As a deacon, a lot was said upon which I could comment, but I'll limit it to a few points.
I think there is no need for the adjective "permanent." (The term "transitional" admittedly has some use.) Try calling your pastor a "permanent priest," as he is not likely to become a bishop. There simply are bishops, priests and deacons in Holy Or…
As a deacon, a lot was said upon which I could comment, but I'll limit it to a few points.
I think there is no need for the adjective "permanent." (The term "transitional" admittedly has some use.) Try calling your pastor a "permanent priest," as he is not likely to become a bishop. There simply are bishops, priests and deacons in Holy Orders.
Although deacons were first called to wait on tables, what's the first thing we see deacons doing in Acts?
Preaching and even baptizing (Deacon Saints Stephen and Philip).
What is the first Table we wait on, is it not the Holy Table, the Altar?
That said, I am an Eastern Catholic deacon. We've always had the diaconate, so there was no need for a restoration and it did evolve differently in the ecclesial East. For us, ministry of the Word is clearly primary. And, because we ordain married men to the priesthood, some men have served as deacons for many years before retiring from their secular professions and being ordained priests. We also tend to ordain men at a younger age to the diaconate.
I recommend Deacon Dominic Cerrato Ph.D.'s broader understanding of the diaconate. He is on the papal commission and editor of The Deacon magazine, which I highly recommend. Many contend there was an (undue) influence in the Latin Church of the German Lutheran deacon/deaconess movement of the mid-20th century.
And, one correction to a comment I heard, if I may, deacons serve the bishop primarily, we're not assigned to be "Father's helper."
We are ordained to ministry, we serve where the needs are, based on our skills and gifts. So, the ministries of deacons from one parish to another and within one parish often vary widely.
And, for those of us who are married, we have a vocation within a vocation.
Thank you for a worthwhile discussion. We are not mini-priests nor glorified altar boys, we are deacons (even though much of what we do can and should be done by all disciples based on our baptism).
I encourage men who may be called to discern the diaconate. Deacon Saints Francis, Lawrence and Ephrem, pray for us.
As a deacon, a lot was said upon which I could comment, but I'll limit it to a few points.
I think there is no need for the adjective "permanent." (The term "transitional" admittedly has some use.) Try calling your pastor a "permanent priest," as he is not likely to become a bishop. There simply are bishops, priests and deacons in Holy Orders.
Although deacons were first called to wait on tables, what's the first thing we see deacons doing in Acts?
Preaching and even baptizing (Deacon Saints Stephen and Philip).
What is the first Table we wait on, is it not the Holy Table, the Altar?
That said, I am an Eastern Catholic deacon. We've always had the diaconate, so there was no need for a restoration and it did evolve differently in the ecclesial East. For us, ministry of the Word is clearly primary. And, because we ordain married men to the priesthood, some men have served as deacons for many years before retiring from their secular professions and being ordained priests. We also tend to ordain men at a younger age to the diaconate.
I recommend Deacon Dominic Cerrato Ph.D.'s broader understanding of the diaconate. He is on the papal commission and editor of The Deacon magazine, which I highly recommend. Many contend there was an (undue) influence in the Latin Church of the German Lutheran deacon/deaconess movement of the mid-20th century.
And, one correction to a comment I heard, if I may, deacons serve the bishop primarily, we're not assigned to be "Father's helper."
We are ordained to ministry, we serve where the needs are, based on our skills and gifts. So, the ministries of deacons from one parish to another and within one parish often vary widely.
And, for those of us who are married, we have a vocation within a vocation.
Thank you for a worthwhile discussion. We are not mini-priests nor glorified altar boys, we are deacons (even though much of what we do can and should be done by all disciples based on our baptism).
I encourage men who may be called to discern the diaconate. Deacon Saints Francis, Lawrence and Ephrem, pray for us.
Fr. Deacon Craig Anderson