30. BITESIZE CATECHISM: ST. LAWRENCE OF ROME & THE VOCATION OF A DEACON

APPETIZER: Deacons share in Christ's mission and grace in a special way. The sacrament of Holy Orders marks them with an imprint ("character") which cannot be removed and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the "deacon" or servant of all. Among other tasks, it is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity.  Since the Second Vatican Council the Roman Catholic Church has restored the diaconate "as a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy." This permanent diaconate, which can be conferred on married men, constitutes an important enrichment for the Church's mission. (CCC#1570-1571)

MAIN COURSE:  As a Roman Catholic deacon myself,  there is NO WAY I could ignore the selection of St. Lawrence as our Saint of the Week (even if a bit early).  Nor can I ignore choosing for our Bitse-size Catechism lesson a look at the Church's teaching on the vocation and identity of the deacon.  

According to these tradition. Lawrence was born in Spain on Dec, 31, 225. He eventually ended up in Rome where he was ordained a permanent deacon, and assistant to Pope St. Sixtus in the middle of the 3rd century. In 258AD the Roman Emperor, Valerian, began a fierce persecution against the Church focusing on its ministers and ordered the arrest bishops, priests and deacons.

Pope Sixtus was taken into custody. When he was being led to execution, his deacon Lawrence followed him weeping, and said to him, “Father, where are you going without your deacon?”  The pope answered, “I do not leave you, my son.  You shall follow me in three days.”  Lawrence was filled with joy, hearing that he should be so soon called to God; he set out immediately to seek all the poor, widows and orphans, and gave among them the money which he had in his hands; he even sold sacred vessels to increase the sum.

Emperor Valerian had heard of alleged riches of the Church. He sent for St. Lawrence, and said to him, “You Christians often complain that we treat you with cruelty, but no tortures are here thought of; I only inquire mildly after what concerns you.  I am informed that your priests offer in gold, that the sacred blood is received in silver cups, and that in your sacrifices you have golden candlesticks.  Bring out these treasures; the emperor has need of them for the maintenance of his forces.”

St. Lawrence replied, without showing any concern, “The Church is indeed rich.  I will show you our valuables but allow me a little time to set everything in order.”  Then Lawrence went all over Rome and gathered the poor who were supported by the Church.  On the third day he gathered a large number of them, and placed them in rows, the decrepit, the blind, the lame, the maimed, the lepers, orphans, and widows.  Then he went to the emperor and invited him to come and see the treasure of the Church.When he saw all of this, he asked Lawrence what all this meant, and where the treasures were which he had promised to show him.  Lawrence replied, “What are you displeased at?  These poor and needy are the treasure of the Church.”

The Prefect’s anger was doubled, and a rage he shouted, “You mock me!  The ensigns of the Roman power, are not to be insulted!  I know you desire to die, but you will not die immediately, but by inches!”  Then he had a gridiron made ready, and glowing coals put under it, that the martyr might be slowly burned.  Lawrence was stripped and bound upon this iron bed over the slow fire, which roasted his flesh by little and little.  His face appeared to the Christians to be surrounded with a beautiful light, and his suffering body to give off a sweet smell.  Having suffered a long time, he turned to the judge and said with a cheerful smile, “Let my body be turned; one side is broiled enough.”  When the executioner had turned him he said,  “It is cooked enough, you may eat.”  Then having prayed for the conversion of the city of Rome that the faith of Christ might spread there and throughout the world, St. Lawrence gave up the spirit.

St. Lawrence is one of the most important saints of the Roman branch of the Catholic Church.  He is mentioned by name at even Holy Mass when Eucharistic Prayer I is chosen. He has one of the major basilicas in Rome dedicated to his honor (The Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls) and I was so blessed to make a pilgrimage there and prayed before his tomb when I first started on on my own journey to the diaconate. His feast day of August 10 is one of the few to be have been consistently celebrated in our liturgy since ancient times.  Not surprisingly, he is the patron saint of deacons, cooks and..yes...barbecues! 

Every saint reflects some aspect of Catholic life or teaching.  Surely, St. Lawrence points us to the identity  and vocation of deacons in the Church. Jesus gave the Sacrament of Holy Orders to the Apostles and through this he made them our first bishops, sharers in his mission and ministry.  One of the first things they did was to share some of this sacramental ministry with other men who became known as deacons. Many people are surprised to learn that deacons existed in the Church before priests came into existence as a separate ministry. 

The title “deacon” comes from the Greek word “diakonos” which means "an ambassador or agent sent out by an authority to carry out a mission". The deacon is ordained and sent out by his bishop to minister to the needs of a community. Both the deacon and the presbyter (priest) are like the left and right hands of their bishop, reaching out to serve the needs of the local Church. They are co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord. The deacon is ordained for three forms of ministry: Word, Liturgy and Charity.

Ministry of the Word means that the deacon is a preacher and teacher of the Gospel through such things as homilies at Mass, overseeing sacramental preparation, teaching the Catechism & Bible studies, works of evangelization, counseling, spiritual direction, giving retreats, etc.  The deacon receives a special connection to the Gospel at ordination. The bishop places the Book of the Gospels into his hands and tells the deacon to preach and teach it for the glory of Godd and the salvation of God's people. This is why the deacon is the primary minister of the Liturgy of the Word at Mass. Even if the pope himself is the celebrant, it is the deacon who will proclaim the Gospel to the people.

Ministry of Liturgy means that the deacon attends to the worship of God along with the bishop and priest. He is at the altar during Mass, proclaims the Gospel, administers Baptism and Matrimony, and presides at Wakes and Burials. He may also do Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and bless people, places and things.  In the Liturgy the deacon is a guardian of the chalice and of the Precious Blood of Christ. It is he who prepares the chalice for consecration and who elevates it in offering to God beside the priest during the Great Doxology of the Mass.  If Holy Communion is distributed under both forms of consecrated bread and wine, it is the duty of the deacon to distribute the Precious Blood, while the priest distributes the Body of Christ.

Ministry of Charity means that the deacon participates in works of mercy and justice. In this ministry he continues in the tradition of St. Lawrence who was responsible for the alms and the relief of the poor in Rome. The ministry of charity and justice is expansive but in whatever form it takes the deacon strives to see and serve Christ in the needy and to image Christ to them as well. The deacon also acts as a support and chaplain to various groups of laity who carry out these good works through various charitable organizations.

Because he receives the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the deacon is no longer a layman in the Church. By ordination he comes a cleric. As such, he is now bound by the rights and obligations of Canon (Church) Law regarding clergy as are bishops and priests. As clergy, deacons are addressed either as “Deacon” or “Reverend Mister”. 

For liturgical ceremonies, deacons wear special vestments very much like those worn by the bishop and priest. These include an alb (white robe), stole (worn over the left shoulder) and dalmatic (a loose garment similar to the priest’s chasuble).  The alb is a connection to the white garments of baptism which symbolize freedom from the stain of sin and the beauty of holiness. The stole (a long strip of cloth) is an ancient Roman sign of someone who has authority to speak and teach. The dalmatic has wide sleeves and when these are spread out the garment takes on the form of a cross. This reminds the deacon that he is to be like Christ who came to love, serve and give his life on behalf of others.

Because they live so much of their lives in the everyday world of family, work and social life, Canon Law does not obligate the deacon to wear clerical clothing. However, some may choose to wear the clergy collar in special circumstances, for proper identification or where it is needed to allow them access to carry out their ministry.  Other deacons might choose to wear regular clothing with a Deacon's Cross emblem or pin to designate their ministerial availability.

When Pope St. Paul VI, chose to restore the permanent diaconate in Roman branch of the Church in 1967 and to admit married men to its ranks, he was simply a returning to the original and ancient practice of the Church.  The majority of the world's bishops requested him to do this for they knew that it was attested to by Scripture and Church history. 

So, we see that Catholics are served by a variety of ordained ministers who all share, in their own proper way, in the one Sacrament of Holy Orders. 

• Bishops lead and teach the flock like Jesus the Good Shepherd. 

• Presbyters minister in the parishes and preside at the Eucharist like Jesus the High Priest. 

• Deacons are to be like Jesus the Servant, who went about doing good to all (Acts 10:38) and who gave his life for others (Mt 20:28).

DOGGIE-BAG: A little something to take with you for spiritual snacking.

Holy Quotes...

"Take care to do all things in harmony with God, with the bishop presiding in the place of God, and with the presbyters in the place of the council of the apostles, and with the deacons, who are most dear to me, entrusted with the business of Jesus Christ. All should respect the deacons as Jesus Christ, just as all should regard the bishop as the image of the Father, and the clergy as God’s senate and the college of the apostles." (St. Ignatius of Antioch, student of St. John the Apostle, c. 108 AD)

“By the imposition of the bishop's hands and the specific prayer of consecration, the deacon receives a particular configuration to Christ, the Head and Shepherd of the Church, who for love of the Father made himself the least and the servant of all.” (St.Pope John Paul II, Nov 30, 1995)

Prayer to St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr

O Generous patron of the Church’s poor, St. Lawrence, pray to the One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit that all the poor of the Church in need in every corner of the world may feel the effect of the love of their brothers and sisters who seek to help them. Deliver the Church from the greed and envy of the powerful and protect her rights and property so that she may serve the needy in freedom, giving them good things for soul and body. May we come some day with all those whom we helped on earth to the bright mansions of heaven where we will enjoy the riches of God’s house and the company of the Savior who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen

Scripture Verse to Memorize: "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 28:20)