Along with my thirty-four seminary classmates, I am looking forward to my ordination as a deacon in October. But I have been getting a lot of questions.
“How come some deacons are married? Can they give last rites? How come deacons can give a homily?”
Since I have been thinking a lot about the diaconate—and answering a lot of questions—I thought it would be easier to just write it down.
The sacrament of holy orders instituted by Jesus Christ is conferred in three degrees. Bishops, priests, and deacons each receive the sacrament of holy orders, each in their proper degree.
When a man becomes a deacon, priest, or bishop we can properly speak of an ordination as a sacrament is confected. Becoming a monsignor or a cardinal, on the other hand, confers no sacramental grace and is simply a special recognition with special responsibilities.
Becoming a deacon, priest, or bishop however is something far different. Christ himself, through the ministry of the church confers a sacrament—a rite that really causes grace in the soul which receives it.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “Deacons share in Christ's mission and grace in a special way. The sacrament of holy orders marks them with an imprint ("character") which cannot be removed and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the "deacon" or servant of all.”
When a man is ordained a deacon he is configured forever to Christ the servant. At that time he promises forever to respect and obey his bishop and to pray faithfully the Liturgy of the Hours. For those who are on the path to priesthood, it is at this time that they promise life-long celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of God.
After the Second Vatican Council, the church retrieved the tradition of ordaining a man a deacon without his going on to the priesthood. This is the so-called permanent diaconate (as opposed to transitional deacons who will be ordained priests). The church has also permitted married men to be ordained permanent deacons, and in fact, these are the deacons you probably encounter most.
The diaconate is rooted in Sacred Scripture. In the Acts of the Apostles, the early church ordained seven men deacons, including Stephen who became the first martyr of the church (Acts 6:2-6).
Deacons assist at Mass, proclaim the Gospel and can on occasion give homilies. They distribute holy Communion, officiate at weddings, preside at funeral services, and perform any manner of charitable works. Deacons are really ordained to serve. Through their service in any number of ways, they make sacramentally present the reality of Christian service after the model of Jesus.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley recently pointed out at an ordination to the diaconate that there is no real equivalent for deacons in the Old Testament. Those ordained specifically for charitable work, a sacrament to configure a man for humble service, is a uniquely Christian phenomenon. While there are priests of the Old Covenant, the diaconate is utterly unique to the new law of grace.
The church is very wise to ordain a man a deacon before he becomes a priest. Before he is given headship in the church, able to hear confessions, anoint the sick or celebrate Mass, he is first configured to Christ the servant. A man is first made an icon of Christ the servant before he is configured to Christ, head, shepherd, and bridegroom, when he is ordained a priest.
Ordinations are times of joy for the men ordained and for the whole church. It is evidence that Jesus continues to call—as he did on the Sea of Galilee—and by grace men continue to respond.
I am really looking forward to October, and I don’t mind all the questions. The gift of holy orders—to the church and to the world—is a grace, a gift, and a mystery. It is no small thing indeed.
Ryan Connors is a fourth year theology student studying at the North American College in Rome. He is a Riverside native and a member of St. Brendan Parish.
