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| Congregation for Catholic Education; Congregation for the Clergy Basic norms for the formation of permanent deacons IntraText CT - Text |
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THE DIACONAL MINISTRY
Diaconal functions
22. The Second Vatican Council synthesized the ministry of deacons in the threefold “diaconia of the liturgy, the word and of charity”.(78) In this way diaconal participation through the ordained ministry in the one and triple munus of Christ is expressed. The deacon “is teacher in so far as he preaches and bears witness to the word of God; he sanctifies when he administers the Sacrament of Baptism, the Holy Eucharist and the sacramentals, he participates at the celebration of Holy Mass as a “minister of the Blood”, and conserves and distributes the Blessed Eucharist; he is a guide in as much as he animates the community or a section of ecclesial life.(79) Thus deacons assist and serve the bishops and priests who preside at every liturgy, are watchful of doctrine and guide the people of God.
The ministry of deacons, in the service of the community of the faithful, should “collaborate in building up the unity of Christians without prejudice and without inopportune initiatives”.(80) It should cultivate those “human qualities which make a person acceptable to others, credible, vigilant about his language and his capacity to dialogue, so as to acquire a truly ecumenical attitude”.(81)