What is the responsibility of a Deacon?

[prv]

SInce the permanent diaconate and priesthood are two different and seperate callings, why would the number of priests affect the need for more or less deacons? The Permanent diaconate was not reintroduced becuase of a priestly shortage, it was reintroduced because of its ancient tradition. St. Francis was not a deacon because of the number of priests availible, neither was St. Stephen.

I think the popular notion going around is that deacons are sorta around to pinch hit for the priest is he is not availible.

I disagree with the fact that since we are talking apples and oranges here the need for one does not and was not intended to affect the other office.

In addition to what was just written, I think that if God wanted deacons to be mere substitutes for priest (as opposed to its own distinct order), he would have simply called more men to the priesthood instead of to the diaconate. But as it were, the orders of diaconate, presbyterate (-tery?), and episcopacy were made with rights and duties attached to each order.

 

[prv]

Non-Ordained religious are actually laypeople.

Most likely, these brothers are instituted Readers or Acolytes, which are lay positions.

I’m sure most are also studying towards Holy Orders, but until they are Ordained Deacons, they are actually laymen in religious vows.

Ordained deacons? Redundancy, no?

A little nitpicking.

 

[THurifer2]

– But they do overlap in many important ways.

May the Peace of Christ be with you.

as do the functions of the laity and the priest overlap in equally important ways. .

 

[THurifer2]

But as it were, the orders of diaconate, presbyterate (-tery?), and episcopacy were made with rights and duties attached to each order.

And rites and duties attached to the laity as well. Distinct and unique states of “royal” priesthood that interestingly have overlapping duties.

 

[THurifer2]

One of those practices is the receiving of the Holy Eucharist in the hand. .

OK, fair enough. Is there any writing, document, Motu, declaration or otherwise that indicates that recieving in the hand was “officially” declared “the way it is to be done”? ( I mean in the ancient church)

Reason why I ask is becuase of organic development of “issue”.

Perhaps the church needed time to realize that recieving in the hand may not have been correct. Sorta like the immaculate conception…it, although an actual dogma, too needed time to organically develop.

 

[Brendan]

Ordained deacons? Redundancy, no?

A little nitpicking.

No.

Note that I said

“until they are Ordained Deacons,”

That is how a person becomes a Deacon, they are Ordained as such.

A person is a layman unti they are Ordained a Deacon. They they are clerics. They might later be Ordained a Priest, or Ordained a Bishop,.

 

[MusicMan]

Brendan, I think the confusion was probably caused by you capitalizing the word “Ordained.” As a verb, I don’t believe we capitalize it. As an adjective being used to describe a proper noun like Priest or Bishop, it would be. The phrase “until they are Ordained Deacons” carries a different meaning than the phrase “until they are ordained Deacons.”

At least to me.

 

[Brendan]

Brendan, I think the confusion was probably caused by you capitalizing the word “Ordained.” As a verb, I don’t believe we capitalize it. As an adjective being used to describe a proper noun like Priest or Bishop, it would be. The phrase “until they are Ordained Deacons” carries a different meaning than the phrase “until they are ordained Deacons.”

At least to me.

It’s a the distinction of a Sacrament, and it distinguishes this particular ordination from that of a (Eastern Catholic) sub-deacon.

They are also ordained, but not Ordained.

 

[MusicMan]

My wife, the linguist and English professor, just reminded me that verbs are not capitalized.

 

[cathyf]

OK, fair enough. Is there any writing, document, Motu, declaration or otherwise that indicates that recieving in the hand was “officially” declared “the way it is to be done”? ( I mean in the ancient church)

Cyril Of Jeruselem, Fifth Address on the Mysteries

paragraph 21:

So when you approach, do not stretch out your arms or part your fingers. Make your left hand a throne for your right, which is about to receive your king. Cup your hand to receive the body of Christ and respond, ‘Amen’…

paragraph 22:

Then, after partaking of Christ’s body, you approach the cup of his blood. Do not stretch out your hands. Bow your head, say ‘Amen’ with adoration and reverence, and sanctify yourself by partaking of Christ’s blood also…

 

[mmsiciliana]

Hello W!

We do more than this, we lead the penitential rite and are the ordinary to present the prayer of the faithful (Although a lector can do this to). Also (although not followed in the US) Deacons are in charge of the Sacred Vessels, meaning they are the ones that commingle (Mix the water and wine), as well as purify them after communion. Also  they serve as "Head Ushers" by telling the people when to "Proclaim the mystery of faith", exchange peace as well as indicate to the people that mass has ended, they could go in peace.

In His Peace

Deacon Harbey Santiago
Archdiocese of Baltimore

Just curious…what liturgical document says deacons are to lead the penitential rite?

Thanks!

Maria

 

[Aramis]

Just curious…what liturgical document says deacons are to lead the penitential rite?

Thanks!

Maria

General Instructions of the Roman Missal, #71

It is for the priest celebrant to direct this prayer from the chair. He himself begins it with a brief introduction, by which he invites the faithful to pray, and likewise he concludes it with a prayer. The intentions announced should be sober, be composed freely but prudently, and be succinct, and they should express the prayer of the entire community.
The intentions are announced from the ambo or from another suitable place, by the deacon or by a cantor, a lector, or one of the lay faithful.68
The people, however, stand and give expression to their prayer either by an invocation said together after each intention or by praying in silence.

If there is no deacon, GIRM #138 says that a lector, cantor or other person announces the specific intentions, facing the people.
GIRM 138 is in the section on Mass without a Deacon.

With a deacon, however, #177 is explicit:

1. After the introduction by the priest it is the deacon himself who normally announces the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful, from the ambo.

 

[DanB]

Can a deacon witness a marriage and celebrate funerals outside of the Catholic Faith?

 

[stbruno]

If a deacon is asked to officiate a wedding to a non-Catholic, there is a process, however the difficulties of mixed marriage must not be underestimated. familyministries.org/www.inthespiritofcana.org/2.6.10.htmDifferences about faith and the very notion of marriage but also different religious mentalities, can become sources of tension in marriage, especially as regards the education of children. The temptation to religious indifference can then arise (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1634).
If possible, the Catholic minister should take steps to establish contacts with the minister of the other church or ecclesial community. In general, mutual consultation between Christian pastors for supporting such marriages can be a fruitful field of ecumenical collaboration.
Since for validity where one or both partners are Catholic, the marriage has to be contracted in the presence of the Ordinary, parish pastor, the priest, or deacon delegated by either of them (Canon 1108), the Catholic canonical form is to be observed also for mixed marriages (Canon 1127). However the Ordinary of the place for grave reasons, and without prejudice to the law of the Eastern Churches, can dispense the Catholic partner from the observance of the canonical form in individual cases. See The Ecumenical Directory, 153, 154 (the reasons to justify such a dispensation are listed), and 155. If a dispensation from the canonical form has been given, it is still required for validity that there be some form of public celebration. (See Canon 1127, 2)
If a dispensation from the canonical form has been obtained and if invited to do so, a Catholic priest a Catholic priest or deacon may attend or participate in the celebration of a mixed marriage at another Christian church by offering prayers, reading from Scripture, or giving a brief exhortation. Alternately, if the Catholic priest or deacon will be presiding, he may, upon the request of the couple, invite the minister of the non-Catholic party to participate in the marriage ceremony. In any case there may be only one ceremony in which the presiding person receives the marriage vows.
Mixed marriages ordinarily follow The Rite for Celebrating Marriage Outside Mass. The Eucharist is a symbol of unity, and celebrating a Christian marriage at Mass may make the celebration awkward for both parties by highlighting their differences in faith. If circumstances justify it and the non-Catholic party agrees to their having a Mass, The Rite for Celebrating Marriage within Mass may be used. However, it must be stressed that should there be a Mass, directives of The Ecumenical Directory (159/160) and the Code of Canon Law (Canon 844) concerning reception of the Eucharist are to be observed. Couples should consult with their priest about this delicate matter

Note this: A deacon does not have faculties or powers of the state unless he celebrates weddings in the confines of a church by permission of the bishop. So a deacon cannot do a beach/garden etc wedding and neither can a priest in most dioceses without very special permission and exception. In the 10 years I have been a deacon, none has been granted in my diocese that I am aware of.

As far as funerals…many times deacons do funerals for Catholics who do not access to a church at the time of their family member’s death, but I have never been asked to do one for someone for say a non-Catholic.

 

[Catholicdeacon]

Just curious…what liturgical document says deacons are to lead the penitential rite?

Thanks!

Maria

Hello Maria!

 The GIRM (General Instruction for the Roman Missal) Paragraph 94. " After the priest,the deacon in virtue of the sacred ordination he has received, holds first place among those who minister in the Eucharistic Celebration. For the sacred Order of the diaconate has been held in high honor in the Church even from the time of the Apostles. At Mass the deacon has his own part in proclaiming the Gospel, in preaching God's word from time to time, in announcing the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful, in ministering to the priest, in preparing the altar and serving the celebration of the Sacrifice, in distributing the Eucharist to the faithful, especially under the species of wine, and sometimes in giving directions regarding the people's gestures and posture.

In His love

 

[cameron_lansing]

Just curious…what liturgical document says deacons are to lead the penitential rite?

Maria,

The express treatment of this question would be found outside the General Instructions of the Roman Missal itself and in the rubrical text of what is commonly called the “Sacramentary.” (For non or new Catholics, this is the book from which the priest prays at Mass, and is properly called the “Missal.”)

The Sacramentary presents that the invocations for option C of the Penitential Rite can be given by the priest, deacon, or another minister. Thus it permits a deacon or other minister to do so but require a deacon or other minister to do so.

However, the conclusion of option C (“May Almighty God have mercy . . .”) would be reserved to the celebrant, as are options A and B.

For those without access to the Sacramentary, the options are presented with basic accuracy at catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm#Introductory .

Option C has a number of additional texts that can be used for the invocations which are not presented there, however.

In light of the fact that the priest is the celebrant of the Mass, I would not say that the “deacon leads the penitential rite”, although I understand what people mean in saying that. I suppose it might be more accurate to say, that the deacon may assist by announcing certain invocations in one of the forms of the penitential rite. Depends on how precise (or perhaps overly precise for some), one wants to be.

As Catholicdeacon correctly notes by citing the GIRM, the deacon has a proper ministerial role. The presidential or leading role pertains to the celebrant, namely, the priest.

 

[cameron_lansing]

I was not able to correct a typo in my previous post and apologize.

“The Sacramentary presents that the invocations for option C of the Penitential Rite can be given by the priest, deacon, or another minister. Thus it permits a deacon or other minister to do so but require a deacon or other minister to do so.”

should read

“The Sacramentary presents that the invocations for option C of the Penitential Rite can be given by the priest, deacon, or another minister. Thus it permits a deacon or other minister to do so but does not require a deacon or other minister to do so.”

 

[otjm]

I would be cautious if the deacon is giving the homily. The GIRM says that they can but only in extreme cases.

No, it doesn’t.

1. The Homily should ordinarily be given the the priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to the deacon…
   There is nothing in the GIRM that says extreme cases. It says “occasionally, according to the circumstances”.

There is nothing in the OP’s post to indicate that the deacon was giving the homily all the time, or most of the time.

 

[Digitonomy]

He may entrust it to a concelebrating priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to the deacon…
There is nothing in the GIRM that says extreme cases. It says “occasionally, according to the circumstances”.

This raises another point: In the past, has it always been licit for deacons to give homilies?

 

[Deacon2006]

When a deacon, priest and bishop perform duties appropriate to the the degree in which the have been ordained, they do so through faculties. The faculties of each are clearly annunciated in the official documents of the church.

The faculty to preach the homily is normally given to men who are ordained as deacons. The reason why a priest preaches the homily is because he received the faculty to preach when he became a deacon. The reason why the priest predominately gives the the homliy at mass is because that is the way the bishops who wrote canon law want it.

In the past some faculties were not so regularly given at ordination. Some priests were not allowed to hear confessions and some deacons were not allowed to preach etc etc. By and large in North America the normal faculties envisioned by Rome are given to all candidates at their appropriate rank.

God Bless