An acolyte is an assistant or follower assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession. In many Christian denominations , an acolyte is anyone performing ceremonial duties such as lighting altar candles . In others, the term is used for one who has been inducted into a particular liturgical ministry, even when not performing those duties.
65-601: The word acolyte is derived from the Greek word ἀκόλουθος ( akolouthos ), meaning an attendant, via Late Latin acolythus . In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches , the nearest equivalent of acolyte is the altar server. At one time there was a rank of minor clergy called the taper-bearer (κηροφόρος) responsible for bearing lights during processions and liturgical entrances . However, this rank has long ago been subsumed by that of
130-477: A censer or thurible or carrying the incense boat, handing the offering plates to ushers, and many other tasks as seen fit by the priest or acolyte warden. In the Methodist and Lutheran traditions, acolytes participate in the worship service by carrying a processional cross or crucifix (these acolytes are called crucifers ), lighting and extinguishing the altar candles , and ringing the church bell to call
195-519: A distinctive and formal ministry. Then in Low or Evangelical Parishes the use of Acolytes or altar servers may not exist at all. Where acolytes are used, opinions on gender and age are diverse. An acolyte can assist in worship by carrying a processional cross , lighting candles, holding the Gospel book, holding candles or "torches", assisting a deacon or priest set up and clean up at the altar , swinging
260-698: A particular Church". "Church or rite" is also used as a single heading in the United States Library of Congress classification of works. Historically, the governing entity of the Latin Church (i.e. the Holy See ) has been viewed as one of the five patriarchates of the Pentarchy of early Christianity , along with the patriarchates of Constantinople , Alexandria , Antioch , and Jerusalem . Due to geographic and cultural considerations,
325-413: A publication now in the public domain : Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). " Acolyte ". Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton Company. acolyte An acolyte is an assistant or follower assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession. In many Christian denominations , an acolyte is anyone performing ceremonial duties such as lighting altar candles . In others,
390-490: A reader from a subdeacon. In the Russian tradition, readers wear only the sticharion, and do not wear the orarion unless they have been specially blessed to by their bishop. (This might be done if a reader must occasionally serve in the role of a subdeacon, or for some other reason the bishop believes is fitting.) If a server has not been tonsured, he must remove the sticharion before he can receive Holy Communion. Until 1972,
455-559: A schism which was not analogous since it was not based upon the same historical factors and involved far more profound theological dissent from the teaching of the totality of previously existing historical Christian churches. Until 2005, the pope claimed the title " patriarch of the West "; Benedict XVI set aside this title. Following the Islamic conquests , the Crusades were launched by
520-550: A similar commissioning of readers …". The order of acolyte was not initially retained with Anglicanism during the English Reformation therefore there is no definition of their role in the Book of Common Prayer 1662. The use of acolytes (like many Anglican practices) is very much dependent on local practice, some parishes may refer to altar servers are often called acolytes, where as other parishes may have them as
585-464: Is also used of altar servers on whom no ordination or institution has been conferred. Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Saint Tarcisius as "presumably an acolyte, that is, an altar server". Pope Francis changed canon law in January 2021 to allow female installed acolytes. Prior to his motu proprio Spiritus Domini only men could be installed acolytes. While the approved English translations of
650-700: Is directly headed by the pope in his role as the bishop of Rome , whose cathedra as a bishop is located in the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome , Italy . The Latin Church both developed within and strongly influenced Western culture ; as such, it is also known as the Western Church ( Latin : Ecclesia Occidentalis ). It is also known as the Roman Church ( Latin : Ecclesia Romana ),
715-465: Is for all people everywhere. It also symbolizes the light of Jesus Christ going out into the world where believers are called to serve. Similar to those in the Anglican tradition, acolytes in these traditions wear robes called albs , sometimes with a cincture . It is also common for Methodist acolytes to wear the traditional cassock and cotta. [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from
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#1732772429413780-488: Is necessarily a member of a particular church. A person also inherits, or "is of", a particular patrimony or rite. Since the rite has liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary elements, a person is also to worship, to be catechized, to pray and to be governed according to a particular rite. Particular churches that inherit and perpetuate a particular patrimony are identified by the metonymy "church" or "rite". Accordingly, "Rite" has been defined as "a division of
845-524: Is necessary, as an extraordinary minister, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful. In the ministry of the altar, the acolyte has his own functions (cf. nos. 187-193), which he must perform personally." The General Instruction of the Roman Missal adds: "In the absence of an instituted acolyte, lay ministers may be deputed to serve at the altar and assist the priest and the deacon; they may carry
910-517: Is referred to as the Gallican Rite, used in Gaulish or Frankish territories. This was a conglomeration of varying forms, not unlike the present Hispano-Mozarabic Rite in its general structures, but never strictly codified and which from at least the seventh century was gradually infiltrated, and then eventually for the most part replaced, by liturgical texts and forms which had their origin in
975-549: Is the largest autonomous ( sui iuris ) particular church within the Catholic Church , whose members constitute the vast majority of the 1.3 billion Catholics. The Latin Church is one of 24 churches sui iuris in full communion with the pope ; the other 23 are collectively referred to as the Eastern Catholic Churches , and have approximately 18 million members combined. The Latin Church
1040-464: Is the mind of the Catholic Church that each individual Church or Rite should retain its traditions whole and entire and likewise that it should adapt its way of life to the different needs of time and place" and spoke of patriarchs and of "major archbishops, who rule the whole of some individual Church or Rite". It thus used the word "Rite" as "a technical designation of what may now be called
1105-723: The Ambrosian Rite in parts of Italy, and the Anglican Use in the personal ordinariates . In the early modern period and subsequently, the Latin Church carried out evangelizing missions to the Americas , and from the late modern period to Sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia . The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century resulted in Protestantism breaking away, resulting in the fragmentation of Western Christianity , including not only Protestant offshoots of
1170-702: The Archdiocese of Milan , in Italy , and much closer in form, though not specific content, to the Roman Rite; and the Carthusian Rite , practised within the strict Carthusian monastic Order , which also employs in general terms forms similar to the Roman Rite, but with a number of significant divergences which have adapted it to the distinctive way of life of the Carthusians. There once existed what
1235-657: The Dominican rite, and perhaps still other rites of which I am not aware. Today, the most common Latin liturgical rites are the Roman Rite —either the post- Vatican II Mass promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1969 and revised by Pope John Paul II in 2002 (the "Ordinary Form" ), or the 1962 form of the Tridentine Mass (the "Extraordinary Form"); the Ambrosian Rite ; the Mozarabic Rite ; and variations of
1300-919: The Latin Catholic Church , and in some contexts as the Roman Catholic Church (though this name can also refer to the Catholic Church as a whole). One of the pope's traditional titles in some eras and contexts has been the Patriarch of the West . The Latin Church was in full communion with what is referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church until the East-West schism of Rome and Constantinople in 1054. From that time, but also before it, it became common to refer to Western Christians as Latins in contrast to Byzantines or Greeks . The Latin Church employs
1365-855: The Latin liturgical rites on 24 October 1998: Several forms of the Latin rite have always existed, and were only slowly withdrawn, as a result of the coming together of the different parts of Europe. Before the Council there existed, side by side with the Roman rite , the Ambrosian rite , the Mozarabic rite of Toledo , the rite of Braga , the Carthusian rite , the Carmelite rite, and best known of all,
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#17327724294131430-452: The Latin liturgical rites , which since the mid-20th century are very often translated into the vernacular . The predominant liturgical rite is the Roman Rite , elements of which have been practiced since the fourth century. There exist and have existed since ancient times additional Latin liturgical rites and uses , including the currently used Mozarabic Rite in restricted use in Spain,
1495-568: The motu proprio , and have been indicated also in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal , no. 98, which under the heading, "The Ministry of the Instituted Acolyte and Lector", says: "The acolyte is instituted to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. In particular, it is his responsibility to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if it is necessary, as an extraordinary minister, to distribute
1560-581: The one true church as defined by the Four Marks of the Church in Catholic ecclesiology . The approximately 18 million Eastern Catholics represent a minority of Christians in communion with the pope, compared to well over 1 billion Latin Catholics. Additionally, there are roughly 250 million Eastern Orthodox and 86 million Oriental Orthodox around the world that are not in union with Rome. Unlike
1625-467: The ordinary : either a bishop or the head of a similar territory or, in the case of clerical religious institutes, a major superior. Institutions of acolytes not preparing for holy orders are in fact sometimes carried out. The motu proprio assigned to the instituted acolyte the functions previously reserved for the subdeacon , and declared national episcopal conferences free to use the term "subdeacon" in place of that of "acolyte". The functions of
1690-414: The reader and the service for the tonsure of a reader begins with the setting-aside of a taper-bearer. The functions of an acolyte or taper-bearer are therefore carried out by readers, subdeacons , or by non-tonsured men or boys who are sometimes called "acolytes" informally. Also, the term "altar-boys" is often used to refer to young altar servers. Subdeacons wear their normal vestments consisting of
1755-549: The sticharion and crossed orarion ; readers and servers traditionally wear the sticharion alone. In recent times, however, in many of the North American Greek Orthodox Churches, for the sake of uniformity, readers have been permitted to wear the orarion (the bishop presents the reader, who is to serve on the altar, with the orarion). Readers do not cross the orarion while wearing it, the uncrossed orarion being intended to slightly distinguish
1820-744: The Bishop of Rome and the Latin Church, following various theological and jurisdictional disputes in the centuries following the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451. These included notably the Nestorian Schism (431–544) ( Church of the East ), Chalcedonian Schism (451) ( Oriental Orthodoxy ), and the East-West Schism (1054) ( Eastern Orthodoxy ). The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century saw
1885-611: The Catholic Church as the names of Catholic titular sees , irrespective of the question of liturgical families. In the Catholic Church, in addition to the Latin Church—directly headed by the pope as Latin patriarch and notable within Western Christianity for its sacred tradition and seven sacraments — there are 23 Eastern Catholic Churches , self-governing particular churches sui iuris with their own hierarchies. Most of these churches trace their origins to
1950-428: The Catholic Church; they may continue as married priests. In the Latin Church, a married man may not be admitted even to the diaconate unless he is legitimately destined to remain a deacon and not become a priest. Marriage after ordination is not possible, and attempting it can result in canonical penalties. The Eastern Catholic Churches, unlike the Latin Church, have a married clergy. At the present time, Bishops in
2015-564: The Christian Church using a distinctive liturgy", or simply as "a Christian Church". In this sense, "Rite" and "Church" are treated as synonymous, as in the glossary prepared by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and revised in 1999, which states that each "Eastern-rite (Oriental) Church ... is considered equal to the Latin rite within the Church". The Second Vatican Council likewise stated that "it
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2080-412: The Eucharist to the faithful. In the ministry of the altar, the acolyte has his own functions (cf. nos. 187-193), which he must perform personally." The General Instruction of the Roman Missal adds: "In the absence of an instituted acolyte, lay ministers may be deputed to serve at the altar and assist the priest and the deacon; they may carry the cross, the candles, the thurible , the bread, the wine, and
2145-477: The Holy See and the national episcopal conference, is to be observed between receiving the two. Candidates for diaconate and for priesthood must receive both ministries and exercise them for some time before receiving holy orders. The two instituted ministries are not reserved solely for candidates for holy orders. Ministries are conferred by the ordinary : either a bishop or the head of a similar territory or, in
2210-717: The Latin Church are generally appointed by the pope after hearing the advice of the various dicasteries of the Roman Curia , specifically the Congregation for Bishops , the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (for countries in its care), the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State (for appointments that require the consent or prior notification of civil governments), and
2275-622: The Latin Church, but also smaller groups of 19th-century break-away Independent Catholic denominations . The historical part of the Catholic Church in the West is called the Latin Church to distinguish itself from the Eastern Catholic Churches which are also under the pope's primacy . In historical context, before the East–West Schism in 1054 the Latin Church is sometimes referred to as the Western Church . Writers belonging to various Protestant denominations sometime use
2340-565: The Latin Church, the pope does not exercise a direct patriarchal role over the Eastern Catholic churches and their faithful, instead encouraging their internal hierarchies, which while separate from that of the Latin Church and function analogously to it, and follow the traditions shared with the corresponding Eastern Christian churches in Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) described
2405-496: The Roman Rite (such as the Anglican Use ). The 23 Eastern Catholic Churches employ five different families of liturgical rites. The Latin liturgical rites are used only in a single sui iuris particular church. Of other liturgical families, the main survivors are what is now referred to officially as the Hispano-Mozarabic Rite , still in restricted use in Spain; the Ambrosian Rite , centred geographically on
2470-588: The West from 1095 to 1291 in order to defend Christians and their properties in the Holy Land against persecution . In the long term the Crusaders did not succeed in re-establishing political and military control of Palestine, which like former Christian North Africa and the rest of the Middle East remained under Islamic control. The names of many former Christian dioceses of this vast area are still used by
2535-639: The approved English translations of the liturgical books of the Catholic Church's Roman Rite use the term "instituted" (such as "instituted acolytes" and "instituted lectors") some translations refer to them as "installed". For example, the translation on the Vatican's website of the 2019 Motu Proprio Aperuit illis – Instituting the Sunday of the Word of God has "Bishops could celebrate the Rite of Installation of Lectors or
2600-428: The case of clerical religious institutes, a major superior. Institutions of acolytes not preparing for holy orders are in fact sometimes carried out. The motu proprio assigned to the instituted acolyte the functions previously reserved for the subdeacon , and declared national episcopal conferences free to use the term "subdeacon" in place of that of "acolyte". The functions of the instituted acolyte are specified in
2665-511: The code that governs the Eastern Catholic Churches , the Latin Church is one such group of Christian faithful united by a hierarchy and recognized by the supreme authority of the Catholic Church as a sui iuris particular Church. The "Latin Rite" is the whole of the patrimony of that distinct particular church, by which it manifests its own manner of living the faith, including its own liturgy, its theology, its spiritual practices and traditions and its canon law. A Catholic, as an individual person,
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2730-431: The congregation to worship. In these traditions, the lighting of the altar candles in the worship service is a symbol of Jesus' coming into the presence of the worshiping community. Before lighting the candles the acolyte may bow at the altar out of respect. Before the extinguishing of the last altar candles, the acolytes relight their "candle lighter" and then process out into the narthex . This symbolizes that Jesus Christ
2795-532: The cross, the candles, the thurible , the bread, the wine, and the water, and they may also be deputed to distribute Holy Communion as extraordinary ministers." However, some functions, in particular that of cleansing the Eucharistic vessels, are reserved for an instituted acolyte and are not entrusted to those deputed to assist in that way. As in other churches, in the Latin Church the term "acolyte"
2860-822: The diocese of Rome. Other former "Rites" in past times practised in certain religious orders and important cities were in truth usually partial variants upon the Roman Rite and have almost entirely disappeared from current use, despite limited nostalgic efforts at revival of some of them and a certain indulgence by the Roman authorities. Jus novum ( c. 1140 -1563) Jus novissimum ( c. 1563 -1918) Jus codicis (1918-present) Other Sacraments Sacramentals Sacred places Sacred times Supra-diocesan/eparchal structures Particular churches Juridic persons Philosophy, theology, and fundamental theory of Catholic canon law Clerics Office Juridic and physical persons Associations of
2925-555: The faithful Pars dynamica (trial procedure) Canonization Election of the Roman Pontiff Academic degrees Journals and Professional Societies Faculties of canon law Canonists Institute of consecrated life Society of apostolic life Canon law for the Latin Church is codified in the Code of Canon Law , of which there have been two codifications, the first promulgated by Pope Benedict XV in 1917 and
2990-404: The highest of the four minor orders in the Latin Church was that of acolyte. By his motu proprio Ministeria quaedam of 15 August 1972, Pope Paul VI replaced the term "minor orders" by that of "ministries" and the term "ordination" by "institution". He kept throughout the Latin Church two now-titled instituted ministries, those of reader and acolyte. A prescribed interval, as decided by
3055-412: The instituted acolyte are specified in the motu proprio , and have been indicated also in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal , no. 98, which under the heading, "The Ministry of the Instituted Acolyte and Lector", says: "The acolyte is instituted to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. In particular, it is his responsibility to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if it
3120-470: The latter patriarchates developed into churches with distinct Eastern Christian traditions. This scheme, tacitly at least accepted by Rome, is constructed from the viewpoint of Greek Christianity and does not take into consideration other churches of great antiquity which developed in the East outside the frontiers of the Roman Empire. The majority of Eastern Christian Churches broke full communion with
3185-719: The light of Jesus Christ going out into the world where believers are called to serve. Similar to those in the Anglican tradition, acolytes in these traditions wear robes called albs , sometimes with a cincture . It is also common for Methodist acolytes to wear the traditional cassock and cotta. [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain : Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). " Acolyte ". Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton Company. Latin Church God Schools Relations with: The Latin Church ( Latin : Ecclesia Latina )
3250-431: The lighting of the altar candles in the worship service is a symbol of Jesus' coming into the presence of the worshiping community. Before lighting the candles the acolyte may bow at the altar out of respect. Before the extinguishing of the last altar candles, the acolytes relight their "candle lighter" and then process out into the narthex . This symbolizes that Jesus Christ is for all people everywhere. It also symbolizes
3315-456: The liturgical books of the Catholic Church's Roman Rite use the term "instituted" (such as "instituted acolytes" and "instituted lectors") some translations refer to them as "installed". For example, the translation on the Vatican's website of the 2019 Motu Proprio Aperuit illis – Instituting the Sunday of the Word of God has "Bishops could celebrate the Rite of Installation of Lectors or a similar commissioning of readers …". The order of acolyte
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#17327724294133380-496: The mystery of Christ according to their capacity and are able to receive the body of Christ with faith and devotion." In the Eastern Churches these sacraments are usually administered immediately after baptism , even for an infant. Celibacy , as a consequence of the duty to observe perfect continence, is obligatory for priests in the Latin Church. An exception is made for married clergy from other churches, who join
3445-412: The offering plates to ushers, and many other tasks as seen fit by the priest or acolyte warden. In the Methodist and Lutheran traditions, acolytes participate in the worship service by carrying a processional cross or crucifix (these acolytes are called crucifers ), lighting and extinguishing the altar candles , and ringing the church bell to call the congregation to worship. In these traditions,
3510-507: The other four patriarchates of the ancient pentarchy , but either never historically broke full communion or returned to it with the Papacy at some time. These differ from each other in liturgical rite (ceremonies, vestments, chants, language), devotional traditions, theology , canon law , and clergy , but all maintain the same faith, and all see full communion with the pope as bishop of Rome as essential to being Catholic as well as part of
3575-408: The reader, who is to serve on the altar, with the orarion). Readers do not cross the orarion while wearing it, the uncrossed orarion being intended to slightly distinguish a reader from a subdeacon. In the Russian tradition, readers wear only the sticharion, and do not wear the orarion unless they have been specially blessed to by their bishop. (This might be done if a reader must occasionally serve in
3640-423: The role of a subdeacon, or for some other reason the bishop believes is fitting.) If a server has not been tonsured, he must remove the sticharion before he can receive Holy Communion. Until 1972, the highest of the four minor orders in the Latin Church was that of acolyte. By his motu proprio Ministeria quaedam of 15 August 1972, Pope Paul VI replaced the term "minor orders" by that of "ministries" and
3705-528: The second by Pope John Paul II in 1983. In the Latin Church, the norm for administration of confirmation is that, except when in danger of death, the person to be confirmed should "have the use of reason, be suitably instructed, properly disposed, and able to renew the baptismal promises", and "the administration of the Most Holy Eucharist to children requires that they have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand
3770-461: The term Western Church as an implicit claim to legitimacy. The term Latin Catholic refers to followers of the Latin liturgical rites , of which the Roman Rite is predominant. The Latin liturgical rites are contrasted with the liturgical rites of the Eastern Catholic Churches. The 1990 Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches defines the use within that code of the words "church" and "rite". In accordance with these definitions of usage within
3835-402: The term "altar-boys" is often used to refer to young altar servers. Subdeacons wear their normal vestments consisting of the sticharion and crossed orarion ; readers and servers traditionally wear the sticharion alone. In recent times, however, in many of the North American Greek Orthodox Churches, for the sake of uniformity, readers have been permitted to wear the orarion (the bishop presents
3900-532: The term "ordination" by "institution". He kept throughout the Latin Church two now-titled instituted ministries, those of reader and acolyte. A prescribed interval, as decided by the Holy See and the national episcopal conference, is to be observed between receiving the two. Candidates for diaconate and for priesthood must receive both ministries and exercise them for some time before receiving holy orders. The two instituted ministries are not reserved solely for candidates for holy orders. Ministries are conferred by
3965-409: The term is used for one who has been inducted into a particular liturgical ministry, even when not performing those duties. The word acolyte is derived from the Greek word ἀκόλουθος ( akolouthos ), meaning an attendant, via Late Latin acolythus . In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches , the nearest equivalent of acolyte is the altar server. At one time there
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#17327724294134030-405: The use of Acolytes or altar servers may not exist at all. Where acolytes are used, opinions on gender and age are diverse. An acolyte can assist in worship by carrying a processional cross , lighting candles, holding the Gospel book, holding candles or "torches", assisting a deacon or priest set up and clean up at the altar , swinging a censer or thurible or carrying the incense boat, handing
4095-714: The water, and they may also be deputed to distribute Holy Communion as extraordinary ministers." However, some functions, in particular that of cleansing the Eucharistic vessels, are reserved for an instituted acolyte and are not entrusted to those deputed to assist in that way. As in other churches, in the Latin Church the term "acolyte" is also used of altar servers on whom no ordination or institution has been conferred. Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Saint Tarcisius as "presumably an acolyte, that is, an altar server". Pope Francis changed canon law in January 2021 to allow female installed acolytes. Prior to his motu proprio Spiritus Domini only men could be installed acolytes. While
4160-494: Was a rank of minor clergy called the taper-bearer (κηροφόρος) responsible for bearing lights during processions and liturgical entrances . However, this rank has long ago been subsumed by that of the reader and the service for the tonsure of a reader begins with the setting-aside of a taper-bearer. The functions of an acolyte or taper-bearer are therefore carried out by readers, subdeacons , or by non-tonsured men or boys who are sometimes called "acolytes" informally. Also,
4225-441: Was not initially retained with Anglicanism during the English Reformation therefore there is no definition of their role in the Book of Common Prayer 1662. The use of acolytes (like many Anglican practices) is very much dependent on local practice, some parishes may refer to altar servers are often called acolytes, where as other parishes may have them as a distinctive and formal ministry. Then in Low or Evangelical Parishes
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