tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post6282846719745108..comments2024-03-24T05:54:23.612-05:00Comments on Weedon's Blog: On Acolytes and SuchWilliam Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-8009679527192633752008-08-17T21:05:00.000-05:002008-08-17T21:05:00.000-05:00Our acolytes wear cassock and surplice and both bo...Our acolytes wear cassock and surplice and both boys and girls are allowed. It used to be for those of confirmation class age (7th grade) through high school graduation, but has been recently lowered to include 5th graders due to lack of youth members.<BR/><BR/>Our congregation didn't have any acolytes until 1972, the same year we hung an eternal flame from the chancel ceiling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-58069627636978055662008-08-10T20:34:00.000-05:002008-08-10T20:34:00.000-05:00Bill Cwirla, always the cynic. I think it is a wor...Bill Cwirla, always the cynic. <BR/><BR/>I think it is a worthwhile discussion, personally, especially considering the fact that it is such a big issue for most congregations. If a pastor puts on his SET that he is not in favor of female acolytes, he might as well forget ever getting a Call even to an otherwise conservative parish. Anymore, pastors have to leave themselves open to serve congregations whose practices are not ideal. We need to be willing to do this.Rev. Paul Beiselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04678751687495292703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-14174201387689572552008-08-09T10:03:00.000-05:002008-08-09T10:03:00.000-05:00Wow! 45 comments on girl acolytes. Christendom m...Wow! 45 comments on girl acolytes. Christendom must be secure.WM Cwirlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12317197804776939257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-53474876058256762562008-08-08T23:52:00.000-05:002008-08-08T23:52:00.000-05:00We have a guy in his 60's do the acolyte job. No c...We have a guy in his 60's do the acolyte job. No crucifer, or book-bearer, though.<BR/><BR/>Man, P-Dub, look what you started. I thought I was the only trouble-maker this week!Lutheran Lucciolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06207851105681940388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-29912286518281822952008-08-08T23:40:00.000-05:002008-08-08T23:40:00.000-05:00We pre-conciliar RC altar boys never in a million ...We pre-conciliar RC altar boys never in a million years -- well, at least until the novus ordo -- wore a bloody alb. Altar boys wore cassocks. A cassock is not a vestment at all. It is the everyday wear of the (male) clergy, often dispensed with for just a Roman collared black shirt with black coat and pants for secular (as distinct from regular, those under a regula) clergy. The connexion then of the altar boy with a potential clerical state is clear. Over the cassock, a surplice, which is of common descent from the alb, is worn.<BR/><BR/>If one would argue the implied connexion to the clergy with cassick, how much moreso with the alb, which is a liturgical vestment!<BR/><BR/>As to the derivations, it's just a Roman tunic in origin with no religious significance whatever, much like the clerical collar was originally a sweatband and nothing else, so one can carry these things beyond relevance.<BR/><BR/>All this seems like yet one more thing that was once perfectly clear to everyone and now is up for grabs. Tradition is clear. No, that's not Law. Divine Law is not the only good reason for doing something, it's just the only good reason that's divine, which does not make adiaphora Greek for The rest doesn't make any difference.Past Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10541968132598367551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-24382894389262857632008-08-08T20:39:00.001-05:002008-08-08T20:39:00.001-05:00REsponding to Mike Baker, why do young children, b...REsponding to Mike Baker, why do young children, boys or girls have to do it at all? Why do elders have to do it? Why can't the pastor just do it before the service, or appoint an adult male to be a "sacristan" of sorts (like they do at Kramer Chapel). Why get stuck in a rut? Lately I have been doing all the candle lighting because the two boys that used to do it moved. The elders could do it, and that would be fine, but I certainly don't mind. Why do we clergy feel the incessant need to farm off liturgical duties to everyone else?Rev. Paul Beiselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04678751687495292703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-55619272662151880252008-08-08T20:39:00.000-05:002008-08-08T20:39:00.000-05:00There's really only ONE reason to avoid girl acoly...There's really only ONE reason to avoid girl acolytes. And it's nothing to do with whether a girl can light a candle, wear an alb, do anything else as well as a boy, or whether acolyting is a service or whether girls ought to be seen performing that service. The reason to avoid girl acolytes is that today, feminists are going to use them, and aggressively, too, as a stepping-stone toward ordination of women. <BR/><BR/>That's how it has happened in other denominations.<BR/><BR/>And that, I should think, ought to be a rather compelling warning to Lutherans.Anastasia Theodoridishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16092531121989260111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-73629033585764408822008-08-08T17:56:00.000-05:002008-08-08T17:56:00.000-05:00Very interesting discussion. I side with Father Ho...Very interesting discussion. I side with Father Hollywood on this issue. Redeemer Fort Wayne sounds like a good model to follow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-24828287064623321802008-08-08T17:10:00.000-05:002008-08-08T17:10:00.000-05:00There is no teaching or exercise of authority in l...There is no teaching or exercise of authority in lighting candles either.<BR/><BR/>Stole, chasuble, mark office over a white robe. White robe alone does not mark an office.<BR/><BR/>Somewhere I heard/read from Pr. Cwirla that all the saints wear white robes, but not all the saints or even all the men wear the chasuble or stole.<BR/><BR/>I'm more concerned about confirmation "stoles" which CPH still sells though they call them scarves as disposable cups now have the nomenclature of simply "plastic."Rev. John Frahmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937327450254152002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-67543078537432327382008-08-08T17:09:00.000-05:002008-08-08T17:09:00.000-05:00Quote from above:"When acolytes and acolytesses ve...Quote from above:<BR/>"When acolytes and acolytesses vest in albs - they are wearing a *clerical* vestment."<BR/><BR/>I'm not making a point here, just asking a question...didn't the little white baptismal gown that babies wear, or are given, grow from (shrink from?) an alb. <BR/><BR/>Isn't an alb a sign of our baptismal dignity, the white (alba) robe in which ancient baptismal rites attest adult neophytes were clothed, emerging from the water after dying and rising with Christ, the same clothing they continued to wear during the mystagogical catechesis of the 50 days? The monastic community of which I am a part, in common with other Benedictine communities, has non-clerical lay brothers wear albs for that very reason.<BR/><BR/>If baptism isn't the source of the alb, what is?<BR/><BR/>Here I will make a point: I disagree with the assertion that "As for organists "leading the church's primary prayer" this is simply not true." <BR/><BR/>You know the old joke, Q: "Do you believe in infant baptism? A: I've SEEN it." Do I believe organists lead the church's primary prayer? <BR/><BR/>The liturgy is the church's primary prayer--we evangelical catholics make that point repeatedly--and we acknowledge in countless ways that organists lead the singing of the liturgy, our sung prayer. Again, as St Augustine reminds us, "He who sings prays twice." Denying that an organist is leading my sung prayer looks like making a distinction without a difference, or at least making a distinction in order to avoid dealing with the implications of acknowledging the actual, real liturgical leadership of the woman or man who may be sitting on the bench.<BR/><BR/>Please note that none of this, for me, leads to an argument for the ordination of women. Nor do I find Fr Weedon's initial question that led to this vigorous conversation similar to the situation with the upcoming LCMS youth event where a woman who denies the real presence will be be leading worship.<BR/><BR/>In the end, and after my questions have expanded, I find Fr Weedon's solution most amenable: "These young women and men are all catechized that our Rule of Faith, the Sacred Scriptures, prohibit any woman and also some men from serving in the Office of the Holy Ministry."<BR/><BR/>It is hard to beat Weedon's Wisdom, even if he avoids carbs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-16920067365627772712008-08-08T17:07:00.000-05:002008-08-08T17:07:00.000-05:00Goodness. Many good thoughts here that I will hav...Goodness. Many good thoughts here that I will have to think over and ingest. Though it is common parlance to use the term acolyte I do not think we Lutherans have ever intended that in the technical sense of being one of the orders. I confess I resonate with Pastor Brown's words, yet the good counsel of the Dean of the SSP (and several others) gives me pause. I'll be thinking more about it, that's for sure. Thanks all for chiming in, and if anyone has anything more to say, feel free!William Weedonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-71851056358392577642008-08-08T17:05:00.000-05:002008-08-08T17:05:00.000-05:00There may be some merit in avoiding confusion, but...There may be some merit in avoiding confusion, but lighting candles isn't really the administration of the means of grace by any stretch.Rev. John Frahmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937327450254152002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-39721556968564717292008-08-08T16:20:00.000-05:002008-08-08T16:20:00.000-05:00...on another note. I wonder if the majority of t......on another note. I wonder if the majority of the concern over female acoyltes stems from a misunderstanding / miscommunication about why we have Male-only clergy.<BR/><BR/>I hear a great deal of "behind the scenes" talk when we talk about female service. That sounds more Victorian to me than Scriptural. Is it all about having males "in the scenes?" and females "behind the sences"?. That sounds like this is not a question of leadership and teaching in the church, but of public exposure in the roles of service.<BR/><BR/>In my opinion, it should never be a question of exposure but that of authority.<BR/><BR/>If the principle that we are trying to teach is proper gender roles, what is more subordinate and service-oriented than an acoylte? I thought that was the role of women servants in the church... am I wrong? Is it just bad because people see them doing work for the Pastor during the service instead of afterwords like in the Alter Guild?<BR/><BR/>I don't buy the arguement that the child acolyte is a position of authority in the church.<BR/><BR/>I also don't buy the arguement that the acolyte grooms children for pastoral service. If that is the case, then the roles of the acolyte should be much more involved than just ceremonial on Sunday. Some churches do this and make the acolytes real servants of the church to the point of being almost mini-elders. I commend this if you can pull it off, but it is not always this way. I was an acolyte as a young boy and it didn't teach me anything other than the fact that I loved to play with fire.Mike Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09202275259518132834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-36792460974163991782008-08-08T15:56:00.000-05:002008-08-08T15:56:00.000-05:00I have noticed that many of the boy-only acolyte s...I have noticed that many of the boy-only acolyte supporters have the demographic luxury of actually having boys to serve as acolytes. This is not always the case.<BR/><BR/>What about small congregations, those with few children, and those whose boys are unfit for the duty? In many cases, female acolytes are the only option if you want to use children.<BR/><BR/>In those cases, what option do those who oppose female acolytes advocate? Do the small congregations use adult males when no young males are available? Do they refrain from using acolytes at all?Mike Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09202275259518132834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-91089729627223851172008-08-08T14:55:00.000-05:002008-08-08T14:55:00.000-05:00Dear Mark:Cassock and surplice (or choir robes) ar...Dear Mark:<BR/><BR/>Cassock and surplice (or choir robes) are indeed vestments - but they are not *clerical* vestments. The laity is also a holy office. When a pastor wears a cassock with a collar, it is not a vestment. It is his work clothing.<BR/><BR/>However, when acolytes and acolytesses vest in albs - they are wearing a *clerical* vestment. That's just a historic reality. Personally, I would rather see our altar boys in cassock/surplice - which is more traditional.<BR/><BR/>One could easily argue (as I heard one former prof in a homily) that lay people should wear clerical collars. Indeed, there is nothing in Scripture to prevent it. Isn't it a matter of adiaphora, of the gospel? Why not? Priesthood of all believers and all that... But there is something very salutary about having ministers wear distinctive garb in their public ministry (something that goes back to the Levitical priests).<BR/><BR/>As for organists "leading the church's primary prayer" this is simply not true. The organist is a man-made office that assists the divine office of the pastor. He or she is not bidding prayers by serving in this way. Why try to clericalize their office? That's a way of denigrating the holy office of the laity.<BR/><BR/>Just because you won't find orders such as acolyte in the confessions (and I'm not convinced that you won't - I don't have my BOC handy) doesn't mean they are not orders or we don't have them (or may not have them). <BR/><BR/>You will look in vain for "elders" and "deaconesses" in the confessions - and yet we reserve the right to have those orders to assist the office of the ministry.<BR/><BR/>Back to the point - the modern movement to have girls wearing masculine vestments and serve with pastors at the altar is part (as someone else here put so eloquently) of an overall strategy.<BR/><BR/>The general calling the shots in that strategy to feminize the ministry is the devil himself. Why play on Satan's turf at all? Why taunt the lion with raw meat?<BR/><BR/>As far as law and gospel go, that is a helpful tool for giving pastoral care. People who are not repentant need to hear law, people who are penitent need to hear the gospel. But this matter of acolytes isn't a law/gospel situation. It is a matter of order.<BR/><BR/>Whether the pastor wears a collar or a t-shirt and jeans has nothing to do with whether or not he is sorry for his sins, and whether or not he needs to hear admonition or absolution. Whether or not a certain individual should serve at the altar has nothing to do with law and gospel, but has to do with vocation.<BR/><BR/>What happens when the gospel is invoked in these situations is a form of "anything goes" gospel reductionism - with the result that (big surprise) "anything goes." Is the lectionary law or gospel? Rock music? Girl acolytes? Circus elephants? Polka masses? Dancing girls? And when the pastor draws the line and says: "no," he is called a "legalist." Screwtape could not devise a better way to mess with the Lutherans than to play the Gospel card as a kind of blind trump.<BR/><BR/>Rather, a better "Lutheran" lens to use in this case is one of confession against the dominant feminist culture. When every other institution is rushing to become politically correct, gender neutral, and egalitarian, the Church should stand unabashedly in her femininity, her Brideship of Christ, and defend her Husband, in whose stead the masculine pastor stands to do the Lord's work.<BR/><BR/>And why we would want to discourage young men from stepping up to the plate to become the next generation of pastors by introducing them to service, to the holy things, to the chancel, to the liturgy, to proximity to the holy things, etc.? All so our daughters can get to do the same thing (lest our culture be offended)? I just don't see the point. I fail to see how any of this advances the Word of God our Father and the work of the Church our mother.Rev. Larry Beanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06705910892752648940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-76045198002393524822008-08-08T14:03:00.000-05:002008-08-08T14:03:00.000-05:00I'm not arguing that both genders ought to be repr...I'm not arguing that both genders ought to be represented. Far from it.<BR/><BR/>Rather, Fr Weedon has raised a lively question that, in light of evidence and practice both past and present, has expanded.<BR/><BR/>Why not women serving as acolytes (literally "followers") when women have _led_ the church's primary prayer at the organ bench and in the choir loft, often in historic vestments?<BR/><BR/>As for acolytes as an "order," I have a hard time finding that in the confessions. Didn't we eliminate the minor orders? <BR/><BR/>And though I can't quite put a finger on it yet, I find a strange sort of preaching of the law in the comment that "if we want young men to be interested in going into the ministry when they grow up, it would be best not to have albs and liturgical ritual in the chancel to be yet one more thing that is gender-neutralized." <BR/><BR/>"If we do this...then the following will result." Isn't this the law? Isn't God's call to men, young and old, always sheer grace apart from our effort?<BR/><BR/>As I said before, I'm not making a case one way or the other...just aware that Fr Weedon's initial question has, for me, uncovered for me additional questions and complications.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-13303366635959416982008-08-08T14:00:00.000-05:002008-08-08T14:00:00.000-05:00This is what happens when sociology rather than ch...<I>This is what happens when sociology rather than church history is used to shape those matters that are considered adiaphora.</I><BR/><BR/>Well put, Fr Hollywood; but I would put it even more strongly: this is what happens when human reason (controlled by the spirit of the age) rather than Tradition is used to shape those matters which are misguidedly thought to be adiaphora.Chris Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220498656377282715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-26103851016831320132008-08-08T13:41:00.000-05:002008-08-08T13:41:00.000-05:00It might be nearly impossible in many parishes at ...It might be nearly impossible in many parishes at present, but thinking long term we should have an ideal to shoot for. Maybe it will take a few years, maybe a few decades, but that's not reason to take the attitude that we can never get to the way things should be. With that attitude (which I admit to succumbing to at times) we might as well hand Missouri over to the liberals.Erich Heidenreich, DDShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12819223688598369327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-29712310309435264512008-08-08T12:50:00.000-05:002008-08-08T12:50:00.000-05:00The "Acolyte Corps" at Redeemer, Ft. Wayne resonat...The "Acolyte Corps" at Redeemer, Ft. Wayne resonates completely with what Fr. Beane has said. Some of the young men who serve as acolytes have gone one to attend Christ Academy and, at least one of them, is planning on going to CTS upon his graduation from college. The "corps" is remarkable (and it is made up by a group of remarkable young men); but given the reality of the LCMS, it would be nearly impossible to replicate it in many of our parishes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-15069325603165873152008-08-08T11:42:00.000-05:002008-08-08T11:42:00.000-05:00Dear Mark:Is that all that an an acolyte does? "L...Dear Mark:<BR/><BR/>Is that all that an an acolyte does? "Light a candle"?<BR/><BR/>If that's the case, the pastor can just carry around a bic, or one of the elders can ignite it off the end of his cig before he butts out before Mass...<BR/><BR/>It's not about "lighting a candle."<BR/><BR/>The office of acolyte is just that - an office. It is traditionally a minor order of the clergy. This is why little Johnny or little Britney often wears an alb and cincture like the clergy, processes in with the clergy, serves in the chancel with the clergy, sometimes assists with the gospel book and/or distribution of communion with the clergy.<BR/><BR/>Even granting that they are in no way clergy today, it's hard to miss the connection between the pressures of feminism and the way churches that claim to be traditional and conservative have only recently acceded to unisexing the office.<BR/><BR/>While not an order of clergy, it isn't hard to see the way such service is a perfect stepping-stone to pastoral ministry.<BR/><BR/>For a young man, it is a big deal to vest with the pastor, pray in the sacristy, reverently assist the pastor in the chancel, participate in the leading of the liturgy in a way that is almost like that of a subdeacon, etc. If we want young men to be interested in going into the ministry when they grow up, it would be best not to have albs and liturgical ritual in the chancel to be yet one more thing that is gender-neutralized - and to what end?<BR/><BR/>It's already hard enough to convince boys and men in this day and age that wearing "robes" and "gowns" (sometimes embroidered with lace) is manly without seeing little girls wearing the same vestments. In fact, in my former experience as a layman in many churches, congregations that had female acolytes quickly had no boys serving in this way. The boys find it girly, and the girls find the "robes" to be "cute."<BR/><BR/>It reminds me of the situation in the (Lutheran) Church of Sweden. Less than half a century after "ordaining" women, it is getting very hard to find male seminarians. The holy ministry is seen by most men in that place as "women's work." The office of the ministry has been so feminized that even the most liberal of bishops is concerned because of the dearth of male priests.<BR/><BR/>We have been so cowed by feminism that our churches will soon look just like liberal Vatican II Roman churches where the only thing not considered unisex is the actual consecration (and pressure is mounting for that domino to fall as well). After all, women are capable of preaching, teaching, chanting the liturgy, pronouncing absolution, wearing collars and albs, and even being addressed by the now-unisex title "Pastor" just as well as a man.<BR/><BR/>Besides, if it's just "lighting a candle", why is it so important to make sure both genders are represented?<BR/><BR/>This is what happens when sociology rather than church history is used to shape those matters that are considered adiaphora.Rev. Larry Beanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06705910892752648940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-26972461996663543072008-08-08T11:11:00.000-05:002008-08-08T11:11:00.000-05:00Having women choristers and organists in the balco...Having women choristers and organists in the balcony or back of the church, "behind the scenes" as it were, still doesn't attend to the question at hand.<BR/><BR/>It certainly doesn't solve the dilemma of 'performance.' The last thing the presiding minister 'up front' better have on his mind is that he is engaged in some sort of performance. Front or back, it's never a performance. It's always prayer.<BR/><BR/>For most of our parishes, and at one level or another--front, back, up, down--through music women lead us in the liturgy, the primary sung prayer of the church. <BR/><BR/>It's hard to imagine why they shouldn't light a candle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-53129168941861141652008-08-08T10:29:00.000-05:002008-08-08T10:29:00.000-05:00I'm not sure I agree with your broad stroke assess...I'm not sure I agree with your broad stroke assessment, Pr. Beisel. Certainly it would be difficult in some congregations, but it is not the whole congregation one has to deal with. It is primarily the parents of would be female acolytes. <BR/><BR/>I believe it is relatively easy to direct the girls to the altar guild rather than to the service of the altar, depending on the parents of the catechumens one has at any given time. It doesn't have to be done as a matter of saying girls shouldn't be acolytes, but rather that we would like (need?) young ladies to be trained in the work of assisting the pastor before and after the service in caring for the Lord's Body and Blood. It could even be gradually phased out by offering the altar guild as an optional service for female catechumens. <BR/><BR/>One has to choose his battles wisely, and this is probably not high on the priority list for most pastors. But I wouldn't take it off the list as something that is "here to stay." <BR/><BR/>It is even more difficult a battle in my opinion to end the practice of female lectors, but that must be done on the basis of clear Scripture. If one can accomplish that, I would think ending female acolytes/crucifers will be small potatoes.<BR/><BR/>As an aside, I find co-ed sports teams for young people to be an analogous blurring of gender in secular society. This is a practice I am also not in favor of. Women and men certainly <I>can</I> to many of the same things, but this doesn't mean they should. I wish I lived in the day when men were men and women were women. These distinctions are getting more and more difficult to discern every day.<BR/><BR/>Have any of you read about the impressive "<A HREF="http://www.redeemer-fortwayne.org/blog.php?msg=6931" REL="nofollow">Acolyte Corps</A>" at Redeemer - Ft. Wayne?Erich Heidenreich, DDShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12819223688598369327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-65263931482119889752008-08-08T10:08:00.000-05:002008-08-08T10:08:00.000-05:00Bottom line is: female acolytes and crucifers are ...Bottom line is: female acolytes and crucifers are here to stay in Missouri. If a pastor inherits this practice, it is unlikely that he could change it without losing half the congregation (given the attitude of parishioners today). Those who inherit a different practice or can institute male only acolytes without controversy should count themselves blessed.Rev. Paul Beiselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04678751687495292703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-89367003749825653922008-08-08T09:55:00.000-05:002008-08-08T09:55:00.000-05:00Dr. Tighe,It is online. Father Fessio, of course ...Dr. Tighe,<BR/><BR/>It is online. Father Fessio, of course supports the postion of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, which is the conservative one.<BR/><BR/>www.catholicscholars.org/publications/quarterly/v11n2mar1988.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-49497232677634191202008-08-08T09:22:00.000-05:002008-08-08T09:22:00.000-05:00I remember reading this:J. Fessio, S.J., "Admittan...I remember reading this:<BR/><BR/>J. Fessio, S.J., "Admittance of Women to Service at the Altar as Acolytes and Lectors," in Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Newsletter 11:2 (March 1988) pp. 14-16<BR/><BR/>years ago, and being mightily impressed by it, but I do not know if it can be had online.William Tighehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16634494183165592707noreply@blogger.com