Question:
Dear Brother,
Recently, in the churches in our diocese, I have noticed that there are increasing numbers of female Eucharistic Ministers. There are many troubling aspects about that for me. One thing is that sometimes more women than necessary go up to the altar and the priest ends up giving his spot giving Communion to one of them.
Also, they do really strange, distracting things on the altar. For example, when they are offered the Blood of Christ, the lift it up in the air and then give it back to the priest w/o drinking from the chalice.
Finally, back to the title of my question. About 98% of the women who come to serve there dress so immodestly that it is sickening. They wear really tight skirts, jeans, low rise pants, low cut shirts, overly bright and shiny clothes and worst of all most of them 'forget' to wear an undergarment under their tops/blouses which is very revealing and would obviously distract a male parishioner from the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It really bothers me and I have two questions as a result. One, are women even allowed to serve as Eucharistic ministers and two, do I have grounds for a complaint to the Bishop?
Thanks,
Jacinta
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Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+
Dear Jacinata:
The things you are describing are blatant abuses of the liturgy. The altar server is NOT to hold up the chalice like that, they are NOT priests for example.
By the way, there is no such thing as a female Eucharistic Minister. A Eucharistic Minister is a priest or deacon and no one else.
Laity who are serving at the altar, distributing the Eucharist and the like are EXTRAordinary Ministers. Don't forget the "EXTRAordinary."
When the extraordinary ministers, male or female, become the "ordinary" thing at Mass, something is wrong. Laity serving at Mass is only suppose to be done in TEMPORARY and extraordinary situations.
As for the dress, this is a major scandal and these women will be held accountable for their immodesty that causes others to sin. st. John Chrysostom calls women (or men) who do this criminals and murderers of souls.
With the Legion of St. Michael, at our liturgies (Mass or Divine Office) this immodesty is not allowed. We have a dress code that is enforced for both women and men. We do not tolerate this abomination of immodesty disgustingly and shamelessly flaunted before our Lord when anyone is at our liturgies.
We need to remember the teaching of St. John Chrysostom on modesty. Remember as you read this that the teaching the Saint is giving was 1603 years ago (the 5th century). Nevertheless notice just how applicable it is today in the 21st Century.
- You carry your snare everywhere and spread your nets in all places. You allege that you never invited others to sin. You did not, indeed, by your words, but you have done so by your dress and your deportment and much more effectively than you could by your voice.
- When you have made another sin in his heart, how can you be innocent?
- Tell me, whom does this world condemn? Whom do judges in court punish? Those who drink poison or those who prepare it and administer the fatal potion? You have prepared the abominable cup, you have given the death-dealing drink, and you are more criminal than are those who poison the body; you murder not the body but the soul. And it is not to enemies you do this, nor are you urged on by any imaginary necessity, nor provoked by injury, but out of foolish vanity and pride.
God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary
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