tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156010004467129157.post4199354809323021523..comments2023-04-17T05:59:18.247-05:00Comments on The Unprofitable Servant: Altar Server ChatUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156010004467129157.post-15610310231527274872011-04-15T20:16:56.767-05:002011-04-15T20:16:56.767-05:00Q: Why do we in our US Catholic Churches have fema...Q: Why do we in our US Catholic Churches have female altar servers?<br /><br />Fr. Fessio SJ : <br /><br />The answer to your question is much more complex than the matter appears. I have it on authority of a Roman canonist who has been involved that even to this day, technically, female altar servers are not permitted by the Code of Canon Law. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There has been a permission given to bishops to allow female altar servers in their dioceses. Note that this is only a permission to allow, not to require. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has clearly shown its preference for the traditional male altar servers and also made it clear that no priest can be required to have female altar servers. However, bishops are not reluctant to overstep their authority and introduce the practice as a requirement.<br /><br /><br /><br />Since priests who do not go along with this can be reassigned to unpopular places, and because good priests want to obey their bishops even when the bishops are not speaking authoritatively, the practice has become widespread.<br /><br />You don't want to get me started on this topic!Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02704944620839677383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156010004467129157.post-35622636519770924632011-04-14T20:24:52.200-05:002011-04-14T20:24:52.200-05:00Oh that comment of getting rid of the altar girls ...Oh that comment of getting rid of the altar girls is incredibly uncharitable. They ought to just get a life. Where is the commandment that altar servers must be boys? Just because something has been done a particular way doesn't mean it has theological requirement. When something is theologically required, such as a male priest, then it cannot be changed. But when something was arbitrarily chosen in the first place, or chosen based on the cultural norms of a particular time, then it's subject to re-evaluation every so often.<br /><br />Hey that's basically my argument against the latin mass. ;)Mannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15396201693030286919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156010004467129157.post-50599752660283671092011-04-14T15:26:41.351-05:002011-04-14T15:26:41.351-05:00Manny, yes we have that in common, Matthews. The ...Manny, yes we have that in common, Matthews. The Easter Vigil is a tall order so I'm hoping they have at least one other server with him. Like I said, the friars are well-endowed with patience, which is a good thing because they will need it!<br /><br />Pete, I haven't been to OSJ for Sunday Mass in years. I'd be interested to see how they do things.<br /><br />Ros, I got home before Rebecca did today ( a rarity) but I know she'll be honored that you asked her to pray for your boys. ( I know they're probably grown men, but my son will always be a boy and my daughters will always be my girls)<br /><br />Anne, welcome! Like I said, I never pushed for my daughter to serve. In hindsight, I wished I had pushed my son a little harder, but I honestly don't think he was ready at the time the pastor was pleading for help. <br /><br />Kelly, yes I know your little one serves also. She was a trained by a great priest, too.<br /><br />My point, which perhaps I didn't succeed in making, is that I resent the way some folks can foam at the mouth over the mention of female altar servers. First, no one who has an affinity for the Extraordinary Form is ever going to insist on females being permitted at the altar, so I don't know why this is always such a concern in those circles. Second, all servers should be appropriately dressed, reverent, reliable and knowledgeable, regardless of the Form of the Mass they serve. I've seen some terribly uncharitable comments, including "as soon as we get rid of the girl altar servers". That just feeds fuel to the misogynist theories. I will never forget the two male altar servers who stood by the crucifix on Good Friday, laughing as the faithful came forward to venerate the cross, sometimes in tears. After that, the pastor was only too happy to have a serious and appropriate girl interested in learning.TLWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05699746979019393620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156010004467129157.post-21790979731819706982011-04-14T07:28:57.606-05:002011-04-14T07:28:57.606-05:00My youngest daughter serves as well. Our parish is...My youngest daughter serves as well. Our parish is large and allows both boys and girls, I would say there are perhaps 75% boys. <br />She had a desire to do the thing, and since it is allowable at least right now-I didn't want to discourage her. She does a good job, too.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10847572866285311259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156010004467129157.post-63259945494574553402011-04-14T05:50:36.891-05:002011-04-14T05:50:36.891-05:00Lovely blog! I come to you from Shadowlands.
Thi...Lovely blog! I come to you from Shadowlands.<br /><br />This post is very timely for me...after my four sons all served (one still continues)for years at our parish, my only daughter will finally be of age next year. I have always told her that she can't serve because she's not a boy even though my parish does allow girls. I get a lot of pressure from my sons who feel that I am being unfair and sexist towards my daughter.<br /><br />Your post has given me some food for thought.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06195528409761980551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156010004467129157.post-69228373222457587092011-04-14T02:21:00.133-05:002011-04-14T02:21:00.133-05:00Reading about your daughter and how she acted as a...Reading about your daughter and how she acted as an altar server, also how she helped the young boy to train, reminded me of testimonies I have read, about saints, when they were younger. It was really special,God bless her. I don't know if this is appropriate to request, but would you ask her, if she has time and wouldn't mind (and your permission) to say a prayer for my son's (all five of them) continuing conversions? I just sense her prayers will be powerful. Sorry, if this is a bit cheeky to request? I will pray for you and yours today.mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06962374096401238994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156010004467129157.post-45679535932861031902011-04-13T22:18:44.397-05:002011-04-13T22:18:44.397-05:00I find your thoughts to be informative
because I w...I find your thoughts to be informative<br />because I want to understand all the<br />angles of the Catholic faith. As a<br />baptized Christian I already understand<br />what Christ asks of me through the <br />Gospels, however the Church, as his <br />Bride, is a mystery.<br /><br />I trust that the fascination I have with<br />the Church will never wear off.<br /><br />At OSJ I there is a young girl who serves<br />at the 9:30am Mass, and that is the one<br />that is geared towards children.<br /><br />Also it is the same for the 6:30pm Mass,<br />which is for young adults. I really have<br />no basis to be offended considering I am<br />a neophyte.<br /><br />I think the Holy Spirit can surprise the<br />assumptions of people in many ways, so <br />perhaps traditionalists are forgetting <br />that God can do anything He wants, and <br />that includes adjusting the Liturgy and<br />rubrics according to His desires.peethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17801369779625472334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156010004467129157.post-51343226279474728892011-04-13T22:03:13.322-05:002011-04-13T22:03:13.322-05:00Oh God bless Matthew. I'm sure he will do gre...Oh God bless Matthew. I'm sure he will do great for holy week. Whenever I see the name Matthew now, my thoughts connect it to my son. <br /><br />We have alter girls at my church. I have no idea if there is any issue behind the scenes over it. It never even occurred to me that this might have been an issue at one time. Joyce, you said, "I don't happen to be someone who believes the Church should provide equal opportunities for boys and girls." Well, I'm pretty conservative in most things but I do think we should have opportunity for both sexes, where possible. It's not possible for girls to be priests (I'm adamant about that), but in terms of readers, the person who helps hand out the eucharist (the name is at the tip of my tongue but it's not coming to me), the musical team, and the altar helpers. I see no reason why any of those are restricted to one gender.Mannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15396201693030286919noreply@blogger.com