Motivation

64. Inspired by the prayer of ordination, ongoing formation is based on the need of every deacon to love Christ in such manner as to imitate him (“may they be images of your Son”). It seeks to confirm him in uncompromising fidelity to a personal vocation to ministry (“may they fulfil faithfully the works of the ministry”) and proposes a radical, sincere following of Christ the Servant (“may the example of their lives be a constant reminder of the Gospel... may they be sincere...solicitous...and vigilant”).

The basis and motivation of this formation, therefore, “is the dynamism of the order itself”, (²³¹) while its nourishment is the Holy Eucharist, compendium of the entire Christian ministry and endless source of every spiritual energy. St Paul's exhortation to Timothy can also be applied, in a certain sense, to deacons: “I remind you to fan into a flame the gift of God that you have” (2 Tim 1:6; cf. 1 Tim 4:14-16). The theological demands of their call to a singular ministry of ecclesial service requires of them a growing love for the Church, shown forth by their faithful carrying out of their proper functions and responsibilities. Chosen by God to be holy, serving the Church and all mankind, the deacon should continually grow in awareness of his own ministerial character in a manner that is balanced, responsible, solicitous and always joyful.