Acolyte
An acolyte (aka Akoluth from Greek ακόλουθος akólouthos "companion", "follower") is a male layman who is appointed by the Church to exercise a liturgical service in the liturgy of the Catholic Church . In addition, the service is considered the highest of the lesser ordinations .
In the 3rd century the office was first attested in the Latin church, in the Roman rite the acolyte helped with the preparation of the altar and with the giving of communion .
An acolyte is today according to Can. 230 § 1 CIC commissioned in liturgical form. The ability to exercise this ministry is based solely on baptismal grace . As an assistant to the deacon and the priest, the acolyte fulfills various tasks in worship . If necessary, he helps with the dispensing of communion (Can. 910 § 2 CIC), performs the altar service or exposes the Holy of Holies for worship by the faithful (Can. 943 CIC). In the absence of an instituted acolyte his duties allowed by other appropriate persons Catholic faith perceived (AEM 2002 No. 100;. See : extraordinary minister of holy communion , altar ).
Deacon and priestly candidates must have served a reasonable amount of designated acolyte prior to ordination . The canonical provision in Ministeria quaedam that permanent commissioning to serve the acolyte may only be given to men is not infrequently perceived as problematic . In the German-speaking areas, assignments for editing and acolytes are usually only carried out in preparation for deacon and priestly ordination. The absence of a commissioned acolyte in the church service is therefore the rule. The assignment to perform the tasks of an acolyte or a lecturer is thus carried out in the manner provided for in Ministeria quaedam and the general introduction to the missal to other suitable persons.
At times, the altar boys who do the service of the altar, inaccurate called acolytes. The difference, however, is only of liturgical law nature.
