Female Altar Servers are a Bigger Problem Than You Think

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The Catholic Church is the longest standing contiguous institution in all of human history. Which has to raise questions. How has it managed to do this? It must either be the most brilliantly organized institution in the world or there must be some other extremely powerful insight helping it along, keeping it alive, and preserving it from the kinds of adversities that have ended far more formidable societies and organizations of the past.
And in my limited exposure, but also from the lessons of history, what couldn’t be more obvious is that the Church cannot take credit for its longevity because it is a brilliantly governed organization or institution.
Hilaire Beloc once famously said, “A proof of the divine origins of the Catholic Church might be found in the fact that no merely human institution conducted with such knavish imbecility would have lasted a fortnight.”
In fact, when the Church prioritizes its institutional dimensions and seeks to govern itself like any other worldly institution, that’s exactly when its institutional prosperity seems to suffer the most. And this is dramatically apparent on the question of altar servers.
Music written and generously provided by Paul Jernberg. Find out more about his work as a composer here: pauljernberg.com
Podcast Version: brianholdsworth.libsyn.com/

[@The_Archivist_84]

Pray for me, at the end of this month I’m heading off to seminary. I will be one of eight seminarians in my entire Diocese.

[@michellemcdermott2026]

@@The_Archivist_84 🙏🙏🙏

[@briansmith397]

Christ bless you brother

[@m_d1905]

God bless you. I wish you well in your discernment and studies.

[@mazikode]

Praying for you. God bless you

[@urpoche]

May God Bless you and accompany you !

[@Mrs_Homemaker]

Our school doesnt allow girl altar servers. And we have a high per capita record of vocations to the priesthood. ❤ Praise God!

[@AndyYoung789]

Probably just a coincidence....probably doesn't mean anything.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

A huge, new study shows otherwise: DIRECT CORRELATION. Sorry-not-sorry, bub.

[@vicc1434]

@@fairyspunfibers9098 what study? Authors, methods? Link?

[@pedroparamo891]

@@fairyspunfibers9098 you do now correlation doesn´t mean causation don´t you?

[@Mr.mallaer]

@@pedroparamo891that idea is used very selectively

[@paddyleather5434]

Female Altar Servers should end . Altar Boys are often discerning for a vocation in the Priesthood .

[@informationtransmitter599]

There were none allowed when I was growing up. And as a former alter boy, most were pressured into the role by their parents.

[@paddyleather5434]

@@informationtransmitter599 Altar Service is good for boys . It’s a way to discern and also learn responsibly in the most important way possible . I’m glad your parents pressured you .

[@informationtransmitter599]

@@paddyleather5434 Yeah... I got the last laugh for being pressured into that asylum. Was also a great place for child abusers to get access to children. Was so bad where I am from that the bishop sent by the Vatican to work out a settlement with the victims also got caught shortly after signing the settlement by customs crossing the border after returning from the Philippines with a bunch of CP on his laptop of the children he had abused while travelling. They ended up having to sell a significant amount of the Catholic Churches property in the region to pay all the settlements. Was the biggest die off of Catholicism I've ever seen...

[@libertasinveritas3198]

@@informationtransmitter599 Usually altar servers are not alone with the priest. They are always together.

[@lucillejerome5511]

Is it possible that Altar Girls can us that role to discern a vocation for the religious life. We do need more Sisters now because there is a significant drop in women becoming Sisters! The modern secular world does not have a mechanism for holiness and girls, not just boys. Boys and girls are not rescuing he priest for goodness sake.

[@carolynkimberly4021]

I hope your son does become a priest

[@XoScottXo]

I second that. You are, by all outward appearances, a good catholic man. What a joy and honor it would be for you. God bless.

[@MattKyleBullerthemattkylefiles]

He would be a great father if he is anything like his dad

[@Thetruthiscosmic]

If you are Christian, you ought to say I pray, not I hope. We don't "hope" to God, we pray.

[@carolynkimberly4021]

@@Thetruthiscosmic If you were a real Christian you would know the theological virtues. They are Faith, HOPE, and charity.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

@Thetruthiscosmic HOPE is one of the 3 Cardinal Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity. "Now, there remain these things: Faith, Hope, and Charity...". "Hope" to a Catholic does NOT mean "hope" to a Prot.

[@tompalm64]

Finally someone is talking about this. It’s been bothering me for a long time. It’s one of reasons I prefer the TLM . It’s not allowed in the TLM. When I go to the Novis Ordo and I see “alter girls” it looks so off base. What happens in the NO is that when they bring in the girls…the boys leave. So sad.

[@Jerome616]

I moved to San Francisco the same year a new priest was installed who brought the TML. He immediately removed all female altar servers and encouraged more boys to sigh up, and they did. Hooo Boy! Did the press in SF like the chronicle drag him for years afterwards. Nothing ever came of their complaining and the bishop backed him up.

[@tincan77]

@@Jerome616the point of “inclusion” and mainstreaming is to destroy institutions

[@Leocomander]

@@Jerome616We need more cases like this.

[@richardy5271]

If the boys leave, that's a boy problem. You teach male fragility.

[@LauraBeeDannon]

Then the girls get asked because no boys stop up- girls are more likely to be agreeable.

[@reinedire7872]

We get enough modernity in the world. We don't need it in church.

[@travismorrison9160]

Amen

[@kaelibw34]

I see. Then you might wanna get off your computer and get back to work tilling the fields by hand if modernity is so scary

[@JamesMartinelli-jr9mh]

"To be modern is to be Jewish"

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

@kaelibw34 You probably don't understand "Modernism". It is the "synthesis of ALL heresies" (Pope Saint Pius X, encyclical Pascendi Domenici Gregis). This is different from "modernity". The "winds of the world", which were allowed into the Church by Pope Paul VI, is addressing the "Modernist heresy" which was/is the values of the world (satan's): immodesty, immorality, ab0rt10n, functional atheism, divorce and remarriage, birth control, etc.... In fine, everything the secular world thinks is "okay". Hope that clarified things for you a bit (yes, it's confusing!).

[@igorlopes7589]

​@@kaelibw34 He means in terms of culture, not technology. And it's not about modern culture being "scary" but it being degenerated

[@david_walker_esq]

Rather than being alter servers, girls should be encouraged to join the choir or to assist their mothers in the Catholic Women's League.

[@91722854]

is it so that women know their place, know where exactly they belong and then be complacent with it, is that what God has designed women for?

[@Mobuku]

Probably not the choir as a main voice. Men should be encouraged to be also in the choir

[@david_walker_esq]

@@Mobuku Sure. My parish's choir is comprised of men, women and girls. I don't know why there aren't any boys.

[@pamferguson1870]

Wow… just wow… I really can’t say here what I want but to say, what would Jesus say. I say Jesus would say all are welcomed to serve my people… including girl altar servers, etc.

[@Mobuku]

@@pamferguson1870 No. Girls do not have to intrude in the space of boys, just as women aren't allowed to be priests nor deacons, they shouldn't. Girls can serve the Lord in other ways.

[@TheMacedonianGeneral]

I have been an adult altar server for almost two years in a fairly large parish in Ireland. In that time I have never seen any boy or man step forward to be a server, no girls either for that matter. In the neightbouring diocese the cathedral of that diocese has a large and exceptionally well trained team of servers, all girls. I see this as symptomatic of a larger problem, parents aren't bringing their children to Mass and they aren't praying. If the men aren't stepping forward to serve a parish then the women will, women make up the largest part of any congregation and usually make up the majority of parish volunteers as well. This goes deeper than just 'liberal' parishes allowing women to serve at the altar, or making some superficial appeal to 'tradition' that it's better to only allow boys to serve because it acts as an apprenticeship to the priesthood, you degrade the vocation of acolyte by only seeing it in purely practical terms. If I were to show you any primary or secondary school in my parish I can guarantee you that 99% of children in any classroom don't darken the door of a Church on Sundays, maybe Easter and Chirstmas if you're lucky. If we want more acolytes we need to bring children to Mass, we need boys and men to have a close enounter with the priesthood. We need bishops and priests that inspire. We need parents that pray and love the Church enough to encourage their boys to step forward and offer themselves in service to the Church.

[@dontewithdragons]

It reminds me of The book of Judith. This is the problem in the modern world. When men drop the ball with leadership, women end up having to fill in that spot. Usually having to compromise themselves or expose themselves to unnecessary dangers in the process. This is the importance of having the father at home be the spiritual leader regarding spiritual involvement, so his son can follow in his footsteps. Be it apathy or sloth, many men are dropping the ball at parishes.

[@mommymaureen]

I always thought the whole reason to allow girl altar servers wasn't really an equality thing but because of a lack of boy altar servers.

[@threeriversforge1997]

Notice how you put the onus on the boys for "not stepping up"? Therein lies the real issue, I think, always blaming the men while also not supporting the men when they have to make tough calls. Guys like order, structure, and hierarchy. Once you sacrifice that and they can see people being hypocritical about things, the young boys are naturally not going to want to be a part of the group. Nobody wants to be on a team that doesn't put their team first in every way possible. What you describe is a symptom of a larger problem -- christians being weak-kneed and always giving ground trying to please outsiders. This is why islam holds such appeal among westerners. The people can see how the muslims stand up for each other, to the point of drawing blood. They are insular, sure, but that's just them putting their team first however they can. They might fight amongst each other, but they circle the wagons as soon as there's a threat from outside the tribe. You don't have to like it to respect it. Christians, otoh, go out of their way to betray their own in some vain attempt to appease outsiders, and they don't go out of their way to support each other. I often point to the jews, muslims, and amish as groups to be emulated. They take care of their own and hold to their ways. They are happy to discriminate against outsiders because they understand that they have to protect their own culture and heritage if it's to continue for generations ahead. Yes, most kids don't darken the doorway of the churches unless they have to, but why would they? I'm old enough to remember the Times Before when there was no internet or computers. I remember all the times I've seen the churches bend the knee to outside pressures like Brian talks about in this video. Why would I want to be part of a team that doesn't even adhere to their own rules? Time and time again, we've witnessed small things that add up to really big thing. And today, we have churches celebrating homosexuality and having gay priests. What that means is that the church admits they were wrong about a pretty big issue, so you're left wondering what else they've been wrong about and just haven't admitted yet. If a kid joins up today, he has to wonder what he's devoting his life to because the church is constantly changing their ways, accepting new things, and not supporting their own. That's a recipe for disaster, as we've seen, but it's not the fault of the boys or even the men, because they are the ones who get the blame but have zero authority or support from the very team blaming them all the time.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

NOPE. Not even close. Even in my old N.O. liberal parish, there were plenty of boy Altar Servers...until the Altar Gurlz came along. POOF! No more boys. Over night. ONLY stringy-haired, hair-flipping girls, dripping in makeup. Up to that point, we had a few vocations to the priesthood. None have come from that parish in the last 20+ years. I've kept track. It's really sad. In our (relatively) small SSPX parish, it's very, very different. High Mass, 6-9 Altar Servers per Mass, 5 or 6 priestly vocations, and already 2 in Seminary with a 3rd entering next year. That's not bad for a smallish (a bit over 200 members, including gobs of infants and swarms of littles) Congregation.

[@christophersnaith6987]

Acolyte is not a vocation. That aside, the underlying problem is feminism. It has permeated everything so that men don't see masculinity anywhere. That includes at Mass at a typical Catholic Church. It's a simple fact of life that men want to do manly things with men, and intimate things with women. If they perceive something as effeminate, they aren't interested in it. Simple as. If men see the Mass as effeminate, they lose interest, and so do their children. If boys see altar serving as effeminate, they lose interest. And, because of feminism, everything in our culture has become effeminate.

[@triumphofihm525]

NO! Feminism has been a disaster & I’m a 60 year old women

[@onewholovesvenison5335]

Which “feminism” are you talking about? Because feminism has existed for over 100 years, and early feminists secured the right for women to vote and own property. Are you talking about third or fourth wave feminism?

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@onewholovesvenison5335 All feminism. If you research those early days, you'll see that the overwhelming majority of women not only didn't want it, but were actively against it. Furthermore, you can read the writings of those early feminists and see that their cause was rooted in evil and hatred. Their stated goal was to destroy the nuclear family and western civilization which they hated That they used lies, deception, and violence to get their way... well, that's pretty telling. Not exactly the actions of the angelic, I'd say.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

@onewholovesvenison5335 Women have ALWAYS bern able to own property in their own right in the U.S. And, she did not have to surrender ownership to her husband when she married. But, I agree: it would have been 3rd and 4th wave feminism that went WAY too far. And, it has been HORRIFIC in its effects upon Society.

[@2righthands816]

@@onewholovesvenison5335 Every feminism is evil at its roots. There would be no 3rd, 4th or n-th wave if it wasn't for the 1st one.

[@Floridiansince94]

We do not! Like we do not need extraordinary eucharist distributors

[@liliarosales1961]

🙌🏼 Well said

[@dinaandrade5415]

I totally agree. We don't need female altar servers and we especially do not need female extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist.

[@SMullen-iw3ds]

Every High Mass offered in our community has 11 servers: 6 torchbearers;1 crucifer; 2 acolytes; 1 thurifer; and 1 MC. All these boys have progressively deeper understanding of the Mass and see the priesthood as a possible vocation. My eldest (10) asked to serve because he saw the discipline and devotion of the servers as a good to be sought. Now he asks questions about the priesthood frequently. He'll spend a few years as a torchbearer; and when he has enough knowledge, experience, and dedication, our priest will allow him to take on more responsibility. Since he started serving, he has begun to ask frequent questions about vocations, particularly the priesthood. I answer as best I can, but his questions are getting quite good, and I'll have to ask for our priest's help at some point, I'm sure. Faithful liturgy inspires vocations. I see it in my three boys and in the other boys in our community. On an unrelated note, please pray for a nephew of mine who was recently ordained in Ontario.

[@gunblade7610]

We need more female mothers. That statement is both a satirical tongue and cheek joke as well as a statment of fact.

[@lucillejerome5511]

ok - but we also need more Sisters. It's pretty sad to me that Catholic schools have so few Catholic sisters as teachers for example.

[@beaver0006]

Brilliant! Thank you!

[@femaleKCRoyalsFan]

@@lucillejerome5511 in my diocese, we specifically have a group of sisters called the “school sisters of Christ the king”. they were founded to teach. I just wish they were more traditional and not Novus ordo. at least they do wear traditional habits, but I’m talking about the mass.

[@lucillejerome5511]

@@femaleKCRoyalsFan At least they are Sisters. I know 2 elementary Catholic schools that have closed, and one high school that has mostly lay teachers. The few Sisters who teach are aging, and their order is not attracting young women. Just bothers me to think there could come a day when there are no or few Sisters given their devoted history.

[@richardy5271]

Disgusting sexism, misogyny and bigotry.

[@jsadowski44]

Anything that spits in the face of Catholic Tradition- the Traditions of Christ and His own handpicked Apostles, that exists on this earth, is a FAR bigger problem than we think. Thanks for this Brian- you and your family are in my prayers.

[@erikriza7165]

I think these days, some Priests would rather not have servers at all.

[@christinereich6050]

I think that is true.

[@femaleKCRoyalsFan]

I’ve been at a novus ordo mass where the servers did not participate during communion. I’m so glad I go to the TLM now.

[@sam12587]

My son serves a lot. I agree. They seem annoyed if the kids make a mistake and if the child has never worked with that priest before then how’d they know? ...Our church cycles between about 9 priests. A couple we only see every couple months. And N.O. Masses there’s lots of options for the priest to choose in carrying out the mass.

[@EpoRose1]

@@sam12587Maybe all those options are an issue…

[@garymcwilliams6526]

Agree with you. Fortunately we don’t have female altar servers at our Parish. We pray for increase to vocations after every Mass. we usually have four to eight altar servers and acolytes at every Mass. a good thing.

[@monicadriscoll645]

In our parish, there have been several girls who have discerned religious life!

[@laraluna9365]

I think that’s great but how many boys have become priests? We need priests because we need the sacraments.

[@Squib-kb2tn]

Is that our fault? Are you really so blind as to blame half of the church, just because the modern-day Catholic males are becoming weak-willed?

[@leafraenzle7746]

​@@laraluna9365 that's the thing: if you say girls could discern religious Life without altar serving, why shouldn't it work the other way around for boys discerning the priesthood?

[@Jerome616]

The persistence of Female Sacristans, altar servers and Cantors has continually lead to one thing, men growing lax and not fulfilling their calling in the church. Women are not inherently evil, nor unworthy of such roles, but the fact that men have largely abandoned these duties is evidence enough of the problems such a stance causes.

[@timmoore9736]

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc is an invalid logic. Gien there was only one sacristan in a parish, how did that impact the hudreds if not thousands of other men in the parish?

[@maggiek.h.w9099]

So women just need to stop doing … anything? Because it’s their fault men don’t step up anymore?

[@deadly_dave]

Correlation does not Causation, have you maybe consider that it could be down to the immoral nature of the church or maybe that as people learn to think critically they realise that it's all just nonsense so they leave or any number of other reasons you failed to account for before you jumped to the most absurd 'solution' it's this inability to examine your beliefs critically that keeps you trapped in a false religion.

[@marymoloney5784]

@@Jerome616 men have got lax and abandoned their duties absolutely. But that isn't the fault of women is it!? This discussion is the age old Adam blaming Eve for the sin he committed isn't it!? It's classic gas lighting. Don't try any get the women to believe they are at fault for serving God and "scaring" the men off the altar. The men have abandoned the altar haven't they !? That's the truth and the men need to look it in the eye.....!!!

[@Jim-nb3lq]

So well said Mr. Holdsworth. Regarding the Boy Scouts, as a former boy scout myself, I vehemently object to the 'woke' direction that organization has taken and refuse to support them in any way, shape or form.

[@joebollig2689]

Amen, me too. Former Scout and adult Scout leader.

[@teresasnamesake4784]

Thank you for covering this. I would not let my girls serve Mass (they grew up in the 90s.) Our six boys did. They are adults now, and most of them married and with children.

[@thedon978]

Girl altar boys are a counter sign.

[@anthonyhulse1248]

Girls are never the counter sign. Isaiah 7:14 "This is the sign: the virgin shall conceive..."

[@leafraenzle7746]

Young women and former altar servant here. Serving in the liturgies was crucial for me in order to discern religious life - now I'm a postulant hoping to be admitted into the noviciate soon. And I know several sisters with similar experiences.

[@JulianNaremore]

It confuses me how sharing in the PRIESTLY function helped you discern the life of a woman religious. Those two things are not the same. That's like me saying becoming a mother helped me become a man. It makes no sense. Women on the altar is an act of desecration in my eyes. Please do not give the false impression that being a girl on the altar helped you discern religious life as a woman. Being a woman religious has nothing to do with serving at the altar.

[@leafraenzle7746]

@@JulianNaremore Well, in that sense maybe the point is that you as a man don't know what discerning religious life as woman is like :D No, seriously, I think partaking in and more deeply understanding the liturgy can be helpful for anyone to discern their calling, rooting them in service to the Lord and others as well as recognizing the beauty in it. This is not ordained ministry. Oh, and by the way please don't dismiss other peoples experiences out of hand, this comes across as rather rude.

[@jaysealenduro5618]

If you are a Female you dont need to become an altar server to discern religious life, haha thats not the proper way. Traditionaly Altar serving is only design for boys. Your personal reasons are due to false guidance of the modern leadership of the church filled with feminism. Unfortunately theres also plenty of women who already became nuns and sisters who leave or resign their vows some of them have regrets, one of the Main cause is they have improper discernment.

[@bobtosi9346]

@@leafraenzle7746so speaking the truth is rude when it doesn’t match your misguided version of the truth? 🤦🏻‍♂️ look at your own words and actions in the mirror. Take the plank out of your eye.

[@leafraenzle7746]

​@@bobtosi9346 this is about a random dude telling me about my discernment (and women religious in general) while clearly he has no clue. 😂 So yes, mansplaining is kind of rude.

[@pattysayssew3609]

I have friends who have girls/granddaughters who get very upset when I say altar servers should be boys. Lots of defensiveness such as oh, I love seeing my daughter serving God in that way. Some of these people are quite devout, but in this they cannot see beyond personal feelings. Lots of prayer needed.

[@challengable]

They are not devout, if they do not have the faith. One heresy destroys the faith in a person. Do they believe all the teachings of the deposits of the faith? If not, they do not have the faith. St.Thomas Aquinas

[@adamrad2220]

​@@challengableI get you, but there's literally no argument you can make that it's heresy or contrary to the faith to have altar girls. And while saying this, one can still believe only boys should be altar servers. But yeah, don't fool yourself that it's contrary to the faith or it's heresy. It's a valid opinion, but don't overstep your argument.

[@challengable]

@@adamrad2220 not at all, you either believe the faith or you don’t. It’s really just that simple. We have many people around us now who call His name but refuse to do the will of the Father. When you see influences of the world being spoken and promoted by those cafeteria Catholics, know that they do not have the faith. Perhaps you should read St. Thomas Aquinas on this theology. Then tell me who’s overstepping who. Pray for these cafeteria Catholics, don’t lash out at them. Most of them have very poor catechesis

[@threeriversforge1997]

That's what I call "the spirit of Eve". Like Eve in the Garden, it's always only about what they want, right then. It's what makes them feel good, and they will rationalize it however they like, without a care in the world for what God commanded. And it all stems from listening to the snakes in the grass who whispered in their ears for a lifetime, convincing them that wrong was right.

[@challengable]

@@threeriversforge1997 exactly on point. When evil presents itself, it is totally invisible if you don’t have the faith. It becomes glaring as the sun if you live to accomplish the will of the Father. God is the authority over a demonic pope who seeks to remove supernatural faith from Catholicism

[@XoScottXo]

I have to say. I think this is one of the best topics I’ve heard you speak on. Well said.

[@granaa953]

Too many women holding the Eucharist, why can the priest stay in line extra 5 min to distribute it?. They went to seminary for a decade why a woman who hands have not been consecrated will distribute it? The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in its article 1548, states: “In the ecclesial service of the ordained minister, it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock, High Priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of the Truth. The Church expresses this by saying that the priest, in virtue of the Sacrament of Orders, acts ‘in persona Christi Capitis’ (in the person of Christ the Head).” Thus, the ordained minister is the sacramental link that connects the liturgical action to what the apostles said and did and, through them, to what Christ said and did, the source and foundation of the sacraments. Section 154 of RS states: "the only minister who can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi is a validly ordained Bishops, priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord.

[@outoforbit00]

Just women! clearly your statement is more concerned with unconsecrated hands only if they are female, therefore your real gripe here is female hands, not unconsecrated hands.

[@dontewithdragons]

Exactly, and there's something else too. What about if someone is not in a state of grace and they need a blessing? I'm sorry, it's not the same to receive a blessing from the laity especially an unconsecrated hand. It is better to be blessed directly by the priest.

[@emmagrace6396]

The altar boys distributing it haven't been consecrated for it either...also what's with the comment about too many women's hands touching the eucharist?! Women are all going to receive it. Women held Jesus and touched him. Ridiculous.

[@outoforbit00]

@@emmagrace6396 i was wondering the same, it's almost suggesting women are unclean, sort of Islamic.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

@emmagrace6396 Altar boys are *not to touch the Consecrated Host!* NO ONE but a Priest should be distributing Jesus' Precious Body and Blood! The only woman allowed to touch Jesus was His Mother, Mary. Jesus did not allow St. Mary Magdalene to touch Him, except with her hair when she repented of her sins. Even after His Resurrection, he told her "Nolo tendere me!" "Do not touch me!"

[@damnedmadman]

It also blurs the reference to the Old Testament's temple servers who were exclusively male Levites.

[@wendyfield7708]

I don’t think this is the only reason for altar servers. Adult married men frequently serve at the altar too. I think it was Paul VI who said girls should not be altar servers, and gave good reasons why. Individual priests have given in to continuing pleas of the laity. +

[@diana-wilde]

Sadly here in Europe and United Kingdom, we have no traditional Nuns anywhere to be seen in churches. It would be lovely for girls to have nuns to befriend and then want to emulate.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

😭💔🙏🙏🙏

[@marymoloney5784]

@@diana-wilde we have plenty. Not sure this is correct

[@diana-wilde]

@@marymoloney5784 Traditional, in full habit, in the Old Rite.?????

[@kenvarga4454]

There is a small but growing number of traditional Nuns here in the US. I have four grown daughters and no sons. My daughters saw very few Nuns while growing up and so despite my suggestions and encouragement, none of the four seriously considered becoming a Nun... at least so far.

[@marymoloney5784]

@@diana-wilde yep we got em. Franciscians of the immaculata, sisters of charity of st Paul and others. Be not afraid. Consecrated laity also....servites,carmelites

[@treyhenry9782]

My parish has never allowed female alter servers, and we had three priests ordained this year from our parish alone! There are also others in our parish who are in seminary.

[@flick1302]

The dynamic at work, although you're not supposed to say this, is when girls enter (in addition to CWL activities) the boys end up seeing 'church' as a girl thing - which later translates into an absence of adult men (which we are seeing).

[@paulschoppe1448]

Boys don’t do what girls do. Want to get rid of altar boys? Simply allow altar girls.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

Exactly!

[@Squib-kb2tn]

Are you suggesting that we get rid of girls in general?

[@friedawells6860]

100%

[@marymoloney5784]

@@flick1302 well that's a problem with the boys not the girls. Maybe the holy Spirit wants the men to change their attitude to women. Society at large certainly needs such an example from the church. Any intolerance of women is from the dark side surely you all know that!? The woman is the arch enemy of the demon who clearly doesn't want her on the alter serving the God who made her. Division is always from the demon. Just look at the tone of this conversation and you will see it. Think and pray before you all takes sides in women vs men and novus ordo vs TLM. You are all walking right into the snare set for you. These discussions show a huge degree of spiritual immaturity sadly.

[@afarnum]

I grew up as a girl altar boy through high school. My brother did not serve. When I was in college - it did actually cross my mind that maybe, just maybe, one day I’ll be a woman Deaconess. A college professor had put that idea in my mind as something the early church had allowed so maybe the Church will bring it back. When you know better, you do better. I regret my service at the altar, wish my brother (now a lapsed Catholic) had served, and my 4 daughters will never altar serve.

[@danbehiels4602]

Anyone who’s raised boys will know that their natural inclination is not to take on responsibility, it needs to be taught. Are we teaching our boys that girls in the community will step in and take up their responsibility if only they avoid it long enough? Even if these boys don’t take up the priesthood, how will that fare in their marriages in the future?

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

WOW. Darned right! I raised a son, and really had to double down on him, often!, to make him take responsibility. EXCELLENT point! Yes, where women jump in to "help", boys are ALL too happy to back off and go play!

[@samanthaduggan9002]

I've been in a new parish for just over a year now. I was so surprised to see older teenage - & handsome! - boys serving on the altar and no girls. I don't know if it's a rule my priest has or just the way it's happened. He also conducts a casual philosophical / catechetical / evangelical group with older and twenty something boys. My son has joined in when he's home from university. And of course, our parish has had recent vocations! By the way, the Girl Guides in the UK is now open to trans girls, ie biological boys who "identify" as girls.

[@beaver0006]

Good argument. I would add that altar servers were not just a good recruiting pool for seminarians but a good source of recruits for the US Marines, US Army Rangers, and the US Navy SEALS. It not just a liturgical benefit but a national security benefit as well. Moreover, the liturgy of the Eucharist is supposed to represent the Last Supper which was a male-only event by order of Christ himself. Lastly, the liturgy of the Eucharist is also supposed represent a Jewish wedding where the groom promises to give all of himself to his bride. Whoever heard of a wedding with female groomsmen? It's non-sensical. What priest would officiate at such a mockery?

[@christopherlarsen7788]

Agreed. I was an acolyte (alter server) and considered the vocation of priesthood as a teenager. I enlisted in the US Army Infantry, fought in two wars, and chose the sacrament of marriage and family instead. But my service as an acolyte helped me understand my Catholic faith, and that shaped my life for the better.

[@emmagrace6396]

Saying the Last Supper is a male only event is bad justification. In that case, why should women even be allowed to receive communion?

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

@emmagrace6396 The Last Supper was where Our Lord taught His Apostles how to confect the Blessed Sacrament, something women cannot do. But, I believe His Body and Blood were also shared among the other Faithful followers present, including His Mother.

[@emmagrace6396]

@fairyspunfibers9098 if the argument is that only men were present at the last supper, therefore only men should distribute communion, then the logic also follows that since only men received the eucharist from Jesus at the last supper, therefore only men can recieve communion. It's not a good argument, there's no limiting principle.

[@albertbeaulac5700]

Yes! Only men should go to Mass!

[@Squib-kb2tn]

As a female altar server, this video makes me very sad. I consider serving one of the highest honors, and the times I serve are the closest I feel to God. I know that this opportunity was originally only meant for males, but I don't understand why we can't just work together. After all, females aren't replacing males. Those of us that know what an honor this is just want to help. As do males. Let's work together and get along.

[@jonathanstensberg]

First of all, it’s okay to feel sad about this, and it’s wonderful that you experience great closeness to God through serving at the altar. However, what is good for you can be even better for someone else. Part of being in an institution is understanding that some roles are better for others, especially in the long term, even if you yourself seem capable of that role and enjoy performing it. It doesn’t mean that you are bad, or that you are bad at doing it. It just means that there is a better option.

[@Squib-kb2tn]

@@jonathanstensberg I appreciate how patient you seem. I would like to point out, though, that I'm not preventing males from serving. It's a volunteer based system. I suppose that you might point out that my presence may discourage them from serving, but they have to learn how to deal with females sometime. I understand that there are other times they could do that, but to work beside us... It seems a lot more fulfilling. I have another argument, but I think you should reply.

[@lindathompson5472]

Females are replacing males without a doubt.

[@GhostRider-ce3eb]

@@Squib-kb2tn you should have the same rights, it's ridiculous, that some individuals think that woman should be abandoned from serving: the catholic church is ruled by old men who are afraid to loose their power, it's really sad!

[@Robert-ie8eb]

I agree, I've been disappointed in the recent content on this channel. Banning altar girls is a terrible take.

[@roboboro]

in 1997 another girl and I were the first female Altar Servers in my Church. It made me have a great respect for the Mass and to this day (I'm 38) I've had years and years of experiencing different apostolate in the Church. I love my Church so much and I love to read about theology and apologetics, I defend the Catechism, the Catholic tradition, the Bible, Mary... to atheist or other non-catholic christians. at my 30s I actually had the honor of being instituted in the Extraordinary Ministry of the Sacred Comunion (at 2013 female ministers were instituted for the first time in that parish). It also came with serving in the altar. Being that close to Jesus and recognizing my nothingness next to him had been the most precious moments of my life. Entering the Sanctuary to reserve the Blessed Comunion in the Tabernacle made me have these extraordinary moments of intimacy with Jesus in the most humbling way possible. I wanted to kiss the ground in where I was standing and I always thought about the honor of our Mother Mary as being the Arch of the New Covenant and I felt also very blessed and accompanied by Her. I understand what you're saying, I know that serving in the Altar is a very special moment for a boy to love the Eucharist and wanting to become a priest. But... what about us women? Should we be denied of the glorious experience of being in that intimate position with Christ? It's hurtful for me to hear that I shouldn't have experience the beginning of the most important path of my life. Note: there were many altar boys and girls, and women and men ministers cause I'm in Mexico and at my parish there are 11 masses every Sunday and the Temple is FULL of people every mass.

[@lboh5260]

Women have the beauty of becoming nuns and sisters. Men have the duty of becoming victims in the priesthood. Mocking a nun by telling her to have a young boy help her with task and dressing them up the same is rude and mocks her beauty. That's why you send your daughters to the cluster to learn if that is what she would like and discern. And you really should also make your children try it of course they can say they hated every minute but it's a duty. Hopefully you can teach your children to love adore and help the religious vocations even if it's not their vocation. "Your" being every catholic parent me included. A parish can flourish without sisters and nuns but is that what you want?

[@tfava6492]

Yes, we (women) should be denied the experience of serving as males, and we should embrace the glorious experience of being intimate with Christ by living our life of Faith as females.

[@NoSoupForYouu]

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't the purpose of altar boys to replace the shortage of priests? The positions used to be held by men who were looking to become priests and would start in a lower order such as porter, lector, etc. So these positions were normally filled by men on the path to being ordained no?

[@paisley293]

Before Vatican II days, there were two 'orders' in the Church: the major orders and the minor orders. The major orders were a proximate preparation to the priesthood and consisted of sub-diaconate, the diaconate and finally the priesthood. The minor orders were the lower ranks of the clergy, through which aspirants were remotely prepared for the priesthood by participating at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the roles of porter, lector, exorcist and acolyte, acolyte being another name for altar server. The minor orders were done away with at Vatican II.

[@audoremus]

So did altar boys serve when we had the minor orders or was it only in places where men in the minor orders were not present?

[@DavidTheHust]

@@audoremusboth were used.

[@daniby9894]

I love when people have selective memory and only partly recollect! Well, back then we used to have seminaries for minors aswell! Should we bring those back too? And long before that we used to have deacons that were more than a "parking lot" to priesthood and just owing a title and a special spot in the liturgy! Deacons used to have a special kind of ministry that was necessary to the community of faithful and clergy had no time to deal with and so they delegated it. That kind of deacons is what Vatican 2 tried to being back and revive. Nowadays most of them are just a pale surrogate to the lack of priests, but that's what most local bishops go for, soo... Plus, our church always evolved and adapted to affront challenges of every time. It's that thing called life that happens! All respect to TLM, but we had masses and messals even before the countereformation when we decided to push the roman rite from 3-4th century to prevail and in 1570 Pious V published and promoted the new messal everywhere. In our days mass rites became some sort of expiatory goat for all the troubles we're facing! Well, look around folks! Orthodox are more inflexible and conservative than us and look where they're at! Blaming the liturgy for all that goes wrong nowadays is totaly lame!

[@nathanvangoor4979]

​@@daniby9894 Seminaries for minors are not a bad idea. It makes better priests if they're formed young. VA2 had no intention of reviving the old diaconate; they wouldn't have abolished subdeacons if they did.

[@davidkelly715]

Brian you are right in that girls should not be serving but you’re wrong as to why. Your understanding and experience of the Church is post conciliar. There used to a hierarchy to those serving at the altar and all the men and boys serving at the altar entered into assisting in priestly act of confecting the sacrifice of the Mass. this act of sacrifice is an intrinsically masculine act. So a girl serving at the altar goes against her feminine nature. Has nothing to do with preparing for the priesthood. There used to be married men serving at the Altar all of the time.

[@StephanieK-qt4mx]

My son serves at the TLM and it’s so awesome seeing him and his crew of fellow servers. They are disciplined in church as the priest is strict with them, and then after Mass they go outside and have wars. It would not be the same with female servers.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

Ours, too! It's great. Our priests are strict, but very kind and understanding. After all, they were once boys, too!

[@jeffgermain2804]

More like this please Brian. This issue is one of many in the church that make a mockery of a coherent, rational, holy church. Hierarchy is a fundamental component of our church and our families. We need to show how well it works within our church so we can attract society.

[@dloveofgod8269]

I was a female altar server 38 yrs ago, my daughter was also. I am against female priests or deacons.

[@mariaimamura92]

Same. And I wanted to become a Nun. Never dreamed of being a priest

[@dloveofgod8269]

@@mariaimamura92 yes as a young girl I wanted to become a nun also.

[@dloveofgod8269]

Just my personal opinion is that the priesthood is a calling not because boys were altar servers. Vocations are a calling of God.

[@Ahope4444]

Same. POV: Try everything. God called me to become Nun. 🙏🌹 Never dream to go more than that title.

[@threeriversforge1997]

The problem that so many don't want to acknowledge is that you lose the "moral authority" when you surrender even one tradition that seems so trivial. When you joined the ranks of "altar server", you broke the ages-old tradition and it was accepted by everyone. You further broke that tradition by having your daughter do the very same thing. And while it all sounds good and fine, you can't then say there shouldn't be female priests and deacons because that's just another "tradition" and you've already demonstrated that the rules can be broken. While people will often say that's a "slippery slope fallacy", it's not a fallacy because we see it happen regularly. The road to hell really is paved with good intentions -- each cobblestone along the way being where someone gave in just a little or thought they were doing the right thing without thinking about the consequences. Think about your own experience. When you joined the altar boys, demanding that it be made co-ed or at least taking advantage of it when it happened, you helped to fracture a catholic tradition that'd stood for hundreds of years. There were plenty of 'stodgy, old stick-in-the-mud people" who complained at the time, and they were shouted down or ignored. And look at the state of the church today where gay pride flags fly from the ramparts. Small steps, each cobblestone seemingly innocent and right and proper, but all leading to where we are right now. Tradition is the solution to problems long forgotten exactly because the tradition solved the issues the culture was dealing with.

[@specialteams28]

Absolutely fascinating. It always seemed strange to have female altar servers but I couldn’t articulate and put my finger on why.

[@Fiona2254]

In our church there are no girls at the altar serving at mass. They have their own thing, “maidens of the altar” and are in charge of making sure the altar area is properly set up, the flowers looking nice and they take the altar items into the sacristy to be cleaned. We have Holy Mass with anywhere from 4 to 12 servers (1 is the deacon and there is always a sacristan as well as most Sundays a seminarian. The altar boys range from first communion age to high school. They are in charge of the censer. The only difference between our holy mass and TLM is facing the people and that it’s not Latin. The girls may not serve at the altar during mass but they have an important role, they also do bake sales for funds to feed the homeless. We have an active full and alive church in the middle of north east Texas where there are at least 20 Protestant churches vs our one Catholic Church. I think the holier the mass the more attractive to young people.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

"maidens of the altar" Hmmm. Has a very nice ring to it!

[@obsessedreader77]

I really like that: maidens of the alter! I also have not felt right about seeing women as alter servers (which is the case at my parish) and when Brian started talking about it being for the vocation exploration for men to become priests, I had the initial thought of "well... why can that not be the same for women to become nuns?" Because I could see the draw to wanting to contribute to the core component of mass, and maidens of the altar really does fit that bill in the most appropriate way and could potentially lead those women to seeking out joining a religious order as their vocation. Some of the other things you mentioned, the bake sales and what not, To me would speak to women more as outreach and giving back versus showing them an opportunity for seeking a religious vocation. As in the rest of his video and in some of the other comments talking about how women are being alter servers can take away or even deter men from the vocation I do think is a real problem. What steps can we take to work on course correcting this?

[@Mishaguate]

Cardinal Burke clearly says that only Altar Servers boys, can get the call from God to be a Priest. We only need Altar Servers boys.

[@tobithiele2673]

Since my communion, I was an altar boy for ten years in a parish in Germany that held a very reverent Novus Ordo Mass. Over this time, I have seen how altar servers are becoming fewer and fewer, especially boys. Although I would describe myself as traditional and conservative, female altar servers never seemed to me to be a question of "equality", but one of youth inclusion and necessity. In the meantime, the average number of altar servers at each mass halfed with now 80 % girls. I find your argument, that the priesthood becomes more inspiring for boys without female altar servers, very compelling. Like a comment that said that having female altar servers (and other female volunteers) makes church more a "girl thing", which leads to young boys dropping out. But I think that if our Priest forbid female altar servers, there will just be no altar servers. And I would find that worse than having female altar servers.

[@GerardFornwald]

Great video, the only reason for alter boys is to hopefully put them on the path to becoming Priest. The Priest is perfectly capable of celebrating Mass without elderly Men and Women assisting him.

[@brucewechtler7721]

Really that's the only point?? Maybe also to deepen their love for the mass and the church and Our Lord.That's the purpose and that's why girls should serve as well.Very, very few altar boys become priests and I know a number of priests who were not altar servers

[@jerryczarski5991]

You will know them from their fruits. I would love to see a study of how many girls who serve at the altar go on to a religious life versus boys.

[@deborahjabara2614]

This reminded me of something after all these years. In first grade, I wanted to become a nun because I loved Sr. Maria Feliz, my teacher. She wore the full habit. One year later I was in second grade with Sr. "Shirley" wearing a knee length skirt and simple blouse. Never thought about becoming a nun again. The orders of nuns have just collapsed.

[@allenhewerdine3360]

Back in the day, my sisters were quite happy they didn't have a turn as an altar server...especially when we boys had to get up on summer week days to go serve a mass.

[@Squib-kb2tn]

I'm a female altar server, and I get up at 6 every day to serve morning mass. It's the perfect way to start the day...

[@allenhewerdine3360]

@@Squib-kb2tn it is a perfect way to start the day:)

[@inspiers69]

Why did Pope Paul VI abolish the oath against modernism?

[@orangemanbad]

He abdicated his role as pope of the church to serve globalist tyranny.

[@challengable]

He obviously did not have the faith. I visited a Monsignor well esteemed in my area. People thought he was quite holy. He once told me priests should be allowed to marry. I never sought him out again for guidance. One heresy destroys the God given gifts of faith.

[@travismorrison9160]

I would love to take an oath against modernism!

[@challengable]

@@travismorrison9160 I think you already have.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

Yes, he has. 😊💕👍🙏🙏🙏

[@joealvarez3724]

My Parish is a contradiction. Its the one lone diocesan parish allowed to have one weekly Latin Mass, yet the Novus Ordo Masses not only have girl Altar Servers, but a grown woman Altar Server. That makes me very uncomfortable. And our current pontiff is equivocating about deaconesses. Its all soo wrong. 🤔

[@jdotoz]

Did you see his 60 Minutes answer to that question?

[@jonahstephens2904]

Equivocating? Pretty sure he gave the clearest possible answer about the question of deaconesses. He contained it to only two letters.

[@StanleyPinchak]

​@@jonahstephens2904lol. Lay off the hopium. They are going to figure out a way to shoehorn deaconettes into the post conciliar Church. The Vatican just announced another synod working group to figure out how to make it happen despite the magesterial teaching of JPII forbidding *consecrated* female priests / deacons. They will probably do it by destroying or fundamentally altering the permanent diaconate. With modernism all things are possible.

[@reverendcoffinsotherson5807]

Dude. Pope Francis clearly said no to female deacons.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

@reverendcoffinsotherson5807 "Dude", yourself! BerGOGlio is well-known for meaning YES when he says NO! That is S.O.P. for Perónist-Marxist thinking! And he was raised and trained in that belief from childhood through Seminary. ALWAYS gaslighting, never telling the bald Truth. Very well-known tactic. Wake up and smell the coffee, "Dude". He has already encouraged the German SIN-OD to CONTINUE "exploring" the possibility of deaconettes.

[@tonyl3762]

Wish our bishop and pastor would restrict altar serving to males. Not likely to happen anytime soon unfortunately.

[@amyhatch3761]

When I was growing up, for quite a while the only children at the Mass that I attended were girls (besides my brother who only went to Mass because our mum made us). I personally never wanted to be an altar server, but the only people who did volunteer were girls. We did have male altar servers when I was younger, but those boys all stopped attending Mass once they got to about 16 or 17. Generally speaking, most of the volunteers for any position in the parish, from the child safety officer, to the catechism teachers, to the extraordinary ministers, were women. I don't think this is the fault of the women - they were the only people stepping up to serve. But it creates a vicious cycle where the men in the parish feel like they don't need to step up or even feel that they're not welcome to get more involved in the parish. Many of these women's husbands didn't attend Mass regularly. The catechism teacher's husband left her despite her best efforts to reconcile the marriage. Unfortunately many modern parishes are lacking faithful men to serve in the parish, but then boys growing up in those parishes don't see any male leadership, so the cycle continues.

[@markscannell865]

There is the cliche (though it probably is true - I haven't researched the validity) that children of cops and firemen become cops and firemen. It only makes sense that altar boys become priests, and we need more altar boys..

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

If the dads in these fields of service (police, fire, rescue, military) are GOOD dads, yes...boys will follow their father, even unto death.

[@brucewechtler7721]

Altar boys are not the sons of priests, you make no point here

[@TheTequillaberry]

Girl alter servers grow up to have little boys who become alter servers who may become priests. I think this is less about equality, and more about involving more young people in the church because without them, the church has no future. So yes, we need both girls and boys. In my parish it’s volunteer based so everyone gets chances to serve, and nobody is prioritized over anyone else.

[@Squib-kb2tn]

Thank you for saying this.

[@colmoneill191]

Has this happened yet though? The first authorised female altar servicers were in the 1990s. Have many of their sons been ordained yet? I haven't heard of any.

[@maggiek.h.w9099]

I agree thank you for this. I served and then moved over to music. We had to be involved in some way. And I wish all 3 of my boys to participate in more than just Sunday mass as a congregant, whether that’s serving or music or as lector.

[@tfava6492]

In my experience all the female servers at parishes I have attended over the years are older women whose children no longer attend Mass anymore. At my former parish, there was one lovely old lady with 8 children who served at daily Mass, and not a single one was practising the Faith anymore.

[@maggiek.h.w9099]

@@tfava6492 Everybody's road to salvation is their own. I think it's judgmental and narrow-minded to assume that because her children don't follow the faith that is her fault. I assume they are adults now, and if I were her, I'd be at mass praying and doing what I could to keep the faith alive in my life, to bear witness to the faith for my wayward kids. Frankly all responses of "my experience is..., therefore women shouldn't serve" are completely anecdotal, and while any one's personal experience is completely valid, it shouldn't be used solely as evidence for what you are arguing.

[@30Salmao]

This was the most convincing argument for altar servers to be only male that I had so far.

[@Coastie4]

Female altar servers are an occasion of sin for me. Makes me too upset to be properly prepared for the reception of the Eucharist.

[@libertasinveritas3198]

"The Church´s mission is not here to establish artificial environments that ignore God´s created order." Nailed it. There is a reason why the TLM parishes are thriving and the Novus Ordo parishes are not. This alignment with secular ideas does no good whatsoever. "You will know them by their fruits" - it´s fairly obvious that the traditional way is the right way.

[@adelinomorte7421]

***I do not buy that "secular ideas" if it an idea can be secular or clergy, if is a good idea. The "traditional way" is not at all the right way, it is only traditional way that all Christian should be ashamed of it.***

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

@adelinomorte7421 "Secular" in this instance means the "values" of this world's master (satan): s€x-on-demand with anyone - with no consequences, impurity, @bOrt10n "rights", divorce-and-remarriage, living in sin with someone, birth "control", etc. God's Ways are not our ways, which is why we cannot ignore God's ways. HIS ways *are* Traditional, which is why we follow them: we love Him enough to desire eternal life with Him. We do not wish to imperil our Salvation by refusing to live in His Grace. Yes, Traditional is the ONLY way to go if you wish to have a chance to save your soul. It is not easy, even so. Jesus said, "The way is narrow, and FEW there are who find it." Those who cannot get to a TLM because of health or extreme distance (more than 2 hours), just need to cling to the Faith _as it has always been taught for over 2000 years_ and THAT is Tradition. Love God, dear Adelino, more than you love your own, worldly desires. 🙏🙏🙏

[@royd.4629]

I like your channel so much I resubscribed after KZbin unsubscribed me! 😂

[@Catholicity-uw2yb]

In 1903, Pope Pius X restated the Church’s ban on women participating in church choirs. In his “Instruction On Sacred Music,” he ruled that women were not to be allowed any liturgical function. However, Pope Pius XII, in his 1958 “Instruction on Sacred Music,” reversed this, but in actuality, he was only acknowledging the reality that women organists, soloists, choir members and choir directors were already common across Catholicism.

[@jms1595]

I agree 100%. Years ago I read an article by Mary Beth Bonacci, a Catholic speaker, who mentioned this problem as well as the problem of female lectors. She made a very accurate observation that as women move into roles traditionally held by men in the liturgy, there is a perceived "feminization" of the faith by men and boys, and so they step back from the roles due to perceiving them as being for women. I've seen this over and over again in parishes I've belonged to and visited -- a preponderance of altar girls over boys and women lectors over men. This can also be seen in the dying mainline Protestant denominations that have allowed female clergy for decades -- God created men to be the spiritual fathers and leaders of His people, not women.

[@miller4190]

Popes have been explicitly clear about this. They’ve all said no resoundingly!

[@johndrzymkowski8257]

Excellent commentary,very true we now have less boys in our parish serving as altar servers! Lets return to the original service as boys being altar servers leading to the priesthood for some !

[@chalkwizard1292]

First glory be to God

[@user-pg2wm9jd9p]

Can't imagine altar serving with a veil on.

[@orangemanbad]

Modernists don’t veil. And traditionalists don’t have girl altar boys.

[@m_d1905]

I was not required to veil as a female altar server. I was never scheduled because I was considered non corporate by the diocese. All because we got more financial aid that way at the Catholic school I went to. Mom could not afford the "suggested tithe".

[@orangemanbad]

@@m_d1905 that was the point he was trying to make… Catholicism calls for women to veil in church. And even the female altar boys today don’t wear one. His point is it’s fake catholicism.

[@m_d1905]

@@orangemanbad I've never veiled in church, ever. My mother never veiled in church and she was born in 1935. The only women I see veiled in church are the Mexican ladies and only a small handful. So obviously my mother's Catholic school nor mine provided proper catechesis. I'd wager a great many don't either.

[@user-pg2wm9jd9p]

@@m_d1905 altar boys

[@gerddonni2017]

Excellent show and arguments! Thank you, Brian.

[@christinereich6050]

Excellent explanation. The church isn't an institution!

[@zacharyhoughton3391]

I had no idea about female altar servers, and asked (curiously and without rancor) “is it normal to have those?” The response I received was not pleasant.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

Yep, always a hateful, rancorous answer. Tells you all you need to know: we're looking at rebellion and pride: satan's specialties.

[@saeuleundfundament]

Thank you! I'm a fresh convert. This helped me to better understand the current situation.

[@JulesAMI111]

Yes. Thank you for stating the obvious 🙏🏼

[@MrTzarBomb]

We don’t have a vocation crisis. The traditional seminaries are full, and the bishops are trying to prevent their ordinations. We have a Novus Ordo crisis.

[@nancyast5717]

You have to stop listening to lies and paranoia

[@MrTzarBomb]

@@nancyast5717 Which is the lie and paranoia? The seminaries are full and bishops stoping it are neither. Perhaps you need to actually know what’s happening in your Church.

[@nancyast5717]

@@MrTzarBomb I pray that you are released from sin . Your soul is in danger

[@laraluna9365]

@@nancyast5717stop gaslighting people. If you cared so much you could answer those simple questions. Where is the lie he told or the information that is incorrect?

[@nancyast5717]

@@laraluna9365 John 9 39 satan does not want you to see the truth of the Lord .

[@csongorarpad4670]

Well said, Brian! I am perplexed each time I heart anybody defend girls serving at the altar. There is no prudential reason they should be allowed to serve at the altar, considering the numerous negative consequences when they do. Girls have not been serving at the altar for more than a few decades and yet we've had countless of beautiful and holy women throughout the Church's 2000-year history

[@michaelbarsness8509]

I think it goes back to function over a symbol in our liturgies and the misunderstanding of what it means to actively participate. Vatican 2 wanted active participation but primarily interior participation. Activa vs. actuoso. So, we pushed for more singing, lecturing, and altar servers. From what I understand, the church allowed girls when there were no boys or men to serve. This opened the crack to it becoming a regular practice contrary to the initial intention.

[@Voltron5000]

Female altar servers are allowed as per canon law. Full stop.

[@Robert-ie8eb]

Yeah but internet Catholics are more wise than the Church (sarcasm)

[@fr.loomis997]

Which canon? Not challenging you but would like to educate myself.

[@Voltron5000]

@@fr.loomis997 230 §2 You could also Google it, there's plenty of resources online.

[@Robert-ie8eb]

@@fr.loomis997 Pope Francis issued a Motu Proprio titled SPIRITUS DOMINI in 2021 modifying canon 230 §1 of the code of canon law.. Canon 230 §1 now states: “Lay persons who possess the age and qualifications established by decree of the conference of bishops can be admitted on a stable basis through the prescribed liturgical rite to the ministries of lector and acolyte. Nevertheless, the conferral of these ministries does not grant them the right to obtain support or remuneration from the Church”. The Holy Father wrote in SPIRITUS DOMINI: "...that these lay ministries, since they are based on the Sacrament of Baptism, may be entrusted to all suitable faithful, whether male or female, in accordance with what is already implicitly provided for by Canon 230 § 2."

[@TheGringoSalado]

One of the hardest facts to accept is the NO communicates a different Theology. All of these issues stem from that undeniable fact.

[@Dumemes9]

Consider that fact denied. When the NO Mass is done correctly and as intended (preserving Latin, doing all the prayers, etc.), it is no worse than the TLM and is essentially the same especially in theology.

[@TheGringoSalado]

@@Dumemes9 don’t take it from me listen to Massimo Faggioli.

[@catholicguy1073]

I agree. It’s ridiculous to have girls as altar servers. And the Church puts the fathers of girls like me in the weird position of telling them no to becoming altar servers especially when they see girls as altar servers. It’s frustrating. Even in Guatemala where we are on extended vacation which is far more conservative in Catholicism than many places in the US guess what they have girl altar servers here as well 🤦

[@user-iz4xm1hh7n]

Altar girls are the biggest misstep of john Paul Ii's papacy.

[@bunnychibitty3756]

I and my sister have such a good relationship with the blessed sacrament BECAUSE we were able to participate in the mass in such a special way. My sister is the most reverent server on the altar every time she is up there. When I was serving, I seriously considered entering the religious life because I felt so close to God and the church's life. Girls can be religious too. It's important for both sexes to consider their vocations.

[@mommymaureen]

Fantastic comment! My daughter currently serves along with my son and this video and most of the comments here are very disparaging.

[@threeriversforge1997]

Notice how you made it all about you and what you felt or wanted? That's the issue. There are a hundred ways that women can serve in the church, and there are tons of women who are acknowledged saints. Suggesting that this is the one way that really got you "feeling" connected is more of a cover for justifying getting what you wanted. Think about it this way -- what other traditions and beliefs do you suggest the church is wrong about? If you can change this, and be righteous, what else do you know better about?

[@bunnychibitty3756]

@@threeriversforge1997 I bow to the church and the church allows women to stand on the alter so I do too.

[@mommymaureen]

@@threeriversforge1997 She is correct. There is nothing heretical about her and her sister serving because the church allows it. You're beef is with Saint John Paul II, not her.

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@mommymaureen By that logic, there's nothing wrong with homosexuality or abortion since the church now has openly gay preachers and gave nancy pelosi communion. How can anyone trust the church when the church has now admitted that they were wrong on some pretty weighty issues? What's next? Why bother taking anything in the gospel seriously since it can be changed with the times?

[@_Pia12]

This video needs to be shared far and wide. 🙏🏻

[@timothycardoso1364]

Pope St John Paul II made all these emphatic statements that because of the proximity to the altar servers must be male. Then after years of saying this, over night he said that females can serve at the altar.

[@canadianfarmgal]

Why are you assuming that having female alter servers would shut down males from serving on the alter? Is the church overrun by youth? Not from what I’m seeing except perhaps in my church where we have a very healthy interest from our youth to serve, both male and female. All our youth are encouraged to serve, be it on the alter or otherwise. When females and males alter serve together, they are living out a brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ. Not strange or dangerous as you are suggesting. You know what those female servers become? Mothers to potential priests should they be blessed with male children. Mothers that understand service.

[@michellemcdermott2026]

I am a mother of 6, 3 girls. No way are my girls altar serving. It's interfering with priestly vocations and it's just strange and awkward

[@canadianfarmgal]

@@michellemcdermott2026 our altar regularly has 4 female and 2 female altar servers. There’s more female youth in our church than male and as they age out and new ones age up, there’s room for all to serve should they want to properly train. It’s a gift that I, as a parishioner, receive with an open heart. Nothing awkward about it. Currently, one of our former male altar servers that started out serving alongside female altar servers is in seminary. Perhaps it didn’t hurt him?

[@StanleyPinchak]

​@@canadianfarmgalFemale deaconettes right around the corner for you. I hope you are happy when it comes at the price of the permanent diaconate.

[@michellemcdermott2026]

I am a 55 year old woman and altar girls make me so uncomfortable. I have to keep my eyes close when the altar girls serve,which is almost every day. I wish the girls would just stop

[@paisley293]

They will likely not stop, but will turn into deaconesses... why not just partake of the Traditional Latin Mass with its spot-on, reverent altar boys?...

[@michellemcdermott2026]

@@paisley293 We are going on Sunday

[@femaleKCRoyalsFan]

@@michellemcdermott2026 I think you will fall in love with the Latin mass. I did once I gave it a chance.

[@jennifer8535]

Respectfully tell your pastor, or pastoral council, how you feel. If enough people mention they are uncomfortable with it they will have to consider it at the least. But if no one ever says anything then they will assume the congregation approves.

[@Charlotte_Martel]

I absolutely feel the same way. It was very jarring the 1st time that I saw female altar boys in the 90s and have never gotten used to it.

[@ByzantiumArchon]

Ban alter girls. The Church needs to change more than just that, though, such as “extraordinary ministers”.

[@brettneville2351]

You missed an equally important vocation that comes from altar servers, marriage and fatherhood. Husbands and fathers are the priests of the family, the domestic Church. They are called to spiritual leadership of the family and self sacrifice for the family's good. This is implicit in the Church's teaching on the family. C.S. Lewis discusses a bit about this in his works. How many more men become husbands and fathers than priests? Many more, and all the more reason for those boys and young men to serve at mass!!

[@milo8425]

We need to simply appreciate the 2000 years of divine tradition and stop attempting to incorporate the philosophies of the entropic communists.

[@fairyspunfibers9098]

Amen!!!

[@jamesv2471]

Amen my brother! Unfortunately, one of the pastors we had at our parish said that he would not allow any new girls to be altar servers, and many parishioners were angered by that change... some even started going to a different parish.

[@michellemcdermott2026]

Bye!

[@alhilford2345]

Let them go !

[@BrianPasemco]

I have been privileged to train Altar servers for the past 7 years. When I began training, we had boys and girls 60/40 split. The dynamics of boys and girls, especially as they hit puberty is very interesting. I have witnessed boys simply defer to the girls as leaders or being shy will avoid even eye contact with girls. When boys are with boys only, the dynamics change. The leaders rise and the others will participate enthusiastically in the hierarchy. The natural "pecking" order will develop. The boys, then find their relationship to the priest and deacon. The Church has always stated that Altar serving is a privilege (not a right) granted to boys... see GIRM and other documents. After 7 years of training we have about 90% boys. I seek out and recruit boys. I allow girls but do not actively recruit them. Thank you for the great content, Brian.

[@belyy_rusky]

Your content is so good man.

[@PRAEDICATORVERITATIS]

SPOT ON!!!

[@mommymaureen]

My daughter is currently an alter server along with my son and I can't tell you how disparaging this video and most of the comments are. She's not trying to undo the patriarchy of the church by serving. She would never think she should become a priest. She wants to help the priests bring the mass to the people and increase her devotion. How is this bad? I think many here are reading into this way too much.

[@threeriversforge1997]

What other traditions do you think should be done away with? How else is the church wrong? Yes, while your daughter would never think about becoming a priest, you've helped to open the door to that idea by showing that the "patriarchy" was wrong about the altar boys.... so why can't they also be wrong about the priests? Truly is the road to hell paved with good intentions. Folks don't think about the 2nd Order Effects of things they support.

[@mommymaureen]

@@threeriversforge1997 The tradition was done away with by Saint John Paul II. You need to take this up with the authorities of the church who have allowed for girls/women to serve at the altar. If or when that happens, there is nothing heretical about this because then you are saying the church is heretical as well.

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@mommymaureen That doesn't mean he was right to do it. After all, we are all flawed and the devil works in many ways. Again, my question stands -- what other centuries-old traditions are wrong? Where else has the church failed? How can you trust a church or doctrine that's been wrong so many times, hence all the changes made in recent years? See the problem? As an outsider, I can look at the church and just wonder. Why would I want to join that team when they're always changing the rules? What's the next change going to mean?

[@mommymaureen]

@@threeriversforge1997 So let me see if I have this right, you're not Catholic?

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@mommymaureen Nope. Thought about it. I grew up wanting a church that had tradition and some sense of solidity and reliability to it. I wanted to know that I had a home. Then I saw how the nuns fought alongside the feminists outside the church to get out of wearing their habits all the time. At that time, I was way to young to really understand things on a deeper level, but something about that fight really struck a chord with me. It was deeply unsettling and something I remember to this day. Used to be that you could tell a nun from a mile away, and you respected them for their dedication. Nobody messed with the nuns, and even guys outside the church looked out for them. To see them betray their own, siding with outsiders, to break a tradition that'd been around longer than I had..... well, that really drove me away from the catholic church as a kid. That was an instinctual response. And since then, I've seen the catholics betray each other and the doctrine in a hundred different ways. Always an argument that seems logical or rational, but always also diminishing what it means to be christian. After all, how could anyone trust a group who has admitted that they are wrong so often? Who would want to join a team that bends the knee so regularly? Maybe you dismiss my points because I'm not a catholic. But ask yourself how many people like me are out there. How many people have either walked away from the church, or never bothered to enter in the first place? You can dismiss my points all you like, but it's important to realize that you haven't actually disproven the points, just dismissed them because you don't like them. The single greatest complaint I hear outside the church is the "hypocrisy of christians". There's nothing that earns the ire of outsiders more than seeing people in church on sunday after you spent all saturday night at the bar with them, getting hammered and raising a ruckus. That hypocrisy is off-putting. So, yeah, take it for what it's worth. You got what you wanted. You feel good about yourself. And it's all good because a fallible man in charge told you it was good. That it's against biblical teachings or scraps a tradition that'd been going on for centuries... well, that's irrelevant because you got what you wanted and that's what really matters.

[@rjc199]

Lay boy altar servers are mostly a modern thing (maybe since the reformation period or newer). They are substitutes for clerics (men of various ages) of the minor orders, i.e. lectors and acolytes. It was a mistake to turn altar service into a kiddy job. It's a clerics job.

[@NachoMamaNow]

I attended Mass out of town last Sunday. The little country church had a girl serving alongside a boy. Unfortunately the girl appeared overly concerned about her hair than the sacred task at hand.

[@tylerblock3377]

20 years after female altar servers were introduced we've been bombarded with propositions for female priests. Not a coincidence that the point of altar servers was to introduce them to the idea of priesthood and assist in early vocational formation.

[@nellyblancaflor5559]

There is nothing in Catholic Church teachings and traditions that prevents young girls from becoming altar servers. Why are you even debating this? Im against women priests or deacons. But altar servers, why not young girls too?

[@nathantang9964]

Where do you get these pop art depictions of Catholicism?

[@bdnl6268]

You put it so well Brian. You are right.

[@AMKB01]

I'm honestly perplexed by this. I grew up in the Catholic church. My parents were old school, pre-WWII traditional Polish Catholics, as was our priest. Two of my older brothers were alter servers, and I eventually was an alter server as well. We had both male and female servers for as long as I can remember. I served at the funeral of my cousin's infant daughter. I served at the baptism of my friend from school. As I grew older and no longer an altar server, I was occasionally the reader. I sang in the choir with my mother, and even got shanghaied into playing the organ (I was not very good!). I even considered becoming a nun for a time. It wasn't until just a few years ago - and I'm 56 this year - that I first heard that girls were not supposed to be altar servers. To be frank, I got the impression it was more of a city thing and, to be honest, urban snobbishness. Not once did I or anyone I know, including the nun who taught us Sunday school and confirmation classes, think this would have any affect on who could be a priest. Priests were male. Deacons were male. Nuns were female. Altar servers could be both. I was honestly shocked the first time I heard otherwise re: altar servers.

[@femaleKCRoyalsFan]

altar girls were created after Vatican 2. They never existed before that.

[@bruno-bnvm]

That you never learned about our traditions. Just go to show you the damage that was made to the church and the little interest most people like you pay to tradition.

[@RosiG73]

And I’m shocked you didn’t know females weren’t altar boys until Vatican II came along.

[@barrontrump3943]

you are why we are in such a rut right now as a church

[@Mrs_Homemaker]

They weren't very traditional if they had their daughter be a server. This wasn't a thing until the 1970s and it is not in any way traditional.

[@yvobalcer]

If you want a smaller church continue using girl altar servers. There is nothing for a boy to look forward considering it might lead to his vocation to the priesthood.

[@SimplyCJ1230]

Very well said. I will be happy to see the return of all male altar servers.

[@BensWorkshop]

Very interesting line of argument I had not considered.

[@leekshikapinnamneni4835]

This is so interesting and true, Brian. I am a non-Catholic or in fact, a non-Christian, but I’ve been going to mass for at least a decade. I know that you’ve compared what happened with vocations with what happened with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts but I wanted to put in another example. In the United States, I only found two universities or colleges that were for men only. There are way more universities and colleges for women. It’s terrible what is happening to men and boys around the world, but especially in Western countries. Thanks for this video!

[@christinereich6050]

I am curious. Why do you go to Mass?

[@leekshikapinnamneni4835]

I go to Mass because I can connect with God.

[@christinereich6050]

@@leekshikapinnamneni4835 Do you go to other religious services as well?

[@Carol-wq9fr]

I invite you to become a Catholic so you can fully enjoy the blessings of the sacraments. 🙏❤️