The Ministries of Acolyte and Lector

By Fr. Casmir Odundo

The Church from the earliest times established certain ministries for the proper ordering of worship and for the service of God’s people as need arose. These ministries were entrusted to the lay people. The Church organised a liturgical celebration in which ministries were conferred following a particular rite, in which God’s blessings was invoked and which established the person designated in a special rank or class for the performance of some ecclesial function. 

Because some of these functions were closely connected with the liturgy they gradually came to be regarded as preparatory stages in the reception of Sacred Orders. So in the end the church found itself with the offices of Porter, Lector, Exorcist and Acolyte which were called the minor orders while the Subdiaconate, The Diaconate and the Priesthood made the Major orders. 

Later on therefore,  as a general rule, these orders were reserved to seminarians to serve as preparatory stages on the way to the priesthood.

Vatican II Council Reforms

However, with the Advent of the Vatican II Council, many bishops requested the revision of the minor orders and the Subdiaconate. Although the Council as such made no decision on the matter it did enunciate certain principles which opened up the way to a solution. 

Firstly, the Council called for a conscious and active participation on the liturgy on the part of the faithful as well as the need to “eliminate what is obsolete, retain what is useful and determine what is necessary” in Liturgy. 

It was St. (Pope) Paul VI who reformed the ministries in his Motu Proprio, Ministeria Quandem (MQ) (Apostolic Letter on First Tonsure, Minor Orders and the Subdiaconate) of 15th of August 1972. In order to “eliminate what is obsolete and retain what is useful and necessary”, the Pope limited these ministries to those which are connected with the ministry of the word (Lector) and that connected with the ministry of the altar (Acolyte) and the Subdiaconate. These offices were to be limited to two, that of the Lector and that of the Acolyte with the function of the Subdiaconate entrusted to the Acolyte and in some special cases the Lector.

However, St. Paul VI noted that there is nothing to prevent the Acolyte from being called a Sub deacon in this or that region should the conference of Bishops judge this opportune. (MQ n.4) Again in order to promote “full, conscious and active participation of the lay faithful” St. Paul VI decreed that these ministries may be committed even to lay Christians. However, he noted that they are to be reserved only for men (viri) in keeping with the tradition of the Church. This was later codified into canon 230 of the 1983 Code of the Canon law. Did it mean then that  women could not be Lectors and Acolytes? While gradually there was a practise of allowing women to read at Mass and sometimes serve at the altar (altar girls) there was no change in the law as such and there was quite a debate on the legality of matter. However, as the second paragraph of Canon 230 states, in absence of a duly installed Lector or Acolyte then any member of the church (whether man or woman) may be called upon to exercise the above ministries but the faculty to do so is only for a particular occasion.

However, that has changed with the  recent Motu Prorio Spiritus Domini of Pope Francis 11th January 2021. Pope Francis has modified the first paragraph of Canon 230 with this new Motu Proprio and now women can formally have access to these ministries and can be formally installed as such in a liturgical ceremony.  

Despite the fact that these ministries may be conferred even to the laity, the Church still holds them as mandatory steps for seminarians in their journey to priesthood. “Candidates for the diaconate and the priesthood must receive the ministries of Lector and Acolyte and must exercise them for a suitable length of time so as to be better fitted for the future service of the word and altar.” Indeed the Code of the Canon law holds that one cannot be ordained a deacon unless he is first installed a Lector and also installed an Acolyte and must have served as an acolyte for at least 6 months.” Only the Holy See i.e. Roman Curia can dispense one from this reception, i.e. in case where one is not installed and has not practised for the particular period required then he can only be ordained a deacon with permission from ‘Rome’. 

What are the functions of an Acolyte and what are the functions of a Lector? 

The Office of Lector

The principal task of a Lector is to read the word in a liturgical assembly. This includes Mass and other liturgical functions. However, he should NOT read the gospel. Where there is no psalmist, he should also recite the psalm between the readings. He should announce the intentions at the prayer of the faithful where the deacon or cantor is not present. He is also to direct the singing and participation of the faithful. He should also prepare the faithful in worthy reception of the sacraments. He may also when necessary, prepare the faithful temporarily appointed to read the scripture in liturgical assemblies. He also ought to meditate on the sacred scripture so that he may more fitting and perfectly fulfil these functions. In the procession to the altar, in the absence of a Deacon, the Lector carries the Book of Gospels, slightly elevated. In that case, he walks in front of the Priest but otherwise walks along with the other ministers. If there is no singing at the Entrance or at Communion and the antiphons given in the Missal are not recited by the faithful, the Lector may read them at an appropriate time.

The Office of the Acolyte

Installation of an Acolyte. (Photo Credit Diocese of Great Falls)

The Acolyte on his part exercises the following functions: To attend to the service of the altar and assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations especially in the celebration of Mass. In this regard, he may prepare the altar for the priest when the deacon is unavailable. He may distribute communion as an extra-ordinary minister. If Communion is given under both kinds, in the absence of a Deacon, the acolyte administers the chalice to the communicants or holds the chalice if Communion is given by intinction. He has the task of exposing and reposing the Blessed Sacrament without benediction  when the Deacon or Priests are not available. He also instructs the faithful who are temporarily appointed as Mass servers. Likewise, after the distribution of Communion is complete, a duly instituted acolyte purifies and arranges the sacred vessels. He may also take communion to the sick and the elderly, when the Priests and the Deacon are incapable.

So what are the conditions to be fulfilled before one can be admitted to these ministries? 

First one must apply, in writing with his own handwriting to his Bishop or if in the case of a religious, his major superior. The bishop is to respond in writing. Secondly, one must have attained the age and the qualities determined by his own Episcopal conference. For Kenya, the bishops have set this age limit to 18 years and for those who are to be installed into the ministries in preparation for priesthood, i.e. Seminarians, those to be installed Lector should be those in the second year of theology i.e. Sixth year of priestly formation while those to be installed acolytes are those in the 3rd year of theology i.e. in the 7th year of priestly formation. The third condition is that those with the desire to be installed should have a firm intention of serving God and the Christian community. 

Who installs one to these ministries? 

These ministries are to be conferred by the ordinary i.e. the Bishop or in religious institutes the Major Superior. It is also important to observe that an acolyte and a Lector are not entitled to any remuneration. 

So how is the Installation Carried out? 

The rite is slightly different for the Lector and the Acolyte. Briefly, mass begins with procession where the Acolytes and Lectors elect also join in procession dressed in albs or a cassock and a surplice. Upon reaching at the altar they genuflect and bow then moved to their reserved seats. Mass begins as usual, the choice of the Mass being mass for the Installation. Immediately after reading the Gospel, the priest or deacon commissioned for this calls out the name of each candidate and the candidate responds PRESENT. If time allows, they may be presented personally to the Bishop in which case they are to shake his hand. Then follows the Homily from the Bishop. After the Homily, the Bishop invites all to pray for the Lectors. With the lectors remaining standing after the invitation he prays the prayer of installation. Then the Bishop removing his mitre invites all to pray for the Acolytes. With the Acolytes remaining standing after the invitations he prays for the prayer of installation for the Acolytes. What follows is the presentation. Each Lector moves to the Bishop who hands him the Bible with the following saying: “Take this book of Holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the word of God, so that it may grow in the hearts of his people.” The Newly installed Lector answers AMEN. Then each Acolyte moves to the bishop who hands him either a vessel with bread or wine saying: “Take this vessel with bread (wine) for the celebration of the Eucharist, make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.” The Newly installed Acolyte answers: Amen. After that mass goes on as usual, some of the new acolytes begin their ministry immediately during the mass. They prepare the altar for the Bishop and even distribute communion in the installation mass. Mass continues as usual. 

Bibliography

The Code of the Canon Law 

The General Instructions of the Roman Missal

Paul VI, Motu Proprio, Ministeria Quandem (MQ) (Apostolic Letter on First Tonsure, Minor Orders and the Subdiaconate) of 15th of August 1972.

Francis, Motu Proprio Spiritus Domini, 11th January 2021.

The author is Parochial Vicar: Mary Mother of God Parish, Kabarnet. (Diocese of Nakuru).