Can laywomen clean in the sanctuary?

[Geremia]

Can laywomen clean in the sanctuary?
I thought only men (or perhaps nuns, sacristaines) were allowed in the sanctuary.

[Michael Wilson]

Simply: "yes". There is no objection and in most parish Churches where there are not religious to do the job, most of the time such cleaning is done by laywomen; thus freeing the parish priests for his other more important duties.

[drummerboy]

Didn't most churches have a society of ladies who performed these duties?  Imagine a priest washing the altar cloths....

[KreKre]

Thankfully, laywomen often do this. Many of our priests, and consequently, entire congregations, depend on their generosity and hard work.

[Miriam_M]

Women certainly need to enter the sanctuary to arrange flowers on the altar.  In my lifetime, not even homosexual men have participated in flower arranging in any sanctuary I have ever visited.

[KreKre]

In my lifetime, not even homosexual men have participated in flower arranging in any sanctuary I have ever visited.

There is a good reason for that. While not a homosexual, I once helped the lady who arranges flowers with carrying one of the floral arrangements to the main altar. At the crucial moment when I was supposed to put the flowers down, I spilled water all over the main altar, creating more work than it was anticipated. Never again, I just politely refuse if I'm asked to help with that sort of thing.

[Melkor]

Women certainly need to enter the sanctuary to arrange flowers on the altar.  In my lifetime, not even homosexual men have participated in flower arranging in any sanctuary I have ever visited.

I have physically carried flowers on and off the altar to help my sisters and Mum who sometimes arrange them. Although the before and after of when they arranged the flowers always looks the same to me.

[The Curt Jester]

I offered to help a lady move flowers from the back of the church up to the sanctuary.  She was adamant that I do NOT help.

[drummerboy]

The parish I grew up at had a guy who took care of ALL flower decorations, there was even a room in the basement filled with all the fake flowers for each season.  Wasn't gay, and a nice guy all around, but you could tell he lived at home and took care of mom. Maybe he was a hermaphrodite and his parents picked the wrong sex.

[moneil]

Didn't most churches have a society of ladies who performed these duties?  Imagine a priest washing the altar cloths....

Typically, these were, and often still are, called Altar Societies.  In addition to cleaning, they often raise the funds for altar supplies, such as hosts, wine, candles, incense, etc.  They are also often the group responsible for funeral lunches.

For many years in the 1950's - 1960's my mother took care of the altar linens (the corporals and purificators were rinsed out by the priest first).  She also laundered the albs, amices, and the cassocks and surplices for the altar servers.  We had one of those mangle ironing machines and we kids would have to hold the ends as mom fed the altar lines through for pressing.  The machine is still here at our farm and heats up, but the motor is frozen.

[Geremia]

had a guy who took care of ALL flower decorations

Yes, at the priory here, too, it's a male.

[Michael Wilson]

Wasn't gay, and a nice guy all around, but you could tell he lived at home and took care of mom. Maybe he was a hermaphrodite and his parents picked the wrong sex.