reflections from a former altar girl

[CatholicSooner]

Are altar girls a relavitely new thing? I don’t see an issue with it. Jesus had female diciples, so I fail to see how it would be wrong for a female to be an alter server.

 

[L_Marshall]

Are altar girls a relavitely new thing? I don’t see an issue with it. Jesus had female diciples, so I fail to see how it would be wrong for a female to be an alter server.

Altar girls were only permitted since the 1970’s. Even until today, bishops and priests don’t need to allow girls to be altar servers. If the priest doesn’t want girls to serve, then he does nothing wrong.

Altar servers were originally members of the Order of Acolyte. Until 1972, there were nine orders of clergy, instead of the three we have now. These were the tonsured, porters, exorcists, lectors, acolytes, subdeacons, deacons, priests, and bishops. Only the last three have been retained. Each order had specific responsibilities. Acolytes were the ones who normally served the Mass.

In earlier Church History, lay men were admitted to the Minor Orders (the tonsured, porters, exorcists, lectors, and acolytes) openly, without seeking Major Orders (also called Holy Orders). Only men in the Order of Acolyte would be allowed to serve the Mass in the way altar servers would.

However, at some point, the Church restricted the Minor Orders to those who were pursuing Holy Orders (what we would call a seminarian today). When this happened, it became rarer to see Acolytes in a typical parish. With this, men were allowed to step in as “straw” acolytes, or altar servers, to make the celebration of Mass easier. This was the case for centuries.

Since 1972, the minor orders have been suppressed, but the orders of Lector and Acolyte have been replaced with the “instituted ministries” of Lector and Acolyte. Typically, only men preparing for Holy Orders are admitted to these ministries.

However, if any instituted Acolytes or Lectors are present, they take precedence over normal altar servers. E.g.: Instituted Acolytes were present at a Mass, all of them would need to be used before altar servers were used.

 

[Usige]

… but the orders of Lector and Acolyte have been replaced with the “instituted ministries” of Lector and Acolyte. Typically, only men preparing for Holy Orders are admitted to these ministries.

That can very by diocese. Our parish just recently had 3 men instituted (?) as acolytes. I talked to our pastor and none of the 3 have plans to become permanent deacons or priests. But you are correct that there are only a handful of diocese that have instituted lectors and acolytes outside of clerical formation.

 

[ProVobis]

In the EF Mass, the altar boys are doing more than just serving the priest. They are the ones who actually say the responses, so in a sense, they are partnering with the priest to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass. I can certainly understand why only boys should do this.

But in the OF Mass, everyone says the responses, and the altar servers are basically just doing the “bus work.” So to me, it makes sense to include both males and females as altar servers.

Thanks for recognizing this. Yes, the EF definitely does require more training as far as altar serving goes. The Prayers at the Foot of the Altar alone took me about a month to memorize. And then we had mentors with which we practiced to keep us in tune. And then if you become an MC, it was even more training.

But I’d be curious. What is the average training period for a server today, male or female? I see the deacon doing most of the work.

 

[jeannetherese]

I can’t speak to the average, but I’ve been through the training process at my local parish as a means of deepening my understanding and participation when assisting at mass (I am not an altar server).We trained for a bit more than an hour on two occasions in preparation for serving our first Mass.
New altar servers are generally paired with more experience servers, at first, to support them with some “on the job training”.

 

[bitterhope]

The training and even the ages allowed very widely from parish to parish. We have been in some parishes that as long as children have made First Communion they can be servers, and there have been others that require the children to be 6th grade so they are able to start training the summer the complete 5th grade. Most parishes we have been to it seems that 5th grade is the most common. One parish we attended had an hour if training, another parish had 6 hours, broken up an hour at a time over 6 weeks. Each parish has varied on the responsibilities of the servers. Some places the kids don’t do much of anything, where at other parishes they are very busy. One parish in the area we are currently only has one adult man that serves, no matter what time we have been to their Mass. There are never any children serving, or even a different adult serving. I guess that it just really varies dramatically based on the desires of that specific parish and/or priest.

 

[Phemie]

In our parish the kids are recruited when they’ve made their First Communion and they normally do that when they are 7 – usually that’s 2nd grade but they could still be in the 1st grade if they were born early in January or February.

They start by simply carrying the candles and being in the sanctuary then progress to helping set the altar at the Offertory (with an older, more experienced server or with one of the two women who train servers) then eventually get to hold the book for the Collects. Once they are tall & strong enough they get to carry the Crucifix in procession.

 

[CB_Catholic]

In our parish the kids are recruited when they’ve made their First Communion and they normally do that when they are 7 – usually that’s 2nd grade but they could still be in the 1st grade if they were born early in January or February.

They start by simply carrying the candles and being in the sanctuary then progress to helping set the altar at the Offertory (with an older, more experienced server or with one of the two women who train servers) then eventually get to hold the book for the Collects. Once they are tall & strong enough they get to carry the Crucifix in procession.

Around here it’s somewhere between 3rd to 5th grade. My two granddaughters are servers and the youngest was in 3rd grade when she started. They both love it, and in both my parish and theirs, the ratio is about half and half boys and girls. It is a wonderful opportunity for a child to learn to serve God in their parish.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Thanks for recognizing this. Yes, the EF definitely does require more training as far as altar serving goes. The Prayers at the Foot of the Altar alone took me about a month to memorize. And then we had mentors with which we practiced to keep us in tune. And then if you become an MC, it was even more training.

But I’d be curious. What is the average training period for a server today, male or female? I see the deacon doing most of the work.

Well, I’m an MC and I didn’t get much training at all. Although on my own I contacted one of the other MC’s and asked to shadow them. Then I made up my own notes and list of what to do.

It seems like our altar servers don’t get much training at all and we are always having to direct them through the Mass a lot–both boys and girls. Some of the boys are a lot less reverent…unfortunately.

 

[thistle]

Here in the Philippines females are not permitted to be altar servers or EMHC’s.

However, most of the announcers and readers are females.

 

[larsont7]

Well, I’m an MC and I didn’t get much training at all. Although on my own I contacted one of the other MC’s and asked to shadow them. Then I made up my own notes and list of what to do.

It seems like our altar servers don’t get much training at all and we are always having to direct them through the Mass a lot–both boys and girls. Some of the boys are a lot less reverent…unfortunately.

I believe ProVobis was speaking about training for MC in the EF, not the OF. I’d imagine his training was different than yours was as the two positions are very different. Of course, having another MC train you and taking notes would certainly be a good way to learn in either form, I imagine.

Here’s a good training video for a Low Mass in the EF. youtube.com/watch?v=4l1-zNxP4Gk

 

[Phemie]

Altar girls were only permitted since the 1970’s. Even until today, bishops and priests don’t need to allow girls to be altar servers. If the priest doesn’t want girls to serve, then he does nothing wrong.

No, not the 70s.

As late as 1980 it was expressly forbidden, per
Inaestimabile donum 18: “There are, of course, various roles that women can perform in the liturgical assembly: these include reading the Word of God and proclaiming the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful. Women are not, however, permitted to act as altar servers”. Technically, it’s been since the new Code of Canon Law in 1983.

Officially, only since 1994, when Canon 230, § 2 was clarified by the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts in response to a dubium.

ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwcomm.htm

 

[ProVobis]

Well, I’m an MC and I didn’t get much training at all. Although on my own I contacted one of the other MC’s and asked to shadow them. Then I made up my own notes and list of what to do.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an MC in the OF. Can you describe the duties? Can they be performed with the deacon present? During concelebrations?

 

[jeannetherese]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an MC in the OF. Can you describe the duties? Can they be performed with the deacon present? During concelebrations?

I wonder if MC in this case might refer to Master of Ceremonies or if it might be shorthand for Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion?

 

[ProVobis]

I believe ProVobis was speaking about training for MC in the EF, not the OF. I’d imagine his training was different than yours was as the two positions are very different. Of course, having another MC train you and taking notes would certainly be a good way to learn in either form, I imagine.

True. My specific training was for MC’ing the Solemn High* Funeral Masses, as our parish more or less standardized them and there were many. It involved setting the direction (when to start, where to read in the Missal, coordinating the incensing rituals, etc.). Solemn High Masses other than Funerals, required special training, very specific to the occasion, such as the bishop celebrating the Mass or confirmation or anniversary of some type. Normally a priest (and not the nuns nor other MC’s) would spend time and instruct all the servers beforehand on and for those occasions. And don’t forget, the entire thing was conducted in Latin so no ad-libbing during the service.

• with deacon and subdeacon.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an MC in the OF. Can you describe the duties? Can they be performed with the deacon present? During concelebrations?

Sure it is kind of a cross between a sacristan and a head server, although you have to be an adult. Basically the duties are to set up before Mass, assign the EMHC’s—and get replacements if they don’t show. Also, we are in charge of the altar servers during Mass and are an EMHC as well. We have to be alert and ready for anything if Father signals us during Mass.

We only have one priest so usually there isn’t a deacon. But for a year we did have a transitional deacon (who now is an awesome priest). They filled in somewhat in some of our roles—which I preferred actually. He helped with the gifts, and with setting up the altar before the gifts. After the gifts things aren’t really any different except there was the altar servers (and myself guiding them) on one side and Father on the other—before the prayer over the gifts. He did distribute communion right by Father which is where I have to do it now…of course he is an Ordinary Minister and I am not. Then I would have to get one less EMHC. After communion is the same, it’s just that the deacon would purify instead of Father, as part of his training.

Personally I enjoyed having a transitional deacon that year. We don’t have any permanent deacons.

Over 1,200 families and only one priest….it makes it tiring for Father. I think the whole concept came about because there was a large period of time where this parish did not have a regular priest due to an accident with one priest, one priest went home and then couldn’t get back in the country, and then the last priest got sick and died within a couple of years of being at the parish. They needed some consistency in the liturgy and someone to set up for whatever visiting priest they would have that weekend. I don’t think Father has changed it in all these years because he is so busy administering the sacraments and doing things that only a priest can do.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

I wonder if MC in this case might refer to Master of Ceremonies or if it might be shorthand for Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion?

They call it MC and I think it’s ministry coordinator as we are responsible for the EMHC’s and where they are at as well as the altar servers AND making sure that we have readers as well.

 

[Spoken4]

I live in a retirement community. Because there are no kids available to be altar servers, the senior citizens do it.

It is true that sometimes a husband and his wife serve together. There is one couple that look alike. I look at them and wonder, which is the husband and which is the wife? The wife wears her hair short like he does, they both have gray hair, glasses, and both wear black oxford tie shoes. They are around the same height. Talk about unisex. I heard where people start to look like each other after they have been married for many years. They often dress alike, and many times the same colors. Women don’t wear dresses as a rule and well…

I suppose when retired, they don’t like to dress up in heels and skirts.

Funny, AFG… but oh so true!

And I am a Cantor and choir member, but that doesn’t mean that I’ll ever have a platinum album on Billboard or hold a lead role with our local metro opera!

I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for girls to become involved actively with the Mass and with their Faith. And while girls don’t become priests, they do become nuns/sisters (depending on whether they are cloistered or in the community; to me, they are all ‘sisters’).

 

[ProVobis]

They call it MC and I think it’s ministry coordinator as we are responsible for the EMHC’s and where they are at as well as the altar servers AND making sure that we have readers as well.

I didn’t think of Ministry Coordinator, which sounds more of what you’re doing.

I meant Master of Ceremonies, whose role is inside the liturgy. Those lousy acronyms.

 

[powerofk]

My parish uses Masters of Ceremonies, but only for the Triduum Masses, and possibly special event Masses, such as Confirmation. Pretty much, their duties are related simply to making everything work smoothly - and help out with incensing.