Deacon
The deacon (from Greek / servant) is a man who received the first degree of the sacrament of orders in the Catholic Church or an Orthodox church. While the priests , who received the second degree of the sacrament of order, are collaborators of the bishop in his character Priestly , the deacon is an associate of the bishop in his ministerial character.
Summary |
It is in the Acts of the Apostles (6:1 ff) that is mentioned for the first time, men ordained for the service of their brothers. The deacon then a man chosen by Christians who, after the imposition of hands by one of the apostles is called to take care of the poorest in the community. Quickly, the Deacons will have to manage the physical assets of the nascent Church. Thus, were designated according to the scriptures, the first seven deacons of the early church : the Greek Stephanos , first deacon and first martyr, translates into Stephane, Stephen, Steve, Steeven; Philippe ; Prochorus , Nicanor , Timon ; Parmenas and Nicolas.
In Catholicism
History
Over the ages, the function of deacon will gradually evolve, especially in the Latin Church: it seems that the need is felt to have less of men devoted to one service, lay people are often able to provide material tasks deacons. Gradually, the permanent diaconate disappears and the order of deacons is a step towards priestly ordination. However, St. Francis of Assisi , founder of the Franciscans in the thirteenth century , was a deacon and remained. However, these cases are becoming scarce in the late Middle Ages.
In the Eastern Catholic churches, the diaconate keeps his permanent for those who want it.
Following the proposals of the Second Vatican Council , 18 June 1967, the permanent diaconate and the ordination married men to the diaconate.
Basis and doctrinal role
In Catholic theology, the priest is the sign of Christ , head of the Church (his role is that of a unifier), Deacon, it is a sign of Christ the servant.
The role of deacon in the Roman Catholic Church is defined by the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium : "According to arrangements made by the appropriate authority, it is for the deacons to administer Baptism solemnly, to maintain and distribute the Eucharist, to attend on behalf of the church, marriage and bless, to bring the sacrament to the dying, to read to the faithful of Holy Scripture, instruct and exhort the people to preside at worship and prayer of the faithful, to be ministers of sacramentals, to preside over the funeral rites and burial. Charity dedicated to offices and administration, deacons have to remember the admonition of St. Polycarp: "Be merciful, zealous, walk in the truth of the Lord, who was the servant of all."
The minimum age required by Canon Law (CIC 1031-2) is twenty-five years for the single. For the newlyweds who become deacons, the required age is 35. If widowed, the married deacon is then subject to the rule of celibacy.
The deacon, as a clerk, is required to read the Divine Office.
Deacon in liturgy
In the Catholic liturgy , the deacon is a servant instead of the altar: He wears a stole , worn askew on his left shoulder, symbolizing the burden of the cross of Christ, it can be coated with a dalmatian (of which dating back to IV century ), the symbol of service.
At Mass, he is responsible for proclaiming the Gospel and can preach: He is, par excellence, the minister of the word. During the liturgy the Eucharist , it helps the priest, especially for the preparation of gifts: he fills the cup of wine and add water. He urged the faithful to embrace. During Communion, he distributes the Blessed Sacrament to the faithful. Finally, he sends the faithful: "Go in peace (and joy) of Christ."
Place of deacon in the Catholic Church hierarchy
Before the liturgical reform of Vatican II in Ecclesia Dei communities present
| The traditional degrees of the sacrament of orders in the Catholic Church | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor orders | Porter | Player | Exorcist | Acolyte | |||
| Major orders | Subdeacon | Deacon | Priest | Bishop | |||
Since the liturgical reform of Vatican II
- Instituted ministries
Called "instituted ministries", the readership and the acolyte that those who are preparing for "ordained ministry" (diaconate, priesthood), they belong to what was called, before Vatican II, the minor orders. In some cases, lay men can be admitted in a stable manner to these departments.
- Ordained ministry
Diaconate, priesthood and episcopate. Deacons, priests and bishops are chosen, called, ordained for a specific mission, and sacramental character permanently. They are now clergy (clergy), not laity.
In Orthodoxy
Eastern Christianity has retained the diaconate as a permanent order. A married man or a monk might be ordained a deacon (later priest). Deacons participate in the life of the parish community and co-celebrate the liturgy (which, among other things, they read the Gospel - without preaching) and praise him in the direction of a priest.
In Protestantism
A little institutional diaconal
Protestant churches are aware of the ministry of deacons, responsible for poor relief. This ministry is exercised through "institutions or Protestant works, independent of church structures in the strict sense, either as part of church deacon.
A ministry of parish deacon may also be exercised in respect of certain parts of the parish population (eg youth), alongside the more general pastoral ministry.
In France, management of church property remains a matter for its governing bodies: general meetings and councils.
Communities of deaconesses
Deaconesses are called nuns devoted primarily to serving the poor. This movement of community life of women has developed in the early nineteenth century when the alarm clock. Deaconesses are found in all Protestant churches, the Baptist to Reformed. It is in Lutheranism , their birthplace, that these communities are the most numerous.
In most cases, their activity is similar to those of apostolic religious orders well known Catholicism. They are nurses and teachers. See deaconesses Reuilly.
They are also theologians, specifically in the Buc deaconesses who are part of deaconesses Reuilly. Some are pastors.
Other locations of deaconesses Reuilly in France including Mazet Saint Voy Haute Loire and abroad in Norway, Cameroon and Polynesia. There are deaconesses in Alsace, especially in Strasbourg have another story that deaconesses Reuilly.
While most of these religious communities are single women, there are at least familiar with a community at a time:
- community life and life in diaspora. Diaspora members are generally married.
- a community cash and assumed a female deacon, who found no other refuge, and applying the rule of celibacy. The situation is quite similar to that of the Abbey of Fontevraud at its foundation.
Salutation deacon
Many are those who know how to call a deacon. "My Father" or not. It should be noted first that the deacon is not a layman. He received the sacrament of orders in the first degree. He was ordained to the diaconate. But being the first level of the Order, some deacons may be married. Deacon is indeed the representative of Christ the Servant par excellence, the priests and bishops are more particularly and fully representative of Christ the Head Pastor of the Church, Shepherd of the flock. We usually call the deacon, "Sir." The inquiry "my brother" is highly appropriate, but not necessarily always used. It marks the fact that the deacon is a minister (just as the Priest and Bishop) of God in the service of his brothers and sisters.
Bibliography
- Stephen Grieu, A bond so strong. When the love of God is diaconia al. Theologies practices, Montreal-Paris-Brussels, Lumen Vitae-Novalis-Ed. Workshop. ISBN 978-2-87324-358-6.
- Haquin Andre, Philippe Weber, Diaconate, twenty-first century, coll. Theologies practices, Brussels, Lumen Vitae, 1997, 248 p. ISBN 2-87324-085-7.
- Andre Lemaire , the Ministries to the origins of the Church: Birth of the triple hierarchy, bishops, presbyters, deacons, Cerf, 1971
- Andre Lemaire, The Ministries in the Church, The Centurion, 1974
Notes
References
- "Where the episcopal conferences see fit, the order of the diaconate should be restored as a permanent state of life, according to the provisions of the Constitution on the Church (LG 29). It is useful in fact that men who carry out a truly diaconal ministry, or preaching the Word of God as catechists, or governing in the name of the priest and the bishop scattered Christian communities, either by exercising charity in the works social or charitable, be strengthened by the imposition of hands from the apostles and closer to the altar, for they carry out their ministry more effectively, through the sacramental grace of the diaconate "Ad Gentes 16, 1965.
- (the) Motu proprio Sacrum diaconatus Paul VI, June 18, 1967, on the Vatican website , also available in English and Italian.
- Lumen Gentium, No. 29
Internal Links
External Links
- Motu proprio Sacrum diaconatus on the site of the Holy See (Latin, English and Italian)
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