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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 in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though extraordinary form of the Roman Rite communities continue to retain all four minor orders. In the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, the minor orders are reader (lector), chanter (cantor), taper-bearer (acolyte) and subdeacon.
minor orders were until 1972 a part of the clergy of the Latin rite Catholic Church.
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Encyclopedia
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 in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though extraordinary form of the Roman Rite communities continue to retain all four minor orders. In the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, the minor orders are reader (lector), chanter (cantor), taper-bearer (acolyte) and subdeacon.
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:
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 (in the Latin Church: subdeacon, deacon and priest or bishop).
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 neither minor orders nor the subdiaconate are of direct Divine institution. 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.
Present situation
The minor orders as stages before holy orders were suppressed following the Second Vatican Council by Paul VI, though candidates for the priesthood and diaconate must still be instituted into 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).
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 common minor order is lector (reader). 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 as contained in the subdiaconate.
Each of the 22 Eastern Churches Sui Iuris that are in union with Rome are permitted their traditional minor orders, governed by their own particular law. In all Eastern Catholic Churches, subdeacons are minor clerics, since admission to major orders is by ordination as deacon. The Byzantine tradition allows for several orders of minor clerics. The Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, Sui Iuris, also called the Byzantine-Ruthenian Church, permits the minor orders of candle bearer, cantor, lector and subdeacon, and still uses the term ordination for their cheirothesis. The minor orders of candle bearer and cantor are given before tonsure during the ordination to the lectorate.
Eastern Orthodox Churches rountinely confer the minor orders of lector and subdeacon, and some jurisdictions also ordain cantors. Ordination to minor orders is done by a bishop at any public worship service, but always outside the context of the Divine Liturgy. The order of taper-bearer is now used as part of ordination as a lector. The orders of doorkeepers, exorcists, and acolytes are no longer in common use.
See also
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