On Permanent Deacon

The restoration of the Permanent Diaconate was not brought about, as some would have us believe, because of a shortage of priests. Although, owing to the current shortage of priests, it is understandable how this could be seen to be the case. Nor was it restored at the expense of the laity to hold positions of leadership in the Church. Those who would have us believe either of these scenarios do not have a good understanding of the theology of the restored diaconate.

After much debate by the Fathers of Vatican II, on the restoration of the permanent diaconate, it was eventually the theological input by the noted Theologian, Karl Rhaner, which began to formulate a viewpoint, on the role and function, of the order of Deacons in a Church committed to the modern world.

Speaking in Frieburg on December 7, 1968, after Pope Paul VI restored the permanent diaconate in the Church, Rhaner said: “Today, what is properly in question is not a restoration of the diaconate in it’s ancient form, but a creative conception of the diaconate of the future” He continues: ’’We have to emphasize that this process, of defining the nature of the office of deacon, cannot be deducted solely from any abstract concept of the nature of this officially constituted order in the Church. Rather, we have to take into account the concrete situation in which this official institution has to fulfill its function.”

Pope John Paul II, speaking to deacons and their wives in Detroit, Michigan, in 1987 said
“ You (deacons) represent a great and visible sign of the working of the Holy Spirit …the service of the deacon is the Church’s service sacramentalised. Yours is not just one ministry among others but is truly meant to be, as Paul VI described it, ‘a driving force’ for the Church’s diakonia. By your ordination you are configured to Christ in his servant role. You are also meant to be living signs of the servant hood of his church …Taking an active part in society belongs to the baptismal mission of every Christian in accordance with his, or her, state in life but the permanent deacon has a special witness to give.”