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www.zenit.org/article-26801 - Cached - Annotated View

Elena LaVictoire's personal annotations on this page

mydomesticchurch
Mydomesticchurch bookmarked on 2009-09-14 Catholic mass

A reminder about girl servers. All four of my sons have served but I do not and will not encourage my daughter. So far, at age 10, that has not become an issue in our household.


  • A: Although a clarifying instruction on several such questions was frequently described as "imminent," a long time has passed and it would seem that it is still in the pipeline.

    All the same, it is important to remember that, even in the ordinary form, the use of female altar servers is in virtue of a specific permission and is not automatic. As the Holy See has explained on several occasions, the local bishop may permit the use of female servers but may not oblige the pastor to use them.

    Also, the Holy Father's motu proprio granting permission for the celebrations of the extraordinary form was for the Roman Missal according to the edition issued under Pope John XXIII. Since the rubrics of this missal in no way contemplate the possibility of female servers, then it must be surmised that only altar boys or adult men are allowed as servers in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite.

This link has been bookmarked by 1 people . It was first bookmarked on 14 Sep 2009, by Elena LaVictoire.

  • 14 Sep 09
    mydomesticchurch
    Elena LaVictoire

    A reminder about girl servers. All four of my sons have served but I do not and will not encourage my daughter. So far, at age 10, that has not become an issue in our household.

    Catholic mass


    • A: Although a clarifying instruction on several such questions was frequently described as "imminent," a long time has passed and it would seem that it is still in the pipeline.

      All the same, it is important to remember that, even in the ordinary form, the use of female altar servers is in virtue of a specific permission and is not automatic. As the Holy See has explained on several occasions, the local bishop may permit the use of female servers but may not oblige the pastor to use them.

      Also, the Holy Father's motu proprio granting permission for the celebrations of the extraordinary form was for the Roman Missal according to the edition issued under Pope John XXIII. Since the rubrics of this missal in no way contemplate the possibility of female servers, then it must be surmised that only altar boys or adult men are allowed as servers in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite.