Commentary #3 of 2021: Modernist Revolution marches on: Bergoglio "changes" Canon Law to permit women to officially be instituted as Lectors and Acolytes, Ministries once restricted to men only

Another move in the Ecclesial Revolution of Vatican II that has recently come about happened on Sunday last, 10th January 2021, which in the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo) was the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and in the Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin Mass) was the Feast of the Holy Family. During the course of this day, Bergoglio issued a Motu Proprio in which he amended Canon 230 to allow women to be instituted by their bishops into the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte. 

These ministries were once part of the Four Minor Orders (Porter, Lector, Exorcist, Acolyte), which were the cursus honorum for entering the Priesthood. Naturally, they were restricted to men. During the "reforms" following Vatican II, it was decided to abolish the Orders of Porter and Exorcist in the Novus Ordo, but retain the Orders of Lector and Acolyte as Ministries. The Ministry of Acolyte was merged with the Major Order of Subdeacon, which also was abolished in the Novus Ordo. 

Even after the "reform", Paul VI still restricted these Ministries to men only. They can be conferred upon any layman who is found worthy of holding such ministries by his bishop, and an official rite of imposition of these ministries exists, though nowadays the only men likely to receive them are seminarians studying for the Priesthood. I myself have been to several of these ceremonies. They're very simple, and there's not really much to them. They are stepping stones to the Priesthood.

However, as of Sunday of the Baptism/Holy Family, Canon Law has been amended to permit women to be granted these Ministries. The Ministry of Lector permits the recipient to formally read the First, Second and Psalm Readings at Mass in the Novus Ordo, and the Ministry of Acolyte permits its recipients to serve at the altar and, when needed in extraordinary circumstances, to distribute Holy Communion. 

Now, you may be thinking: But, I have women reading, serving and distributing Holy Communion at my parish every Sunday. Yes, and there's a reason. The Modernists at Vatican II were hoping that the Diaconate and Presbyterate would be open to women, but that didn't happen. So, when Paul VI came and "reformed" the Minor Orders, they hoped the Holy Father would permit them to women.......he didn't. So, in order to get around the restrictions and allow women to get up into the Sanctuary and at the Altar, the Modernists decided not to formally use the ceremony of installing Lectors and Acolytes (all of whom would be men), but instead restrict the ceremony to seminarians (who are all men anyway) and leave a void open in the parishes for women to......"volunteer"......their services in lieu of men officiating in these Ministries.  

In other words, the Modernists restricted the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte to cause an artificial void in the parishes so as to allow women to fulfil these roles without formally breaking Canon Law. It's called using a loophole. Hence why Novus Ordo parishes already have women reading, serving and acting as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (wrongly called Eucharistic Ministers). 

This move by Bergoglio just canonically solidifies the Modernist Revolution even further. Now, whether this will have a knock-on effect later remains to be seen. As I said above, these Ministries are stepping stones to the Priesthood. If this is a Modernist tip-toe to opening Holy Orders up to women, I wouldn't be surprised. 

On the bright side, remember that this move by Bergoglio only concerns the Antichurch, of which he is head. It doesn't - nay, CANNOT - affect the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Also remember that the Antichurch eclipses the True Church of Christ, and uses all Her organs to operate, like when Satan possess a person. The Antichurch is currently "possessing" the True Church, and making it seem as if She is doing all this. She isn't.

Don't be deceived.

For your convivence and reading, I have copied the entire text of the Motu Proprio below. 

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APOSTOLIC LETTER
ISSUED "MOTU PROPRIO"

SPIRITUS DOMINI

BY THE SUPREME PONTIFF
FRANCIS

MODIFYING CANON 230 §1 OF THE CODE OF CANON LAW
REGARDING ACCESS OF WOMEN TO THE MINISTRIES OF LECTOR AND ACOLYTE

The Spirit of the Lord Jesus, the perennial source of the Church's life and mission, distributes to the members of the People of God the gifts that enable each one, in a different way, to contribute to the building up of the Church and to the proclamation of the Gospel. These charisms, called ministries because they are publicly recognised and instituted by the Church, are made available to the community and its mission in a stable form.

In some cases this ministerial contribution has its origin in a specific sacrament, Holy Orders. Other tasks, throughout history, have been instituted in the Church and entrusted through a non-sacramental liturgical rite to individual members of the faithful, by virtue of a particular form of exercise of the baptismal priesthood, and in aid of the specific ministry of bishops, priests and deacons.

Following a venerable tradition, the reception of “lay ministries”, which Saint Paul VI regulated in the Motu Proprio Ministeria quaedam (17 August 1972), preceded in a preparatory manner the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, although such ministries were conferred on other suitable male faithful.

A number of Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops have highlighted the need to deepen the subject doctrinally, so that it may respond to the nature of the aforementioned charisms and the needs of the times, offering appropriate support to the role of evangelisation that is incumbent upon the ecclesial community.

Accepting these recommendations, a doctrinal development has taken place in recent years which has highlighted how certain ministries instituted by the Church are based on the common condition of being baptised and the regal priesthood received in the Sacrament of Baptism; they are essentially distinct from the ordained ministry received in the Sacrament of Orders. A consolidated practice in the Latin Church has also confirmed, in fact, that these lay ministries, since they are based on the Sacrament of Baptism, may be entrusted to all suitable faithful, whether male or female, in accordance with what is already implicitly provided for by Canon 230 § 2.

Consequently, after having heard the opinion of the competent Dicasteries, I have decided to modify canon 230 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law. I therefore decree that canon 230 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law shall in future have the following wording:

“Lay persons of suitable age and with the gifts determined by decree of the Episcopal Conference may be permanently assigned, by means of the established liturgical rite, to the ministries of lectors and acolytes; however, the conferment of such a role does not entitle them to support or remuneration from the Church”.

I also order the amendment of the other provisions having the force of law which refer to this canon.

I order that the provisions of this Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio have firm and stable effect, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, even if worthy of special mention, and to be promulgated by publication in L'Osservatore Romano, coming into force on the same day, and then published in the official commentary of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.

Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on the tenth day of January in the year 2021, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the ninth of my Pontificate.
 
Francis