jezic Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 and what about helping female vocations? They can be as influenced as men. (it is a usual argument against it) (that does not say i support either side, only asking the question that some others fail to do.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prodigalson Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 That's also a great point! And I'm not sure what the answer is. Women's vocations are so awesome and help immensly to build the church. I geuss women should foster a true love and devotion to the consecrated Eucharist and to serve the church in any other ways they can because this will usually be the common lifestyle of their vocation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argent_paladin Posted March 23, 2006 Author Share Posted March 23, 2006 First, the theory: I am in favor of altar boys only. It is a simple fact that women, at every age, are more responsible, reliable and consitent than men. Thus, when altar servers are opened to girls, they tend to crowd out the boys, who tend to be less mature. Also, psychologically, when girls become the majority, boys see it as a "girl thing" and don't want to do it anymore. One can see this phenomenon in other ecclesial communities that have female "priests". In many of there diocese, there are fewer and fewer men being ordained an it is being taken over by women. That is actually a definite danger. We must not feminize the Church too much (although acknowleding that the Church is feminine.) What I mean is that in many cultures men between the ages of 18 and 50 don't go to mass at all and mass is seen as the province of women and effeminate men. Allowing altar girls only makes this worse. The reason that it is important to have altar boys is because the Eucharist is the heart of the priestly vocation. Think about it, a layperson can do most other things: baptize (in emergencies), witness marriage, counsel, teach, missionize, canon law, etc. The main, daily difference of ordination is the confecting of the Eucharist. And were did most priests get their first exposure to the mystery and beauty of this sacrament? Serving at the altar. I am not proposing a ban, but if we want to encourage vocations to the priesthood, we should make sure that boys know what priests do and who they are, the best way for this is for them to be altar servers. Religious vocations for women are far more wideranging and altar serving is not a very good preparation for much of it. On the practical, political level- some level of female altar servers has already been practiced in this diocese. Most of the priests are very conservative and will probably not change their practice. Several, however, will. But this allows us to compare the differing practices of the parishes and what results from it. And, I said the pairing was brilliant because it gives something to each side so it is hard to complain. Both practices are are allowed with permission from the bishop, so it can't be criticized from an authority aspect. You can only criticize it from the prudential standpoint, as I just did. But the proof is in the pudding from these arguments. Ten years from now, if there are no vocations from the parishes that have altar girls, and if few boys want to become altar boys anymore, then we will have our proof. Also, if the indult masses are packed with people, perhaps the bishop will allow more parishes to offer them. I am sad in that this diocese is one of the only ones not to have altar girls. And I think that Benedict will soon allow all pastors to offer indult masses, without their bishop's permission. But we shall see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Extra ecclesiam nulla salus Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 [quote name='OLAM Dad' date='Mar 21 2006, 09:00 PM']I don't have a problem with this. All the real Catholics will start attending the TLM anyway and the fake Catholics can sing Haugen songs, celebrate LifeTeen, and oogle the altar girls. [right][snapback]917274[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Amen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 they should have altar girls at the Latin Mass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudgedByGod Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 [quote name='Lil Red' date='Mar 23 2006, 05:39 PM']they should have altar girls at the Latin Mass [right][snapback]919508[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Enough tradition has been taken away by allowing altar girls at NO. Latin Mass embraces tradition and it should remain that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 i'm pretty sure i was joking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudgedByGod Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 [quote name='Lil Red' date='Mar 23 2006, 05:47 PM']i'm pretty sure i was joking [right][snapback]919534[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Sorry. It just didn't appear that way when I first read it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 umm, yeah i'm just playing today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Extra ecclesiam nulla salus Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 we had altar girls at the Novus Ordo mass before the TLM at mass once. it was crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloysius Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 actually, it is not permitted to have altar girls at the old latin mass. the ecclesia dei indult makes clear that there is to be no mixing of the rites. the Old Latin Mass is governed by the rubrics that were in place in 1962. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socrates Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 [quote name='jezic' date='Mar 23 2006, 12:20 PM']and what about helping female vocations? They can be as influenced as men. (it is a usual argument against it) (that does not say i support either side, only asking the question that some others fail to do.) [right][snapback]919139[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Serving at the altar is related to the priesthood. Women do not have vocations to the priesthood. Women are called to serve God in other ways, less directly related to the altar. There was no shortage of vocations to women's religious orders in the days before "altar girls." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 oh dear whatever have i done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mateo el Feo Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 Here are the altar servers at Cardinal Mahoney's Religious Education Conference. How many do you think are contemplating the priesthood? [img]http://www.recongress.org/2006/pix/med_DSC_0433.jpg[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything in Moderation Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 I am a female altar server. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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