Catholics.

These “greeters” in the early history of the Church were deacons or subdeacons or porters[a minor order done away with Vatican II]. They were ordained to do this. But these men were not just “greeters” they were more like security guards. If pagans wanted to enter the church,these men would lock up the doors. Also Catholics so held sacred the Eucharist that they would lock up the doors so as no one would give Jesus “a kiss like that of Judas”[from the litrugy of Saint John Chrysostom]. That is a sacrilege. Excommunicated men would not be able to receive the Eucharist, but now they do[Kerry one example] and do the greeters throw him out of the church?
how many will tell a non Catholic to leave?

 

[katolik]

Why are they bad?

Copied from PROTESTANTS.

 

[bear06]

katolik:

Why are they bad?

Copied from PROTESTANTS.

Hmmm…The saying “the pot called the kettle black” just popped into my head. I wonder why?

We’ve already had one conversation locked out today. Might as well quit why we are ahead. Starrs question has been answered. The Church allows it. Now we’re just getting into SOME opinions we’ll never agree upon.

 

[Crusader]

katolik:

These “greeters” in the early history of the Church were deacons or subdeacons or porters[a minor order done away with Vatican II]. They were ordained to do this. But these men were not just “greeters” they were more like security guards. If pagans wanted to enter the church,these men would lock up the doors. Also Catholics so held sacred the Eucharist that they would lock up the doors so as no one would give Jesus “a kiss like that of Judas”[from the litrugy of Saint John Chrysostom]. That is a sacrilege. Excommunicated men would not be able to receive the Eucharist, but now they do[Kerry one example] and do the greeters throw him out of the church?
how many will tell a non Catholic to leave?

I hope NO ONE would tell a"non Catholic to leave" unless said person was acting in an unacceptable manner.

To denigrate “greeters” as you are is simply ludicrous. You seem to be projecting some sort of odd “bunker mentality” that does nothing but harm to the Church.

 

[Deacon2006]

starrs0:

I’m pretty new to the Church I’m a convert whose in RCIA at the moment and I haven’t attened many Masses but during today’s noon Mass we had a child give the first reading and another announce the prayer intentions we also had two kids bring up the bread and wine for the Eucharist I found this to be most puzzling is this even allowed? I’ve also noticed that we have two women that offer the chalice to communicates is This allowed?

Not on the face of it because the the actual activities being undertaken by the laity are permitted by the church.

It is this rule of love that emenates from the hierachcial church headed by Christ that I would examine. Is the use of the lay persons at the expense of properly installed ministers and if not is it at the expense of the understanding of the teaching of the church on the proper dispositions of the laity, installed laity, and ordained. More than a few pastors are quite openly in favor of breaking down theses distinctions prepared for us by Christ and articulated by our pope.

Give your pastor the benefit of the doubt but if his actions are really designed to rebel against the Pope then don’t be afraid to report him.

God Bless

 

[Crusader]

albert cipriani:

Yep. You’ll notice greeters at Wall Mart, too. Isn’t it wonderful how the modern bishops have incorporated elements of secular society into Catholicism’s most sacred mysteries? Makes me want to go shopping. – Sarcastically, Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic

P.S. Am I the only one here who cringes at the sight of greeters? Before I started attending the Traditional Mass (where greeters, the sign of peace, and arm-waving is blessedly banished) I always did my best to avoid them.

You are mistaken again.

“Greeters” are neither banned nor required as part of the rubrics for either the Novus Ordo or Tridentine Masses. They are not part of either Mass.

“Arm waving” is neither specifically banned nor required as part of the rubrics for either the Novus Ordo or Tridentine Masses.

Please do not provide inaccurate information to others…

 

[katolik]

Crusader:

I hope NO ONE would tell a"non Catholic to leave" unless said person was acting in an unacceptable manner.

To denigrate “greeters” as you are is simply ludicrous. You seem to be projecting some sort of odd “bunker mentality” that does nothing but harm to the Church.

You don’t understand. The early Catholics held the Eucharist in such hugh esteem that they would not want unworthy ones to partake of this mystery. Anyways a Protestant taking the Eucharist during the Mass is still a mortal sin… And in the early days of the CHurch, Catholics wanted to prevent a sacrilege. Do you understand?

 

[albert_cipriani]

Jermosh:

Give me one reason why a greeter is bad?

Greeters are not bad. They are, I’m sure, every bit as decent and good intentioned as everyone on this board, even Crusader! (Humor Alert! Humor Alert! That’s an attempt at good-natured ribbing.)

To be bad is to violate the Natural Law, especially as refined over the centuries by the Magisterium. Greeters are simply (and I mean that in every sense of the word) doing what they are told. This frees them from any personal responsibility in whatever malaise their actions may induce.

We are symbolic creatures. We cannot help but form ideas non-intellectually through the irrational process of association. Such ideas are almost always defective. Greeters are just one more innovation in the post-conciliar Church that induces another defective idea by association. Allow me to demonstrate.

At theaters, a ticket taker greets us and directs us to the movie. Office buildings are universally “manned” by women receptionist to greet patrons. Even casinos have their shills, brothels have their madams, and bars have their bouncers. Get the picture?

Secular society employs front-men to take care of customers. When sacred society emulates this well-established practice, the separation between the sacred and the profane is blurred. And it is this blurring that is bad, not the innocent people duped into their roles as greeters. As a sacred society, we should do all that we can to clearly set ourselves apart from secular society, not mush over the distinctions which leads to incorporation. – Sincerely, Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic
http://www.geocities.com/albert_cipriani/index.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ReligiousPhilosophy/

 

[kmmd]

I think that there are two misguided notions at work here. First is the misunderstanding of what “full and active participation” means. In some parishes, they think that the more members of the congregation have something to “do” at Mass, the more “vibrant” the Liturgy (at least that’s the way they say it at my parish). The other problem, which is MAJOR is that there are many people on the staff at some parishes who think that the purpose of the Mass in the joining of the community. I think the protestants call it “fellowship”. I earned my reputation as a rabble rouser in my parish the day the liturgy wrote this little gem in the bulletin: “God is present in the bread, in the word, in the minister, but most importantly in the community”. This really happened and hopefully at least some of you can understand why I went ballistic.

 

[Jermosh]

Albert,
Either the popes and bishops are in charge, or they are not. If they want to allow greeters at a mass they can.

At theaters, a ticket taker greets us and directs us to the movie. Office buildings are universally “manned” by women receptionist to greet patrons. Even casinos have their shills, brothels have their madams, and bars have their bouncers. Get the picture?

No I do not. To state that a Mass is on the same level of a movie is a but on the odd side of the fence.

 

[katolik]

Jermosh:

Albert,
Either the popes and bishops are in charge, or they are not. If they want to allow greeters at a mass they can.

No I do not. To state that a Mass is on the same level of a movie is a but on the odd side of the fence.

To reiterate my point there are guards at the door of St.Peter’s basilica, checking for proper attire. NOT GREETERS…