Rules Concerning Female Altar Servers

[maryjk]

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.

That is my point.

My son served for years. There was never a time that he thought about the priesthood. By the time he started serving, he had already decided that he wanted to marry and have children.

So, no, he didn’t serve to discern a priestly vocation.

 

[holyfamily1]

That is my point.

My son served for years. There was never a time that he thought about the priesthood. By the time he started serving, he had already decided that he wanted to marry and have children.

So, no, he didn’t serve to discern a priestly vocation.

Altar serving isn’t nessasarily for discerning the sacred priesthood… but, it does encourage it immensely when only boys/guys serve.

 

[leinadster]

Altar serving isn’t nessasarily for discerning the sacred priesthood… but, it does encourage it immensely when only boys/guys serve.

Exactly, vocation for priesthood has a supernatural origin. A discerning man won’t exactly hear a voice saying “come follow Me”. It is about encouraging vocations.

 

[Monkey1976]

Being one of those who still had questions about his vocation in their late 30’s, I’ve recently starting serving at an OF Mass said in Latin ad orientem, where the priest prefers to incorporate some of the EF rubrics where it isn’t specified otherwise, such as lifting the chasuble at the elevations. To do this, I have to be directly next to him at the consecration. The first Mass I served, I immediately knew that I wasn’t called to the priesthood, and that acting as an acolyte is as far as God was calling me toward Holy Orders.

I would say that serving at the altar encourages proper discernment of one’s vocation. Being that close to the “action” can draw a sharp line and show you exactly where you should be. If nothing else, it encourages boys (and men) to think seriously about the possibility of being called to Holy Orders.

As far as “rules” regarding girls serving at the altar, there is one that I really wish people would follow: Don’t dress them in cassock and surplice. Those are men’s clothes. If the servers are all male, then cassock and surplice are wonderful. If they are all female, or a mix of male and female, then vest them in albs. No cross-dressing in the sanctuary.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Altar serving isn’t nessasarily for discerning the sacred priesthood… but, it does encourage it immensely when only boys/guys serve.

I am always amused when this topic comes up, espeically when people talk about it “encouraging” priestly vocations.

This is purely anecdotal evidence.

Serving at the altar can help to foster a vocation, but it is most certainly not the only or even the “best” way, IMHO.

Based on the newer priests (those ordained in the last 10 years) that I know personally, out of the 10 of them, only one was an altar server. And he does not credit is altar service with the discernment of his vocation at all.

 

[holyfamily1]

Being one of those who still had questions about his vocation in their late 30’s, I’ve recently starting serving at an OF Mass said in Latin ad orientem, where the priest prefers to incorporate some of the EF rubrics where it isn’t specified otherwise, such as lifting the chasuble at the elevations. To do this, I have to be directly next to him at the consecration. The first Mass I served, I immediately knew that I wasn’t called to the priesthood, and that acting as an acolyte is as far as God was calling me toward Holy Orders.

I would say that serving at the altar encourages proper discernment of one’s vocation. Being that close to the “action” can draw a sharp line and show you exactly where you should be. If nothing else, it encourages boys (and men) to think seriously about the possibility of being called to Holy Orders.

As far as “rules” regarding girls serving at the altar, there is one that I really wish people would follow: Don’t dress them in cassock and surplice. Those are men’s clothes. If the servers are all male, then cassock and surplice are wonderful. If they are all female, or a mix of male and female, then vest them in albs. No cross-dressing in the sanctuary.

Excellent post.
I hate cross dressing in the sanctuary too. As much as I am against altar girls, I was happy to see at a different church by me that the altarboys were wearing cassock and surplice and the :dts: altargirls were wearing albs and a scapular thing. Cross dressing wasn’t happening here.

 

[coachdennis]

" we have a deeper understanding of the Holy Sacrifice"

I do not believe that only altar servers are the only ones who can have a deeper understanding of the Mass, period.

This statement I find at its best, snobbish and at its worst, poor theology.

 

[holyfamily1]

I am always amused when this topic comes up, espeically when people talk about it “encouraging” priestly vocations.

This is purely anecdotal evidence.

Serving at the altar can help to foster a vocation, but it is most certainly not the only or even the “best” way, IMHO.

Based on the newer priests (those ordained in the last 10 years) that I know personally, out of the 10 of them, only one was an altar server. And he does not credit is altar service with the discernment of his vocation at all.

Then what is a better encourager for priestly vocations?

If you look at a survey conducted in every diocese from the 2012 ordination class, it says that 75% of all being ordained were altarboys.
usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/ordination-class/upload/Ordination-Class-of-2012-Report-FINAL.pdf It is on page 24.

 

[leinadster]

I am always amused when this topic comes up, espeically when people talk about it “encouraging” priestly vocations.

This is purely anecdotal evidence.

Serving at the altar can help to foster a vocation, but it is most certainly not the only or even the “best” way, IMHO.

Based on the newer priests (those ordained in the last 10 years) that I know personally, out of the 10 of them, only one was an altar server. And he does not credit is altar service with the discernment of his vocation at all.

Well, like I said before. Vocation has a superantural origin. Saint Josemaria Escriva became a priest after seeing a discalced carmelite. Not everybody is called the same way. Altar service is connected with Holy Orders.

The main reason a man is ordained priest is to offer the Mass. Being an altar server helps you stay close to that reality.

 

[leinadster]

" we have a deeper understanding of the Holy Sacrifice"

I do not believe that only altar servers are the only ones who can have a deeper understanding of the Mass, period.

This statement I find at its best, snobbish and at its worst, poor theology.

You are supposed to know what’s going on at the Altar, if you are an altar server of course. To refer it as bad theology I find it quite inaccurate. But if you don’t know what you are doing and why what reason could be given? Of course, when it comes about altar boys.

What if I tell you that most kids are invited to serve at Mass and they are not told why they do it, besides “helping the priest”? When I first started at age 9, I didn’t even know what the Mass is or that I should be aware of the Real Presence.

 

[coachdennis]

You are supposed to know what’s going on at the Altar, if you are an altar server of course. To refer it as bad theology I find it quite inaccurate. But if you don’t know what you are doing and why what reason could be given? Of course, when it comes about altar boy.

You are missing the point – whether you intended to or not your statement implies that people who are altar servers do have a deeper understanding of the Mass than those who do not or have never served. That is pure nonsense and I feel compelled to state that. Quite frankly, it can be misconstrued as being insulting and snobbish towards other people.

BTW, I was an altar server.

I understand your enthusiasm and dedication for altar serving, but there are other ways to experience a love and deep reverence towards the Mass. Just think of all the saints in the history of the Church who were NOT altar servers…

 

[leinadster]

You are missing the point – whether you intended to or not your statement implies that people who are altar servers do have a deeper understanding of the Mass than those who do not or have never served. That is pure nonsense and I feel compelled to state that. Quite frankly, it can be misconstrued as being insulting and snobbish towards other people.

BTW, I was an altar server.

I understand your enthusiasm and dedication for altar serving, but there are other ways to experience a love and deep reverence towards the Mass. Just think of all the saints in the history of the Church who were NOT altar servers…

Well, what we are saying is how altar service is connected with the Priesthood and how it fosters vocations. No more, no less. What I implied was this, that an altar servers should and MUST understand what are they doing. Once again, we are talking about altar servers, not lay people at Mass. Just to clarify.

Besides, it is just a misunderstanding as I can see. It is not intended to be “snobbish and insulting”. I apologize if you read it from that perspective.

 

[coachdennis]

Well, what we are saying is how altar service is connected with the Priesthood and how it fosters vocations. No more, no less. What I implied was this, that an altar servers should and MUST understand what are they doing. Once again, we are talking about altar servers, not lay people at Mass. Just to clarify.

Besides, it is just a misunderstanding as I can see. It is not intended to be “snobbish and insulting”. I apologize if you read it from that perspective.

Apology accepted.

 

[agnes_therese]

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:

It doesn’t seem to bother the boys in our parish.

 

[Trick]

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?

Since there is no mention of women being at the Last Supper receiving Jesus, should we think that males be the only ones to receive our Lord in the Eucharist ? I think nobody is really saying that hopefully.

 

[holyfamily1]

It doesn’t seem to bother the boys in our parish.

Don’t you think if only boys served, serving would be regarded more as a discernment tool (for any vocation) because the distraction of girls for boys in puberty and the younger ones who think girls are “icky” would deteriate. It would give them a special relationship with the priest which unfortunetly is missing today in most parishes today. Perhaps this is why we have a priest shortage, a vocation crisis; because girls have been allowed in a spot where most of our priests come from - thereby pushing slowly out the boys that do serve, replacing them with altargirls. Woman have an appropriate place in the liturgy and is usually as the Congregation of DW notices, isn’t serving at the altar. Woman and girls can and should become sacristans, decorators for the church, and/or linen carers. Just my two cents… I can smell the outrage already…

 

[CB_Catholic]

OK–I’ll say it. It seems much of this discussion is just another attempt to blame women for lack of male participation in the Church, or for whatever ails the Church. There have been threads recently on female lectors, women in the sanctuary, AND, of all things–the FEMINIZATION of music (as if music has a gender)–all being excuses for why men do not participate in the Church.

It really is getting quite sickening, and I for one no longer buy some of the excuses given.

Altar girls are not the reason vocations to the priesthood are down. Period. Women are not to blame. Blame the men, who just don’t want to sacrifice enough to be priests. And the lack of religion in general among the population. And the drive for money, power, and recognition that is far more prevalent among men then women.

And just remember who stayed with Jesus at the foot of that Cross. And who He first appeared to after the Resurrection. And who He LISTENED to at Cana. And who, century after century, has quietly and persistently passed down the faith even when the men in power were behaving badly.

I truly believe some of you men just plain don’t want women to be visible in the Church.

 

[leinadster]

OK–I’ll say it. It seems much of this discussion is just another attempt to blame women for lack of male participation in the Church, or for whatever ails the Church. There have been threads recently on female lectors, women in the sanctuary, AND, of all things–the FEMINIZATION of music (as if music has a gender)–all being excuses for why men do not participate in the Church.

It really is getting quite sickening, and I for one no longer buy some of the excuses given.

Altar girls are not the reason vocations to the priesthood are down. Period. Women are not to blame. Blame the men, who just don’t want to sacrifice enough to be priests. And the lack of religion in general among the population. And the drive for money, power, and recognition that is far more prevalent among men then women.

And just remember who stayed with Jesus at the foot of that Cross. And who He first appeared to after the Resurrection. And who He LISTENED to at Cana. And who, century after century, has quietly and persistently passed down the faith even when the men in power were behaving badly.

I truly believe some of you men just plain don’t want women to be visible in the Church.

Actually, the role of Mary is a model to be followed by all who assist at the Holy Sacrifice, this is, meditating all things in silence.

We don’t want women visible in the Church? If that were true, we wouldn’t have female doctors of the Church. St. Teresa of Avila reformed the Order of the Carmelites for instance.

And besides, no one is blaming women for the lack of priests.

 

[maryjk]

Actually, the role of Mary is a model to be followed by all who assist at the Holy Sacrifice, this is, meditating all things in silence.

We don’t want women visible in the Church? If that were true, we wouldn’t have female doctors of the Church. St. Teresa of Avila reformed the Order of the Carmelites for instance.

And besides, no one is blaming women for the lack of priests.

No you are right. They aren’t blaming women.

They are blaming icky girls.

 

[AlTheCollegeGal]

OK–I’ll say it. It seems much of this discussion is just another attempt to blame women for lack of male participation in the Church, or for whatever ails the Church. There have been threads recently on female lectors, women in the sanctuary, AND, of all things–the FEMINIZATION of music (as if music has a gender)–all being excuses for why men do not participate in the Church.

It really is getting quite sickening, and I for one no longer buy some of the excuses given.

Altar girls are not the reason vocations to the priesthood are down. Period. Women are not to blame. Blame the men, who just don’t want to sacrifice enough to be priests. And the lack of religion in general among the population. And the drive for money, power, and recognition that is far more prevalent among men then women.

And just remember who stayed with Jesus at the foot of that Cross. And who He first appeared to after the Resurrection. And who He LISTENED to at Cana. And who, century after century, has quietly and persistently passed down the faith even when the men in power were behaving badly.

I truly believe some of you men just plain don’t want women to be visible in the Church.

:clapping: This X 1000. It’s kind of frightening, actually.