Posted on 05/12/2014 8:08:21 PM PDT by NYer
From a reader…
QUAERITUR:
I went to Mass today in the diocese of [removed] as a visitor. The priest had 4 teen age alter girls and I actually received communion from one of them. This brought tears of sorrow to my eyes. I have never even seen an alter boy serve communion, let alone a girl. I am so shocked, I am thinking of writing a letter to their new bishop to let him in on this. What to you advise?
I presume the author is asking about “altar girls” rather than alter girls, or worse, altered girls.
While this is possibly permissible, it is unusual.
Leaving aside the issue of females serving at all, if the girls are confirmed, then they fit the minimum requirement for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Hmmm… feminine of minister is ministrix, so, plural ministrices.
Those on the Left usually harp on and on about not “mixing ministries”, namely, lectors should not distribute Holy Communion, ushers should not serve Mass, puppeteers should not ply their tambourine skills, etc.
The new bishop of [that diocese] has many, many challenges on his plate. Pray for him.
I suspect that this situation, while odd, would not amount to something he could begin to attend to.
How about writing to the new bishop of [that diocese], saying that you recently attended Holy Mass in his diocese and became aware of how much work he has before him. Instead of mentioning specific problems, could you promise him a daily decade of the Rosary for the next year?
Yes, it was fascinating, and underscores the importance of prayers and sacrifices for the Holy Souls.
Actually, Bishops, priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord.
You are right, I forgot the deacons and Bishops, naughty me.
Catholics are Catholics, regardless of what mass they attend, be it NO, TLM, or any of the other rites.
Or EMHC’s.
I suspect that you forget a LOT less than I. ;-)
Wow thank you for sharing that. Welcome home.
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