5. Conferral of the ministries of lectorate and acolytate

57. “Before anyone may be promoted to the diaconate, whether permanent or transitory, he must have received the ministries of lector and acolyte, and have exercised them for an appropriate time”,(⁵⁶) so that he may “be better disposed for the future service of the word and the altar”.(⁵⁷) In fact the Church “considers it to be very opportune that both by study and by gradual exercise of the ministry of the word and of the altar, candidates for sacred orders should through intimate contact understand and reflect upon the double aspect of the priestly office. Thus it comes about that the authenticity of the ministry shines out with the greatest effectiveness. In this way the candidates come to sacred orders fully aware of their vocation, 'fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, constant in prayer and aware of the needs of the faithful' (Rm 12:11-13)”.(⁵⁸)

The identity of these ministries and their pastoral relevance are illustrated in the Apostolic Letter Ministeria quaedam, to which reference should be made.

58. Aspirants to lectorate and acolytate, on the invitation of the director of formation, will make a request for admission, which has been compiled and signed freely, and present it to the Ordinary (the Bishop or Major Superior) who has the authority to accept it.(⁵⁹) Having accepted the request, the Bishop or Major Superior will proceed to the conferral of the ministries, according to the rite of the Roman Pontifical.(⁶⁰)

59. It is appropriate that a certain period of time elapse between the conferring of lectorate and acolytate in such a way that the candidate may exercise the ministry he has received.(⁶¹) “Between the conferring of the ministry of acolyte and the diaconate there is to be an interval of at least six months”.(⁶²)