III. The Permanent Diaconate

3. The experience of the Church over several centuries has generated the norm of conferring the priesthood only on those who have already received the Diaconate and exercised it appropriately.(²⁶) The Order of deacons, however, “should not be considered merely a step towards the Priesthood”.(²⁷)

“One of the fruits of the Second Vatican Council was the desire to restore the diaconate as a proper and stable rank of the hierarchy”.(²⁸) On the basis of the “historical circumstances and pastoral purposes noted by the Council Fathers, the Holy Spirit, protagonist of the Church's life, worked mysteriously to bring about a new and more complete actualization of the hierarchy which traditionally consists of bishops, priests and deacons. In this manner the Christian community was revitalized, configured more closely to that of the Apostles which, under the influence of the Paraclete, flourished as the Acts of the Apostles(²⁹) testifies.

The permanent Diaconate is an important enrichment for the mission of the Church.(³⁰) Since the munera proper to deacons are necessary to the Church's life,(³¹) it is both convenient and useful, especially in mission territories,(³²) that men who are called to a truly diaconal ministry in the Church, whether liturgical or pastoral, charitable or social, “be strengthened by the imposition of hands, which has come down from the Apostles, and more closely united to the altar so as to exercise their ministry more fruitfully through the sacramental grace of the diaconate”.(³³)

Vatican City, 22 February 1998, Feast of the Chair of Peter.

Congregation for Catholic Education
Pio Card. Laghi
Prefect
+ José Saraiva Martins
Titular Archbishop of Tuburnica
Secretary

Congregation for the Clergy
Darío Card. Castrillón Hoyos
Prefect
+ Csaba Ternyák
Titular Archbishop of Eminenziana
Secretary

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