How do I tell the difference between a Priest and a Deacon?

[Mr.Phoenix]

In the past we had a deacon that during mass would wear his stole across his body instead of straight down but if the deacon is wearing a chasuble how would you know? Is it that the stripes go down instead of meeting in the middle and going down?

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Deacons don’t wear chasubles, they have a similar vestment called a dalmatic. Dalmatics normally have two long vertical stripes, with one or more horizontal stripes in the shape of the letter H or a ladder. They are also cut less amply than chasubles.

The casual observer, not versed in the differences between vestment styles, would have no idea who is the priest and who is the deacon, just to look at them.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

The dalmatic has sleeves whereas the chasuble does not (more of a poncho-style). The deacon’s stole should go diagonally across the body, while the priest’s is vertical. Otherwise, you can’t tell by looking - you should be able to tell, though, by function.

A deacon can proclaim the gospel and preach but never consecrate the Eucharist. A deacon will read/announce the General Intercessions; a priest will generally only do so in the absence of any other minister (including the absence of a lay reader). If a priest defers to another minister for the “Let us offer each other a sign of peace.” or “The Mass is ended…”, that other minister is likely a deacon (as these are the deacon’s proper parts in Mass).

 

[dochawk]

at which point I would spell “defer” as “doesn’t usurp”

It’s just not the priest’s call to take the deacon’s parts . . .

 

[dochawk]

while I’m thinking of it . . . in Eastern Liturgy, the deacon is more active than the priest. As ours put it, the first time he offered the Divine Liturgy with a deacon, he could “just stand there like a potted plant.”

The deacon is easy to identify, as he comes in and out of the doors several times.

He also reties his stole to a different configuration pathway through . . .

(and the subdeacon, if you can catch one, hast the same stole tied in a different manner)

 

[Pitcairn17]

Most dalmatics I’ve seen don’t have that “H” shape - only the ones used in the Extraordinary Form seem to. Ones used in the Ordinary Form typically mimic in design the priest’s chasuble, but of course is cut differently and has sleeves.

 

[Welshrabbit]

If the man in question has a wife and you aren’t in an Eastern Catholic church, he is more than likely a deacon.

 

[tafan2]

Well, their function in the liturgy should make it somewhat clear.

Deacons always wear a stole as described, the problem was in the past they only wore that on the outside if their alb: which really was incomplete for a liturgy and did not present them with the status they deserved due to their office.