Rules Concerning Female Altar Servers

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Hi.

Does anyone know what the rules are concerning female altar servers? I’m fairly sure that it is only permissible under certain conditions - can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks.
 
Athan said:
Hi.

Does anyone know what the rules are concerning female altar servers? I’m fairly sure that it is only permissible under certain conditions - can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks.
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The local bishop must first give permission. If that does not happen, no pastor or priest in the diocese may use them.
ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwcomm.htm

Secondly, for female altar servers to be used in a parish, the pastor must then give his permission. A visiting priest, or an associate pastor may not begin to use female altar servers without the consent of the pastor.

Finally, the celebrant of the Mass must consent to use female altar servers. Neither the pastor of a parish, nor the bishop, may force a priest to use female altar servers
adoremus.org/CDW-AltarServers.html

If permission is given in all three cases above, females may be used for service at the altar.
 
Thanks very much, Brendan.

Does there not have to be a lack of males to serve the altar also? Is this not also a condition?
 
Athan said:
Thanks very much, Brendan.

Does there not have to be a lack of males to serve the altar also? Is this not also a condition?
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No it is not. the Bishop and the pastor can give their permission for any reason at all.
 
Brendan said:
No it is not. the Bishop and the pastor can give their permission for any reason at all.
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Just as a bit of a postscript, Brendan:

Having read the above documents they do stress female altar service as a deviation from the norm, and stress that the Ordinary be mindful of ‘the reasons which would motivate such a permission.’

I don’t think that ‘any reason at all’ was envisioned by the Congregation of Divine Worship, but that has certainly become the reality.

God bless.
 
Brendan said:
The local bishop must first give permission. If that does not happen, no pastor or priest in the diocese may use them.
ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwcomm.htm

Secondly, for female altar servers to be used in a parish, the pastor must then give his permission. A visiting priest, or an associate pastor may not begin to use female altar servers without the consent of the pastor.

Finally, the celebrant of the Mass must consent to use female altar servers. Neither the pastor of a parish, nor the bishop, may force a priest to use female altar servers
adoremus.org/CDW-AltarServers.html

If permission is given in all three cases above, females may be used for service at the altar.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info;I had wondered the same thing myself. 🙂
 
Why would one think all-male altar service is the norm? Is there a sound scriptural basis for it? I should not be surprised if it is written in church law, but assuming it is so, could it have been an artifact of the culture and times?
 
Cardinal Arinze has an interesting point about altar service for boys being a path toward the seminary and priesthood. I note that he begins and ends his remarks by saying that it is his opinion.

I’m still looking for something closer to revealed truths.

Here’s a start: all 12 apostles were male. Very well, but Scripture also has it that women served Jesus, for example, in Luke 7:38, Luke 10:38-42, and perhaps John 4:7.
 
Beryllos said:
Cardinal Arinze has an interesting point about altar service for boys being a path toward the seminary and priesthood. I note that he begins and ends his remarks by saying that it is his opinion.

I’m still looking for something closer to revealed truths.

Here’s a start: all 12 apostles were male. Very well, but Scripture also has it that women served Jesus, for example, in Luke 7:38, Luke 10:38-42, and perhaps John 4:7.
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Hmmmm, none of those verses have to do with the Last Supper/institution of the Eucharist…I don’t remember mention of girls/women in any of the accounts of the Last Supper.

So maybe it wasn’t revealed?🤷
 
Beryllos said:
Cardinal Arinze has an interesting point about altar service for boys being a path toward the seminary and priesthood. I note that he begins and ends his remarks by saying that it is his opinion.

I’m still looking for something closer to revealed truths.

Here’s a start: all 12 apostles were male. Very well, but Scripture also has it that women served Jesus, for example, in Luke 7:38, Luke 10:38-42, and perhaps John 4:7.
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The letter from the Vatican also noted that the use of boys at the altar promotes priestly vocations
In accord with the above cited instructions of the Holy See such an authorization may not, in any way, exclude men or, in particular, boys from service at the altar, nor require that priests of the diocese would make use of female altar servers, since “it will always be very appropriate to follow the noble tradition of having boys serve at the altar” (Circular Letter to the Presidents of Episcopal Conference, March 15, 1994, no. 2).** Indeed, the obligation to support groups of altar boys will always remain, not least of all due to the well known assistance that such programs have provided since time immemorial in encouraging future priestly vocations **(cf. ibid.) -
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See my second link in Post 4
 
I am an altar server and that helps young boys discern their vocation. Altar service is for me, a path to discern my vocation.

Altar service is also considered a priestly function, such as giving communion. It is connected with the nature of Holy Orders.

I noticed that many boys feel discouraged when they see a lot of altar girls, they see it as a “girly” thing and you know how boys are, they don’t want to do “girl’s stuff” but it is just a misconception.
 
BTW, I am an altarboy too, and I can tell you that altar girls don’t help the vocation crisis nor encourage other guys to serve because they can see it as girly.
I’m not a fan of altar girls. :dts:
 
holyfamily1 said:
BTW, I am an altarboy too, and I can tell you that altar girls don’t help the vocation crisis nor encourage other guys to serve because they can see it as girly.
I’m not a fan of altar girls. :dts:
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Some people may see it as misogyny, when in fact, it is the opposite, it is because of the nature of Holy Orders in itself. I’m not a fan either.
 
leinadster said:
I am an altar server and that helps young boys discern their vocation. Altar service is for me, a path to discern my vocation.

Altar service is also considered a priestly function, such as giving communion. It is connected with the nature of Holy Orders.

I noticed that many boys feel discouraged when they see a lot of altar girls, they see it as a “girly” thing and you know how boys are, they don’t want to do “girl’s stuff” but it is just a misconception.
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So, when a boy decides that he doesn’t have a calling to the priesthood, should he stop serving at the Altar? 🤷
 
maryjk said:
So, when a boy decides that he doesn’t have a calling to the priesthood, should he stop serving at the Altar? 🤷
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Not really. It is up to his own will. We altar servers, we serve by free will, because we love the Mass and we have a deeper understanding of the Holy Sacrifice, that is the main reason and the core of our task. If a boy finally discerns that he is not made for priesthood, that should not stop him from serving at Mass.

For the record, there is a parish in Brazil with lots of altar girls and a new priest took possession as a pastor. He started offering the latin mass at his parish but did not want to dismiss all the altar girls, so he trained them and formed with the girls a nice Schola Cantorum 😃
 
maryjk said:
So, when a boy decides that he doesn’t have a calling to the priesthood, should he stop serving at the Altar? 🤷
Click to expand...
I can recall growing up I was an altar server and the thought of becoming a Priest never once crossed my mind. I stoped being an altar server basically I basically out grew it (i’ve never seen an adult server, only middle school aged kids).

Edit: I take that back about adult server’s, there is a retired guy who serves as a “server” during daily Mass in my Parish, he’s not a full blown server, just a guy who in street clothes presents the bread & wine, does the hand washing job and returns to his seat.
 
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