A History of the Deacon

 

Who is the Deacon?

The earliest reference we see with respect to deacons is in the Acts of the Apostles, where the administrative demands of a growing community began to significantly impact the Apostles' ability to preach the Gospel ... in this case it was a specific complaint about the [apparent] inequitable distribution of community resources.  In short, the Apostles needed executive assistants to handle the distractions with the care and discernment required to preserve the community unity.  Seven (7) faithful and responsible men with the following characteristics were chosen and "ordained" through the laying on of hands (1 Timothy 3:8-13):

• Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain,
• holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
• Moreover, they should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
• Deacons may be married only once 
• and must manage their children and their households well.

This was reinforced in "The Lord's Instruction to the Gentiles Through the Twelve Apostles" (aka The Didache), one of the oldest patristic documents of the Church that we know of ...

"You must choose for yourselves bishops and deacons who are worthy of the Lord: men who are humble and not eager for money, but sincere and approved; for they are carrying out the ministry of the prophets and the teachers for you. Do not esteem them lightly, for they take an honourable rank among you along with the prophets and teachers."

When the [Permanent] Diaconate was restored post Vatican II, the qualification list was reformed and expanded to be the following:

• Age: At least 35, and no more than 65, at the time of ordination
• Status: A Roman Catholic, married or single, of sound moral character, mature faith and possessing a sense of vocation to service.
• Family: If married, a partner in a stable marriage for at least eight to ten years at the time of ordination, who has the expressed consent and support of his wife, and whose children are of such an age and adjustment so as not to be unduly affected by their father’s pursuit of a life that involves special apostolic commitments.
• Natural Gifts: Demonstrates the basic potential to develop the ministerial skills of relating to people, speaking well and being a spiritual leader.
• Spirituality: A man of prayer willing to make personal sacrifices to be a consecrated sign of God’s love for others in his vocation to serve.
• Education: At least two years of college or its academic equivalent; able to handle graduate-level reading and discussion.
• Employment: A person who reflects prior stability in career or work.
• Church/Community Service, Involvement: A man living the Christian life who has demonstrated active apostolic involvement and leadership among the people of God.
• Formation:  Successful completion of a four-year program that includes intellectual, pastoral, spiritual, and human formation.

What does the Deacon Do?

This is, more often than not, the first question people ask when I tell them I am in formation to become a catholic deacon.  It really doesn't matter what their faith tradition is either; even many catholics are not clear on exactly what a deacon does, although they can generally place them together with bishops and priests as having received the Sacrament of Holy Orders (ordained clergy).  In fact, for centuries in the Latin Rite (aka Roman Catholic) Church, the only way to become a deacon was on the way to "transitioning" to become a priest (even today all priests are also [transitional] deacons).  This, of course, may also have served to simplify the process of ordaining any future bishop from the ranks of the presbyterate, since the bishop must hold "the fullness of Holy Orders" (bishop, priest and deacon).  For all intents and purposes, the deacon disappeared (except in the company of the bishop) until the Church restored the ability to "permanently" remain a deacon after Vatican II.  Then a whole lot of thinking had to happen to explain what makes a deacon different than a [mini]-priest and why permanent deacons are actually needed.  For folks that are interested in getting into the weeds about this topic, I recommend "Understanding the Diaconate: Historical, Theological, and Sociological Foundations" by Bishop McKnight.  In the long run, the concept of the permanent deacon is probably still evolving; however, at the present time, a permanent deacon exercising diaconal ministry in the Archdiocese of Boston and in good standing:

• May solemnly baptize and enter the data in the Register,
• May act as deacon at the Eucharistic Liturgy in accord with the prescriptions of the law,
• May preach everywhere in virtue of Canon 764, unless it has been restricted or taken away by the competent ordinary.
• May distribute Holy Communion and bring Holy Communion to the sick.
• May be the minister of exposition and benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament,
• May impart those blessings which are expressly permitted to him by law,
• May officiate at marriages with delegation from the pastor of the parish where the marriage is to be celebrated,
• May lead prayers at a wake and officiate at burial services at a cemetery.

Although a deacon canonically belongs to the bishop (incardinated), he is typically placed at a particular parish where he will, for all practical purposes, serve as parish clergy (as outlined above) under the supervision of the pastor.  In addition, there typically is a secondary diocesan ministry assignment, as well as several on-going personal duties and responsibilities (as home and work life commitments permit, keeping in mind this is generally a voluntary, unpaid ministry):

• Deacons should dedicate themselves to the various ministries of charity.
• As clerics, they are required to pray the Liturgy of the Hours each day (Morning & Evening prayer)
• All active Deacons required to complete of a minimum of 20 hours of ongoing formation each year.
• As stated in Canon 276.4, all Deacons are required to participate in an annual spiritual retreat.
• All Deacons are required to maintain a consistent and ongoing relationship with a spiritual director.

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The 1983 Code of Canon Law incorporated the norms established by Pope Paul VI in his motu proprio Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem (1967) and Ad Pascendum (1972). The revised code includes deacons in the ranks of the clergy (c. 1008, c.1009). They serve as ministers of the word (cc. 757, 764,776), as ordinary ministers of Baptism (c. 861 §1), and as an assisting minister in the Eucharistic celebration (c. 835 §3). He is an ordinary minister for the distribution of communion (c. 910 §1), for exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament (c. 943), and those blessings expressly permitted him by law (cc. 1168, 1169 §3). He may be delegated by the local ordinary or pastor to assist at and bless marriages (c. 1108). When expressly empowered to do so, the deacon may dispense from universal or particular laws (c. 89); he may also, under very strict conditions, dispense from some matrimonial impediments (cc. 1079–1081). Deacons may officiate at funeral rites (cc. 1176–1185), preside at the celebration of the liturgy of the hours, at services of the Word, at services for Sundays and feast days, where no Mass is possible (cc. 1173, 1248 §2). The deacon may be assigned the pastoral care of a parish, under the direction of a canonical pastor (c. 517 §2). Deacons may serve as judges (c. 1421), promoters of justice, defenders of the bond, and auditors or relators (cc. 1428 §2, 1435). The deacon may also serve as chancellor since that office is not restricted to priests [William H. Woestman, OMI, The Sacrament of Orders and the Clerical State (Ottawa 1999), 387–388].