Subdeacon from 1969-1972

[Pope_St_Linus]

What was the role of the subdeacon at the Novus Ordo in the few years after the implementation of the Novus Ordo and before the suppression of the subdiaconate. I have heard the role was described in the first edition of the GIRM, but I cannot find a copy of it.

I am assuming the subdeacon read the epistle and such, but did he hold the paten? I am just curious.

 

[PacoG]

What was the role of the subdeacon at the Novus Ordo in the few years after the implementation of the Novus Ordo and before the suppression of the subdiaconate. I have heard the role was described in the first edition of the GIRM, but I cannot find a copy of it.

I am assuming the subdeacon read the epistle and such, but did he hold the paten? I am just curious.

Weren’t most subdeacons either (1) priests who “vested down” or (2) seminarians. Were there many “permanent” subdeacons?

I would venture to guess that in the case of (1), the priest just vested as a con-celebrant instead. In the case of (2), it was only an issue in “seminary towns” and in parishes that had a subdeacon visiting home during the holidays.

 

[malphono]

Weren’t most subdeacons either (1) priests who “vested down” or (2) seminarians.

Yes.

Were there many “permanent” subdeacons?

In pre-conciliar days, there were none. Whether any were ordained in the prief period between that and the time Minor Orders were abolished and replaced with “instituted ministries” I don’t know.

I would venture to guess that in the case of (1), the priest just vested as a con-celebrant instead. In the case of (2), it was only an issue in “seminary towns” and in parishes that had a subdeacon visiting home during the holidays.

Yes.

What was the role of the subdeacon at the Novus Ordo in the few years after the implementation of the Novus Ordo and before the suppression of the subdiaconate. I have heard the role was described in the first edition of the GIRM, but I cannot find a copy of it.

I am assuming the subdeacon read the epistle and such, but did he hold the paten? I am just curious.

Although I don’t have it handy right now, I’ve looked at the original IGMR (in the first printing of Novus Ordo (aka OF) Missal), and I don’t recall that it had any provision whatsoever for a subdeacon. It has been a while since I seen it, though, and of course, I could be wrong. Perhaps japhy and/or FrDavid96 knows of something that I missed.

 

[FrDavid96]

I have a late-1960s Sacramentary. It’s hard to nail-down the dates on this. The book itself is copyright 1968 by the Order of St. Benedict and printed by Liturgical press. Based on that, I think it’s safe to say that it was being used in 1969, which is what the OP asked about.

The copyright page has all kinds of sources. The opening says “This official edition of the Roman Missal…with English translations approved by the National Conference of Bishops of the United States on April 2, 1964 and September 3, 1965…” It goes on to say that it’s based on the typical edition copyright by the Vatican 1965 (that’s the copyright date, please note, not necessarily the year it was promulgated).

That’s the source, now back to the topic itself

in The Rite to be Observed in the Celebration of Mass (ie what we would now call the GIRM)
#37 if it is a Mass celebrated privately the celebrant reads the Epistle
#41 If it is a solemn Mass, the subdeacon reads the Epistle
#44 “In high Mass or in low Mass with the participation of the people, it is fitting that the Lessons and the Epistle be chanted or read by a lector or qualified server at the ambo…”

Please note that at the time the word “lector” meant exclusively an ordained lector, not a layman. Also, I know someone is going to be curious about this: there was only one first reading, most but not all from the Epistles (Feb. 12 has a reading from Sirach–I found one at random).

This is from #81
As for the distribution of Communion, the celebrant has the Hosts either on the paten (if he consecrated them on the corporal) or in the ciborium (if he either consecrated them there, or if he took them from the tabernacle) and distributes. No mention is made of the subdeacon (or anyone else for that matter) holding either a paten or another paten, or anything else at this time.

#83 gives the variation for a solemn Mass
After receiving Communion, both the deacon and the subdeacon “accompany the celebrant” but it says nothing about what they do. Nothing more than “accompany.”

There is a presumption that the subdeacon is only functioning at a high Mass. #44 mentions only “lector or qualified server” w/o mentioning the subdeacon–although of course, a subdeacon was already ordained a lector.

Hope that helps. It took me a while to find that old Sacramentary.

 

[Brendan]

We have a Chaldean Sub Deacon in our (Latin Rite) parish.

He and his family joined the parish decades ago after he immigrated from Iraq. With the consent of both bishops, he functions as Sub Deacon. This means that at Mass

1. He vests as a Sub Deacon. This generally means alb and a stole (in the Chaldean fashion)
2. Reads the Epistle
3. Functions as an EMHC.
4. Assists the priest and deacon with the purification of vessels (as necessary).

So generally, he functions as a ordained Lector and Acolyte, but is vested as a cleric ( which he is)

 

[malphono]

I have a late-1960s Sacramentary. It’s hard to nail-down the dates on this. The book itself is copyright 1968 by the Order of St. Benedict and printed by Liturgical press. Based on that, I think it’s safe to say that it was being used in 1969, which is what the OP asked about.

Yes, but that would be the final incarnation of “interim Missal” which would have been in use until Advent of 1969.

Of course I cannot speak for the OP, but I read the question to concern the Novus Ordo, which made its debut in Advent of 1969.

 

[FrDavid96]

Yes, but that would be the final incarnation of “interim Missal” which would have been in use until Advent of 1969.

Of course I cannot speak for the OP, but I read the question to concern the Novus Ordo, which made its debut in Advent of 1969.

I wish you posted that before I did all that typing!

Sure enough, I miss-read the dates.

I’ll look around again, but I don’t think I have a Sacramentary from the specific 69-72 time period. I’ll check some back shelves, but I doubt it. There might be one at one of my missions, but I won’t be there until Sunday.

 

[Catholicben]

We have a Chaldean Sub Deacon in our (Latin Rite) parish.

He and his family joined the parish decades ago after he immigrated from Iraq. With the consent of both bishops, he functions as Sub Deacon. This means that at Mass

1. He vests as a Sub Deacon. This generally means alb and a stole (in the Chaldean fashion)
2. Reads the Epistle
3. Functions as an EMHC.
4. Assists the priest and deacon with the purification of vessels (as necessary).

So generally, he functions as a ordained Lector and Acolyte, but is vested as a cleric ( which he is)

Very cool!

 

[AJV]

No, the subdeacon did not hold the paten. That was suppressed in 1967 (Tres Abhinc Annos) when the paten was ordered left on the altar.

Here are a few of the major references that used to exist:

65 .Subdiaconus ad servitium altaris et ad adiutorium sacerdotis et diaconi est ordinatus. Ipsi praecipue committitur altare atque vasa sacra parare et Epistolam legere.

1. (c) Pro subdiacono: alba et tunica, quae paritwer ob neccessitatem vel minorum gradum sollemnitatis omitti potest
2. Si subdiaconus in Missa, suo munere fungitur, ea quae sequuntur servat. Generatim subdiaconus: a) diacono vel sacerdoti, quando opus est, ministrat; b) Epistolam, seu lectionem ante Evangelium, profert;c) si nullus alius minister adest, ipse etiam alias lectiones ante Evangelium legit; et, pro necessitate, etiam aliorum ministrorum munera adimplet.
3. Vestibus sacris indutus, in accessu ad altare, subdiaconus librum Evangeliorum deferre potest…
4. Post diaconus, communicat subdiaconus sub utroque specie…
5. i Communio ad calicem fit cum cochleari, eodem modo ac in Communione cum calamo agitur; caveatur tamen ut, post Communionem cochlear deponatur in aliquo vase cum aqua, quod, Communione expleta, subdiaconus ad appositam mensam tranfert, ut cochleria purificet et abstergeat.

As you can see, most of the references to the subdeacon’s role have simply been replaced by words referring to the acolyte or the lector, as the case may be.

 

[David_B]

Some older priests have told me that even through the mid-70s in the some ethnic parishes it was very common still for priests to assist the celebrant vested as deacon and subdeacon for Requiem Masses. It seems as though people would expect to see 3 priests if they were going to pay the stipend for a High Mass as opposed to a Low Mass.