The Church is identified as one, holy, catholic and apostolic. Apart from those marks, the Church is known for its charismatic dimension. Conscious of Jesus’ call to serve, the Church expresses the charisms received from the Holy Spirit to carry out the mission entrusted to her, through various ministries. Therefore, in virtue of their baptism, the faithful are called to participate in building up the Church, body of Christ, by exercising their ministries according to each one’s charism.
However, the 1983 Code of Cannon Law clarifies that, “By divine institution, some of the Christian faithful are marked with an indelible character and constituted as sacred ministers by the sacrament of holy orders. They are thus consecrated and deputed so that, each according to his own grade, they may serve the People of God by a new and specific title. The orders are the episcopate, the presbyterate, and the diaconate.” (Can.1008-1009). In this perspective, our attention turns to the diaconate, a ministry of service in the Church.
But, who is a deacon? This question might sound strange since we have several times heard about the Greek term diakonia which means service and from which the noun diakonos derives. Actually, diakonos usually translated as deacon, means servant, minister, or helper. It is therefore evident that the ministry of the diaconate is essentially founded on service. This is testified in the early Christian community when the Twelve chose seven brothers among the faithful to assist them in their ministry in serving the whole community. (Cf. Acts 6: 1-4)
When I was ordained a deacon, I received some precious gifts from friends of mine. Among them were two meaningful gifts: an apron and a stole. These symbols can help us understand the diaconal ministry as a call to serve. At first, when I received them, they seemed unusual and a quite strange for me and for many who were attending; however, they are laden with meaning as regards the ministry of the deacons.
Actually, an apron is familiar to us in specific situations, in so far as it is helpful in our daily activities. An apron, not only helps protect our clothes from dirt, but also can signify constant eagerness to serve. One who is not used to serving doesn’t need such a vestment. Moreover, the usage of an apron can imply the readiness to carry out tasks that might make dirty; services that many might not be willing to do. Therefore, for deacons, an apron recalls the attitude of Christ himself who “did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom” (Mt 20:28). During the Last Supper with his disciples, he left us an example: “He rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.” (John 13: 4-5). In like manner, deacons are called to serve their communities by witnessing to Christ whose earthy life was characterized by service: “I am among you as the one who serves” (Lk 22:27).
As a second symbol, the stole is used in an explicit context. It is a vestment worn by ordained ministers (bishops, priests and deacons) while presiding over some liturgical services. It is a mark of their faculty in serving the community. In wearing this vestment, deacons recall to mind that their service, within the community, is a call to serve, a vocation that they freely accept and then minister responsibly to their brethren, as they make present Christ who always serves his people. Consequently, as Don Tonino Bello[1] used to say: “The stole without the apron would simply remain calligraphic. The apron without the stole would be hopelessly sterile.”
To sum up, the Church is called to carry out her mission and witness to Christ who came to serve the whole humanity. In virtue of their baptism and the charisms they receive from the Holy Spirit, the faithful are called to mimic the example of Christ in serving their brothers and sisters. This is made possible thanks to their active participation in the life of the Church. Through their ordination, deacons undertake this responsibility within their community so as to help the Church to be faithful to her call to serve everyone.
[1] Don Tonino Bello (1935-1993), an Italian bishop, was well known for his dedication to the poor and marginalized. In his teachings he would highlight service as a way of life for the Church.
