Reminders
On May 16th, four other men and I
celebrated our 17th anniversary of our ordination to the
diaconate. As the Holy Spirit would have
it, another man was ordained to the diaconate on Sunday, May 17th . It seemed like the best way possible to
mark my own ordination was to attend the ordination of my new brother deacon. It turned out to be a good decision as it
afforded me a number of reminders.
I was there early enough to enter the Cathedral for a
prayer. I was reminded that the morning
of my ordination, before Mass, they set up six chairs in a circle near the
tabernacle. Bishop invited those of us
to be ordained to join him there. “Gentlemen,
not a single one of you deserves to be here."
Pause. "But, by the grace of God,
here you are.” Bishop was reminding us
that all the sacraments are a gift from God; we cannot earn them. I had not, and could not do anything to deserve
ordination.
I then headed downstairs to vest with the other
clergy. I put on my alb and took out the
stole I brought to wear. All deacons
were requested to wear a white stole.
White is a liturgical color of celebration and holiness. White is the color of Christmas and the
Easter season. The Church is joyful for
the gift of the man who has come to serve Her.
The white stole I brought was one that I purchased at Lourdes. I had the opportunity last year to wear it
while serving at the altar in the apparition grotto. I kissed it as a sign of reverence, respect
and recognition for the deeply spiritual moments I have experienced these last 17 years.
As we began to line up for the opening procession I
was handed s worship aid. There was a portrait
of St. Stephan being martyred for the faith.
It was a sobering reminder of the depth of self that ordination is. It was a reminder that not everyone would
want to hear the Gospel and they may reject it.
It was a reminder that some are called to preach the Gospel
anyway. But it was also a reminder that
there is a great reward for those who place their trust in Christ Jesus.
I processed in along with a number of other deacons
who had also come to celebrate. It was a
reminder that the diaconate is a community. You can not effectively serve as deacon on your own.
Neither is ordination a standalone sacrament. It is rooted in the Mass. Deacons serve at the altar. We serve the family of believers gathered
around the altar. And we take the Gospel
out to the greater community. All of
these elements of diaconal service are birthed in the Mass.
As it is not possible to not be reminded of the vows one
makes in holy matrimony while at a wedding, I was reminded of the promises that I made to Bishop,
to the Church and to God. I freely presented
myself for ordination, I promised to discharge the Office of Deacon with
humility and love, to hold the mystery of faith and proclaim the faith in word
and action, to pray for the Church daily, to be obedient to the bishop and his
successors. Because I was already
married I was not asked to make a promise of celibacy. To not be asked that reminded me of the
primacy of my marriage commitment.
The man being ordained then lay prostrate on the floor
of the sanctuary while the Litany of the Saints was sung. This was a beautiful reminder that there is a
host of saints already in Heaven that not only provide example and inspiration,
they live in the perfect love of God and so actively love and pray for us.
The laying on of hands by the bishop is a reminder
that this gesture goes back to the earliest moments of the Church. It is the Holy Spirit who shares and activates
His sevenfold gifts that, in turn, activate the ministry of the deacon.
At this point, the newly ordained is vested for the first
time with stole and dalmatic. I touched
my own stole where it crossed my heart.
May I always be reminded that there love of God and love of other live as the source of my own ministry.
The Book of the Gospels is presented to the newly
ordained. The bishop instructs that the
deacon has become a herald of the Gospel.
“Believe what you read. Teach
what you believe. Practice what you teach.” I was reminded of the reality that if you don’t
live the Gospel, no one is going to be interested in what you have to say about
it.
Next, first the bishop, and then every deacon in attendance shares a sign of peace embrace with the newly ordained. I was reminded again of the importance of
bringing the Peace of Christ to others.
It is living in His Peace that opens the door of our heart to receive
and share love. I hope that you are reminded of that every time you read my
signature line below.
His Peace <><
Deacon Dan
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