The following comes from an October 12 Orange County Catholic article by Cathi Douglas:
Celebration of the Catholic Mass is like an intricate dance, with the priest leading a flawless performance that can have few or many co-celebrants, including deacons, altar servers, liturgical ministers, Eucharistic ministers and more.
To even devout Catholics it appears simple, yet the Mass requires that its youngest participants fix their attention on the smallest details to ensure the ceremony flows seamlessly.
Pope Francis acknowledged the important role of altar servers during a special evening meeting and prayer that drew 9,000 youth from throughout Europe to St. Peter’s Square in early August 2015, according to the National Catholic Reporter.
Serving at the altar, the pope told the young people, is a privileged way to draw closer to Jesus, which in turn “enables you to open yourselves to others, to journey together, to set demanding goals and to find the strength to achieve them.”
Participating as altar servers allows boys and girls the satisfaction of functioning as part of the liturgical team, explains Katie Dawson, director of faith formation for the Diocese of Orange.
“It’s helpful for young teens and tweens to become part of the altar-serving ministry because it’s the most significant way to make a meaningful contribution to the liturgy,” Dawson says. “It is a concrete way of participating in the community of faith.”
In addition to contributing their support to the liturgical celebration, altar servers develop certain qualities through their service, Dawson notes.
Responsibility. Altar servers must memorize the Mass and commit to a regular schedule of service.
Punctuality. Servers are required to arrive early to each Mass in order to determine their roles, prepare items and dress in their albs.
Attentiveness. Altar servers learn the deeper meaning behind each step of the liturgy.
Poise. Servers must spring into action when mistakes are made. They know to step in when an item is misplaced and smooth out any rough edges during the Mass.
Maturity. Altar service contributes to a server’s maturity as they learn lessons and put their knowledge into practice.
Completely crazy. Why not have the cleaning crew in to “co-celebrate’ the NO. While at it, why not have the entirety of the congregation serve as “attar servers.” Why not have a homosexual server too, with rainbow sashes around their cassocks? What insanity.
Such a role is historically reserved for males and should be faithfully restored as such. Women cannot be priests and altar boy service is a role model for young men who might become priests. Oh wait, I get it, by opening this role up to everyone, then they all might become priests. Kind of like the Lutherans or Methodists or whatever. Any thing is fine for the Church headed by a pope that finds proselytizing to be wrong (as against ecumenism).
You are right St. Christopher.
Oh SC…We’ve always had homosexual servers. Should I not have been an EMH because I’m a lesbian? Oh what’s wrong with the parish housekeepers servong if they want to.
C&H, anyone living in mortal sin should not be working under church auspices. They should go to confession and amend their lives so as not to cause scandal and confusion among the body of Christ.
So many “shoulds” based on opinion.
St Christopher and anyone that agrees with you is wrong. Women should have the right to serve God on the alter aswell as be role models for kids. I also know that who you are attracted to shouldn’t and wouldn’t destroy your relationship with God. If God truly is loving then he would care for your happiness then if you were a homosexual or not. I think the comment you wrote is completely ignorant and is comming from a person who has never tried to love or understand others like God has intended.
Bless you, St. Christopher! The rejection of our sacred, centuries-old Catholic Tradition, by our Church, is so sad! It is also startlingly IGNORANT!! The role of the altar boy once was holy, and many Catholic boys who served as altar boys, used to grow up to be priests! The Holy Mass is certainly NOT to be compared, to some silly entertainment, such as an “intricate dance!” And the use of the term “co-celebrants,” made up by the Pope, is a HORROR!! Today’s Church has lost its sense of the sacred, the holy, and God. And the current Holy Father needs some lessons in basic Catholic Theology! Our holy Mass was instituted by Christ, at the Last Supper– and the holy priesthood, along with it!
P.S. So sad, the loss of the traditional Catholic roles, for men and women! The Role Model for Catholic boys is Christ, while the Role Model for girls, is Our Lady, Christ’s holy Mother. The Pope should give the Catholic children a little talk about this! Worldly political concepts, like “feminism,” seeking false, diabolic, egoistic, cheap, worldly political power— do not belong, in our Church! Instead, Catholic boys must be taught to always RESPECT their Mother, their sisters, and all other women!! And all Catholic girls should grow up to be HEALTHY and CONFIDENT in themselves, as MATURE WOMEN, TOTALLY WORTHY of respect, from all others!!
P.S. 2 Little Catholic girls should be taught to imitate the virtues of Our Lady– and by doing so, serving God and humanity– gain Heaven, someday! They have a very sacred role, although the IGNORANT world does not know it! Historically, the sacred, (less visible to the world) role of Catholic women, has actually been blessed to be closer to God– it is very pure! And little Catholic boys should be taught, to imitate Christ!
Christianity is not about ignorant, secular man/woman power struggles, it is about imitating Christ and Our Lady, purification, and seeking Heaven! If the Church would strongly teach Christ’s Truths, and teach RESPECT for all, including women– then, the need for “feminism” would vanish! It is the Church’s duty to teach strongly, Christian Morals– it is a hard job, (and mankind is very weak!) a job mainly for professional clergy and nuns! With strong Christian moral training, and expectations, we would see more Catholic politicians who respect God and the Church, fearing sin!
Of course, the Pope does not think like I do, and neither do most of today’s Catholics. I do not expect others to agree with me. There is nothing one can do, but ignore the things one does not like, and be at peace. Christ is still there, in our Church— and always will be!
Linda Maria, The Cristeros never placed all of their faith in anyone except God. They were wise enough to recognize that God works in mysterious ways. The Cristeros realized that there were also the YFC’s (Your Fake Cristeros) who infiltrated the political scene as well as infiltrating the Catholic Church. The Cristeros did not roll over or coddle the fake Cristeros. They still used their Traditional faith in many critical ways to battle evil. They did not become so heavenly bound that they were no earthly good. The paid troll who uses the name YFC on CCD fits the exact description in the Wikileaks. continued…..
Wikileaks: Hillary’s people and the destruction of the Catholic Church by infiltration
The Remnant Newspaper – Wikileaks Confirms Rad Trad ‘Conspiracy Theory’: Catholic Church Infiltrated
In response, Podesta assures Newman to rest easy for he and his progressive pals have already created organizations explicitly designed to infiltrate the Catholic Church with progressive ideology, though he cautions that the time may not be right for full revolution — just yet.
continued…
Catherine, do you honestly believe that telling lies about people is part of what it means to be Catholic and Christian?
YFC = *Your Fake Character*-ization* of Catholicism. Bought and sold!
“Bear in mind that brains and learning, like muscle and physical skill, are articles of commerce. They are bought and sold. You can hire them by the year or by the hour. The only thing in the world not for sale is character.” (Commencement address, College of William and Mary, 1996.) – Justice Antonin Scalia
https://dailysignal.com/2016/02/13/9-zingers-from-the-sharp-mind-of-justice-antonin-scalia/
Catherine is not lying about the WikiLeaks reports. William Donahue of the Catholic League tells much of the same thing on his website. He is no Traditionalist but goes to the regular Mass. Many other non Traditionalist but orthodox Catholic sites have the same thing on them. The reports are all over the news — at least were there is still freedom of the press.
Anyone can google “Catholic Bishop Blasts Hillary Clinton for Calling Catholic Voters “Serverely Backwards” and “Archbishop Chaput Calls Out Hillary Clinton” to find out the truth of what Catherine was reporting. Those are articles about two different bishops — one a Bishop K (spelling ?) and the other Archbishop Chaput. Those are besides the reports on the Catholic League.
Anne T. Catherine tells a lie when she says I am paid to be on CCD. She has been corrected over a dozen times, yet she continues to lie about me. I suppose she thinks she’s being funny or charming or something, but it is a lie.
Fine, Catherine. Well, I do not know any of you younger people’s “lingo,” with goofy words, such as “paid troll!” What in the world is that, anyway?? And why label and judge people– whom you do not even know, and will never meet?? What if you saw many of them in church, at Mass– what, then?? Would you smile nicely, at coffee and donuts after Mass, try to be friendly, and try to spread Christ’s love and goodness to others, and maybe try to help some who have misunderstandings with their Catholic Faith, in a nice, friendly manner?? If not– why go to church, with folks like YOU??
I think good nuns, like the Missionaries of Charity, or the Little Sisters of the Poor, are wonderful role models, for Catholic lay women– not so much, the Cristeros!
Linda Maria, the last question in your post is incisive and says it all. Let’s see if *Catherine* responds to it sensibly. Who WOULD want to be around sourpusses? For my part, let the SSPXers remain out of the Catholic Church. We don’t need more self-glorying harpies and sourpusses to deal with.
Sorry vicente, I am NOT an SSPX member! You have the wrong person, kiddo! I only try to appreciate what is good, of our Church! Our Church leaders do the same, appreciate what is truly good– whether they agree or not, with those they appreciate! You younger people all seem to be diabolically self-centered, aggressive, ill-mannered, and extremely ready to mindlessly ATTACK anyone and everyone– no social skills nor virtues! And very poor material, for Christ! Sorry– but all of you look like extremely ANTI-SOCIAL near-juvenile delinquents, in your behavior! Where is Christ, for you?? Nowhere!
P.S. You will win NOBODY to Christ, by being worldly, combative, and aggressive, cruel, and ill-mannered, like the Islamic “jihadhists!” You will also sabotage your own Salvation! Nobody in the Church, agrees with every little thing! God’s house is HUGE!! Every person is entitled to their own kind of Mass, and religious devotions! One must just try to lead a good life, formed in Christ, with good morals, led deeper and deeper in Christ, by the Holy Spirit, daily reforming and purifying, as best one can! Otherwise– there is NO CHURCH at all!!
Of course– the past behavior of vicente, in his posts– is unusually filthy, deviant, aggressive, un-Christian, and ANTI-SOCIAL! Hard to imagine such a person in a church, attending Mass, saying his prayers, like a nice young man! Reminds me of a tragic incident, long ago, in which a mindless, drug-crazed homeless man, strolled up the aisle when the priest began an early Mass, wielding a big, long knife, uttering unspeakable FILTH, demanding MONEY! The Sacristan grabbed the man from behind, slammed him to the floor, tied his hands, and another man called police, who quickly arrived!
continued….“We created Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good to organize for a moment like this. But I think it lacks the leadership to do so now. Likewise Catholics United. Like most Spring movements, I think this one will have to be bottom up,” Podesta writes.
Fr. Chad Ripperger Names *the* Crisis of Our Times – Too Many Men Are Effeminate
https://www.romancatholicman.com/fr-chad-ripperger-names-crisis-times-many-men-effeminate/
Excellent video, Catherine. I remember when I was younger and beaten down by life, a young FSSP priest opened the door for me to enter a church hall. It made me feel as if I was back in the human race again. By God’s grace I thanked him and did not do what some radical feminists have done — castigate a man for just opening the door for them and calling them names. We have all had a part in this mess at times by our behavior.
After a catechetical session recently i asked a young female how many sacraments are there. She said 6. I said, ‘Surely you know there are 7′. She replied one of the sacraments didn’t apply to her so for her there are only 7! 50% of the Catholic faithful are excluded from the sacrament of Holy Orders.
I could not explain to her what happened to, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’
Ms. Dawson sounds like she is describing the practices of Lutherans, as St. Christopher here mentions. “Community of faith”? No, Ms. Dawson, this is the Holy Catholic Church, the religion founded by Our Lord upon St. Peter. Not a denomination that is no better or different than the rest. For centuries, the altar server was male only, to encourage young men to a priestly vocation. The novelty of girl altar servers started in Germany, and like with Communion in the Hand, was an act of rebellion.
Well, it’s important for BOYS, since it is a stepping stone for vocations to the priesthood. Since girls cannot be ordained as priests, they do not belong in the role of altar server.
I would add to the reasons for the benefits of being a alter server are also practical in that it shows the character of the server . If it is used in social media to show the experience , it speaks well of the servers character , some brag about frivolities and debaucheries, the server can show responsibility and seriousness. The server can build his “brand” to strangers and future employers alike , when researching you on social media this can only help in showing the positive traits that servers have demonstrated.
So, that is the state of THE Church in Orange Cnty. No wonder vocations have been down for one long time. What a departure from the follow through of Jewish Temple worship, hardly a come one, come all, just get up on the altar, Girls, so you can swing your hair around and portray, “Look at me!”
May God have mercy on us.
Last Sunday at the Mass I attended, all the altar servers were female. This is not atypical. I fear something that cannot be recovered is being lost. I think girls nowadays more than boys aspire to this service, and when this younger female generation comes of age, if they have not left the Church, may well demand to become priests. And the root of this desire will be the years they served at the altar. How then will the Church respond to these women, who might well think they were led to water but not allowed to drink?
Dan, you are correct in the observation that where girls are permitted to serve at the altar they boys tend to lose interest in serving.
As for the ordination of women, the Church will respond as it currently does: it’s not possible, not now not ever. That’s infallible doctrine.
At one parish I’m familiar with, the pastor distinguishes between boys and girls as altar servers through their vesture: boys wear cassock and surplice whereas girls wear alb and cincture. That preserves the sense that altar service is a introduction to priestly vocations for boys because cassock and surplice are distinctly clerical vestments. I have witnessed the improper scene of girls wearing cassock and surplice while serving at the altar.
Several of my neices [I have no children] and their female cousins have left the Church since they will not accept the ‘glass ceiling’ the Roman Catholic Church presents them.
I agree Altar Service teaches many desirable traits. These are equally desirable for girls as boys. What similar opportunities does the Church offer these girls, who are the mothers and leaders of twenty years from now?
If the Altar Servers misbehave in performance of their duties, the lay person in charge needs to provide additional instruction. Continued poor performance results in not scheduling the server.
Mike M– Sorry that your nieces left the Church! Maybe you could give your nieces some good reading material, all about the Blessed Virgin Mary, and some of her Church-approved, true apparitions, such as to St. Catherine Labore, with the Miraculous Medal, and later, at Lourdes and Fatima! You could tell them of the true miracles that have occurred, from Our Lady’s hand, in Heaven! Many people are converted, by the intercession of Our Lady! And also, many young Catholics may temporarily leave the Church, but may later return– sometimes, through the prayers and good influence, of kind-hearted Catholic family members! You never know what God can do!
Wait till the DOJ finds that Junior (or Junior Miss) is not getting minimum wage, nor paying tax on wedding tips.
Hymie, your post does make me wonder what action the DOJ might take under Hillary against the Catholic Church should she be elected POTUS. True, it seems impossible to conceive of this happening now, but in the present culture wars, events evolve rapidly, especially when the powers that be are highly motivated, as the democrats, the mainstream media, and the entertainment industry seem to be.
Given the Little Sisters of the Poor incursion, and recent spate of leaked emails, little is left to the imagination.
My first reaction to the article was that the idea of boys only altar servers increase the likelihood of more Priests was hooie. But, an article on the USSCB web site stated that in 2011 about 70% of new seminarians had been altar boys. That is certainly a good source of recruits, larger than I would have expected. It does not, however, in my opinion, provide a good reason for girls to be banned from altar service. How else are we going to recruit girls to be Deacons? :)
” How else are we going to recruit girls to be Deacons? ” We don’t……End the homosexualization and feminization of the clergy
Bob One, I guess you forgot– there is no such thing, as a lady deacon!
Yet! :)
Well, Bob One, the Episcopal and Anglican churches have lady priestesses! I don’t agree with that kind of thing, for our Church. However, you should worship God in the way you think is best. I do not like all the silly, secular, worldly fads, in today’s culture, that are brought into the ancient Catholic Church, making it look trivial, shaky, unstable, foolish, and goofed-up! When the Church began to have lady lay Eucharistic Ministers, it seemed sad to me, that nuns, consecrated to God, leading holy lives — were bypassed, for this role! The Church and its Mass, are already too trivialized, with secular “youth” fads!
I don’t care for the lay extraordinary Eucharistic Ministry– however, I would not have minded, if in an extraordinary circumstance (which was the original purpose of creating the lay extraordinary Eucharistic Ministry) — if I were to receive Holy Communion, perhaps even kneeling!– from the hands of a holy nun, like St. Mother Teresa!
70% of new priests were Altar servers is an example of what Harry Truman referred to as damn lies and statistics. The important — and omitted– percentage is what percent of Altar servers never seriously considered becoming a priest.
Mike M, you raise a good question: what percent …never seriously consider becoming priests. Why don’t larger numbers of young men become Priests? Why aren’t they getting the call? There must be some data available. I haven’t been able to find it. Who has the most influence on who becomes a Priest? Does the culture discourage it? Does celibacy? Does lack of faith? Is it the parents? Might make for an interesting study.
I think the post-1960s, “hippie liberal-leftist,” “teen-age rebellion”-youth culture, discourages grown-up Christian morality, and grown-up roles, of serious commitments to a serious, grown-up life! Young men no longer grow up into real Manhood! They no longer are taught the seriousness of grown-up commitments, to grown-up roles of RESPONSIBILITY, such as Marriage, and being a good, responsible HUSBAND and FATHER to their CHILDREN– and the holiness of sacred vows, married to God, in the holy, celibate Catholic priesthood, with its indelible mark forever, at Holy Orders — with very serious, adult responsibilities!!
Altar Service is not job training as put forward by Mmes Dawson & Douglas. Those qualities mentioned are more suitably developed via entry level jobs, now priced out by minimum wage laws. According to guidlines, proper formation, maturity, reverence, etc. should be there prior to serving.
Also, the author might want to look up the word Poise. I believe she meant Initiative or Enterprise.
Joke of the day: What do you call women who keep harping on having deaconesses?
Ans.: Harpies.
Now don’t you all laugh at once.
St. John Paul II looked into the need for deaconesses, and he said they was none. The only time I think they might be needed is if the Church was working underground in Muslim countries, and deaconesses were needed to baptize women in secluded places.
By the way, Linda Maria, Bob One had a smiley face at the end of his post, I think he was just kidding us.
Correction to first line: “there was none”.
Confusion and deceit reign above. Ffrom the previous blogs one can see the discontinuity and non-harmony in the Norvus Ordo congregations. Catholic means “One” inferring one in the Roman Catholic Faith and its teachings. It is very obvious and hypocrite to claim we are still one. Wake up folks, see the disorientation of the New Order Church. It was all meant to be this way. Prophets of the “Great Apostacy” predicted it would happen, and it has! Millions of once/would be Catholics have left the true Faith for entertainment and self-satisfaction, not putting and worshipping God first! (continued) . . . .
(continued) . . . . Read Fr. James Meagher’s (circa 1900) “How Christ said the First Mass” and watch on you tube: [www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6AOvStZS64]. The Most Right Reverent Bishop Sheen as moderator describes the preserved video of the Easter Mass in 1941 in Our Lady of Sorrow’s Church in Chicago, now that is our Roman Catholic Heritage before all the V2 changes! That is the very Holy High Mass (Tridentine Latin Mass) said in all Roman Catholic Churches and Chapels throughout the world in all time zones!
LOVE this recording! Actually, the ancient Christians believed singing, or chanting, was closer to God, than the more-secular, mundane, or “worldly” style– of speaking! The Hebrews sung, or chanted, in their synagogues, and Christians developed Gregorian Chant. And there are some parts of the Holy Mass, that are so very HOLY, as you know– and are either whispered very softly and prayerfully , or not spoken at all! VERY HOLY!! — a different concept, than what many Catholics today, may know! LOVE the Tridentine Mass! But each Catholic should attend the Mass they love best, for worship of God!
(continued) . . . . It didn’t matter what country a Roman Catholic was visiting, the Holy Mass was exactly the same spoken in Latin, except for the sermon. Of course there was the Holy Low Mass (Tridentine Latin Mass) too, more commonly said by our Roman Catholic bishops and priests on weekdays. The words were spoken not sung! It is all about adoring and pleasing God, God-centered worship, not pleasing us, but God the way Jesus taught His Apostles. Our holiness, pleasure, and delight will later happen as a gift of our adoration to God! May God bless you on your return to His Holy Way, Truth, and Life. Pray for it!
“catholic” means universal, not one. But besides that, the Church Universal is catholic because it shares one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism. It has never ever shared one liturgy or one language. Not before Vatican II and not after Vatican II. This illusion that without Latin the Church is not Universal is ahistorical at best and heretical at worst.
Your Fellow Catholic– Before Vatican II, the old Latin Mass, and all the old Sacraments, in Latin– were exactly the same, throughout the world, and this had the effect of unifying us all as one, holy Church, whether you went to Mass in New York City, or in a small town in America, or in Hong Kong, or in Paris, France — etc.! We all once were united, in one Church, one Catholic belief, one Mass and Sacraments! You and your family could go to Mass in New York City, an American small town, Hong Kong, or Paris– and it’s all the same! No Church divisions, no different kinds of Masses, no immoral or heretical, liberal apostasies allowed, as we have, today!