Word of the Day: Minor Orders

MINOR ORDERS. The present ministries of acolyte, and reader or lector which for centuries had been called minor orders. They were never considered part of the sacrament of orders and in 1973 were all reduced to Church ministries to which men can be appointed in a special liturgical ceremony presided over by a bishop or, for religious, a major superior.

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Before Paul VI destroyed the Liturgy, the Minor Orders were Porter (Doorkeeper), Lector, Exorcist, and Acolyte. 

The Porter was a survival from the Roman persecutions when guarding the doors of the place where Holy Mass was being celebrated was vital.

The Lector, of course, read the Lessons other than the Gospel, which was reserved, then as now, to a Deacon or a Priest.

The Exorcist was not the sort of exorcist we think of today, portrayed in sensational novels and movies. Those do exist, but under rigid rules and careful supervision of the Bishops. No, the minor order of Exorcist performed the 'minor exorcisms' in the unreformed Rite of Baptism.

The Acolyte assisted at the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice, much as altar boys do today. Hence, in 'liturgical' protestant churches, altar servers are often called acolytes.