W poszukiwaniu „modelu posługi” diakona stałego

Abstract

Permanent diaconate, restored in the Roman Catholic Church (cf. Lumen Gentium 29), is still seeking its identity. To this day it remains on open question who a permanent deacon is. On the basis of the literature the author distinguishes two groups of writers, who represent differing views of the office of permanent deacon. One group of authors concentrate their search on the idea of restoring an office that existed formerly but was later abandoned (diaconate as ministry of the nature of (a) mediation, (b) assistance, (c) a sign). The other group, represented by P. Hünermann, H. Kramer, K. Rahner and H. Vorgrimler, believe that a new concept of diaconate ought to be worked out and stress the functional and community-forming nature of the ministry a permanent deacon. Following the suggestions of Hünermann, Rahner and Vorgrimler, and particularly those of Kramer, the author believes that the model of ministry of the permanent deacon should stress his role in community formation in contemporary Church, as a permanent deacon is the „sacrament of the Holy Ghost”.