Wymiar teologiczny tożsamości diakonów stałych

Abstract

On the basis of an analysis of the concilliar documents and the post-concilliar teaching of the Church, the author sets out in this article the manner in which permanent deacons participate in the sacrament of order, which is constituted in three degrees. They are not ordained, however, ad sacerdotium sed ad ministerium, that is to say not for the celebration of the Eucharist but for service. Deacons participate in the mission and the service of Christ in a special way by the sacrament of order; they receive an indelible seal, „which configures them to Christ, who made himself the «deacon» or servant of all” Paul VI teaches that the order of diaconate, „is not to be considered as a mere step towards the priesthood, but it is so adorned with its own indelible character and its own special grace so that those who are called to it can permanently serve «the mysteries of Christ and the Church»”. In this way the ancient tradition of the Church was taken up anew, restoring the ministry of deacon, „as a reminder of the service, that is the diaconia of the Church towards the local Christian communities, the sign or sacrament of Christ the Lord, who «came not to be served but to serve»” (Mt. 20: 28).