POPE FRANCIS HAS ISSUED A MOTU PROPRIO CHANGING CANON LAW SO WOMEN CAN BE INSTALLED AS LECTORS AND ACOLYTES; ALLEGED NEWS. [1] In the motu proprio “Spiritus Domini,” issued on Jan. 11, the Pontiff changed canon 230 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law to read: “Lay persons of suitable age and with the gifts determined by decree of the Episcopal Conference may be permanently assigned, by means of the established liturgical rite, to the ministries of lectors and acolytes; however, the conferment of such a role does not entitle them to support or remuneration from the Church.” [1]
LECTOR AND ACOLYTE
Lector and acolyte are publicly recognized ministries instituted by the Church. According to Church law, “before anyone is promoted to the permanent or transitional diaconate, he is required to have received the ministries of lector and acolyte.”
Cardinal Luis Ladaria
Pope Francis wrote a letter to Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which explained his decision to admit women to the ministries of lector and acolyte, Alleged News. [1] In this letter, the Pontiff expressed the hope that opening these lay ministries to women might "better manifest the common baptismal dignity of the members of the People of God," Alleged News. [1]
Saint Paul VI
Pope Saint Paul VI abolished the minor orders and subdiaconate and established the ministries of lector and acolyte in the motu proprio "Ministeria quaedam" issued in 1972. [1]
The ministry of acolyte is to help the deacon and to minister to the priest. It is therefore the duty of the acolyte to take care of the service of the altar, to help the deacon and priest in liturgical actions, especially in the celebration of the Holy Mass. [1]
Potential responsibilities for an acolyte include distributing Holy Communion as extraordinary minister if such ministers are not present, publicly exposing the Sacrament of the Eucharist for adoration by the faithful in extraordinary circumstances, and the instruction of congregants. [1] The acolyte is to have a sincere love for the mystical Body of Christ, or People of God, and especially for the weak and sick.
In his decree, Paul VI wrote that the lector was instituted for the office of reading the Word of God in the liturgical assembly. [1]
Canon 1035
Canon 1035 says the following, "Before anyone is promoted to the permanent or transitional diaconate, he is required to have received the ministries of lector and acolyte and to have exercised them for a suitable period of time." [2]
[1] Pope Francis admits women to ministries of lector and acolyte in new motu proprio; Alleged News
[2] Ministries of lector and acolyte
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/ministries-of-lector-and-acolyte-4809
With thanks to catholicnewsagency.com ewtn.com
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