Deacons' hands

[rkrispies]

I read somewhere on here that the hands of a deacon are not anointed/consecrated at ordination. Is this true and if it is, why are they not, especially since he is an ordinary minister of the Holy Eucharist?

Chris

 

[benedictgal]

I read somewhere on here that the hands of a deacon are not anointed/consecrated at ordination. Is this true and if it is, why are they not, especially since he is an ordinary minister of the Holy Eucharist?

Chris

First of all, the deacon is not the ordinary minister of the Eucharist. Only the priest and the bishop are the ordinary ministers because only they can confect (consecrate) the sacrament.

The deacon is the ordniary minister of Holy Communion. He is also charged, by virtue of his ordination, to proclaim the Gospel and to preach. He can also baptize, officiate at weddings and preside over the funeral liturgies.

As to the answer to you question, I am not certain. This is what EWTN notes regarding the diaconate:

Matter and form of diaconate

In the Ordination of Deacons the matter is the imposition of the hands of the bishop, which takes place in silence over each one of those to be ordained before the prayer of consecration. The form consists of the words of the same prayer of consecration, of which the following pertain to the essence of the rite, and hence are required for validity:

“Send forth upon them, 0 Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit, by whom they may be strengthened by the gift of your seven-fold grace in the faithful carrying out of the work of service.” (Emitte in eos Domine, quaesumus, Spiriturn Sanctum, quo in opus ministerii fideliter exsequendi munere septiformis tuae gratiae roborentur).

I don’t recall if chrism is used for diaconate ordinations.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I read somewhere on here that the hands of a deacon are not anointed/consecrated at ordination. Is this true and if it is, why are they not, especially since he is an ordinary minister of the Holy Eucharist?

Chris

His hands would not be anointed because he does not offer Sacrifice, and is not an Ordinary Minister of the Eucharist. He is an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion.