The Abortion That The Catholic Church DOES Authorize
This is basic stuff here
I just read an interesting article from The Catholic News Agency, under the headline: Vocations must be sown in children and young people, says the Pope
Well, of course vocations must be sown in children and young people! But as anyone with eyes and the mental ability to count can attest to the numbers of priestly ordinations and those taking Religious vows have been dropping like a stone the past few decades*.
Like just about everything else encompassed by the so-called "Spirit of Vatican II", the primary goal of such is the destruction of not only the Catholic Identity, but everything Catholic. Kind of like the old saying - "We Have Met the Enemy and They Are Us".
And there's an even older saying - "Vocations Are Born at the Foot of the Altar". With that said, what the hell sense does it make to have "Altar Girls"? For a couple thousand years, the foot of the altar is where priestly vocations were born... until recently. And it's a big shocker why ordinations have taken a nose dive?
But anyhow, not only has the introduction of Altar Girls (or Altar Servers, or Altar Entities of Undetermined Gender... or whatever the hell they're called) feminized serving so it's now "a girl thing" and very few boys even want to do it, but it's also completely unfair to the girls that DO serve. Why are we placing these girls into a position to aspire to something that they can never attain?
The entire notion of Altar Girls is nothing more than a conception that must be killed before it can reach full development. An ordinational abortion, if you will.
If there's going to be the consistent blurring of the lines for the role of men and women in The Church... why don't we just cut through the bull shit and authorize this? Hell, we're halfway there already.
*Yes, there is a hiccup as of late. Gee, could it be because of the slow but steady return to orthodox Catholicism? Hmmmm...
This is basic stuff here
I just read an interesting article from The Catholic News Agency, under the headline: Vocations must be sown in children and young people, says the Pope
Well, of course vocations must be sown in children and young people! But as anyone with eyes and the mental ability to count can attest to the numbers of priestly ordinations and those taking Religious vows have been dropping like a stone the past few decades*.
Like just about everything else encompassed by the so-called "Spirit of Vatican II", the primary goal of such is the destruction of not only the Catholic Identity, but everything Catholic. Kind of like the old saying - "We Have Met the Enemy and They Are Us".
And there's an even older saying - "Vocations Are Born at the Foot of the Altar". With that said, what the hell sense does it make to have "Altar Girls"? For a couple thousand years, the foot of the altar is where priestly vocations were born... until recently. And it's a big shocker why ordinations have taken a nose dive?
But anyhow, not only has the introduction of Altar Girls (or Altar Servers, or Altar Entities of Undetermined Gender... or whatever the hell they're called) feminized serving so it's now "a girl thing" and very few boys even want to do it, but it's also completely unfair to the girls that DO serve. Why are we placing these girls into a position to aspire to something that they can never attain?
The entire notion of Altar Girls is nothing more than a conception that must be killed before it can reach full development. An ordinational abortion, if you will.
If there's going to be the consistent blurring of the lines for the role of men and women in The Church... why don't we just cut through the bull shit and authorize this? Hell, we're halfway there already.*Yes, there is a hiccup as of late. Gee, could it be because of the slow but steady return to orthodox Catholicism? Hmmmm...
While I understand your point of view, might I add my two cents? With the lack of women religious in Catholic schools or active in parishes, young ladies lack the interaction with religious that may reveal their vocation.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that girls who want to be altar servers aspire to be priests, in my experience they just want to serve at Mass.
Ellen,
ReplyDeleteExcellent point concerning lack of women Religious. I never thought of that!
And I do understand that the reasoning "they just want to serve at Mass" (RE: altar girls) is seemingly innocent, and even commendable. But look at the paradigm shift that's taken place because of such.
No matter how innocent or well meaning the reasons for altar girls has been, overall it's been a destructive practice and an exercise in futility.
Also, you stated that "I don't think that girls who want to be altar servers aspire to be priests". Well, look at the past 2,000 years of Catholicism. You'll see in our history that the only real movement for the ordination of women has coincided with establishment of altar girls.
Coincidence?
When were altar girls established? (By that I mean both "when were they introduced" and "when were they authorized", since I realize those dates may not coincide...)
ReplyDeleteYears ago when I was in Catholic school, the nuns would always say, "No one is to touch the sacrd vessels or the consecrated hosts but the priests. And in time back, only the religious could make the hosts, and the (cloistered) nuns who did were Never Permitted in doing so, while in the their time of the month! And look what we have now parading on the altars!
ReplyDeleteI have notice that as the number of girls serving has gone up at our parish the boys have become almost non-existent. Two of the boy servers are taught by a Mom out of the Baltimore Catechism and it is joy to watch them serve.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part the girls look messy and ackward.
Well, in my parish, the girls are definitley more devout and attentive during Mass. They boys show up in sneakers and blue jeans, while the girls come in dresses or dress pants and nice shoes. They pay attention better during mass, participate in the mass and know what to do when to do it.
ReplyDeleteMy son was an altar server, who started out as an altar boy since we didn't have girls serving until about 7 years ago. There are no less boys than girls.
I don't think that having girls as altar servers has caused women to want to be priests. I think that the change in the media in the last hundred years has just brought it to the attention of many.
I guess we are all entitled to our opinions on this matter. I for one have no problem with female altar servers. In fact, I usually take on that role at daily mass since we don't have children serving.
I am continually appalled at the current state of the Church. Although I hold that Vatican II was a legitimate council, it was not (as Pope Paul VI clearly stated) a doctrinal council but a pastoral council. Its aftermath, starting in 1965 (the year Vatican II ended) has had a devastating effect on the Church and on the faith of millions over the years. How can one begin to defend the novelties that have entered the Church since Vatican II? How does one explain American seminaries that in 1965 boasted 47,000 men and now hold less then 5,000? How does one explain a high of 180,000 nuns in this country in 1965 and now are down to about 80,000, with a mean age of 69? How does one explain Catholic Mass attendance of almost 80% down to somewhere in the 20% area? Belief in the “…height and summit of our faith,” the Eucharist, is down to less then 30%. How does one explain the deviant sexual and criminal behavior of many priests and who’s crimes where covered up for decades by our bishops. How does one explain bishops and priests who routinely refuse communion to those who “kneel to receive,” but allow liturgical dancers, nuns giving homilies and silence in regards to abortion, euthanasia and homosexual behavior?
ReplyDeleteThe introduction of altar "girls" in 1994, was given to us, by none other then John Paul "the Great." Another wonderful example of defending the Faith and standing firm against his liberal bishops. Thank you JPII.
I for one have no problem with female altar servers. In fact, I usually take on that role at daily mass since we don't have children serving.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ellen, in the past 7 years or so since your parish allowed "altar girls", out of the hundreds (if not thousands) of families that were registered there.... how many priestly vocations have come out of your parish?
Good point, but we only ever had one anyway.
ReplyDeleteWe have to take into account that women (female Levites) were NEVER allowed to serve in the Jerusalem Temple's functions. Women were not even allowed to enter farther than the "Women's Court" as they called it. In our day, what do they think gives them the right to serve at a sacrifice where the oblation being offered up is God Almighty Himself? Never in the history of Israel/the Church were women allowed to directly participate in religious functions. Might I add that it was a Levites duty to kill any women caught wandering off in the Holy Places of the Temple? (Do not take me as some sort of woman-hater, just giving ya'll da facts)
ReplyDeleteBy da way, I love yer blog dere Mr. Caveman. A big salute 'er from Chicaaaaaago (a long, nasal accent on the "a" ;) GO SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteVSC is right on this one. Altar Girls ("serviettes" I call 'em) should not be permitted, it is pointless for them to exercize that role (because it leads nowhere) and it is destructive of male priestly vocations. Just as masturbation is pointless (because it is not fruitful) and takes away ahem! energy that could be used in fruitful procreation. It's only purpose is to give transitory pleasure.
ReplyDeleteThus, altar girls are the liturgical equivalent of spanking the monkey. Fruitless, destructive, and only exist to give a brief, "warm fuzzy" feeling.
Stop it, or the Church will go blind!
On a more serious note, the late English Cardinal Heenan said of the Novus Ordo (back in 1969-70):
ReplyDelete"At home it is not only women and children but also fathers of families and young men who come regularly to mass. If we were to offer them the kind of ceremony we saw yesterday in the Sistine Chapel we would soon be left with a congregation mostly of women and children."
That's proved to be right on the money. And allowing womon to exercize just about every "ministry" in the sanctuary, from alterboy, to reader, to EMHC, has exacerbated the situation way beyond anything His Eminence could have foreseen.
Why, in the name of all that's good, are we still shooting ourselves in the foot in the name of political correctness BY DOING THINGS THAT EVERYONE WITH HALF A BRAIN KNOWS DRIVE DOWN PRIESTLY VOCATIONS.
Just make me Pope for 24 hours. That's all I need....
Although I understand the point of "vocations are born at the foot of the altar" (and I echo every sentiment listed in the post & comments against female altar boys -- see, it's a contrdiction), vocations actually begin and are nurtured in the home.
ReplyDeleteNot too many boys volunteer of their own volition to be an altar server, and especially to learn the Latin responses required of a TLM server. They are generally encouraged, shoved, or bribed into doing it by their parents.
Altar boy or not, however, how many parents openly discuss the priesthood as a viable life decision for the growing sons? Sadly, in this selfish, self-centered, "I want grandchildren" world, not too many.
And one other reason for the lack of vocations -- long before girl altar boys as a reason -- is the Caspar Milquetoast priests of today, who are too worried about "offending" someone or possibly seeing a drop in the collection baskets, to remind parents, particularly fathers, that they have a DUTY to foster vocations -- to the priesthood and religious orders -- in their homes. When was the last time you heard a priect give a sermon on that topic? Never, I suspect, but the same priests will be the first to whine about how busy they are and why they need a "parish administrator" to run things.
It's true: Altar Girls scare the boys away because not very many boys want to do "girl work." So it's not any surprise that Altar Boys are rare where Altar Girls abound!
ReplyDeleteF.A.B.,
ReplyDeleteActually, we got lots of homilies encouraging vocations from our last pastor. Our new one...well, I haven't heard one personally yet, but I do a lot of parish-hopping. That said, we did have the Vocations Director for the Archdiocese celebrate Mass and give a vocations-pitch-as-homily a month or two ago.
I don't know what kind of vocations record our parish has, but I know we've got at least one guy in diaconal formation, with another applying. It's a start.