An interesting little article on Zenit today about whether or not deacons (in a seminary setting) should serve in other liturgical roles at mass. This is intersting to me as a deacon at a small parish, where I sometimes have to act as a server at the late mass. The professor who addressed the issue says that deacons should not serve in any other capacity, but that other seminarians should be used as lectors since they have already been instituted in those offices.
All of this got me thinking about the idea of "minor orders" in Anglicanism. The 'minor' orders were: porter, exorcist, acolyte, and sub-deacon; the 'major' orders are deacon, priest, and bishop. The Roman Church has retained something of this, as they have specific rites that institute people as lectors, and acolytes, but I think that is all they have. We Anglicans seem to have maintained the tradition of sub-deacons, but it seems to be seen as a purely liturgical role. I wonder if there was ever a movement in the anglo-catholic tradition to bring back the each of the seven offices, or if we would have something to gain by doing so? Many times it is the same men who serve in the various roles at mass - right down to collecting the offering plates. So why not have a rite where they are "set apart" for their role, and where we pray for God's to give them grace for their work and ministry?
