History of the Permanent Diaconate
The Diaconate, restored as a permanent order of ministry by the Second Vatican Council as
part of its renewed vision of the church, brings back to the church the full complement of
active apostolic ministries. In communion with the bishop and priests, the deacon is
ordained to function in all three areas of the church's life: in the transmission of the
Word; in the celebration of the sacraments and commitment to prayer; and in the community's
love in action through service.
The deacon is called to be the presence of Jesus, touching the oppressed and the
alienated, as well as being a source of encouragement to all the baptized in answering their
call to service. By his life, the deacon makes visible to the church and to the world the
redemptive service fulfilled by Jesus Christ.
The Diaconate and Tradition:
The service of deacons in the Church is documented from apostolic times. A strong
tradition attested already by St. Irenaeus and influencing the liturgy of ordination, sees
the origin of the Diaconate in the institution of the "seven" mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles
(6:1-6).
Up to the fifth century the Diaconate flourished in the western church, but after this
period, for various reasons, it experienced a slow decline which ended in its surviving only
as an intermediate stage for candidates preparing for priestly ordination. The Council of
Trent disposed that the Permanent Diaconate, as it existed in ancient times, should be
restored, in accord with its proper nature, to its original function in the Church. This
prescription, however, was not carried into effect.
It would not be until June 18, 1967 when Pope Paul VI implemented the recommendations of
the Second Vatican Council and restored the Permanent Diaconate.
