With the upcoming ordination of two men to the transitional diaconate for our diocese, I have been recalling my own ordination. As the ceremony concluded, I remember thinking with great peace, “I did it, I made the promises.” In the ceremony where a man is ordained a transitional deacon he makes three promises: celibacy, prayer and obedience. These are lifelong commitments made at the diaconate ordination which continue once the deacon is ordained a priest. In a way, it all begins at diaconate and I was deeply aware of this the day I was ordained.
Every deacon is asked by the ordaining bishop if he has resolved to remain celibate for the sake of the kingdom and in lifelong service to God and mankind. Celibacy is a gift from God which allows a man to love with an undivided heart, setting him apart to participate in a unique role within the mission of the Church. The celibate man willingly forgoes marriage for the sake of God’s Kingdom where he chooses to radically imitate Christ. Though a gift, celibacy must be nurtured by and grounded in prayer and healthy relationships. A celibate lifestyle certainly is counter-cultural and challenging, yet Jesus Christ strengthens those he calls with the necessary grace to persevere. In the words of Pope Paul VI, celibacy is “an answer of love to the love which Christ has shown us so sublimely.”
A deacon also promises to maintain and deepen a spirit of prayer, faithfully praying the Liturgy of the Hours for the Church and the whole world. The Liturgy of the Hours is the ancient prayer of the Church which consists primarily of the praying of psalms. Since early days, monks prayed at different times of the day as a means to sanctify their day, and over time, this practice developed into official hours of prayer throughout the day. Every deacon commits himself to pray this official prayer of the Church which is generally prayed five times a day.
Lastly, every deacon promises obedience to his ordinary (bishop) and his successors. As the promise is made, the deacon kneels with his hands together and the bishop wraps his own hands around the hands of the man being ordained. This promise is grounded in the firm conviction that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the whole Church and that through it, the whole body of the Church can remain united. Obedience to one’s bishop ensures a common vision in the Church. Truly a liberating experience, obedience frees a man from his own worries and pettiness in order to fulfill his role in the larger picture of God’s Kingdom.
I conclude with beautiful and challenging words which are said to the newly ordained deacon by the bishop as he receives the Book of the Gospels, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”
Written for The Southern Cross
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