Misplaced addition to the rite?

[presbyter]

I managed to start the offertory processional Ubi caritas before the deacon had renewed his commitment:

An interesting but possibly misplaced addition to the rite ......... I wonder how many parishes do this ......... or commission extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist on this evening .......... hmmm.
Deacons are directly appointed by their Ordinary - and are responsible to him - as are presbyters who do indeed renew their commitment at the Chrism Mass. I think deacons should renew their promises - as presbyters - before their Ordinary. They make a commitment to their Bishop, not to the parish in which they have been appointed to serve. Their service in a parish is not the result of a commitment to the people of that parish but a result of their promises to their Bishop.

This diocese has an annual Mass for Deacons in the cathedral ....... where commitment is indeed renewed before the Bishop...... but it's not in Holy Week.
The only time that a parish priest formally declares his commitment before the people of a parish is - in this diocese - at his induction (before the Vicar Forane (Dean) acting as the Bishop's delegate) - where the solemn oaths of fidelity to the Holy See he took before ordination are renewed - he professes his faith - and promises to do all he is supposed to do while being taken round the church to various places and being handed bunches of keys and liturgical artifacts. Note that the declaration is to the Bishop's delegate and before the people - not to the people. Did your p.p. renews his promises before the people as well - or was it just the deacon? If not the p.p. as well, why not?

Personally, I would not indulge in either practice on Holy Thursday evening ...... nor the commissioning of ministers of Holy Communion .......

Perhaps this needs a new thread. [done - musicus, moderator]

[VML]

I hesitate to drop anyone in it, - no PP did not. - He had, as you said, made his declaration at the Chrism Mass, and knows it is not appropriate for the deacon, and the whole thing was basically three lines to which the elderly deacon replied, 'I do'. I think you might consider it appeasement. No commissioning of extraordinary ministers either.

[Southern Comfort]

The thing is, quite a lot of dioceses incorporate a very brief renewal of commitment by deacons in their Chrism Mass - therefore before the Bishop, as presbyter says. Two main reasons for that: (a) it's jolly difficult to get all the deacons together at any other time, and (b) when the deacons stand up and say to the Bishops "Do we not also share in the priesthood?" (albeit in a different way from priests) "and so should we not also renew our commitment to service on this occasion", the Bishops don't know how to deny them.

The principal problem is that the Congregation for the Clergy hijacked the Chrism Mass in 1971. It ought to be a Mass of the Oils, not a Mass of the Priesthood.

If I had jurisdiction over the parishes in my diocese, I would ask the deacons to make a renewal of commitment to the Bishop each year by letter, and in the parishes they serve make a public declaration of what they sent him on the feast of St Laurence, deacon and martyr.

The question of when ministers of communion renew their commitment is up to each locality. I would suggest Corpus Christi Sunday as an appropriate occasion for doing this.

[presbyter]

The principal problem is that the Congregation for the Clergy hijacked the Chrism Mass in 1971.

Indeed ......

I like the suggestion of St Laurence ...... St Stephen would be far too much to ask, not only for the Deacons but for the Bishop too!

Does anyone know if other dioceses apart from my own have an annual Mass for Deacons (part of a day of recollection) with their Bishop?

[HallamPhil]

Happy Easter

I read Fr McNamara's response on Zenit to a similar question about deacons being committed (sic) during the Chrism Mass. He was opposed to it since he saw Chrism Mass as something for priests with the connection to eucharist and Holy Thursday's 'Do this in memory of me'. A rather narrow understanding of Christ's instruction which I have always taken to include the washing of feet and anyone's service for others (since Christ did not 'ordain' anyone). I raised this with my bishop and proposed an insert into the Priestly commitment but I think we will follow the pattern of making the deacon's commitment on another occasion and probably St Lawrence . I'd be interested in receving examples of what folk do for this.

[mcb]

Dear Presbyter,

What's a deacon?

Yours,
Puzzled of Salford Diocese.

[Southern Comfort]

What's a deacon?

Yours,
Puzzled of Salford Diocese.

Ho ho! Very whimsical. You should be counting your blessings if you still don't have any.

[musicus]

Back to the topic please.

[Southern Comfort]

Some would say that a deacon is a misplaced addition to the rite. Certainly the ones who can't preach and lumber around the sanctuary like elephants..... But you're right, musicus; Let's not get started on that.

[docmattc]

Certainly the ones who can't preach and lumber around the sanctuary like elephants.....

In their defence, inability to preach and elephantine lumbering is hardly exclusive to deacons

Feast of St Lawrence is a good day in the liturgical calendar to place the deacon's commitment ceremony, but how practical is it from the civil calendar point of view? How many of the diocesan deacons may well be on holiday on 10th August?

[monty]

At the same time all the priests are in Lourdes, Ireland, on retreat or anywhere but in the parishes?

[SOP]

In our case, all deacons go on to become priests.

I wanted to write what MCB did but thought you would shoot me down in flames.

[Southern Comfort]

In our case, all deacons go on to become priests.

I hope you don't mean this. Is there no provision for rooting out unsuitable candidates out even at that late stage?!

What you mean is that all your deacons are transitional, rather than permanent.

Yes, I realise that St Laurence is probably not a very convenient time of year, but I'm sure God would like it.

No one has yet responded to my suggestion of Corpus Christi for recommitment by ministers of communion (getting us back on topic). Does anyone do this?

[HallamPhil]

Re Southern Comfort's proposal ... I believe this might have been mentioned in a Liturgy Office publication about Celebrating the feast. I wonder if it was also there that it was suggested that this might be a better day for concentraton on all ministry within the Body of Christ ... all of us becomng what we receive rather than a concentration on the elements and who delivers them.

But I could be wrong ... it's late!

[festivaltrumpet]

No one has yet responded to my suggestion of Corpus Christi for recommitment by ministers of communion (getting us back on topic). Does anyone do this?

This thread has so far discussed the renewal of commitment by ordinary ministers. Extraordinary ministers of communion should not be singled out for recommitment lest it reinforce the misconception that they are clergy and that they have an entitlement to distribute the Blessed Sacrament. It would be better to remove that notion and stress the extraordinary nature of the role.

If the suggestion which Southern Comfort makes were utilised, one would also need to recommit all laity who excercise a role within the liturgy.