SINGLE AND MARRIED DEACONS IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

 SINGLE AND MARRIED DEACONS IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Rev Fr. Utazi Prince Marie Benignus Zereuwa

June 22 2022

Feast of Saint Paulinus of Nola

INTRODUCTION

Married men have been admitted to the clerical state of the Roman Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council in the form of permanent deacons. These men receive the same sacrament of orders that priests and bishops receive, and are thus considered clerics. They just do so without the obligation of celibacy that priests and bishops have been held to, beginning with the Gregorian reforms of the 11th century.

Since 1968, when the bishops of the United States petitioned the Holy See for authorization to restore the permanent diaconate in their dioceses, their local churches have been strengthened and enriched by the many devout and competent men who have responded to this unique call (Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Clergy bulletin). Today, across Europe and America, and some parts of Asia and Africa continents, permanent deacons are playing greater ecclesiastical roles.

Deacons have been around the Church since the very beginning, frequently being referenced in the New Testament. To clarify this history Pope Francis created a commission to investigate the role of deacons in the early Church, looking especially at the role of women deacons.

THE DEACON IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) provides a better definition of a deacon and his particular role in the Church as follows: A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. There are three groups, or orders, of ordained ministers in the Church: bishops, presbyters and deacons. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came to serve and not to be served. The entire Church is called by Christ to serve, and the deacon, in virtue of his sacramental ordination and through his various ministries, is to be a servant in a servant-Church.

The diaconate is the first order in the sacrament of holy orders, and for those called to the priesthood it is the first order they receive. All men on their way to the priesthood must first be ordained a deacon. This is called the transitional diaconate, because it marks a transition to the Presbyterate. However, not all deacons become priests.

Only men can be deacons; it is an ordained position and only men can be ordained in the Catholic Church. Some men are called by God to serve the Church in a way that does not involve the priesthood, hence, the permanent and transitional type of deacon. Thus, TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE and PERMANENT DIACONATE are the two ways of fulfilling the order of deacons in the Catholic Church. 

Note that all priests and bishops are also deacons, because the diaconate is the first of the three stages of Holy Orders. 

TRANSITIONAL DEACON

Transitional deacons are seminary students in the process of becoming ordained priests. They serve as deacons for, between at least, six months and two years, and are then ordained by the bishop as priests. 

PERMANENT DEACON

Permanent deacons are ordained to the Catholic Church and have no intentions of becoming a priest. Permanent Deacons may be married or single. However, if they are not married at the time they are ordained, they cannot marry after and they are expected to live a life of celibacy. Should the wife of permanent deacon die before he does; he is not permitted to remarry. If divorced, the permanent deacon must receive an annulment from the church before he can be ordained.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRANSITIONAL DEACON AND PERMANENT DEACON

A transitional deacon becomes a priest later, within a space of 6 months to 2 years. A permanent deacon usually does not proceed to priesthood. He stops at Diaconate. In some situations (though rare), a permanent deacon is ordained a priest at a very old age and if conditions demand such for the sake of evangelization and salvation of souls. By then, the wife must have been late (dead). For the fact that sometimes the bishop will ordain both transitional and permanent deacons at the same ceremony, makes it difficult to tell the difference between transitional deacon and permanent deacon.

This permanent diaconate is a ministry of service, both liturgically (primarily through preaching, acting as an ordinary minister of holy communion, and celebrating baptisms and officiating at weddings and funerals held outside a Mass), and in the many service ministries of parish and diocesan life. 

The vocation to the permanent diaconate is a special call in the Church and remains a powerful channel of grace for those men who desire to serve the Church without becoming a priest. The permanent diaconate is a specific vocation in the Church, one that depends on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God is the one who calls deacons to service in the Church through the sacrament of Holy Orders. It is important to remember that it is not something that is gained by going through the ranks of the Church, but something that is given (and received) through the grace of God.

GENERAL DUTIES OF DEACONS WHETHER TRANSITIONAL OR PERMANENT

The most well-known reference to deacons in the New Testament is from the Acts of the Apostles. It reads, And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty' (Acts 6:2-3).

From the very beginning deacons were known to serve and assist the priests and bishops in their sacramental ministry. Practically speaking, deacons can do many activities that priests participate in. 

The activities and roles of the deacons include the following but not limited to them: (1) Celebration of baptism. (2) Preaching during Mass. (3) Officiating at a Catholic wedding. (4) Running a parish (with the permission of the local bishop). (5) Deacons can also lead communion services (that often look and feel like a Catholic Mass). (6). Deacons are ordinary minister of Holy Communion.  (7). Officiating at funerals held outside a Mass. (8). Deacons assist the priest and the bishop during Eucharistic Celebrations. (9) Deacons aid priests in their parish duties by visiting the sick, providing spiritual guidance in the community and acting as a servant of God. (10) Deacons are also expected to pray the Liturgy of the Hours each day. These are the 150 Psalms and Scriptural readings from the Old and New Testament that every cleric is expected to pray daily. (11) Permanent Deacons hold secular jobs to provide for themselves and their families.

However, Deacons cannot consecrate the Eucharist; they cannot hear confessions; they cannot administer the sacraments of Confirmation; they cannot administer the sacrament of anointing of the Sick. Simply put, deacons are meant to be servants, assisting the pastor (and Church) in whatever way he can.

Even though deacons and priests may look alike and share many responsibilities, deacons are not priests. Sometimes going to Mass can be confusing for a Catholic unfamiliar with deacons. Both deacons and priests wear vestments at Mass and in some dioceses, both even wear Roman collars. To make it even more confusing, sometimes priests and deacons wear the same gray-colored clerical shirts with those Roman collars.

However, while deacons and priests may sometimes appear to be the same, their roles in the Church are very different.

HISTORY OF PERMANENT DEACON

In 1840, in perhaps the first written record on the restoration of the permanent diaconate, J. K. Passavant, a German physician, sent a letter to Melchior van Diepenbrock, the future Archbishop of Breslau (then a part of Germany) suggesting married men, “drawn from the best educated ranks of the so-called laity,” could do the work of deacons in the church. Deacon William T. Ditewig, who studies the diaconate, writes that Passavants suggestion likely came from the observation that the priesthood was too divorced from the daily life of people.

But during the Second Vatican Council some bishops, who were eventually convinced of the need for the restoration of the ancient order, still feared that without an obligation of celibacy, the church would lose priestly vocations to the permanent diaconate. The council eventually determined that mature married men (age 35 and older in the United States) could be ordained permanent deacons, but younger men must promise celibacy.

Permanent deacons still face restrictions regarding dating and marriage. Mature men who feel called to the permanent diaconate and marriage must already be married before beginning the process of formation for ordination. Otherwise, they have to accept the obligation of celibacy.

In the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States, the U.S. bishops state, In one way or another, celibacy affects every deacon, married or unmarried, particularly in the case where a deacons wife dies. Barring a special dispensation from the Holy See (for example, in the case of young children), these deacons cannot remarry.

Most dioceses in the United States with a permanent diaconate expect wives to go through formation with their husbands, often a three- to four-year process. The U.S. bishops guidelines only require wives formal consent to their husbands ordination.

CODE OF CANON LAW 1983 ON PERMANENT DEACON

This is the current code of law in use in the Roman Catholic Church. Let us take the following points which will help us in understanding the deacon more.

Canon 1026 states that: For a person to be ordained, he must enjoy the requisite freedom. It is absolutely wrong to compel anyone, in any way or for any reason whatsoever, to receive orders, or to turn away from orders anyone who is canonically suitable.

Canon 1027 Aspirants to the diaconate and the priesthood are to be formed by careful preparation in accordance with the law.

Canon 1029 Only those are to be promoted to orders who, in the prudent judgement of the proper Bishop or the competent major Superior, all things considered, have sound faith, are motivated by the right intention, are endowed with the requisite knowledge, enjoy a good reputation, and have moral probity, proven virtue and the other physical and psychological qualities appropriate to the order to be received.

Canon 1031 §1 The priesthood may be conferred only upon those who have completed their twenty-fifth year of age [that is, those who reached 25 years], and possess a sufficient maturity; moreover, an interval of at least six months between the diaconate and the priesthood must have been observed. Those who are destined for the priesthood are to be admitted to the order of diaconate only when they have completed their twenty-third year [that is 23 years of age].

§2 A candidate for the permanent diaconate who is not married may be admitted to the diaconate only when he has completed at least his twenty-fifth year; if he is married, not until he has completed at least his thirty-fifth year, and then with the consent of his wife.

§3 Episcopal Conferences may issue a regulation which requires a later age for the priesthood and for the permanent diaconate.

§4 A dispensation of more than a year from the age required by §§1 and 2 is reserved to the Apostolic See.

Canon 1032 §1 Aspirants to the priesthood may be promoted to the diaconate only when they have completed the fifth year of the curriculum of philosophical and theological studies.

§2 After completing the curriculum of studies and before being promoted to the priesthood, deacons are to spend an appropriate time, to be determined by the Bishop or by the competent major Superior, exercising the diaconal order and taking part in the pastoral ministry.

§3 An aspirant to the permanent diaconate is not to be promoted to this order until he has completed the period of formation.

PERMANENT DEACON AND CLERICAL CELIBACY (USING ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS AS AN EXAMPLE)

The obligation of clerical celibacy affects every deacon, whether married or unmarried. An unmarried man who receives ordination to the permanent diaconate is obliged to maintain perfect and perpetual continence, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. A married man ordained to the permanent diaconate is obliged to maintain the chastity required of those in the married state, and, should his marriage end, either through death or divorce, he is impeded from contracting another marriage.

In rare circumstances, a deacon who is widowed after ordination may apply to the Holy Father for a dispensation from the impediment of Holy Orders (canon 1087). However, this dispensation is only granted when the diocesan bishop attests that the ministry of the deacon is truly necessary to the diocese and when the deacon has young children who need the care of a mother. The current practice of the Holy See is to grant a dispensation to permanent deacons who are widowed only in the rarest of cases, and the request will not be considered when these factors are not present.

A permanent deacon, who is divorced after ordination, even if he receives a declaration of nullity, is prohibited from contracting another marriage. This prohibition continues for as long as he remains in the clerical state.

When the marriage of a permanent deacon ends because of the death of a spouse or because of a civil divorce, the Church is called on to minister to both the permanent deacon and the other members of his family, including, in the case of divorce, his former spouse. While this may be particularly difficult in the case of divorce, the Churchs responsibility to permanent deacons, their wives and families remains, and the entire diaconal community shares in the responsibility to provide consolation, understanding and direction through this painful adjustment.

There is nothing to prevent a permanent deacon who has been widowed from continuing in the exercise of public ordained ministry, provided that he observes the obligation of clerical celibacy.

Canonically, there is nothing to prevent a permanent deacon who is separated or divorced from continuing to exercise public ordained ministry. There are, however, pastoral problems. Since the permanent deacon is a public figure, his exercise of ordained ministry after a separation or divorce may cause some members of the Christian community distress, and thereby limit the effectiveness of the deacons pastoral ministry. In addition, the permanent deacon often needs time away from ministry in order to adjust to his new situation.

Therefore, as a general rule, a permanent deacon who is divorced will be asked to resign from his ministerial assignment and take a six month leave of absence. During the time of leave, he will be expected to refrain from wearing clerical garb or exercising any of the ministries or functions of a deacon. At the end of the period of leave, the permanent deacon will be asked to meet with the Archbishop or his delegate to determine if a reinstatement of faculties is appropriate. Any subsequent ministerial assignment would be at a location different from those at which he served during his marriage.

HOW TO BECOME A PERMANENT DEACON IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Canon 1026 states that: For a person to be ordained, he must enjoy the requisite freedom. It is absolutely wrong to compel anyone, in any way or for any reason whatsoever, to receive orders, or to turn away from orders anyone who is canonically suitable.

Canon 1029 Only those are to be promoted to orders who, in the prudent judgement of the proper Bishop or the competent major Superior, all things considered, have sound faith, are motivated by the right intention, are endowed with the requisite knowledge, enjoy a good reputation, and have moral probity, proven virtue and the other physical and psychological qualities appropriate to the order to be received.

Canon 1031 §2 A candidate for the permanent diaconate who is not married may be admitted to the diaconate only when he has completed at least his twenty-fifth year; if he is married, not until he has completed at least his thirty-fifth year, and then with the consent of his wife.

§3 Episcopal Conferences may issue a regulation which requires a later age for the priesthood and for the permanent diaconate.

The candidate must be at least 35 years old and practicing, baptized members of the Roman Catholic Church. If baptized as an adult, a deacon must have belonged to the church for at least five years prior to being ordained. The candidate must satisfy certain marriage requirements. If married, he must ensure the Church recognizes the marriage. If divorced, he must seek an annulment. The Deacon may not remarry. If single or widowed, deacons are expected to lead a life of celibacy. Of course, transitional deacons may not be married, as they are working toward priesthood.

The Candidate must have earned a high school diploma. He should be in good health and be able to dedicate time to the formation program, a five-year course of study for prospective deacons.

The candidates should discuss the decision with God, their families and their priest. They should pray for guidance to ensure the path is sanctioned and discuss the desire to join the diaconate with their families. If married, a deacon must receive the consent of his wife to proceed. Speaking with a priest will help a deacon decide if the life of a cleric is right for him.

Once a candidate has met these requirements, he may submit an application to the diocesan diaconate office through his Parish Priest. The priest will send a letter of recommendation, confirming that the applicant is in good standing with the Church.

The application process includes intensive screening. The Candidate can expect several rounds of interviews. If married, his wife will also be interviewed, as will any children the couple has still living at home. The candidate may be required to submit an application for canonical dispensations for past misconduct and agree to a psychological evaluation.

The candidate must also submit a multitude of paperwork along with his application. Candidates for the diaconate should compile and include a certificate of baptism, confirmation of marriage (if applicable), proof of age, a recent photograph of themselves, a recent photography of their spouse (if applicable), a letter of consent from their spouse (if applicable), letters of recommendation (including one from a current employer), recent medical records, academic transcript, background check, proof of legal residency and a report from the rector where the candidate spent time in formation.

Once all the required documents have been submitted, the diocesan diaconate committee will review and come to a decision. If the applicant is deemed ready by the committee, the bishop will then make the final decision.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Clergy bulletin. January 29, 2013. 309-Permanent Deacons  Regulations for the Ministry of a Permanent Deacon. Volume X, Number 5, Revised. https://safe-environment.archspm.org/300-clergy/309-permanent-deacons-regulations-ministry-permanent-deacon/ June 20 2022

Code of Canon Law 1983. http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P3P.HTM June 20 2022

Meghan Murphy-Gill. Why are some deacons married? March 15, 2012. https://uscatholic.org/articles/201203/why-are-some-deacons-married/ June 20 2022 (This article appeared in the March 2012 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 77, No. 3, page 46).

Philip Kosloski. What is the difference between a transitional and a permanent deacon? 05/04/21. https://www.google.com/amp/s/aleteia.org/2021/05/04/what-is-the-difference-between  a-transitional-and-a-permanent-deacon/amp June 20 2022

Philip Kosloski. Deacon. 09/10/17. https://aleteia.org/2017/09/10/what-are-deacons-and-what-separates-them-from-priests/ June 20 2022