Our church has both boys and girls serving and they currently wear the muslin or flax albs. My family is considering purchasing several sets of black cassocks and white surplices for the alter servers. We are wondering if there is a problem with the girls wearing the more traditional cassock and surplice. There are several posts on this subject but no definitive answer. Do you have the answer or know where we might find it?
If girls are allowed to be altar servers in your parish and diocese, then it appears to me that they may wear the garments made available for such service. In any event, I do not know of any legislation of the Church that would forbid it.
You should be aware though that, as the extraordinary form of the Roman rite of the Mass becomes more widespread, eventually the Church may have to reconsider whether customs and disciplines common to the ordinary form of the Mass (e.g., altar girls, lay lectors, head coverings for women, Communion in the hand, standing to receive Communion) will be allowed in the extraordinary form (and vice versa). Absent such instruction from the Church, and out of respect for tender consciences that may be unnecessarily scandalized by what they perceive to be “innovations” to the extraordinary form, it may be prudent to respect the traditional customs within the extraordinary form unless and until the Church determines otherwise (cf. Rom. 14).
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