Here is a question I found while doing senior research on Father Nelson H. Baker. He printed a monthly newsletter called The Victorian and inside he would answer questions about the Faith among other things from jokes and anecdotes, to recipes and information about his Charity Homes. I thought this was interesting coming from a January 1927 issue.
"Why cannot a girl serve mass; why must a girl wear a hat in church?"~J.B.
A girl may not serve mass because the Church has decreed that only men and boys may do so. It is in the mind of the Church that her services be carried on and executed by men. Our Lord in instituting the Priesthood chose men and the Church following His example has chosen men to fulfill the function of the ministry. A server in assisting the priest at mass is taking the part of a "minister" or helper who in the early ages of Christianity was known always as an acolyte and who received a special blessing or ordination for his office. The order of acolytes is still a "part" of the ministry of the Church. It is a sacred tradition the "women must keep silence in the church." That is, take no active part in the performance of the public liturgy. This is meant, not as a slight, but as an expression of the Divine law that men were "created to rule." It would be unbecoming for women to go out of their place to take the place meant especially for men.
St. Paul made it a rule that women should keep their heads covered while in church. In formulating this law the Apostle meant to show the respectful attitude women ought to display when in the presence of God and also in the presence of the "stronger sex." The custom is only one of the particular enumerations of eastern legislation which always made it imperative for women to veil themselves when in public. "The man ought indeed to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man." (1 Cor. xi: 7) Whether this is agreeable to the modern spirit of emancipation of women, we leave to others to decide.
Baker, Father Nelson. The Victorian. January 1927 issue.
(The pictures I supplied myself and were not part of The Victorian)
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