Posted on 09/26/2013 4:07:36 PM PDT by Weiss White
Q: We have a permanent deacon at our parish. Some of us are wondering if the pastor sometimes allows him to do things that he’s not supposed to do… for example, occasionally the deacon preaches a homily at Sunday Mass instead of the priest. Is that permissible? What are the limits of what a deacon can do? —Jay
A: It’s a good question! Lay Catholics generally understand that because a deacon is not a priest, there are some sacramental/liturgical actions which he cannot perform. But occasionally the laity are taken aback when they see a deacon engaged in some sort of ministerial activity which they thought only a priest could do.
(Excerpt) Read more at canonlawmadeeasy.com ...
A friend who is a Catholic deacon once stated in the course of a homily that he is unable to hear confessions.
After Mass I corrected him. He is indeed able to hear confessions. He is unable to grant absolution.
bkmk
Good point.
There are three steps in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Many are unaware of them.
1. Deacon
2. Priest
3. Bishop
So a deacon is an ordained minister, but not a priest.
Stop going to church. I did it in 1969 and have felt better ever since.
Thanks for all the details! A couple of our children were baptized by Deacons. When Bill was baptized, we asked especially for the Deacon, who was a family friend. When Elen was Baptized, the Deacon was the one “on the calendar” for that date.
At our Spanish service, the deacon regularly gives the homily, since he speaks Spanish. Our English-speaking priest does so if the deacon isn’t there, or if he really wants to say something on that date. If we have a visiting Spanish-speaking priest, he will preach.
I'm very sorry for you.
And I for you.
What happened to obeying the Commandment, “Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day”??
Good work, genius! The reason I only posted an excerpt and provided a link to the full article, is that the article is COPYRIGHTED. So congratulations, you’ve now violated the law. And WHY you would think that’s a good idea is a mystery to me...
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