The Deacon in the Church
A deacon is a man who has received the first degree of the
Sacrament of Holy Orders. We usually associate this sacrament
with the ordained priesthood. While true, that is not entirely
correct. The Sacrament has three degrees: Bishop, Priest, and
Deacon. To understand what it means to be a deacon, we must first
understand what happens to a man in the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
A man who is baptized and confirmed can receive a special
mission in the Church in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Just as no
one is married for his own sake but enters into that sacrament for
the good of others, so too no one is merely ordained for his own
sake. It is a calling by the Church to a particular vocation. The
Sacrament of Holy Orders, in all three degrees, is meant to build
up the Church. It is a channel through which God pours out His
love into the world. So the candidate who is ordained bishop,
priest, or deacon receives the gift of the Holy Spirit that gives him
sacred authority. That authority differs according to the degree he
receives. In all three degrees though, that sacred authority is given
to the man by Christ Himself through the bishop. So it is
important to understand Holy Orders as sharing the authority and
ministry of Jesus Christ Himself.
In the Old Testament there weren’t sacraments but there was
a priesthood exercised by the Tribe of Levi. Their duty was to
mediate between heavenly and earthly things, between God and
His people. Since the coming of Christ is who now the one
mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5) that Old
Testament priesthood has ended. With the coming of Christ,
there can only be an ordained priesthood in Christ, in His sacrifice
on the cross, and through a calling by Christ Himself.
The word “bishop” comes from the Greek episkopein=to
supervise. In an episcopal ordination, the fullness of Holy Orders
is conferred upon a priest. He ordained a successor of the Apostles
and enters into the college of bishops. Together with other
bishops and always in union with the Pope (who is first among
them and head of the college) he is now responsible for the entire
Church. The bishop continues the work of the first Apostles that
were instituted by Christ. He is appointed to three offices: to teach
the Faith, to sanctify through the celebration of the Sacraments, and
govern or rule.
A Catholic is under obligation to his bishop, for he is
appointed as Christ’s representative to the local Church. The
bishop exercises his pastoral ministry together with the priests
and deacons. Together, the three degrees are the visible principle
and foundation of what is called a diocese—the local Church.
The word priest comes from the Greek presbyteros=elder. In a
priestly ordination, a bishop calls down God’s power upon the
candidate which imprints upon his soul a seal that conforms him
in a special way to the one priesthood of Jesus Christ. That seal
can never be lost. He is a collaborator with his bishop. The
candidate promises obedience to the bishop and his successors
and shares in the three fold office of the bishop to teach, sanctify,
and govern. Above all, he is ordained to celebrate the Holy
Eucharist.
The word deacon comes from the Greek diakonos=servant. It
is the first degree in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. It conforms a
candidate to Christ, not as priest, but in his role as servant. He
represents in a special way Christ who came, “not to be served but
to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28). In
the Sacred Liturgy of Diaconate Ordination, we read, “As a
minister of the Word, of the altar, and of charity, the Deacon will
make himself a servant to all.” The deacon is especially involved in
charitable work (diakonia) but with the permission of the bishop
and parish priest he can also teach, catechize, preach, proclaim the
Gospel, and assist at the Sacred Liturgy.
The Deacon (Greek diakonos—servant) is the first degree in
the Sacrament of Holy Orders. A deacon is involved in various
charitable work (diakonia), yet he also teaches and catechizes,
proclaims the Gospel at Mass, is an ordinary minister of Holy
Communion, and assists during the Sacred Liturgy. He can
expose the Blessed Sacrament and celebrate Benediction, celebrate
the Sacrament of Baptism, celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage
outside of Mass, preside over funerals, and bless persons and
religious articles using Holy Water.
The Apostles in the Church of Jerusalem were overwhelmed
by many charitable duties. They appointed seven men “to serve
tables”. These seven men were ordained deacons by the Apostles.
The Apostles had the authority to do this because they held the
fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders as bishops. (The
Apostles who were ordained by Christ Himself at the Last Supper
when He said, “Do this in memory of me.”)
One of these men mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles was
named Stephen. He has become the model for all deacons. He
was “full of grace and power”, and accomplished much for the new
faith and for the poor in the Church in Jerusalem. He became the
first martyr of the Church, having suffered stoning by an angry
crowd after having preached the Gospel. The future St. Paul was
present at this event.
St. Paul in his First Letter to Timothy gives some of the
necessary qualifications for the diaconal office: “Deacons must
likewise be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to too much
wine, not greedy for gain. … Let deacons be the husband of one
wife, and let them manage their children and their households
well.”
Over the centuries, the diaconate became simply the first
degree or stepping stone for a candidate preparing for the
priesthood. While that is still true today (all priests were first
ordained deacons) it is has been revived as an independent
vocation for both celibate and married men. This was done for
two main reasons: 1. To reemphasize that service is a vital
characteristic of the Church and 2. To help priests in their work as
deacons did in the early Church. Through diaconal ordination, a
lifelong irrevocable mark (character) is made on the man who is
ordained, conforming him in a special way to Christ who made
Himself deacon or servant of all.
A candidate for the permanent diaconate who is not married
may be admitted to the diaconate only when he has completed his
25th year, if he is married, not until he has completed at least the
35th year, and then with the consent of his wife. He must have
successfully completed a period of formation as determined by the
Conference of Bishops in a particular country. After his diaconal
ordination, the man is now a sacred minister or cleric. A bishop
may permit a permanent deacon to wear clerics (ecclesiastical
dress), as is the case in the Diocese of Charlotte. A permanent
deacon may be addressed simply as Deacon or Deacon __________
(Christian name or surname according to his preference). Married deacons
who dedicate themselves full time to the work of the Church
deserve remuneration sufficient to provide for themselves and
their families. Those, however, who receive remuneration by
reason of a secular profession which they exercise or have
exercised, are to see to their own needs and to their families’ needs
from that income. All clerics (bishops, priests and deacons) are to
follow a simple way of life and avoid anything that smacks of
worldliness (canon 282).
Given the importance of this event for the particular church
the celebration of the Ordination of Deacon calls for as many of
the faithful to take part with all the solemnity due to the occasion.
Deo gratias!