Posted on 01/29/2015 7:31:08 PM PST by Morgana
While working a summer job in high school, one of my Catholic, male co-workers and I were leaving a building. I was ahead of him, so opened the door and stepped aside so he could pass.
“Oh no!” He cried sarcastically, “You just emasculated me!”
We then joked that a woman’s real role was obviously to be in the kitchen, and after a good laugh we went our separate ways.
Our changing attitudes towards gender roles don’t stop at held doors and pulled out chairs. Obviously, if feminism is to have any value at all, and if Catholicism has any self-respect, then girls need to be on the altar at Mass, right? Otherwise our husbands will beat us and dominate us and tell us not to worry our pretty little heads about any important man-things we might encounter. Further, if other boys don’t like girls on the altar serving with them, then they’ve obviously been indoctrinated by their misogynistic parents to hate women.
Seem far-fetched, even a little hysterical? Yeah. I think so too.
I was a girl altar server. I served for roughly eight years in my parish. While I didn’t have a bad experience, I also have to be honest and admit that I didn’t gain anything more on the altar than I could have by just being in the pew. For a while serving was just something I did when I went to Mass: I goofed off with the other kids behind the scenes and followed the rubrics when Father told us to shape up.
(Excerpt) Read more at onepeterfive.com ...
**Should Girls Serve at the Altar? A Former Altar Girl Weighs In**
No, the GIRM really didn’t change, it was the American Bishops who got lax.
Liturgical Vigilantes
[CATHOLIC CAUCUS] THE TEN MOST COMMON LITURGICAL ABUSES
Discipline Regarding Reception of Holy Communion
Liturgical Abuses: Summarized from Redemptionis Sacramentum
THE TEN MOST COMMON LITURGICAL ABUSES And Why They're Wrong
Another Look at the Orans Issue
Chapter II - General Instruction of the Roman Missal
Communion by Intinction: A "New" Way of Receiving Communion in Both Kinds
General Instruction of the Roman Missal [G. I. R. M.]
New GIRM: Bishop Orders No Kneeling For Silent Time After Communion
GIRM - A WITNESS TO UNBROKEN TRADITION
Matthew 27:55-56, Mark 15:41 and Luke 8:3 indicate that women followed Jesus and his apostles to help support their needs. So I don’t have a major concern with women / girls serving in the Mass.
The Ministry of the Instituted Acolyte and Lector
98. The acolyte is instituted to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. In particular, it is his responsibility to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if it is necessary, as an extraordinary minister, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful.[84]
In the ministry of the altar, the acolyte has his own functions (cf. nos. 187-193), which he must perform personally.
187. The duties that the acolyte may carry out are of various kinds and several may coincide. Hence, it is desirable that these duties be suitably distributed among several acolytes. If, however, only one acolyte is present, he should perform the more important duties while the rest are to be distributed among several ministers.
The Introductory Rites
188. In the procession to the altar, the acolyte may carry the cross, walking between two ministers with lighted candles. Upon reaching the altar, the acolyte places the cross upright near the altar so that it may serve as the altar cross; otherwise, he puts it in a worthy place. Then he takes his place in the sanctuary.
189. Through the entire celebration, the acolyte is to approach the priest or the deacon, whenever necessary, in order to present the book to them and to assist them in any other way required. Thus it is appropriate, insofar as possible, that the acolyte occupy a place from which he can conveniently carry out his ministry either at the chair or at the altar.
No. Only among women only virgins over the age of 40 and widow living in celibate chastity over the age of 60 should enter the altar. (We Orthodox still remember the ancient canons governing such things.) And they, like men who are neither in major orders nor are subdeacons, need the blessing of the presiding priest or bishop to enter. No altar girls.
No I think they should do all the serving from the kitchen. Sorry I'm kind of a traditionalist when it comes to the church.
I'm fine with girls serving as altar boys. I'm not a Catholic but my husband is (sometimes). His parish has girls serving now and they're cute with their little pony tails swinging. They actually come across as more devote than the boys, who may be focused on the girls..
My daughter has served for four years. I was an altar boy when I was young as well, so I gave this some thought before she started. I’m aware of tradition, but just don’t see this as challenging the male role of priest or deacon. I wouldn’t argue with a pastor that doesn’t want the help, but am glad to let my daughter serve as needed.
Note they describe the acolyte with masculine pronouns. Not a coincidence. I was an altarboy for 6 years.
Morgana I’ve gotta say it’s refreshing to see a “different” kind of posting by you :) I noticed there’s been a lot of certain ones lately and just realized you’re the author of all of them....12 postings just on the first page alone. PLEASE let me clarify by saying I am a fellow Christian (Though not Catholic) and I mean no disrespect in saying this. Am just curious about what motivates you... Are you doing it because you hope to dissuade even one person reading who might be contemplating one then by all means carry on my friend:)
I think no unless.... and this should be proven first, there are not enough boys. Although I will say that most of the girls do a better job then a lot of the boys.
Boys are nervous around priests these days, what with all the publicity about the few who are abusive; besides, it’s not “cool” enough to be an altar boy.
Thus we are losing valuable vocations to the priesthood.
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