tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907002682841147240.post8007519857716822932..comments2023-10-24T00:39:19.427-07:00Comments on Diaconate Ministry: Deacons and MarriageRexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050985148711857877noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907002682841147240.post-31947982565975310102011-11-29T09:42:30.635-08:002011-11-29T09:42:30.635-08:00"Never before in Church history..." Ther..."Never before in Church history..." There is no evidence that married deacons in apostolic times were bound to continence. <br />Yes, prior to the post-Vatican II restoration of the permanent diaconate, renunciation was required in those rare cases when a man sought ordination (and that ordination to the diaconate was in anticipation of priestly ordination). Such a requirement is no longer operable for married men destined to permanent diaconal ministry. Exercise of marital rights by married deacons is explicitly encouraged by the Directory for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons: "61. The Sacrament of Matrimony sanctifies conjugal love and constitutes it a sign of the love with which Christ gives himself to the Church (cf. Eph. 5:25). It is a gift from God and should be a source of nourishment for the spiritual life of those deacons who are married."<br />Why is what was prohibited for fifteen hundred years now encouraged? In my humble opinion, it is a consequence of deeper reflection on the dignity of sacramental marriage that came out of Gaudium et Spes and Humane Vitae. <br />Does the existence of married deacons imply married priests as normative in the future? No. Deacons are not priests; they do not share in the priesthood. <br />Did the Holy Spirit speak to the Church at Vatican Council II? Did the Spirit guide Paul VI? Does the Spirit guide the Church now? Is the ministry of the married deacon bearing fruit?Rexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050985148711857877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907002682841147240.post-77882003058314725452011-11-29T08:56:56.929-08:002011-11-29T08:56:56.929-08:00What I don't understand is why the modern perm...What I don't understand is why the modern permanent married diaconate is not celibate and continent. Never before in Church history has a married deacon not been bound to continence and, if widowed, able to contract a second marriage. Before ordination, they always had to renounce the marriage privileges, although there were unfortunate deviations from this rule passed on from apostolic times, especially in the eastern Church.Geremiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11812810552682098086noreply@blogger.com