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“This blog is like a fusion of the Baroque ‘salon’ with its well-tuned harpsichord around which polite society gathered for entertainment and edification and, on the other hand, a Wild West “saloon” with its out-of-tune piano and swinging doors, where everyone has a gun and something to say. Nevertheless, we try to point our discussions back to what it is to be Catholic in this increasingly difficult age, to love God, and how to get to heaven.” – Fr. Z
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Tag Archives: altar boys
ASK FATHER: Can a deacon serve as acolyte in the Extraordinary Form Mass?
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Can a deacon serve as acolyte in the Extraordinary Form Mass? Sure. If there are not enough servers for the sake of a Solemn Mass, and for some reason you have a plethora of deacons and … Continue reading
ASK FATHER: Color of altar boys’ cassocks
From a reader… QUAERITUR: I grew up in the 1950’s. All the illustrated “Children’s Missals” had photos showing altar servers wearing red cassocks and white surplices. I never saw red cassocks in person, however. Now, they seem to be making … Continue reading
Bad priesthood vocations numbers? Not by accident. Wherein Fr. Z rants.
I posted this last year, to the day. Any additional thoughts? ___ Originally Published on: May 3, 2016 ___ And yet, do other parishes and dioceses and religious groups change what they are doing? Not much. It is if they really … Continue reading
ASK FATHER: “Today I was an Alter Server at Mass…”
I confess that I initially sent back a terse note to this one: “You are wrong.” Having Reconsidered, more can be said… From a reader… QUAERITUR: Today I was an Alter [sigh] Server at Mass and upon returning home … Continue reading
Altar girls and liturgy dominated by women: bad ideas
I’m Fr. Z.. and I endorse this essay by Rachel Lu at Crisis! My emphases and comments: In 1994, the Congregation for Divine Worship issued a letter officially specifying that it is licit for females to serve the altar in … Continue reading
ASK FATHER: Liturgy director tries to forbid altar boys from wearing cassock and surplice.
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Our diocesan liturgical director is trying to prevent parishes from having altar servers wear cassocks and surplices, claiming they’re “clerical garb,” so lay people can’t wear them. Is his claim legitimate? Is there any official statement … Continue reading
ASK FATHER: How to talk to other mothers about male only altar service?
From a reader… Our parish priest does not care for girl servers but allows it. Today we went to daily Mass and a new girl was serving (which was arranged by one of the moms, I don’t believe Father knew about it), … Continue reading
The Last Altar Boy
The often amusing Eye of the Tiber has this: The last male altar server in the United States has officially called it quits, the boy’s family is reporting this morning. The 3-year altar server veteran, who remained at his post as cross bearer despite pressure … Continue reading
Posted in Lighter fare, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000
Tagged altar boys, altar girls, servers, vocations
12 Comments
Key stats for vocations to the priesthood – POLLS
The USCCB released survey results of the 2014 class of ordinands (from Latin, ordinandi, or “men to be ordained”). HERE 82% were altar boys 73% attended adoration of the Blessed Sacrament regularly Suggestion to parish priests… heck… let’s include bishops, too: … Continue reading
Airsoft Altar Boys
From a reader: Howdy from the heart of Texas Fr. Z! We decided to get our Altar Boy group together to play airsoft (military simulation that fires plastic pellets) at a local airsoft field. This is why we’re referred to … Continue reading
D. Trenton: Guardians of the Altar
Watch the libs have a spittle-flecked nutty about this one! I see that at the Cathedral of the Diocese of Trenton, where Bp. David O’Connell reigns, there is a group called the “Guardians of the Altar”. This, according to the … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Fr. Z KUDOS, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Semper Paratus, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice
Tagged altar boys, Bp. David O'Connell, D. Trenton, Guardians of the Altar, LEOs, vocations
44 Comments
Why don’t as many men go to church as women?
Today is the 50th anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium. What great fruits the liturgical reforms have produced! Jammed churches, long confession lines, full schools, lots of weddings and baptisms, convents bursting, seminaries churning out priests as fast as they can be … Continue reading
Altar Boy Stats FOLLOW UP (and fun photo)
Remember the post about the number of altar boys increasing when there are no girls on the team? HERE A reader sent this: I’ve attached as proof a “sacristy selfie” the rascally rascals (including our #2 son) took yesterday ~ … Continue reading
ACTION ITEM! All male altar service prompts increases in numbers of altar boys.
I have some homework for all you readers, below. But first, this introduction. A friend sent a link to On This Rock where there is a post about how the number of altar boys increases dramatically once all-male service at … Continue reading
QUAERITUR: Something that should be heard in every sacristy in the world.
From a reader: I’ve been having a friendly disagreement with a priest that I know, and maybe you can give me an answer: at the end of Mass, the priest will say the word “Prosit,” and the servers respond “Pro … Continue reading
QUAERITUR: Can Father require all servers to stand to receive Communion?
From a reader: My 10-year-old son, who daily receives Holy Communion on his tongue while kneeling (and in fact has never received standing) just completed altar server instruction. He was told that when he serves, he must receive standing!!! (for … Continue reading
WDTPRS POLL: All-male sanctuary/altar service and vocations to the priesthood.
I have posted this poll before, but in light of another post, I thought I would revisit the question. Please select a response and make comments on this subject in the combox, below. And, yes, I know that some churches … Continue reading
QUAERITUR: The colors of altar boy cassocks
From a reader: Is there any significance between altar boys who wear black cassocks as opposed to those who wear red ones in the TLM? No, there is no significance. This is a matter of aesthetics. Back in the … Continue reading
Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000
Tagged altar boys, cassocks, clerical dress
44 Comments
VIDEO: Altar Boys
My friend Fr. Stephen Reynolds in Sugar Land, Texas has been doing some great things. Here is the latest in some videos about worship and the life of the parish. [wp_youtube]EXIWMh7v3Kg[/wp_youtube] Fr. Z Kudos to Fr. Reynolds!
QUAERITUR: Surprised by a Communion Service with a lay leader
From a reader: Whilst on holiday in Bournemouth, UK I called into one of the RC churches to say a few prayers. It seemed as though Mass was about to begin but, to my great shock, a lay woman went … Continue reading
