Porter (doorkeeper)

In the Roman Catholic Church, the porter (Latin ostiarius) was the lowest of the minor orders prescribed by the Council of Trent. This was the first order a seminarian was admitted to after receiving the tonsure. The porter had in ancient times the duty of opening and closing the church-door and of guarding the church; especially of ensuring no unbaptised persons would enter during the Eucharist. The porter was not a part of Holy Orders but simply a preparatory job on the way to the diaconate and the priesthood.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic Church - Latin - Minor orders - Council of Trent - Tonsure - Eucharist - Holy Orders - Diaconate - Priest

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The minor orders, along with the major order of subdeacon and the tonsure rite, were abolished for simplicity's sake after the Second Vatican Council by Paul VI.

Related Topics:
Major order - Subdeacon - Tonsure - Second Vatican Council - Paul VI

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