Did you know that lay people taking on specific ministerial roles in the liturgy is a recent occurrence? In the Mass before the Second Vatican Council (before 1965) lay people could be servers, musicians and choir members, ushers, and people who worked “behind-the-scenes.” Servers were usually boys from the parish grade school. Musicians/directors/singers only provided music for what was called High Mass, usually just one of the Sunday Masses. Other Masses had no music. Ushers were older men who helped with seating and took up the collection. Behind-the-scenes work was setup and cleanup and making certain vessels and vestments were ready and in good order. These were the duties of the sacristans, often done by the religious sisters who worked at the parish grade school. The other roles were performed by bishops, priests, and deacons and even subdeacons.
A detailed history of liturgical ministry after the Council would be a treatise of extreme length. Just one example: there were controversies such as whether there could be female servers at Mass. It took until 1994 to clarify that permission was granted though arguments were still heard against the practice. There were also distinctions made between a server and an instituted acolyte. Pope Francis made a change to Canon Law in 2021 changing “lay men” to “lay persons:” Lay persons who possess the age and qualifications established by decree of the conference of bishops can be admitted on a stable basis through the prescribed liturgical rite to the ministries of lector and acolyte. (Canon 230)
If you are a student of history, you may want to research the last 60 years of rules and practices.
Let us just say that it all led to our customs today in which lay people (male and female) fill the roles mentioned above and are also now readers, cantors, psalmists, hospitality/welcome ministers, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. In addition, it is the norm to have music and musicians at most if not all Sunday Masses.
These ministries are open to us because of our baptismal call to discipleship. We are expected to join in full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgy.
Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people (1 Pet. 2:9; cf. 2:4-5), is their right and duty by reason of their baptism. (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 14)
