tradition versus modernisation
Oh wow. A controversial topic that would present many different views and arguments. Wise choice guys =))
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When I was 16, my entire family went to the States for a month long holiday, and I managed to experience mass in a church outside Singapore for the very first time. The major differences between the church I went to and churches in Singapore is that for one, females are allowed to become altar servers (from lighting candles to holding the bible, and even to swaying the incense holder) and that they didn't sing much during the mass. I was intrigued, as I had never seen female altar servers in my life as there are NO churches in Singapore which allow it. The sight of a girl helping the priest seemed soo foreign, it seemed as if I had stepped into another dimension.
Will we ever get to see a sight like this? Or will it still be the traditional "boys only" mentality that we have been brought up with?
To me, upholding the tradition of only allowing boys to be altar servers is important, because I believe that the altar servers represent the apostles, who stood by Christ until his death and even after his resurrection. As all the apostles were male, it is essential that we follow it through. Even though we see the rise of female altar servers in countries such as Australia and America, I feel that we should uphold the Church's tradition of altar boys.
"The directive covering the liturgical ministry of women is given in the official liturgical instruction Inaestimabile Donum (no. 18), which says, "There are various roles that women can perform in the liturgical assembly: These include reading the word of God and proclaiming the intentions of the prayer of the faithful. Women are not, however, permitted to act as altar servers."
- Catholic Answers
This statement is, shall, and forever will be "binding, and in full force." I agree with the law, as I feel that the church wants to preserve this tradition because they want to somewhat re-enact what happened thousands of years ago, where Christ was surrounded and aided by His twelve apostles (apostles, NOT disciples).
Although this debate may come across somewhat as discriminating against women, we cannot argue that as in the past, women were treated like slaves and were considered unimportant. They had to be submissive and the care giver of the family. Care giver, not bread winner, or equal. Women were considered lower than men and had to learn where they stood in society. This, dear readers, was the culture in the past, and thus, Jesus had males as His apostles, and NOT females.
I think this issue has been debated upon many times, and plenty of views have been casted, but we should all realise that we can never modernise anything that has to do with religion, UNLESS an absolute need for change is inevitable - if there are NO more boys that want to participate in this particular ministry, there is a shortage of boys, or the females who want to be altar servers start rioting and revolutionising. Now that would be interesting.
*image is taken from google images =))*
When I was 16, my entire family went to the States for a month long holiday, and I managed to experience mass in a church outside Singapore for the very first time. The major differences between the church I went to and churches in Singapore is that for one, females are allowed to become altar servers (from lighting candles to holding the bible, and even to swaying the incense holder) and that they didn't sing much during the mass. I was intrigued, as I had never seen female altar servers in my life as there are NO churches in Singapore which allow it. The sight of a girl helping the priest seemed soo foreign, it seemed as if I had stepped into another dimension.
Will we ever get to see a sight like this? Or will it still be the traditional "boys only" mentality that we have been brought up with?
To me, upholding the tradition of only allowing boys to be altar servers is important, because I believe that the altar servers represent the apostles, who stood by Christ until his death and even after his resurrection. As all the apostles were male, it is essential that we follow it through. Even though we see the rise of female altar servers in countries such as Australia and America, I feel that we should uphold the Church's tradition of altar boys.
"The directive covering the liturgical ministry of women is given in the official liturgical instruction Inaestimabile Donum (no. 18), which says, "There are various roles that women can perform in the liturgical assembly: These include reading the word of God and proclaiming the intentions of the prayer of the faithful. Women are not, however, permitted to act as altar servers."
- Catholic Answers
This statement is, shall, and forever will be "binding, and in full force." I agree with the law, as I feel that the church wants to preserve this tradition because they want to somewhat re-enact what happened thousands of years ago, where Christ was surrounded and aided by His twelve apostles (apostles, NOT disciples).
Although this debate may come across somewhat as discriminating against women, we cannot argue that as in the past, women were treated like slaves and were considered unimportant. They had to be submissive and the care giver of the family. Care giver, not bread winner, or equal. Women were considered lower than men and had to learn where they stood in society. This, dear readers, was the culture in the past, and thus, Jesus had males as His apostles, and NOT females.
I think this issue has been debated upon many times, and plenty of views have been casted, but we should all realise that we can never modernise anything that has to do with religion, UNLESS an absolute need for change is inevitable - if there are NO more boys that want to participate in this particular ministry, there is a shortage of boys, or the females who want to be altar servers start rioting and revolutionising. Now that would be interesting.
*image is taken from google images =))*
posted by Danseur | 8:47 PM
1 Comments:
Hi Cassandra, I always enjoy your standard of writing and great thoughts n opinions. If you dont mind and you're open to my views, i'd just like to offer some insight into your entries on week/topic 3:
Gender inequality wasn't such a big issue in Jewish culture. In certain aspects, they appeared quite a matriarchal society. e.g. You are not considered Jewish unless your mother is Jewish (not your father). Women were definitely not regarded the way slaves were.
Similarly, the role of caregiver is not less than breadwinner. It is a vital role.
We must be careful not to say it was because of culture or status quo that Christ acted in a certain way. His entire life and ministry on earth is a testament that he came to break social norms and conceptions. E.g. He wept, he ate with sinners n outcasts, he healed on the Sabbath, he elevated the roles of certain women, etc etc
Lastly, it is incorrect to say "we can never modernise anything to do with religion" or that we cannot change tradition just because it is part of our religion. This is in fact the same way how certain groups of people become religious extremists.
The Catholic Church has seen that modernising religion to address the needs of the modern world is crucial, and has been the forerunner and agenda setter by far in revolutionising Faith for modern society, compared to other faiths. One major example is Vatican II.
If we blindly followed tradition, our entire mass in Singapore wld still be in Latin n the priest's back would still be facing us throughout the duration. There are many other more impt changes made to our Faith n practice of it, including addressing issues such as rising pre-marital sex and related problems.
I believe our Faith is the most clear on any amount of current social issues, than any other faith.
I believe the article supplied by Mustard Seed in the link actually explains well the reasons for this - why no female altar servers.
Main highlights include tt the ministry arose as a form of preparation for those entering priesthood, and as our late Holy Father JPII put it, the altar servers ministry is "a garden of vocation" and thus should be cultivated as so (no matter how unseemingly so some might be). In incidences where there is a shortage of male servers, it is allowed to have female servers.
Oops, realised I've rattled on quite a bit. Hope you don't take offence ;) Sorry for being so verbose.
God bless.
Love,
Judge Les
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