National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent ...
National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent ... National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent ...
34Chapter 2Family life, work,and ministryWitness to thesanctity of marriageCelibacy: Consecrationto Christ with anundivided heart67. “In particular the deacon and his wife must be a living exampleof fidelity and indissolubility in Christian marriage before a worldwhich is in dire need of such signs. By facing in a spirit of faith thechallenges of married life and the demands of daily living, theystrengthen the family life not only of the Church community but ofthe whole of society. They also show how the obligations of family life,work and ministry can be harmonized in the service of the Church’smission. Deacons and their wives and children can be a great encouragementto others who are working to promote family life.” 6468. A married deacon, with his wife and family, gives witness tothe sanctity of marriage. The more they grow in mutual love, conformingtheir lives to the Church’s teaching on marriage and sexuality,the more they give to the Christian community a model ofChrist-like love, compassion, and self-sacrifice. The married deaconmust always remember that through his sacramental participation inboth vocational sacraments, first in Matrimony and again in HolyOrders, he is challenged to be faithful to both. With integrity hemust live out both sacraments in harmony and balance. The wife ofa deacon should be included with her husband, when appropriate,in diocesan clergy and parochial staff gatherings. A deacon and hiswife, both as a spiritual man and woman and as a couple, have muchto share with the bishop and his priests about the Sacrament ofMatrimony. A diaconal family also brings a unique presence andunderstanding of the domestic family. “By facing in a spirit of faiththe challenges of married life and the demands of daily living, [themarried deacon and his family] strengthen the family life not only ofthe Church community but of the whole of society.” 65The Celibate Deacon69. The Church acknowledges the gift of celibacy that God grantsto certain of its members who wholeheartedly live it “according to itstrue nature and according to its real purposes, that is for evangelical,spiritual and pastoral motives.” 66 The essential meaning of celibacy isgrounded in Jesus’ preaching of the kingdom of God. Its deepestsource is love of Christ and dedication to his mission. “In celibate life,indeed, love becomes a sign of total and undivided consecration toChrist and of greater freedom to serve God and man. The choice ofcelibacy is not an expression of contempt for marriage nor of flightfrom reality but a special way of serving man and the world.” 67
The Ministry and Life of Deacons3570. The celibate commitment remains one of the most fundamentalexpressions of Jesus’ call to radical discipleship for the sake ofthe kingdom on earth and as an eschatological sign of the kingdom ofheaven. 68 “This perfect continency, out of desire for the kingdom ofheaven, has always been held in particular honor in the Church. Thereason for this was and is that perfect continency for the love of Godis an incentive to charity, and is certainly a particular source of spiritualfecundity in the world.” 69Celibacy: Radicaldiscipleship71. If the celibate deacon gives up one kind of family, he gainsanother. In Christ, the people he serves become mother, brother, andsister. In this way, celibacy as a sign and motive of pastoral charitytakes flesh. Reciprocity, mutuality, and affection shared with manybecome channels that mold and shape the celibate deacon’s pastorallove and his sexuality. “Celibacy should not be considered just as alegal norm . . . but rather as a value . . . whereby [the celibate deacon]takes on the likeness of Jesus Christ . . . as a full and joyfulavailability in his heart for the pastoral ministry.” 70Celibacy Affects Every Deacon72. In one way or another, celibacy affects every deacon, marriedor unmarried. Understanding the nature of celibacy—its value andits practice—are essential to the married deacon. Not only does thisunderstanding strengthen and nurture his own commitment to maritalchastity, but it also helps to prepare him for the possibility of livingcelibate chastity should his wife predecease him. This concern isparticularly unique within the diaconate. Tragically, some deaconswho were married at the time of ordination only begin to face theissues involved with celibacy upon the death of their wives. As difficultas this process is, all deacons need to appreciate the impactcelibacy can have on their lives and ministry.The Widowed Deacon73. The death of a married deacon’s wife is a “particular momentin life which calls for faith and Christian hope.” 71 The death of the wifeof a married deacon introduces a new reality into the daily routine ofhis family and ministry. Charity should be extended to the widoweddeacon as he assesses and accepts his new personal circumstances, sohe will not neglect his primary duty as father to his children or any newneeds his family might have. 72 As required, a widowed deacon shouldCelibacy affectsevery deaconMinistry to awidowed deacon
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The <strong>Ministry</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>of</strong> Deacons3570. The celibate commitment remains one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most fundamentalexpressions <strong>of</strong> Jesus’ call to radical discipleship <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> sake <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> kingdom on earth <strong>and</strong> as an eschatological sign <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> kingdom <strong>of</strong>heaven. 68 “This perfect continency, out <strong>of</strong> desire <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> kingdom <strong>of</strong>heaven, has always been held in particular honor in <strong>the</strong> Church. Thereason <strong>for</strong> this was <strong>and</strong> is that perfect continency <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> love <strong>of</strong> Godis an incentive to charity, <strong>and</strong> is certainly a particular source <strong>of</strong> spiritualfecundity in <strong>the</strong> world.” 69Celibacy: Radicaldiscipleship71. If <strong>the</strong> celibate deacon gives up one kind <strong>of</strong> family, he gainsano<strong>the</strong>r. In Christ, <strong>the</strong> people he serves become mo<strong>the</strong>r, bro<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>and</strong>sister. In this way, celibacy as a sign <strong>and</strong> motive <strong>of</strong> pastoral charitytakes flesh. Reciprocity, mutuality, <strong>and</strong> affection shared with manybecome channels that mold <strong>and</strong> shape <strong>the</strong> celibate deacon’s pastorallove <strong>and</strong> his sexuality. “Celibacy should not be considered just as alegal norm . . . but ra<strong>the</strong>r as a value . . . whereby [<strong>the</strong> celibate deacon]takes on <strong>the</strong> likeness <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ . . . as a full <strong>and</strong> joyfulavailability in his heart <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> pastoral ministry.” 70Celibacy Affects Every Deacon72. In one way or ano<strong>the</strong>r, celibacy affects every deacon, marriedor unmarried. Underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> celibacy—its value <strong>and</strong>its practice—are essential to <strong>the</strong> married deacon. Not only does thisunderst<strong>and</strong>ing streng<strong>the</strong>n <strong>and</strong> nurture his own commitment to maritalchastity, but it also helps to prepare him <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> possibility <strong>of</strong> livingcelibate chastity should his wife predecease him. This concern isparticularly unique within <strong>the</strong> diaconate. Tragically, some deaconswho were married at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> ordination only begin to face <strong>the</strong>issues involved with celibacy upon <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir wives. As difficultas this process is, all deacons need to appreciate <strong>the</strong> impactcelibacy can have on <strong>the</strong>ir lives <strong>and</strong> ministry.The Widowed Deacon73. The death <strong>of</strong> a married deacon’s wife is a “particular momentin life which calls <strong>for</strong> faith <strong>and</strong> Christian hope.” 71 The death <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wife<strong>of</strong> a married deacon introduces a new reality into <strong>the</strong> daily routine <strong>of</strong>his family <strong>and</strong> ministry. Charity should be extended to <strong>the</strong> widoweddeacon as he assesses <strong>and</strong> accepts his new personal circumstances, sohe will not neglect his primary duty as fa<strong>the</strong>r to his children or any newneeds his family might have. 72 As required, a widowed deacon shouldCelibacy affectsevery deacon<strong>Ministry</strong> to awidowed deacon
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