Vocation to holiness

44. The universal call to holiness has its origin in the “baptism of faith” by which all are “truly made sons of God and sharers in the divine nature and thus are made holy”. (¹⁷⁷)

By the Sacrament of Holy Orders, deacons receive a “a new consecration to God” through which they are “anointed by the Holy Spirit and sent by Christ” (¹⁷⁸) to serve God's people and “build up the Body of Christ” (Eph 4:12).

From this stems the diaconal spirituality with its source in what the Second Vatican Council calls “the sacramental grace of the diaconate”. (¹⁷⁹) In addition to helping the deacon to fulfil his functions this also affects his deepest being, imbuing it with a willingness to give his entire self over to the service of the Kingdom of God in the Church. As is indicated by the term “diaconate” itself, what characterizes the inner feelings and desire of those who receive the sacrament, is the spirit of service. Through the diaconate, what Jesus said of his mission is continually realized: “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28). (¹⁸⁰) Thus, through his ministry, the deacon lives the virtue of obedience: in faithfully carrying out those duties assigned to him, the deacon serves the episcopate and the presbyterate in the munera of Christ's mission and what he does is truly pastoral ministry, for the good of the faithful.

45. Hence, the deacon should accept with gratitude the invitation to follow Christ the Servant and devote himself to it throughout the diverse circumstances of life. The character received in ordination conforms to Christ to whom the deacon should adhere ever more closely.

Sanctification is a duty binding all the faithful. (¹⁸¹) For the deacon it has a further basis in the special consecration received. (¹⁸²) It includes the practice of the Christian virtues and the various evangelical precepts and counsels according to one's own state of life. The deacon is called to live a holy life because he has been sanctified by the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Orders and has been constituted by the same Spirit a minister of Christ's Church to serve and sanctify mankind. (¹⁸³)

For deacons the call to holiness means “following Jesus by an attitude of humble service which finds expression not only in works of charity but also in imbuing and forming thoughts and actions”. (¹⁸⁴) When “their ministry is consistent with this spirit (deacons) clearly highlight that quality which best shows the face of Christ: service (¹⁸⁵) which makes one not only 'servants of God' but also servants of God in our own brethren”. (¹⁸⁶)