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Question
Father, what is the origin of alter boys?
As the Church expanded beyond the cathedrals and monasteries into a parish system, the clerics in Minor Orders were not as available to perform the functions of assisting the priest at Holy Mass. Therefore, it was permitted for laymen to serve "more clericorum" to fill the need. That is why laymen serving as acolytes (one of the Minor Orders) wear cassock and surplice, the garb of the clergy.
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Answers by Expert:
Fr. Michael
Expertise
A traditional Catholic priest, who provides forthright answers to questions FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF TRADITIONAL CATHOLICISM (not the New Order) on topics pertaining to TRADITIONAL Roman Catholicism, including theology, the Bible, Church history, the Latin language, liturgy (especially the Traditional Latin Mass), and music (especially Gregorian chant), and current events in the Catholic Church.
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