Call to be a Deacon?

  • Thread starter Thread starter EvangelistVictor
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
And they’re a fine choice with a great reputation, for that. I don’t think there’s any cutting corners on the diaconate training, though.
Not that you should even be thinking about the diaconate right now. You and your wife should both attend RCIA. Thats where catechism occurs, for adults. That’s my take, anyway
 
anon10271182 said:
And they’re a fine choice with a great reputation, for that. I don’t think there’s any cutting corners on the diaconate training, though.
Not that you should even be thinking about the diaconate right now. You and your wife should both attend RCIA. Thats where catechism occurs, for adults. That’s my take, anyway
Click to expand...
Isn’t RCIA for those not Baptized, nor did their 1st communion? We both have that. Confirmation we still need.
 
Last edited:
You need to talk to your priest. He may suggest an alternate catechetichal path, I don’t know. RCIA would certainly be a methodical option. Obviously you don’t have to be baptized again. But Confirmation is a Sacrament, and there is a preparation process that includes education in the faith–i.e. catechism.
 
Last edited:
I went through it, and I was already baptized RC as well. Already had an MS in another field, and was taking grad classes in Catholic theology. Still, completed RCIA and was confirmed. It’s only one evening a week.
 
Last edited:
What you hear is a call to mission. It occurs at the dismissal of each and every mass. Consider that there are quite a few married priests, even in the Latin Rite. In the Eastern rites, married priests have been the norm. As to Deacons, they are called to serve, and that must be the overarching mindset when pondering a vocation.

As well, vocational discernment is often a lengthy and agonizing process. It can take years. Do you have a good spiritual director?
 
No spiritual director yet. If I go to my previous spiritual Pentecostal directors they would say things so bad against the CC i can’t even post it here.

My Catholic friend at work said I was to be a CC Deacon because of my theological training.
 
If a friend said this, it is not a solid reason to consider such a vocation. Friends say many things. Consider what Job’s friends said. God was not pleased with them. Rather, one must pray over this, most likely for an extended period of time. Years, perhaps - shedding probably no blood, but much sweat and many tears.

The best place to find your answer is in prayer before our Lord Himself. Make adoration/Tabernacle visits a practice, a habit, until your answer is revealed. You are preparing for eternity, so the hours spent discerning in this life can be crucial*
  • If you are into etymology (and who isn’t?) Crucial is derived from the Latin for “Cross” - a word which I have chosen carefully, having observed the process.
ORIGIN early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘cross-shaped’): from French, from Latin crux, cruc- ‘cross.’
Click to expand...
 
Sound advice. There are, indeed no shortcuts. If the OP were coming from Anglican ministry, it might be a bit different but he’s coming from Pentacostalism.
 
Yes. I doubt if they’re real big on Roman Catholic dogmas there. Papal Infallibility, the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, and Transubstantiation, among others. Real Presence of any sort, for that matter.
 
Last edited:
anon10271182 said:
Yes. I doubt if they’re real big on Roman Catholic dogmas there. Papal Infallibility, the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, and Transubstantiation, among others. Real Presence of any sort, for that matter
Click to expand...
Fuller wasn’t anti-Catholic at all. I had to do reading reports on books that were even from Catholic Theologians. That school really opened my eyes to many things, especially church history. My BA was in Pastoral Leadership Studies from Vanguard University of Southern California that is part of the Assemblies of God denomination.
 
Not saying they are “anti-Catholic” there, Victor, and I realize they’ve taken a more ecumenical approach in recent years. But as Deacon Jeff has already observed, there remains a theological gulf and the dogmas I mentioned are de fide for Catholics, but utterly rejected by Evangelicals.
 
Last edited:
Yea they were on the news recently selling the old campus in Pasadena.

I met my wife there in a New Testament class. She was studying to get her Masters of Divinity but had to stop due to our child being born.

I’m reading now the Catechism of the Catholic Church so I can know all the CC stands on.

The only thing I struggled to accept was the Virgin Mary being sinless and her assumption into heaven. Luckily I did find the Church Fathers wrote about this to back up the CC stance. That was good enough for me.
 
Mary’s sinlessness and her perpetual virginity are eminently logical, in my opinion, once one understands that she is Mother of the Incarnate God.
Great that you’re working through the Catechism. Are you praying the Rosary? It comes highly recommended. 😉
 
Last edited:
anon10271182 said:
Not saying they are “anti-Catholic” there, Victor, and I realize they’ve taken a more ecumenical approach in recent years. But as Deacon Jeff has already observed, there remains a theological gulf and the dogmas I mentioned are de fide for Catholics, but utterly rejected by Evangelicals
Click to expand...
Yes their sola scriptura stance blinds them to the rich traditions of Christ Church.

I have a Rosary, but honestly haven’t really prayed it much. I recently found out about the Rosary of the Holy Spirit. I’m looking to find one. I really like it.
 
Last edited:
I pray the Sarum Rosary in addition to the “standard” Rosary. But that’s in part because the Sarum Rosary fits with my OCSP membership. I also use the Anglican BCP in daily prayer…because the Church says I can. 😉
 
That’s what I get for posting! You are an interesting anecdote. As long as one is not running from something, but rather toward something.

As to the OP, based on his history and training, he has some theology to unlearn and considerably more to learn.
 
Last edited:
nunsuch said:
Actually, they do not take a vow of celibacy at ordination. They DO promise not to remarry if their wife dies.
Click to expand...
That is exactly what a vow of celibacy is.

Its chastity that they do not vow (nor do priests, AFAIK.

Chastity is not engaging in the act; celibacy’s not marrying.

hawk
 
I’m sorry–you are incorrect. Celibacy is (as you put it) “not engaging in the act.” We are ALL called to chastity–which is purity according to our state of life. For married people, including deacons (and, if permitted, priests), that allows marital relations.
 
I was told by people that I should take holy orders. But they were wrong. My gifts are prophecy, which I fulfill through writing, and teaching. I’m more of a contemplative, anyway, but priests and deacons are actives. You are absolutely right to say that others aren’t always the best judge of one’s calling.
 
Last edited:
I find a few concerns in the OP’s postings above, considering that as a layman, I might later find myself turning to a deacon in time of crisis. However, it is not my place to comment on his suitability for ordained ministry, but rather that rests with his spiritual directors, pastor, formation faculty, and ultimately his bishop.

I will say this for advice in light of that conversation between dochawk, the OP, and some others: I do not know how much the OP knows about either Eastern Catholic or the Ordinariates (composed chiefly of former Anglicans coming into full communion with the Catholic Church, but which have admitted a few exceptions such as myself, a cradle Catholic), but be sure to learn about them - make sure your information is correct, if you have not already done so, since there will be many of my fellow Ordinariate members, as well as Eastern Catholics, who will either not have a parish of our own and will thus find ourselves in a diocesan parish, or will be there through our interactions with diocesan members (namely through the Sacrament of Holt Matrimony). A cleric of the Holy Catholic Church needs to be aware of the special needs of Catholics whose rite or patrimony is different than his own, particularly since there are matters of canon law involved, namely in marriage.

*Btw, if anyone doesn’t know, “OCSP” in rosarypoet’s post above refers to “Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter”, largely equivalent to a diocese. It is governed under the Latin Church’s Code of Canon Law, like territorial dioceses in the West (in some countries, Eastern Catholics are the majority, so they would have the territorial diocese, I think).
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top