The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,“Get up and head south on the roadthat goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch,a court official of the Candace,that is, the queen of the Ethiopians,in charge of her entire treasury,who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home.Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.The Spirit said to Philip,“Go and join up with that chariot.” Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said,“Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied,“How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. This was the Scripture passage he was reading:
Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth.
Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply,“I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this?About himself, or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage,he proclaimed Jesus to him.As they traveled along the roadthey came to some water,and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?” Then he ordered the chariot to stop,and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water,and he baptized him. When they came out of the water,the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away,and the eunuch saw him no more,but continued on his way rejoicing. Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good newsto all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
REFLECTION: "Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him."
Philip on this reading was called "The Evangelist". He is one of the original seven deacons appointed by the apostles in Acts 6:5 (Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch).
Do you have acolytes helping in your parish: how about permanent or transitional deacons?
In the Sacrament of Holy Orders we find first acolytes, from the “Greek akolouthos; Latin sequens [meaning he who] comes, a follower, an attendant.” In the past it was exclusively part of “minor orders,” one of the stepping stones to become a priest. In 1973 Pope Paul VI abolished "minor orders", but kept the role of the acolyte. Calling it a "ministry". These men aid the priest and the deacon in the service of the altar and in liturgical celebrations. They also aid in the instruction of the faithful, and distributing Holy Communion to the sick. In modern times these are men that might or not be seeking ordination to the priesthood.
Then we have the permanent and transitional deacons. A transitional deacon is that man that has attended seminary for a few years, and intends to become a priest. He is appointed by the Bishop and makes a promise of celibacy, and serves in a parish for practical experience until the time of his Ordination to the Priesthood.
The word deacon derives from the Greek diakonia, meaning “service,” thereby indicating that a deacon is called like Christ to be a servant. The Order of Deacon has three essential functions: the proclamation of the Gospel, the service of the liturgy, and the administration of charitable works. In particular, the deacon may assist the bishop and the priests in a variety of liturgical functions: Deacons may baptize, witness the exchange of vows and bless marriages, distribute Holy Communion, impart benediction with the Blessed Sacrament, bring Viaticum to the dying, read Sacred Scripture to the faithful and especially proclaim the Gospel, preach, officiate at funerals and burials, and administer the sacramentals. They should also dedicate themselves to other charitable works, particularly within the parish community. (CCC 1569-70, and Lumen Gentium 29).
The Second Vatican Council proposed the reinstallation of the Permanent Diaconate in the Latin Rite. Pope Paul VI issued Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem in which he established norms for the restoration of the permanent diaconate in the Latin Rite. "They help by preaching the Word of God as catechists, governing scattered Christian communities in the name of the bishop or parish priest, or exercising charity in the performance of social or charitable works– if they were to be strengthened by the imposition of hands which has come down from the apostles. They would be more closely bound to the altar and their ministry would be made more fruitful through the sacramental grace of the diaconate."
Please note that unlike a priest, deacons cannot absolve sins in the Sacrament of Penance, offer the Mass or confect the Holy Eucharist, administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, or administer the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Unlike transitional deacons, permanent deacons can be married men and have families. However, single deacons retain the vow of celibacy, as well as widowed ones upon the death of their spouse.
In our lifetime, the permanent deaconate has been around 50 years. For many of us we did not grow up with permanent deacons in our parish. However, nowadays, we can see many family men wanting to participate further in the life of the Church, and discerning and entering the acolyte and deacon preparation. Many of these men are truly the "hidden treasures of the Church".
Let us pray for good acolytes and deacons that help and support our parish priests with their everyday duties, and extend the love of the Church to the faithful.
And as St. Polycarp exhorted them: "Let them be merciful, and zealous, and let them walk according to the truth of the Lord, who became the servant of all."
Comments