What is a deacon?

[MCH]

Hi. Please tell me the role of a deacon. An aquaintance is going to be ordained as a priest at the end of the year, and was recently ordained a deacon .Are all priests deacons before they are priests, and what is their title?(Brother, was the current title before becoming a deacon)

 

[m134e5]

The diaconate is a level of Holy Orders just below the priesthood. Deacons can read the gospel, preach, do baptisms, witness marriages, and distribute communion. Men are ordained to the deaconate a year before they are ordained to the priesthood. Since Vatican II there have also been permanent deacons (men who are usually married who do the same thing transitional deacons do- they just never become priests).

 

[Psalm45_9]

I will also mention that once a man is ordained to the deaconate he can never marry. For transitional deacons (those who are becoming priests) they cannot be married prior to ordination. For permanate deacons, they can be married, but once they are ordained, they cannot marry again. Such as in the case of death or the marriage being declared null. If a man wishes to be permanate deacon and is not married, he is then bound to celibacy upon ordination. The deacon at my parish is in his 60s, he never married and is celibate, he is content with being a deacon and not moving onto the priesthood.

 

[Brendan]

Since Vatican II there have also been permanent deacons (men who are usually married who do the same thing transitional deacons do- they just never become priests).

Just as a point of note, there have been permanent deacons prior to Vatican II, just mostly within the religious orders and somewhat rare at that.

St. Francis of Assisi, for example, was a permanent deacon. He was not a priest.

What happened after Vatican II was that Pope Paul allowed married men to be Ordained to the Diaconate.

 

[Brendan]

Since Vatican II there have also been permanent deacons (men who are usually married who do the same thing transitional deacons do- they just never become priests).

Just as a point of note, there have been permanent deacons prior to Vatican II, just mostly within the religious orders and somewhat rare at that.

St. Francis of Assisi, for example, was a permanent deacon. He was not a priest.

What happened after Vatican II was that Pope Paul allowed married men to be Ordained to the Diaconate.

 

[Psalm45_9]

Just as a point of note, there have been permanent deacons prior to Vatican II, just mostly within the religious orders and somewhat rare at that.

St. Francis of Assisi, for example, was a permanent deacon. He was not a priest.

What happened after Vatican II was that Pope Paul allowed married men to be Ordained to the Diaconate.

The Eastern Rites have also always maintained the permanent deaconate.

 

[DiscerningDave]

This is a post I had written in another thread.

The history of deacons is a long one. They use to be the bishop’s “right-hand” man, like an assistant and would often times take over the bishop’s position once he died, was martyred, etc… That is the reason they to this day, fall under the bishop’s direct rule. Deacons are to primarily fall into the role of ministry. They can perform communion services, read the gospel, even give homilies. They cannot celebrate mass, but assit the priest in mass. They usually tell people to show the sign of peace and say mass has ended, go in peace. They also hold up the chalice like you mentioned. They are in no means to be a “mini-priest.” They can baptize, perform weddings, and funerals. They cannot annoit the sick or annoit with oil. They are really usefull in parishes in which priests are scarce. They can help pick up a lot of slack and can help the priest where he needs help. They are ORDAINED CLERGY!!! A lot of people either are oblivious to that fact, forget it, or don’t care. They are to be given the respect of such position. You may address them as Deacon Smith or Mr. Smith. They use to be called Rev. Mr. Smith. However, that is usually not the norm. But they can use the title Rev.
They go through a pretty tedious formation process that is generally around 5 years give or take.
Deacons are a wonderful asset to the church and do a lot of behind the scenes activities that many people do not see.

There is a book titled 101 Questions about the Diaconate. It is really informative.

Peace

 

[m134e5]

Some say the permanent diaconate is not a true vocation- that it sends the message to men that they can get married and still do almost as much as a priest can do. They say the permanent diaconate is partly to blame for the priest shortage- and for the questioning of the celibacy rule by some in the Church. How would you respond to that?

 

[OldRedleg]

I would say that people who question the legitimacy and purpose of the restored permanent Diaconte are not familiar with the teachings and intent of the Church.

Please see the below quote from DIRECTORY FOR THE MINISTRY AND LIFE OF PERMANENT DEACONS:

“The second Vatican Council established that “it will be possible for the future to restore the diaconate as a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy…(and confer it) even upon married men, provided they be of more mature age, and also on suitable young men for whom, however, the law of celibacy must remain in force”,(21) in accordance with constant tradition. Three reasons lay behind this choice: (i) a desire to enrich the Church with the functions of the diaconate, which otherwise, in many regions, could only be exercised with great difficulty; (ii) the intention of strengthening with the grace of diaconal ordination those who already exercised many of the functions of the Diaconate; (iii) a concern to provide regions, where there was a shortage of clergy, with sacred ministers. Such reasons make clear that the restoration of the permanent Diaconate was in no manner intended to prejudice the meaning, role or flourishing of the ministerial priesthood, which must always be fostered because of its indispensability.”

The restored diaconte is it’s own ordained ministry within the Church. It is not intended to replace the Priesthood. While bishops, priests, and deacons all share in the ordained ministry, they do so in distinctive ways. Bishops are ordained for the ministry of pastoral oversight and governance of the local Church. Priests are ordained to collaborate with the bishops in a ministry of pastoral leadership and care for the Christian community. Deacons, however, in accord with the ancient tradition, are not ordained “unto the priesthood”, but unto the “ministry of service.”

As an aspirant to the diaconte I look upon my calling as an opportunity to serve the Church in many ways. Married men are denied the priesthood, but the Church has provided this opportunity to them to serve as a members of the ordained clergy. Since most Deacons are married I fail to see how they are causing a shortage of Priests.

Blessings…

 

[Titus]

The diaconate should not be seen as a mini-priest. That a deacon may ordinarily marry before ordination (never afterwards) is not the only difference between the priesthood and diaconate. They have a very different character. The deacon is ordained to preach the Gospel, to care for the sick (a biblical ministry of early deacons) and to teach the faith. He is not primarily a minister of the Sacraments (he is ordained to perform baptisms and witness marriage, but no other sacraments).

 

[DiscerningDave]

I put this in my earlier post and I want to emphasize it:

There is a great book called 101 Questions About the Diaconate.

Do a search for it and buy it. It is about $10 and well worth it. It is very informative and will answer every question you possibly have.

Peace

 

[darryld]

No one has mentioned the fact that Deacons are not PAID for their services. That should speak volumes about their calling and dedication to the church. The Diaconate is the only religious ministry where the numbers are increasing instead of decreasing, especially in the United States. The diaconate will never replace the priesthood.

 

[DiscerningDave]

I made a mistake:
It is called 101 Questions about Deacons

Sorry for that.

 

[Titus]

No one has mentioned the fact that Deacons are not PAID for their services. That should speak volumes about their calling and dedication to the church. The Diaconate is the only religious ministry where the numbers are increasing instead of decreasing, especially in the United States. The diaconate will never replace the priesthood.

I thought they received a stipend? I know they all work for a living, but I believe they get an allowance. Not the same as priests though.

 

[DiscerningDave]

I thought they received a stipend? I know they all work for a living, but I believe they get an allowance. Not the same as priests though.

Some get a stipened if they are retired and working in the parish quite a bit. But, from the deacons I know, the guys that aren’t retired, they are not compensated. They will get reimbursed for gas, the costs of travel for the church, costs of retreats, vestments, continuing education costs, etc…But for those that get a stipened, it is very miniscule. They do this for their love of God and the church. The diaconate is not their source of income, they have lay jobs, unlike a priest.

 

[Titus]

Some get a stipened if they are retired and working in the parish quite a bit. But, from the deacons I know, the guys that aren’t retired, they are not compensated. They will get reimbursed for gas, the costs of travel for the church, costs of retreats, vestments, continuing education costs, etc…But for those that get a stipened, it is very miniscule. They do this for their love of God and the church. The diaconate is not their source of income, they have lay jobs, unlike a priest.

That’s what makes what they do so remarkable! God bless our deacons.

 

[DiscerningDave]

That’s what makes what they do so remarkable! God bless our deacons.

Yes, I agree completely, God Bless Them!!!

It is my opinion that they are extremely underappreciated.
It is funny, some people don’t realize that they are indeed ordained clergy and generally undergo 5 years of formation.

The deacons I know are truly dedicated to God and the church.

So many people think they are “mini-priests.” That is not the case at all. Their mission is ministry. Whereas a priests mission is ministry but moreso in sacramental celebration.

Peace

 

[Titus]

Yes, I agree completely, God Bless Them!!!

It is my opinion that they are extremely underappreciated.
It is funny, some people don’t realize that they are indeed ordained clergy and generally undergo 5 years of formation.

The deacons I know are truly dedicated to God and the church.

So many people think they are “mini-priests.” That is not the case at all. Their mission is ministry. Whereas a priests mission is ministry but moreso in sacramental celebration.

Peace

People also tend to imagine they are wannabe priests who couldn’t handle celibacy. A sad misconception.

 

[m134e5]

Just as a point of note, there have been permanent deacons prior to Vatican II, just mostly within the religious orders and somewhat rare at that.

St. Francis of Assisi, for example, was a permanent deacon. He was not a priest.

He felt too unworthy to be a priest, so he chose to stop at the Diaconate. That was rare, and I have a feeling that’s not why people become permanent deacons today.

What happened after Vatican II was that Pope Paul allowed married men to be Ordained to the Diaconate.

And we have seen the number of priests go way down since then- and the United States has way more permanent Deacons than any other country. Considering the materialism in this culture, and the fact that people no longer understand or accept the notion of choosing one good choice (in this case, the priesthood) for another good choice (marriage). That is part of the sacrifice, and it’s hard to do. It is hard to give up something that is a good thing- but when you know God is calling you to something else that is also good, you follow it- even though you leave behind what is also good, because that is how you will best become sanctified, and how you will best help others become sanctified.

There were more priests in the 1950’s, but fewer Catholics. There were hardly any permanent deacons (it wasn’t really an option yet, as was said earlier). How is the permanent diaconate helping things? If it is a true vocation, then why did the Church go hundreds of years without ordaining them- or needing to ordain them?

 

[Titus]

He felt too unworthy to be a priest, so he chose to stop at the Diaconate. That was rare, and I have a feeling that’s not why people become permanent deacons today.
**You have a feeling? You have no evidence at all that men who are ordained deacons do not feel a true calling to that role. It is a very offensive statement to make, given the contribution so many deacons make in the Church today. **

And we have seen the number of priests go way down since then- and the United States has way more permanent Deacons than any other country.
The two are definitely connected? Then how do you explain the fall in the numbers of nuns and sisters? Or is there some more complex reason for this fall?

Considering the materialism in this culture, and the fact that people no longer understand or accept the notion of choosing one good choice (in this case, the priesthood) for another good choice (marriage).
**Is it so hard to see that diaconate is not a mini-priesthood for those who can’t handle being celibate? It’s a different ministry. **

That is part of the sacrifice, and it’s hard to do. It is hard to give up something that is a good thing- but when you know God is calling you to something else that is also good, you follow it- even though you leave behind what is also good, because that is how you will best become sanctified, and how you will best help others become sanctified.
That’s what priesthood is all about. But diaconate has a special role, bridging the gap between laity and clergy, assisting the sick, preaching the Gospel and leading a good Catholic family as an example to others.

There were more priests in the 1950’s, but fewer Catholics. There were hardly any permanent deacons (it wasn’t really an option yet, as was said earlier). How is the permanent diaconate helping things?
Once again you are linking these two without any evidence. The permanent deacons mean many parishes can stay open, with a visiting priest when possible. It’s not what we want, nor what the deacons want, but they are good to fill in in those situations.

If it is a true vocation, then why did the Church go hundreds of years without ordaining them- or needing to ordain them?
**The Church always ordained deacons. At the beginning of the Church it ordained men who stayed deacons. In the Latin Rite this was discontinued (except in some orders). The Eastern Rite has always had them. Maybe the Latin Church did actually see the value of them at V2 and not earlier, I don’t know. **