Why must deacons be married?

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Madaglan

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Someone told me that deacons have to be married, and I believe that I’ve heard this from somewhere else, too. So, the question is: Why do deacons in the Latin Rite have to be married? Were deacons in the early Church required to be married, too?

It just seems odd that someone who devotes his purity to Christ should be denied from becoming a deacon.

Any additional comments?
 
The majority of deacons in the western Church are unmarried. Most are transitional deacons on their way to being ordained as priests. But the Church also has a pemanant diaconate. These deacons will never be ordained as priests. And they may be married, but only if they do so before being ordained as deacons. After their ordination they may not marry.

So, transitional deacons are unmarried. And permanent deacons can be married but it is not a requirement.

And this only applies to the Latin Church and not the 22 Eastern Catholic Churches.

James
 
James is right on. Most permanent deacons in the U.S. are married. A single man may become a permanent deacon, however he must remember that after ordination, he can never marry. Marriage is not an impediment before Orders, but is not allowed after Orders. If priests were given the right to be married, all current priests would not be eligible. Only men, who are married before priesthood could qualify. This has been church law since way back when priests could marry.

May God bless you.
Deacon Tony SFO
 
That pretty much sums it up.

A Seminarian is Ordained to the Deaconate about 1 year prior to Ordination to the priesthood (every priest is also a deacon).

These men are called Transitional Deacons and are unmarried.

The Pope re-instatated the provision allowing married men to be Ordained Deacons. These men are called Permanent Deacons, as it is extremely unlikely they will be ordained priests.

Most men seeking the Deaconate in a ‘Permanent’ capacity are married, but 1 person in my class is a widower. He will not be permitted to remarry after Ordination. Nor will I, if my wife dies after my Ordination, but before I do.
 
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Madaglan:
Someone told me that deacons have to be married, and I believe that I’ve heard this from somewhere else, too. So, the question is: Why do deacons in the Latin Rite have to be married? Were deacons in the early Church required to be married, too?

It just seems odd that someone who devotes his purity to Christ should be denied from becoming a deacon.

Any additional comments?
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Well someone told you wrong! They do however have to be self-supporting. Maybe there was a bit of misunderstanding?
 
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Brendan:
Most men seeking the Deaconate in a ‘Permanent’ capacity are married, but 1 person in my class is a widower. He will not be permitted to remarry after Ordination. Nor will I, if my wife dies after my Ordination, but before I do.
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Can you remarry if she dies after you do?

😛
 
Thank you for clearing up the issue. I don’t know much about deacons, so the information is very helpful. Thanks! 🙂

It sounds like the permanent deacons in the Western Church are a lot like the Orthodox priests when it comes to allowances of marriage before ordination.

By the way, are deacons supposed to live a continent life after they are ordained? I know that in the ancient Church, when married men were ordained, they were to abstain (at least to a degree) from sexual relations with their wives. Is there, in canon law at least, any provisions concerning this?
 
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Madaglan:
Thank you for clearing up the issue. I don’t know much about deacons, so the information is very helpful. Thanks! 🙂

It sounds like the permanent deacons in the Western Church are a lot like the Orthodox priests when it comes to allowances of marriage before ordination.

By the way, are deacons supposed to live a continent life after they are ordained? I know that in the ancient Church, when married men were ordained, they were to abstain (at least to a degree) from sexual relations with their wives. Is there, in canon law at least, any provisions concerning this?
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In the East, priests were required to refrain from sexual relations with their wives 12 hrs prior to the Holy Qurbono being celebrated, but now this requirement has been reduced or eliminated…
 
The standing regulation is in the event if a deacon is widowed, he may not remarry. However, many exceptions have been made under individual cicumstances. I.E. The deacon is left with small children to raise or handicapped children are just two instances. It’s always a consideration of each man’s bishop.
 
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James0235:
The majority of deacons in the western Church are unmarried.
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Not anymore. There are at least 10 permanent deacons being ordained this year for the Archdiocese of Detroit. We have 2 transitional deacons who will be ordained for us this May.

Deacons do not have to be married, but if they are married, they must have at least 10 years under their belts, because the vocation is so demanding. You really need a solid marriage to do this. There is one single man in the program this year. If the deacon’s wife preceeds him in death, he cannot remarry. Also, after ordination, a single man cannot marry - he accepts the vow of chastity.
 
Good question. Europe is way behind the United States in their thinking about deacons. Vac. 2 revived the ancient order of deacons. Read the Acts of the Apostles and about St. Stephen. For centuries, deacons were only transitional, that is, this was a step to the priesthood. Since Vat 2 the permanent diaconate has been revived. After much study and formation, men (Most of them married) are Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate. Their job is to serve as the deacons in the early church served the poor. Deacons go where the church is not: prisons, homeless shelters, hospitals,Etc. The deacon also serves in his parish. The deacon can help the priest with many duties. The deacon can baptise, witness the simple marrige ceremony, conduct wake and grave side services. The deacon can preach at Mass. The deacon does not say Mass, hear confessions, or annoint the sick. Some parishes have deacon administraters. The return of the diaconate was not to address the priest shortage, but in some cases it is being used this way. Hope this helps you.

God bless,
Deacon Tony
 
And God bless you, Deacon Tony, for your faithful ministry.

Our Church is so enriched by the ministry of our deacons. We have one deacon in our parish who is able to help minister to his cultural group that is mostly non-English speaking. He is a blessing. We had another deacon, who has since retired and we miss him sorely.
 
God bless you and your family, also. I am trying to encourage a couple of men in our parish to begin the long journey to the diaconate. We,also, have a lot of non-English speakers. I can handle some limited Spanish, but we really need a bilingual English/Spanish deacon. The future of the church in California is in the hands of the Hispanics as they outnumber all of the other races in the church here. The faithful from Mexico and South America are such great examples to us all. Their faith is woven into their culture. Their Godparents really count in the family. Other religions are trying to lure them away, but so far, most are sticking with the church. I pray that all will welcome these brothers and sisters in Christ that come to our parishes.

Deacon Tony SFO
 
One clarification Rev. Deacon Tony,

In the Eastern Church, Deacons cannot marry the couple only a priest.
 
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stbruno:
The standing regulation is in the event if a deacon is widowed, he may not remarry. However, many exceptions have been made under individual cicumstances. I.E. The deacon is left with small children to raise or handicapped children are just two instances. It’s always a consideration of each man’s bishop.
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Actually the rule is now very relaxed you can now get a dispensation for just being busy at the parish thus you need help around the house so get me a wife. You don’t need young children to get this dispensation anymore although that is still a valid reason. It use to be a strict law your wife dies you don’t remarry. Now she dies and you can remarry for a myriad of reasons even just being busy as a parish deacon. I guess you better choose a busy parish if you have no young kids just in case.
 
I don’t know what diocese you are in, but our bishop made it clear that when we signed that paper, we would not be re-marrying. Appealing this to Rome to get permission can take years. Your grandkids would be dead before you heard from Rome.

God bless,
Deacon Tony
 
Deacon Tony560:
I don’t know what diocese you are in, but our bishop made it clear that when we signed that paper, we would not be re-marrying. Appealing this to Rome to get permission can take years. Your grandkids would be dead before you heard from Rome.

God bless,
Deacon Tony
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Ours, too.
 
The rule was relaxed very recently. So yeah you would have to swear by the old rules. I beleive the National Catholic Reporter has some info on this.

There is no formal appeal necessary just paperwork if you have kids or work in a busy parish you supposedly can get a dispensation fairly easily.
 
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