Sacrament of Holy Orders
Tonsure
Minor Orders
Porter
Reader
Exorcist
Acolyte
Major Orders
Litany of the Saints
The Order of Porter
The Ostiariate -- the 1st of the Minor Orders| according to the Traditional Catholic Rite of Holy Orders |  |
by A. Biskupek, S.V.D
The office was of special importance during the times of persecution. Reliable men were needed to inform the faithful of the time and place of the divine services, to open and lock the doors, to keep out undesirables. In later times the ringing of bells sufficed for the purpose of informing the faithful of the time of the divine services, since there was no further need of informing them of the place.
Opening of the book for the preacher, mentioned as one of the duties of the porter, must also be understood in the light of earlier times. Those ancient rolls were not as handy as a modern book, but often heavy and of considerable size, and the place for reading could not be found as readily. The porter, therefore, would carry the book to the ambo and open it for the preacher. In the course of time the care of the sacred vessels was also entrusted to porters, which gave the order added importance.
It seems probable that up to the fourth century porters were not ordained, but simply appointed. In our days the duties of porters are usually performed by sacristans, ushers, and janitors.
If the ostiariate is conferred during Mass, this is done:
Saturday before Passion Sunday: after the Kyrie.
Holy Saturday: after the Gloria.
On other days, if the Mass has Gloria: after the Gloria; if the Mass
has no Gloria: after the Kyrie.
The Rite
The Call. The bishop, with his miter on, sits
on the faldstool before the middle of the altar. The archdeacon bids the
candidates come forward; the notary reads their names:
- Let those come forward who are to be ordained
to the order of porter: N. N. etc.
The Instruction. When all are assembled, the bishop address them as follows:
- Dearly beloved sons, you are about to receive
the order of porter. Behold what you must do in the house of God. The duty
of the porter is to ring the bells, to open the church and sacristy, and
to open the book for the preacher. Take good care, therefore, lest anything
in the church perish through your negligence. Open the house of God to
the faithful at the appointed hours, and always shut it to unbelievers.
As you open and shut with material keys the visible church, let it also be your endeavor by your word and example to shut to the devil and open to God the invisible house of God, namely, the hearts of the faithful, that they may keep in mind the word of God which they have heard and carry it out in deed. May the Lord in His mercy accomplish this in you.
The Bestowal of the Office. The bishop presents to each one the keys of the church. They touch them with the right hand, while the bishop says:
- So act, even as about to give an account to God
of the things which are kept under these keys.
Prayer. The porters kneel, while the bishop, with miter on, turned to the ordained, prays:
- Dearly beloved brethren, let us fervently beseech
God, the Father Almighty, to + bless these
His servants, whom He has deigned to elect to the office of porter; may
they with utmost care attend to the house of God, by day and night and
announce the hours appointed for divine services, through the help of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with Him in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, God, forever and ever. R. Amen.
- Let Us Pray
Let us bend our knees. R. Arise.
- Holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, bless
+ these Thy servants for the office of porter,
that among the keepers of the Church they may be devoted to Thy service
and together with Thine elect have a share in Thy reward. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. R. Amen.
