I agree entirely with this video, women should stop serving in the sanctuary. There's a reason that they're called altar BOYS. If we had to change the name of the position to altar server to allow women to partake... then the change to the position shouldn't have been made at all. I feel that something else that would help with this issue would be the clergy taking over the responsibilities given to lay people like lectors and extraordinary ministers of Eucharist.
I'm relatively new to the Church. When did they allow girls to serve at the altar? Also, what would happen if a priest demanded the Mass be more traditional in the face of such liberalism?
@MaxxTheMerciless It depends on the bishop and the priest and the parish; some priests have great success, but others suffer a lot of resistance and find it almost impossible to make changes.
The altar boys left when the girls entered. But look at what happened in the Anglican Church just past week !!!!! It proves that there is no place for liberalism in the Holy Mother the Church. Many of good priests came from altar boys because the sanctuaries are often the place where priestly calls were and are developed. These girls flocking around in the sanctuaries was not a very good move but let us remember the priests don't have to allow it so it is completely up to them.
The church, just like governments, are reaching out to the females while pushing the males back due to PC, self inposed guilt and votes (in the case of the governments). The church is in serious trouble due to the actions of the church itself.
As the mother of 2 high school boys (altar servers) and one girl (not an altar server) I couldn't agree more!! When men and women behave as intended, we truly become the domestic church with God in the center of our family. Works out great.
Great video, yet I think the problem goes deeper than that because priests stop asking parents from the pulpit to encourage their children to be priests and religious, parents became selfish and wanted to have grandchildren and as a result having a son who is a priest or a religious daughter stop being the great blessing used to be.
The lack of altar boys is the result of not encouraging vocations to the priestshood and I blame the bishops, priests and parents.
There was also the assumption that since "serving" include acolytes, lectors, and porters (minor orders) and women assumed these rolls, that they could continue beyond minor orders, eventually with women priests and bishops.
Thank you so much for posting this video! I am an 18 year old girl and I do not like the fact that there are altar girls. My church has mostly girls on the altar... Where are all of the boys?
As always, Mr. Voris, you speak the truth in a manly fashion rarely heard in these days of flaccid, Baby Boomer bishops and priests afraid of offending the "unveiled wonders" who run their dioceses and parishes. Fr. Corapi, Pope Benedict, and others reflect this. The nuns in the background reflected the beauty of femininity much more than the woman steering her husband from behind by his arm away from your camera. Altar girls don't foster vocations of sisters, because sisters don't offer Mass a
While I am more of a traditionalist mindset. You'll notice in the video those smiling sisters coming up behind Voris.
Couldn't the altar girls perhaps pave the way for calling future nuns??
Anyway, I think we do have a feminine problem with the church with some of the priests themselves, but I don't think Altar Girls are necessarily a symptom. It could be the other way around -- the girls are filling a vacuum.
I think the decline in vocations has more to do with the lack of holy families!
In contrast, in my bf's parish, there is a definite masculine edge to it.Mainly boy altar server,all men choirs,men are definitely running the show there.It does have an affect on how the priest and deacon approach issues in the church.They are not afraid to call out the abuses in that parish and to tackle issues head on. So brilliant video, thanks for that :)
Bravo! This reminds me of the time the church called me to ask if I would be an usher, an usher! Should I as a woman show a man to his seat? We have two altar girls (that I know of). I'm sure their parents are proud, but wouldn't the service of these two be better served at the chapel, praying before the Eucharist, perhaps readying themselves for a vocation that would enhance the church.
It is NOT JUST THE CHURCH, it is in ALL segments of society. In our schools, in our work places and in our churches. Men are often times absent from the home, not for working and providing, not for serving the greater community, they are totally absent and in the wake of that emptiness, children age, but they do not grow up.
Normally boys are really bashful and independant. If they see an "altar girl" serving in Mass, boys would regularly shy away and say to themselves "what am I doing here? If she can do the same thing." I think it is truly a detriment to the Church and to the boys to have the girls "serve" in mass.
Hopefully the moms can talk their daughters about the monastic life or the missionary life. But, please don't want them to be something that is not suited for them. Theologicaly nor practical.
I'm from Malaysia and live in New Zealand. Sometimes I cannot help but compare the 2 nations... here in NZ, there are girl altar 'servers'. And the churches do not use Patens :( I'm always so sad when I scour the ground for crumbs, and imagine our Lord dropping to the ground and being trampled on... I wish the Bishops would make a stand for the Faith, and turn the church around... bring back the Latin Mass too! It's so beautiful! And empowering!
I am the mother of two boys who altar serve. My daughter may be an extraordinary minister, if necessary, and sings in the choir when its available. I think that girls are a distraction to the many of the boys- a distraction that can keep thier attention off of their vocation and service. As an altar server trainer at our parish, I see a lot of problems that would not be present if the boys/girls were not trying to get phone numbers, and driven to distraction by incessant chatting.
I am a woman, and am in complete and total agreement. More altar boys-when I began seeing so few, I was really puzzled. Thank you for saying something!
I think there are few things more jarring to faithful Catholics than the sight of girls, dressed in cassocks, in the sanctuary. It's so not right. It's immodest and it is unfair to the young girls who are led to believe one, one day they may be priests. The girls are used by a dissenters who care nothing about manipulating the young for their own selfish ends.
If the intent is to "hold fast" it is not prudent to encourage female altar servers. For 40+ years young American women have heard the message that with hard work and determination, they can do anything (command warships & space shuttles) & be anyone (governor, Nobel for a 'hard" science). If she prayerfully & to the best of her ability fulfills her duties as altar server, she can never be an icon of Christ "de natura," a mere accident, in the Aristotelian sense, of birth.
1º of all, 1 of the most important reasons (if not the most important reason) why men leave the priesthood -or don't join at all- is because the Roman Church doesn't allow married men to the priesthood.This is a widely know FACT that the Church sometimes wants to ignore.2º, A child acts as he/she has been taught.Children never say things or act on their own.If a boy's been taught to refrain from activities where girls are involved too,then he's gonna be a misogynist,just like the parents...
@godislove010 What absolute tosh. The married clergy issue is NOT a widely known fact - there is NOTHING to support it at all. Although it IS a popular liberal canard, but that's not the same thing. And children wanting to participate in activities structured around a specific gender identity is not sexism - it is just a HEALTHY expression of the distinctiveness of human beings' gender.
@godislove010 For hundreds of years the priesthood has been celibate, and we only recently started having a shortage of priests. The Bible supports the celibate priesthood. The shortage of priests is down to the liberalization of the Church, the denegration of the supernatural and the mocking of the office of the priest. THIS is a fact although it is not widely known, mainly because liberals have tried to make people ignore it.
@godislove010 Cor 7:27-34 makes it clear that those who are married are distracted from serving the Lord, and advocates celebacy for those who serve (Priests). Also, Mt 19:10-12 contains clear teaching it is good to be unmarried for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.
@godislove010 In addition, it is the traditional teaching of the Church that priestly celibacy is the normal discipline - the Church is the Bride of Christ. "What you bind on earth is bound in Heaven" etc. - her teachings carry weight. If we are faithful Catholics, we should obey the Church. And the Church says no female altar servers and says priests should normally be celibate.
@RealCatholicTV that teaching came afterwards. That teaching was never applied or believed in the early church. The Church doesn't say "no female altar servers". That's what a traditional wing from the church says
@godislove010 Actually, the Church DOES say that - read the link we posted and check Cdl. Arinze's words. Of course, if you are going to call the words of THE POPE merely a traditional wing of the Church I think we are done here.
@godislove010 One of the Popes said it was a wicked thing for women to serve at the altar. Pope John Paul II was against it, but for some reason, he permitted bishops to allow it. I'm guessing the ultra-dissident bishops threatened the Pope with schism. The dissenters admit that altar girls are a nose of the camel under the tent. They want female priests, and they see altar girls as one step along the way. of course they won't get their wish. Well, not in the Catholic Church anyway.
Well done, as always, Mike. When girls first started appearing on the altar, I found it jarring. I guess I've grown accustomed to those faces over time, and have forgotten my original objections, which you restate well. Recently, I've noticed an increase in boys as servers at our church, and it's encouraging. (Could they be attracted by those pretty faces? Nah.) BryantS
@joesphx19 I don't know anything about your church, but I am a 17 year old female altar server at my church and I was deeply offended by your comment. I also have to 'fill in' on most of the days that I am not already signed up to serve at mass. Only one other female is currently on the schedule for my mass to serve as an altar minister. I would just like to say that I have never had to fill in for that other girl. I, also, have never missed a scheduled mass. Fill in the blanks.
@HowToandStyleShow I don't know why you were offended by Joseph's comment - he said nothing about you. Neither did he speak about female altar servers being lazy - he simply said "many" (without a gender) are lazy. And he said there are few who are willing to serve.
The only other thing which was said by him was that he thinks girls shouldn't serve. In this, he agrees with the Church herself (see the document, and also find Cdl. Arinze's words).
I never meant to offend you and I think highly of anyone willing to serve at the altar. My daughter is a server and one that is willing to never allow a service to go without a server. That may seem to be incongruent with my wish to see only boys serve but it really isnt. It is hard in this short forum to explain but I think Michael has done a good job in this video of explaining. God Bless you for your service.
@HowToandStyleShow I can fill in the blanks quite easily. The boys are taking their cues from the men, ie the priests, who have been little by little shirking their own responsibilities as priests and laying them in the laps of women. I see more and more women doing what traditionally PRIESTS should be doing, and more and more Priests absent from their churches. If you want to help women in the Church, STOP FILLING IN. In fact, stop serving Mass altogether.
My daughter has been a server for several years and she in no way feels that means she one day can become a priest. My son isn't old enough to serve yet but is anxious to be a server. Problem is, my daughter has to serve far more times than she is scheduled because there just aren't many willing to serve. Of course I blame the parents also for not holding an altar server in high esteem and many are just lazy as a server may need to "fill in" frequently. My opinion: just boys should serve.
my church, has altar girls, and i always find it awkward, because i've always seen altar BOYS not girls since memoris of me going to church. i've been to other countries and ususally they have altar boys , i've only seen girls here in the US, i figured that it's because theres more feminization the in the US than in other countries in the world, but that's my opinion.
The feminization is more subtle. Consider music: more and more is written in upper registers, more women in choirs with the natural octave above the males & the 'ubiquitous song leader' screeching all make it easier for women and oftimes impossible for men. Even Solemnes has a problem here: in normalizing gregorian chant to the well-tempered scale, the top of the scale 3 or more notes above where a typical man can sing (Carthusians retain the right tone), b/c it 'sounds more musical'.
I am so glad our assistant priest urges the young people to marry in the church, and bishop mentioning that altar boys (we only have boys) should be thinking of vocations in his homily (although it was quite awkward as we were in our altar server "choir dress" on Holy saturday, luckily people are too tired to stare at us...)
Excellent observations and commentary on this topic. It seems like it takes a certain amount of humility for men and woman to live in their God-given roles. That is, to submit to His plan, and subsequently, their role in the order of things. Is humility such a bad thing? Maybe I just see things too simply. :) Can't wait to see more footage from Rome!
Our Blessed mother is beyond sainthood, she is the mother of our Lord, we are all called to be saints, and anyone is capable (with the grace of our Lord) of becoming one if he chooses to do so, but nobody can choose to be the mother of God.
@bmagana Everything you say is true, with the exception of the implication ("beyond sainthood") she is not a saint. Certainly, she is holier than we can ever be and we cannot choose her unique role BUT we can choose to obey ("be it done unto me" can be said by us) and she IS a saint. She is the queen of saints, the greatest and most perfect of all saints.
This is one of your best videos, and could be argued that this is the most important issue in the church. Most liturgical abuses, innovations, and additions seem to be feminine in nature (praise dances, LifeTEEN, etc). When young men are seeking a masculine church and are met time and time again with fluffy Mass and praise and worship, what are they left to do but leave? The feminine environment will deter men from priesthood...I am a good example. Thank God He brought me back.
I fear so many boys refuse to serve at the altar just because girls do it too. It used to be the boys role. Not many boys want to do a girls job, so there are more girls now. It is also a disservice to the girls to let them believe that this might lead to them becoming priests some day. It won't happen and it is shameful for any priest to allow this idea to even be remotely a part of the reason why altar girls are allowed. False hope to an impossibility. Thanks for this video!
@laamelita If you're still unsure, take a look at what Cardinal Arizne, the Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, says about this subject: exactly the same thing.
@auzziesoceroo I really think you need to just let this go - because NO-ONE BUT YOU is saying this! No-one but you thinks this is "thunderboltish" or offensive or confusing or anything. No-one is saying "I'm not going to listen to the message because of rudeness". There IS no rudeness!
As I said above; this is your problem, not anyone else's. Let it alone. You are worrying about something that is not a problem.
@spellbreakerko To a certain degree; although the phrase can be used to refer to a number of radically different views and not all of them are compatible with Catholicism. Still, the view that males and females have different roles is one which finds itself expressed in Catholicism. At the very basic level, women can be mothers and men cannot, men can be fathers and women cannot.
Having grown up in the extremely liberal archdiocese of Western Washington, which, sadly, exemplifies most if not all of the problems you mention, I agree ONE HUNDRED percent with your observations. Keep up the good work!
I don't really believe that Female Alter Services are a problem in the church, girls want to feel included just as much as boys do I think this is a non issue
@MrShyjohn The Church herself disagrees with you, using masculine-specific language in her instructions. In addition, this is the traditional teaching of the Church - those serving on the altar are to be male. You are entitled to your view, but it isn't supported by the teaching of the Church or the simple facts of the matter; the femininization of the Church is a VERY real issue which is is plain to see.
Thank you for this video! After much reading & reflection, I now believe the agenda of the LGBT society is Satanic. It wants to destroy all physical, behavioral, & mental gender differences in human beings through neuterizing surgery, hormones, transgendered clothing, inclusive language, reassignment of labor, etc.. Not only does this fail to achieve true equality, it is evil because it opposes the will of Almighty God.
Good vid, Mike. Clearly articulated while avoiding 'deadly BUZZ words' which would bring out 'Boo Birds' in droves to take the discussion off on an emotional tangent. The TRUTH is the TRUTH & U have done an excellent job communicating it in no uncertain terms- -except for 'Joan of Arc' *smile*. . .
@GriffinElliot There are PLENTY of female saints - but none of them got to be saints by trying to be men, and no man was every a saint by trying to be women. "Equal but distinct".
@auzziesoceroo Who cares if people who are wrong are in a frothing rage? That is THEIR problem, not ours. Nothing we say here is rude or uncharitable - it is a simple, flat statement. If people (and who ARE these people? I don't see a single one) are getting all het up, it's THEIR issue, not ours. We are direct and diplomatic.
No-one's in a frothing rage - you are worrying about something that hasn't happened. If it weren't too ironic, I might even say that was an overly feminine response!
@auzziesoceroo Not at all - but it is DEFINITELY an influence! As the video makes clear, the feminization of the Church and the denial of the authentic masculine (and, to be fair, the denial of the authentic feminine) is a SERIOUS issue.
I agree entirely with this video, women should stop serving in the sanctuary. There's a reason that they're called altar BOYS. If we had to change the name of the position to altar server to allow women to partake... then the change to the position shouldn't have been made at all. I feel that something else that would help with this issue would be the clergy taking over the responsibilities given to lay people like lectors and extraordinary ministers of Eucharist.
monkeyman3895 5 months ago
I'm relatively new to the Church. When did they allow girls to serve at the altar? Also, what would happen if a priest demanded the Mass be more traditional in the face of such liberalism?
MaxxTheMerciless 7 months ago
@MaxxTheMerciless It depends on the bishop and the priest and the parish; some priests have great success, but others suffer a lot of resistance and find it almost impossible to make changes.
RealCatholicTV 7 months ago
The altar boys left when the girls entered. But look at what happened in the Anglican Church just past week !!!!! It proves that there is no place for liberalism in the Holy Mother the Church. Many of good priests came from altar boys because the sanctuaries are often the place where priestly calls were and are developed. These girls flocking around in the sanctuaries was not a very good move but let us remember the priests don't have to allow it so it is completely up to them.
seesint 7 months ago
Go Catholic masculinity!!! YEA!
outtaker 8 months ago
Good news that the new instruction on the EF Mass has it that altar girls may not be used in the EF Mass. That needed to be clarified.
2958456739 9 months ago
My parish only has male servers, it is a Latin Mass parish.
CatholicTraditional 9 months ago
††† In Hoc Signo Vinces †††
Lawborn2 9 months ago
The church, just like governments, are reaching out to the females while pushing the males back due to PC, self inposed guilt and votes (in the case of the governments). The church is in serious trouble due to the actions of the church itself.
lonedove1981 9 months ago
This vid is right on point.
I'm a 19 year old dude, and I don't mean to diss the ladies, but it just doesn't feel right having them running around doing everything.
As an ex-alter server, I'm gunna step up.
beefking69er 9 months ago
@beefking69er great I personally love to see older servers. YOu would be a good witness!
nancyduey 8 months ago
As the mother of 2 high school boys (altar servers) and one girl (not an altar server) I couldn't agree more!! When men and women behave as intended, we truly become the domestic church with God in the center of our family. Works out great.
Mackay105 9 months ago
Just amazing... You are right on target... God bless you and your work Michael...
Yankeegator 9 months ago
Boy, that was something i never thought about. I also prefer men in the altar, especially in reading letters written by men.
But Yes, Michael is right.
Saint Paul was not that old fashioned. He was just looking beyond times with a very inteligent point of view.
AFhobbie 9 months ago
Great video, yet I think the problem goes deeper than that because priests stop asking parents from the pulpit to encourage their children to be priests and religious, parents became selfish and wanted to have grandchildren and as a result having a son who is a priest or a religious daughter stop being the great blessing used to be.
The lack of altar boys is the result of not encouraging vocations to the priestshood and I blame the bishops, priests and parents.
elijah7k 9 months ago
Awesome!
swlabr21 9 months ago
There was also the assumption that since "serving" include acolytes, lectors, and porters (minor orders) and women assumed these rolls, that they could continue beyond minor orders, eventually with women priests and bishops.
mbevks 9 months ago
Thank you so much for posting this video! I am an 18 year old girl and I do not like the fact that there are altar girls. My church has mostly girls on the altar... Where are all of the boys?
Blackcat51292 9 months ago
@Blackcat51292 You should tell them "real men serve the Church"!
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
As always, Mr. Voris, you speak the truth in a manly fashion rarely heard in these days of flaccid, Baby Boomer bishops and priests afraid of offending the "unveiled wonders" who run their dioceses and parishes. Fr. Corapi, Pope Benedict, and others reflect this. The nuns in the background reflected the beauty of femininity much more than the woman steering her husband from behind by his arm away from your camera. Altar girls don't foster vocations of sisters, because sisters don't offer Mass a
Audinos 9 months ago
While I am more of a traditionalist mindset. You'll notice in the video those smiling sisters coming up behind Voris.
Couldn't the altar girls perhaps pave the way for calling future nuns??
Anyway, I think we do have a feminine problem with the church with some of the priests themselves, but I don't think Altar Girls are necessarily a symptom. It could be the other way around -- the girls are filling a vacuum.
I think the decline in vocations has more to do with the lack of holy families!
jgpeppers 9 months ago
In contrast, in my bf's parish, there is a definite masculine edge to it.Mainly boy altar server,all men choirs,men are definitely running the show there.It does have an affect on how the priest and deacon approach issues in the church.They are not afraid to call out the abuses in that parish and to tackle issues head on. So brilliant video, thanks for that :)
tammynikify 9 months ago
I had a nice giggle at the "flock" of nuns, as my mom says. I can't wait to join their ranks someday! <3
Other than that, another great vortex, as always! :)
Serikiyo 9 months ago
Bravo! This reminds me of the time the church called me to ask if I would be an usher, an usher! Should I as a woman show a man to his seat? We have two altar girls (that I know of). I'm sure their parents are proud, but wouldn't the service of these two be better served at the chapel, praying before the Eucharist, perhaps readying themselves for a vocation that would enhance the church.
DollyHot 9 months ago
It is NOT JUST THE CHURCH, it is in ALL segments of society. In our schools, in our work places and in our churches. Men are often times absent from the home, not for working and providing, not for serving the greater community, they are totally absent and in the wake of that emptiness, children age, but they do not grow up.
1991ROLEX 9 months ago
Normally boys are really bashful and independant. If they see an "altar girl" serving in Mass, boys would regularly shy away and say to themselves "what am I doing here? If she can do the same thing." I think it is truly a detriment to the Church and to the boys to have the girls "serve" in mass.
Hopefully the moms can talk their daughters about the monastic life or the missionary life. But, please don't want them to be something that is not suited for them. Theologicaly nor practical.
GottmitunsAlex 9 months ago
I'm from Malaysia and live in New Zealand. Sometimes I cannot help but compare the 2 nations... here in NZ, there are girl altar 'servers'. And the churches do not use Patens :( I'm always so sad when I scour the ground for crumbs, and imagine our Lord dropping to the ground and being trampled on... I wish the Bishops would make a stand for the Faith, and turn the church around... bring back the Latin Mass too! It's so beautiful! And empowering!
TheTumboos 9 months ago
I am the mother of two boys who altar serve. My daughter may be an extraordinary minister, if necessary, and sings in the choir when its available. I think that girls are a distraction to the many of the boys- a distraction that can keep thier attention off of their vocation and service. As an altar server trainer at our parish, I see a lot of problems that would not be present if the boys/girls were not trying to get phone numbers, and driven to distraction by incessant chatting.
thorpfamily 9 months ago
I am a woman, and am in complete and total agreement. More altar boys-when I began seeing so few, I was really puzzled. Thank you for saying something!
creatornat 9 months ago
@8bluestone As we say, woman can be and are the greatest of saints - but they are not men, and men are not women.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
I think there are few things more jarring to faithful Catholics than the sight of girls, dressed in cassocks, in the sanctuary. It's so not right. It's immodest and it is unfair to the young girls who are led to believe one, one day they may be priests. The girls are used by a dissenters who care nothing about manipulating the young for their own selfish ends.
2958456739 9 months ago
If the intent is to "hold fast" it is not prudent to encourage female altar servers. For 40+ years young American women have heard the message that with hard work and determination, they can do anything (command warships & space shuttles) & be anyone (governor, Nobel for a 'hard" science). If she prayerfully & to the best of her ability fulfills her duties as altar server, she can never be an icon of Christ "de natura," a mere accident, in the Aristotelian sense, of birth.
lesterbird1 9 months ago
@lesterbird1 A well thought out response.
Thanks for sharing your insight.
R.
mottledbrain 9 months ago
1º of all, 1 of the most important reasons (if not the most important reason) why men leave the priesthood -or don't join at all- is because the Roman Church doesn't allow married men to the priesthood.This is a widely know FACT that the Church sometimes wants to ignore.2º, A child acts as he/she has been taught.Children never say things or act on their own.If a boy's been taught to refrain from activities where girls are involved too,then he's gonna be a misogynist,just like the parents...
godislove010 9 months ago
@godislove010 What absolute tosh. The married clergy issue is NOT a widely known fact - there is NOTHING to support it at all. Although it IS a popular liberal canard, but that's not the same thing. And children wanting to participate in activities structured around a specific gender identity is not sexism - it is just a HEALTHY expression of the distinctiveness of human beings' gender.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
@godislove010 For hundreds of years the priesthood has been celibate, and we only recently started having a shortage of priests. The Bible supports the celibate priesthood. The shortage of priests is down to the liberalization of the Church, the denegration of the supernatural and the mocking of the office of the priest. THIS is a fact although it is not widely known, mainly because liberals have tried to make people ignore it.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
@RealCatholicTV the bible supports it... cool, show me WHERE. Show me where GOD supports it. Show me it's a GOD given commandment.
godislove010 9 months ago
@godislove010 Cor 7:27-34 makes it clear that those who are married are distracted from serving the Lord, and advocates celebacy for those who serve (Priests). Also, Mt 19:10-12 contains clear teaching it is good to be unmarried for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
@godislove010 In addition, it is the traditional teaching of the Church that priestly celibacy is the normal discipline - the Church is the Bride of Christ. "What you bind on earth is bound in Heaven" etc. - her teachings carry weight. If we are faithful Catholics, we should obey the Church. And the Church says no female altar servers and says priests should normally be celibate.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
@RealCatholicTV that teaching came afterwards. That teaching was never applied or believed in the early church. The Church doesn't say "no female altar servers". That's what a traditional wing from the church says
godislove010 9 months ago
@godislove010 Actually, the Church DOES say that - read the link we posted and check Cdl. Arinze's words. Of course, if you are going to call the words of THE POPE merely a traditional wing of the Church I think we are done here.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
@godislove010 One of the Popes said it was a wicked thing for women to serve at the altar. Pope John Paul II was against it, but for some reason, he permitted bishops to allow it. I'm guessing the ultra-dissident bishops threatened the Pope with schism. The dissenters admit that altar girls are a nose of the camel under the tent. They want female priests, and they see altar girls as one step along the way. of course they won't get their wish. Well, not in the Catholic Church anyway.
2958456739 9 months ago
Well done, as always, Mike. When girls first started appearing on the altar, I found it jarring. I guess I've grown accustomed to those faces over time, and have forgotten my original objections, which you restate well. Recently, I've noticed an increase in boys as servers at our church, and it's encouraging. (Could they be attracted by those pretty faces? Nah.) BryantS
bryantiable 9 months ago
@joesphx19 I don't know anything about your church, but I am a 17 year old female altar server at my church and I was deeply offended by your comment. I also have to 'fill in' on most of the days that I am not already signed up to serve at mass. Only one other female is currently on the schedule for my mass to serve as an altar minister. I would just like to say that I have never had to fill in for that other girl. I, also, have never missed a scheduled mass. Fill in the blanks.
HowToandStyleShow 9 months ago
@HowToandStyleShow I don't know why you were offended by Joseph's comment - he said nothing about you. Neither did he speak about female altar servers being lazy - he simply said "many" (without a gender) are lazy. And he said there are few who are willing to serve.
The only other thing which was said by him was that he thinks girls shouldn't serve. In this, he agrees with the Church herself (see the document, and also find Cdl. Arinze's words).
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
@HowToandStyleShow
I never meant to offend you and I think highly of anyone willing to serve at the altar. My daughter is a server and one that is willing to never allow a service to go without a server. That may seem to be incongruent with my wish to see only boys serve but it really isnt. It is hard in this short forum to explain but I think Michael has done a good job in this video of explaining. God Bless you for your service.
joesphx19 9 months ago
@HowToandStyleShow I can fill in the blanks quite easily. The boys are taking their cues from the men, ie the priests, who have been little by little shirking their own responsibilities as priests and laying them in the laps of women. I see more and more women doing what traditionally PRIESTS should be doing, and more and more Priests absent from their churches. If you want to help women in the Church, STOP FILLING IN. In fact, stop serving Mass altogether.
GMLFire 9 months ago
My daughter has been a server for several years and she in no way feels that means she one day can become a priest. My son isn't old enough to serve yet but is anxious to be a server. Problem is, my daughter has to serve far more times than she is scheduled because there just aren't many willing to serve. Of course I blame the parents also for not holding an altar server in high esteem and many are just lazy as a server may need to "fill in" frequently. My opinion: just boys should serve.
joesphx19 9 months ago
@joesphx19 >> My opinion: just boys should serve.
Forgive the obvious question; but why then does your daughter serve?
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
Straight to the point. Good job as always.
November02able 9 months ago
A much higher % of men attend the Traditional Mass on a regular basis than the Novus Ordo Mass because of these distractions and nonsense.
DBB726 9 months ago
Another reason why I go to the Traditional Mass because of this nonsense.
DBB726 9 months ago
my church, has altar girls, and i always find it awkward, because i've always seen altar BOYS not girls since memoris of me going to church. i've been to other countries and ususally they have altar boys , i've only seen girls here in the US, i figured that it's because theres more feminization the in the US than in other countries in the world, but that's my opinion.
bombuchu 9 months ago
The feminization is more subtle. Consider music: more and more is written in upper registers, more women in choirs with the natural octave above the males & the 'ubiquitous song leader' screeching all make it easier for women and oftimes impossible for men. Even Solemnes has a problem here: in normalizing gregorian chant to the well-tempered scale, the top of the scale 3 or more notes above where a typical man can sing (Carthusians retain the right tone), b/c it 'sounds more musical'.
jrpascucci 9 months ago
@jrpascucci totally agree with you, thanks
harrismo49 9 months ago
I am so glad our assistant priest urges the young people to marry in the church, and bishop mentioning that altar boys (we only have boys) should be thinking of vocations in his homily (although it was quite awkward as we were in our altar server "choir dress" on Holy saturday, luckily people are too tired to stare at us...)
platmosic 9 months ago
Needed: Real men Catholic leaders, not crucifix-covering cowards.
Muslims, Jews, Orthodox don't seem to have this problem do they? When only boys are on the altar, are there more priestly vocations?
sue200012 9 months ago
@sue200012 There's one diocese in the USA which has no altar girls (Lincoln, NE) - it has MANY vocations.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
Excellent observations and commentary on this topic. It seems like it takes a certain amount of humility for men and woman to live in their God-given roles. That is, to submit to His plan, and subsequently, their role in the order of things. Is humility such a bad thing? Maybe I just see things too simply. :) Can't wait to see more footage from Rome!
thegettig 9 months ago
Who was the greatest saint ever?
TheSniperJam 9 months ago
@TheSniperJam Mary the Mother of God
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
@RealCatholicTV Oh, of course - never thought of Our Lady as a saint before, but of course she is!
TheSniperJam 9 months ago
@RealCatholicTV
Our Blessed mother is beyond sainthood, she is the mother of our Lord, we are all called to be saints, and anyone is capable (with the grace of our Lord) of becoming one if he chooses to do so, but nobody can choose to be the mother of God.
bmagana 9 months ago
@bmagana Everything you say is true, with the exception of the implication ("beyond sainthood") she is not a saint. Certainly, she is holier than we can ever be and we cannot choose her unique role BUT we can choose to obey ("be it done unto me" can be said by us) and she IS a saint. She is the queen of saints, the greatest and most perfect of all saints.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
Amen, well said Mr Voris.
eldoradolou 9 months ago
This is one of your best videos, and could be argued that this is the most important issue in the church. Most liturgical abuses, innovations, and additions seem to be feminine in nature (praise dances, LifeTEEN, etc). When young men are seeking a masculine church and are met time and time again with fluffy Mass and praise and worship, what are they left to do but leave? The feminine environment will deter men from priesthood...I am a good example. Thank God He brought me back.
AbidingDood 9 months ago
Thank-you Mr Voris.
lolas185 9 months ago
women are allowed to be altar servers in the usa, but i dont like it. maybe one day we will move away from it again.
peruvianhitman 9 months ago
I fear so many boys refuse to serve at the altar just because girls do it too. It used to be the boys role. Not many boys want to do a girls job, so there are more girls now. It is also a disservice to the girls to let them believe that this might lead to them becoming priests some day. It won't happen and it is shameful for any priest to allow this idea to even be remotely a part of the reason why altar girls are allowed. False hope to an impossibility. Thanks for this video!
AndyMacOP 9 months ago
@laamelita If you're still unsure, take a look at what Cardinal Arizne, the Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, says about this subject: exactly the same thing.
Portoinfinitivo 9 months ago
@auzziesoceroo I really think you need to just let this go - because NO-ONE BUT YOU is saying this! No-one but you thinks this is "thunderboltish" or offensive or confusing or anything. No-one is saying "I'm not going to listen to the message because of rudeness". There IS no rudeness!
As I said above; this is your problem, not anyone else's. Let it alone. You are worrying about something that is not a problem.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
@RealCatholicTV Does the Catholic Church support a complementarian view of both masculinity and femininity? :O
spellbreakerko 9 months ago
@spellbreakerko To a certain degree; although the phrase can be used to refer to a number of radically different views and not all of them are compatible with Catholicism. Still, the view that males and females have different roles is one which finds itself expressed in Catholicism. At the very basic level, women can be mothers and men cannot, men can be fathers and women cannot.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
Having grown up in the extremely liberal archdiocese of Western Washington, which, sadly, exemplifies most if not all of the problems you mention, I agree ONE HUNDRED percent with your observations. Keep up the good work!
Euclidia 9 months ago
I don't really believe that Female Alter Services are a problem in the church, girls want to feel included just as much as boys do I think this is a non issue
MrShyjohn 9 months ago
@MrShyjohn The Church herself disagrees with you, using masculine-specific language in her instructions. In addition, this is the traditional teaching of the Church - those serving on the altar are to be male. You are entitled to your view, but it isn't supported by the teaching of the Church or the simple facts of the matter; the femininization of the Church is a VERY real issue which is is plain to see.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
Thank you for this video! After much reading & reflection, I now believe the agenda of the LGBT society is Satanic. It wants to destroy all physical, behavioral, & mental gender differences in human beings through neuterizing surgery, hormones, transgendered clothing, inclusive language, reassignment of labor, etc.. Not only does this fail to achieve true equality, it is evil because it opposes the will of Almighty God.
lauermar 9 months ago
Good vid, Mike. Clearly articulated while avoiding 'deadly BUZZ words' which would bring out 'Boo Birds' in droves to take the discussion off on an emotional tangent. The TRUTH is the TRUTH & U have done an excellent job communicating it in no uncertain terms- -except for 'Joan of Arc' *smile*. . .
GriffinElliot 9 months ago
@GriffinElliot There are PLENTY of female saints - but none of them got to be saints by trying to be men, and no man was every a saint by trying to be women. "Equal but distinct".
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
@RealCatholicTV agreed, Mike, but, again, perhaps Joan stands alone- - unique situation perhaps? *smile*
GriffinElliot 9 months ago
@auzziesoceroo Who cares if people who are wrong are in a frothing rage? That is THEIR problem, not ours. Nothing we say here is rude or uncharitable - it is a simple, flat statement. If people (and who ARE these people? I don't see a single one) are getting all het up, it's THEIR issue, not ours. We are direct and diplomatic.
No-one's in a frothing rage - you are worrying about something that hasn't happened. If it weren't too ironic, I might even say that was an overly feminine response!
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
It helps to watch the second part of CIA Mass confusion, with Father Paul, to explain this in more detail.
harrismo49 9 months ago
@auzziesoceroo Not at all - but it is DEFINITELY an influence! As the video makes clear, the feminization of the Church and the denial of the authentic masculine (and, to be fair, the denial of the authentic feminine) is a SERIOUS issue.
RealCatholicTV 9 months ago
Modern feminism is the antithesis of the feminine.
spellbreakerko 9 months ago
@spellbreakerko Totally agree
alonelychild 9 months ago