Minor orders

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The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist, cantor and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were replaced by ministries of lector and acolyte. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, the minor orders are reader (lector), chanter (cantor), taper-bearer (acolyte) and subdeacon.

1 History
2 Present situation
3 Eastern Christianity
4 See also
5 References

[edit] 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:

porter (or doorkeeper),
lector,
exorcist, and
acolyte.

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. The usual minister of minor orders was a bishop; but some abbots could give the tonsure and minor orders to their subjects.^[1]

[edit] 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 had acted in liturgy as acolytes for 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).

[edit] 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 orders are reader (lector) and chanter (cantor), taper-bearer (acolyte). The minor order of porter is mentioned historically in some service-books, but no longer is given. All of the rights and responsibilities of each minor order are viewed by some authorities as contained in the subdiaconate, and so there is no obligation, according to these authorities, to receive every historical minor order before becoming a subdeacon.^[1]