Altar Boy

Altar Boy

ALTAR BOY (ACOLYTE)

BASIC R.C. BELIEF Altar Boys are laymen (usually young boys) who normally perform duties of an acolyte. (CATHOLIC ALMANAC, page 270)

Acolyte is the highest of four minor orders by which one is charged to offer the cruets of wine and water at Mass, to light and bear candles at solemn functions and to serve in minor capacities during liturgical functions.

POST VATICAN II Function of acolytes remains the same, but they are called ministries, not orders, and their conferring is called installation, not ordination. This ministry is often exercised by an adult (VATICAN COUNCIL, Rev. Flannery, O.P., page 429)

From THE PRICELESS GIFT, approved 4/17/80 by John Paul II. “Women, however, are not permitted to act as altar servers. (Ed. Note: This does not refer to Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, which women may become. They distribute the Hosts to the people, and do not serve the priest as an acolyte or altar bboy.)

CATHOLIC JOURNALS Letter in CATHOLIC VOICE, 9/13/83. “About the altar girl controversy; they are forbidden (Quotes CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY and NORMS OF EUCHARISITIC PRACTICE) . . . The more altar girls the less altar boys and vocations to the priesthood. This is where is all begins

SECULAR JOURNALS From ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/24/86. “According to a survey conducted for the Archdiocese of Miami, 80% of the respondents approved of altar girls. A spokesman, Marsha Whelan, said, `My sense is we’re right in there. . . that, nationally, we fit in with how most Catholics think.'”