9/12/2017 The Deacon’s Ordination: Herbert Vorgrimler, Reflection on the Ministry Sacramental Theology “In his person, the deacon makes it clear that the liturgy must have concrete consequences in the world with all its needs, and that work in the world that is done in the spirit of charity has a spiritual dimension” (p. 270) Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D. Former Executive Director, Secretariat for the Diaconate United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Professor of Theology Santa Clara University Introduction: Effects of Ordination Points from Ordination Ordination is an act of the WHOLE Church 1. Entrance into the clerical state Unique Relationship of Bishop with his deacons 2. Incorporation into the ordo of deacons “Worthiness” 3. Incardination into Epiclesis: Spirit in Action and sacramental local (diocesan) grace church Obedience Focus on Gospel Eucharist: The Church Created Anew 1 9/12/2017 To understand the diaconate today, where it Why is this important? might be headed, must first understand the vision behind the renewal Growing need for deacons and others to understand their roots – Needs of contemporary Church – Complex matrix of ministries Living out the potential of the vision Here are some things to ponder: Plotting the Course Points Diaconate has developed differently Theology and the Diaconate – Why “ordained” ministers at all? around the world – What does “ordination” mean? –LG 18 Europe (Western and Eastern) were working The Foundations of the Diaconate on renewed diaconate – History: Who were deacons and what did they do? for more than a century – Essence vs. Function OR Essence AND BEFORE Vatican II Function? – Insights from history for the contemporary Only a handful of US diaconate bishops at the Council Current and Future Diaconate supported the notion – Continuity, Imagination, Creativity 2 9/12/2017 Theology and the Diaconate Three Points Review of “Theology” and “Faith” The Role of Church and Ministry A Quick Review of the Meaning of Ordination Roots of Theology: What is faith? Faith Seeking. What Is Theology? “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews St. Anselm: “Faith 11:1) Seeking Religious faith (unlike purely human faith Understanding” in doctors, etc.) is concerned with ultimate reality, ultimate questions. (Orobator, SJ) But it’s also: “Faith seeking Catholic tradition distinguished: the act of hope, seeking faith (“fides qua”), and the content of community, seeking faith (“fides quae”). love” 3 9/12/2017 The Act of Faith The Content of Faith “Fides Qua” “Fides Quae” “Credo” = “I believe” God and God’s People “cor” + “do” = “I (Hebrew scripture) give my heart. – The Nature of God: mysterium “Metanoia” = a tremendens et complete change of fascinans heart – God is “other”, Personal, yet unknowable communal – Transcendent, yet dimensions immanent Some other attributes Catholic tradition: Mediation More than mere Knowledge of God is acceptance and trust: more than simply must lead to action personal revelation More than “personal”; What is “mediation” vs more than “teachings” “immediate”? must avoid both People, events, nature: extremes (“faith without the “sacramental works is dead” (James principle” 2:17) 4 9/12/2017 Put yourself at the beginning… Put yourself at the beginning… Followers of Christ had And Jesus came and said to ONE great mission: them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make What was it? disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy (hint: Matthew 28:16-20) Spirit, and teaching them to 1. DIVINE AUTHORITY/POWER 2. MAKE DISCIPLES (COMMUNITY) obey everything that I have 3. BAPTIZE THOSE DISCIPLES commanded you. And 4. TEACH THOSE DISCIPLES 5. CHRIST’S CONSTANT PRESENCE remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” How to live the Mission: Living the Mission. St. Paul I therefore, a prisoner Ephesians 4: 1-13 There is one body in the Lord, beg you and one Spirit, just as to lead a life worthy you were called to the of the calling to which one hope of your you have been called. calling, one Lord, one . making every faith, one baptism, effort to maintain the one God and Father unity of the Spirit in of all, who is above all the bond of peace. and through all and in all. 5 9/12/2017 Each in his or her own way… For what purpose? But each of us was To equip the saints for given grace according the work of ministry, to the measure of for building up the Christ’s gift. The body of Christ, until all gifts he gave were of us come to the unity that some would be of the faith and of the apostles, some knowledge of the Son prophets, some of God, to maturity, to evangelists, some the measure of the full pastors and teachers: stature of Christ. Vatican II and the Nature of the Lumen gentium Church and Ministry After 2000 years, nothing has changed with our 1. Christ is the Light of nations. Because mission this is so, this Sacred Synod gathered As CHURCH together in the Holy Spirit eagerly desires, As MINISTERS of that Church by proclaiming the Gospel to every creature to bring the light of Christ to all, a light brightly visible on the countenance of the Church. 6 9/12/2017 Lumen Gentium and And the Church’s ministers: The Great Commission Since the Church is in Christ like a 18. For the nurturing and constant growth of sacrament or as a sign and instrument the People of God, Christ the Lord instituted both of a very closely knit union with God in His Church a variety of ministries, which and of the unity of the whole human race, work for the good of the whole body. For it desires now to unfold more fully to the those ministers, who are endowed with faithful of the Church and to the whole sacred power, serve their brethren, so that world its own inner nature and universal all who are of the People of God, and mission. therefore enjoy a true Christian dignity, working toward a common goal freely and in an orderly way, may arrive at salvation. So, a theology of the diaconate Meaning of Ordination? begins: With a God who is Love Shifted over the centuries Our own discipleship: Particularly dramatic shift in someone made us 12th Century disciples, baptized us, “From the functional to the taught us, and helped us ontological” realize that God is ever Important for us deacons to with us (EMMANUEL) know about this shift. WHY? Consider your ordination: ((Hint: we weren’t around how did you/will you be much in the 12th Century!)) vested at the beginning of Mass? 7 9/12/2017 US Bishops From the Vatican’s Directory: National Directory, #39 “By ordination, the deacon, who “In every case it is important sacramentalizes the Church’s service, is to that deacons fully exercise their ministry: in preaching, in liturgy exercise the Church’s diakonia. Therefore, and in charity to the extent that ‘the diaconal ministries, distinguished circumstances permit. They above, are not to be separated; the should not be relegated to marginal duties, be made deacon is ordained for them all, and no merely to act as substitutes, one should be ordained who is not nor discharge duties normally prepared to undertake each in some way.” entrusted to non-ordained members of the faithful” (Directory), 40. Foundations of the Diaconate Scriptural Themes: The Radical Meaning of Diakonia At least 47 scriptural instances tying care of those most in need to the covenant “Suffering Servant” 8 9/12/2017 Scriptural Themes: The Radical Scriptural Themes: The Radical Meaning of Diakonia Meaning of Diakonia Religion that is pure and Acts 6? undefiled before God and Paul and “deacons” the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:27) Kenosis and Theosis Matthew 25 Closer Look: Kenosis andTheosis “Faith and Reason” (1998) The prime commitment of theology is seen to be the understanding of God’s kenosis, a grand and mysterious truth for the human mind, which finds it inconceivable that suffering and death can express a love which gives itself and seeks nothing in return. 9 9/12/2017 “Deus Caritas Est” (2006) Philippians 2:5-8 (Kenosis) Being Christian is not the Who, being in the form of God, result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the Did not count equality with God encounter with an event, Something to be grasped. a person, which gives life But he emptied himself, a new horizon and a Taking the form of a slave, decisive direction. Becoming as human beings are; I wish to speak of the And being in every way like a human being, love that God lavishes He was humbler yet, upon us and which we in turn must share with Even to accepting death, death on a cross. others Philippians 2:9-11 Kenosis: Essence of Divinity (Theosis) Who is God in light of the Lucien Richard, OMI Therefore God also highly exalted him kenosis? Kenosis is not a process of de-divination Christ: The Self- And gave him the name but rather as an attribute That is above every name, of God’s love disclosed in Emptying of God the compassionate (Mahwah: Paulist So that at the name of Jesus existence of Jesus. Every knee should bend, God is absolute letting- Press, 1997) In heaven and on earth and under the earth be, self giving, self- spending. Kenosis is And every tongue should confess understood as the way That Jesus Christ is Lord, God relates to the world; creation is a work of love, To the glory of God the Father.