www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology The Greek Deacon of the Papal Mass

Latin sub-deacon? Thought that was supressed.

Well, during the revised post-concilliar Liturgy (Novus Ordo Missae) there are no Latin subdeacons, and the Epistle (or reading from the Old Testament) is performed by a lector. Nevertheless, the Greek Subdeacon sometimes reads the Epistle (the 2nd reading) as well.

But if the Pope wants to celebrate according pre-conciliar rules (it is still possible), there would be Greek and Latin deacons and subdeacons.

Latin subdeacons are still being ordained in some Roman Catholic communities that celebrate the Liturgy according to pre-concilliar forms - Missale Romanum 1962 (in most cases) or Missale Romanum 1955.

Photos [fssp.org] of Subdeaconate Ordinations in FSSP (PRIESTLY FRATERNITY OF SAINT PETER) - Liturgy according to MR1962 rules.

Here [institute-christ-king.org] are many photos of the Liturgy celebrated by priests of ICRSS (Institutum Christi Regis Summi Sacerdotis - Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest).

In fact, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish deacons and subdeacons in the Latin liturgy by vestments, because their (dalmatic and tunicella) differ mainly by count of ornaments. The difference between deacon and subdeacon is the lack of deacon's stole (similar to Byzantine orarion)under the subdeacon's tunicella - but it is often invisible or hard to notice. Both use a maniple (similar to Byzantine cuffs)on the left hand.

One should also notice that the function of a subdeacon in the traditional Latin liturgy can be fuilfilled by a deacon or priest, or even by a tonsured seminarist - but then he doesn't perform all subdeacon functions.

It is a common practice when celebrating the Tridentine Mass for ordained priests or deacons to serve as deacons/subdeacons.

The article was cited on the website "New Liturgical Movement":
http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2008/09/annales-ecclesiae-ucrainae-greek-deacon.html

There are *very* interesting comments below the article, including responses of the author and of a Greek Catholic deacon.

Also, an interesting description of the pre-concilliar Sollemn Papal Mass is available here:
http://www.sanctamissa.org/en/resources/articles/papal-mass.html

I believe I read this, but my memory is not what it use to be, here is a link to the Basilian Monastery at Grottaferrata, I found it interesting and like the chant...

http://www.abbaziagreca.it/en/index.asp

The responding deacon is Protodeacon David Kennedy of St Elias UGCC in Brampton, Ontario, and a member of this forum.

Many years,

Neil

I think we are coming back onto some old stuff covered on previous posts regarding Latin Subdeacons, who are now referred to as Acolytes, except in those countries where the Episcopal Conference dedided to keep the old term of Subdeacon. The world is now awash with Acolytes. A whole lot of them are currently doing a course in my part of the world. It is very close to impossible to find a Latin parish that does not have them these days here.

The interesting thing for me in regards to the latest Papal mass in St Peter's Square was the use of a Latin Deacon and a Greek Archimandrite together.

As I'm sure we've discussed before, the installation in the subdeaconate was (leaving aside the unusual situations of the SSPX, FSSP, ICKSP, etc.) abolished in the Latin Rite. See Ministeria Quadem [ewtn.com]. Subdeacons are not now called "Acolytes", if anything, it's the other way round. The subdeaconate was abolished and the duties were devolved partly on acolytes and partly on lectors. Permission was given for episcopal conferences to call acolytes subdeacons. As far as I know, this was done for and in Greece, but not anywhere else?

If Australia is awash in Acolytes that's quite excellent. I've never met one here in the northeastern U.S. who was not also a seminarian or candidate for the permanent deaconate (though I have met a subdeacon who had been ordained in an eastern jurisdiction before he "poped"), though I've seen that some Southern diocese have set up programs for men to apply to be installed as acolytes.

Which subdeacon bits doesn't a seminarian do?