MINOR ORDERS
The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were replaced by ministries of lector and acolyte. In the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches, the minor orders are lector and subdeacon.
History
The minor orders were until 1972 a part of the clergy of the Latin rite Catholic Church. During the Counter-reformation, the Council of Trent decided to formally define the "Orders" of the clergy. After induction into the clerical state through the tonsure, a seminarian could receive the first four, which were the minor orders. They consisted of:
These four were called "minor orders" because perpetual celibacy was not a requirement for them; a seminarian who quit the seminary before becoming a subdeacon could still get married. After receiving all the minor orders, a seminarian could receive the major orders (subdeacon, deacon and priest).
Neither the minor orders nor the subdiaconate were a part of the sacrament of Holy Orders, but were instead viewed as preparatory offices. Although several medieval theologians regarded minor orders as sacramental, this view was abandoned, for the fundamental reason that minor orders nor subdiaconate are of Divine or Apostolic origin.
The rites by which they were conferred are quite different from ordination to holy orders. Minor orders were conferred by the presentation to the candidate of the appropriate instruments, in accordance with the ritual given in the "Statuta Ecclesiae antiqua," which originated in Gaul about the year 500. We do not know how the porters and exorcists were ordained in former times. Lectors received a simple benediction; acolytes were created by handing them the linen bag in which they carried the Eucharist; subdeacons by the reception of the chalice. Moreover, while deacons and priests could be ordained only on the four Ember Saturdays and on two Saturdays in Lent, minor orders could be conferred on any day. Even in modern times the latter could be conferred, apart from general ordinations, on all Sundays and on Holy Days of obligation, not necessarily at Mass. The usual minister of these orders as of the others, was a bishop; but regular abbots who have received episcopal benediction could give the tonsure and minor orders to their subjects in religion. By papal privilege several prelates Nullius (i.e., exempt) could confer these orders. It became an almost universal custom to confer the four minor orders at one time, and the Council of Trent left the bishop free to dispense with the interstices. [1]
Present situation
The minor orders as stages before holy orders were abolished after the Second Vatican Council by Paul VI, though candidates for the priesthood must still receive the "ministries" of lector and acolyte before ordination. The duties formerly performed by members of the minor orders are now usually performed by the laity (altar boys acted in lityrge as acolythes since centuries); see Catholic minister.
These orders are still bestowed upon Traditionalist Catholic (e.g. Society of St. Pius X) seminarians as they prepare for the priesthood . Indult Catholic seminaries have papal permission to do so (e.g. Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter).
Eastern Christianity
Eastern Christianity traditionally views the subdeacon as a minor order, unlike the practice of the west which considered it a major order. The other minor order is reader (lector). The minor order of porter is mentioned historically but no longer is given. The position of cantor, once considered a distinct minor order, has merged with lector. All of the rights and responsibilities of each minor order are viewed as contained in the subdiaconate, and so there is no obligation to receive every historical minor order before becoming a subdeacon.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b Catholic Encyclopedia (1913). Minor Orders.
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