Minor orders

In the Catholic Church the priesthood to the sacraments counts. As a precursor to this offering, there was up to the reorganization by Pope Paul VI. in 1972 the so-called minor orders. This, without sacramental character, date from a time when the church for each liturgical function named its own commission ( " Consecration ").

Originally, these ordinations independent nature and were donated to persons other than the higher orders. Later, the ordinations in the Catholic area, however, were practically the only candidates for the priesthood at the seminary donated some time before his ordination, their practical significance disappeared. Even so they were by Pope Paul VI. with the Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio ministerial quaedam 1973 abolished.

Editing and Akolytat were with the reorganization by ministerial quaedam in a commission to these offices continued for candidates of the priestly ministry and other lay people, the acolyte also assumes the functions of the former subdeacon. In Germany lectors and acolytes are in the canonical sense rather rare, their tasks are often taken over by acolytes. The Exorcist is now a priest who is asked by his bishop to pray an exorcism.

In the Orthodox Churches, especially the Byzantine rite the relevant offices of the minor orders to exist today. The subdeacon who is one of the minor orders and is not connected with the celibacy is known there as sub-deacon.

Specifically, these are:

• Ostiarier ( Lowest consecration degree, since the 3rd century )

• Guarding the church doors ( during the actual measurement victim were allowed to enter in the old church no unbaptized, this came the warning during the Roman persecution of Christians in front of the approaching soldiers squads )
• Ringing of the bells

• Lecturer ( since the 4th century )

• Exorcist ( since the 3rd century )

• Acolyte (since the 3rd century )

• Concern for the light and the wine
• Helper of the subdeacon and deacon

• Subdeacon (since the 3rd century )

• Helper of the deacon
• Verleser the Epistle ( reading from the Epistles ).

Today the minor orders in the Catholic Church be donated by the communities that maintain the Usus antiquior. Also, in some brotherhoods of the German High Church movement, this consecration be donated.

Swell

• Adam Markus Nickel: The Roman Pontifical - From the Latin with archaeological discharges and liturgical remarks. Kirchheim, Schott and Thielmann, Mainz, 1836.
• Raphael Molitor: From Sacrament of Holy Orders. Considerations according to the Roman Pontifical. 2 vols. Pustet, Regensburg 1938.
• Pope Paul VI. , Motu proprio ministerial quaedam from 15 August 1972.

• Roman rite