50 years ago today

Last updated on: June 18, 2017 at 5:06 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

50 years ago today 2017-06-18T17:06:35-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I was an 8-year-old kid living in Rockville, Maryland and enjoying the first days of summer vacation. It was Sunday, which meant my family went to Mass in the un-airconditioned cafeteria of the Earle B. Wood Junior High School, singing and praying amid the drone of whirring fans; our new parish, St. Patrick’s, hadn’t yet built a church.

Lyndon Johnson was president. People were listening to “Groovin'” by the Young Rascals, and “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum. The Monterey Pop festival was wrapping up in California. Newspapers proclaimed “Red China Explodes 1st Hydrogen Bomb.”

But for the Catholic Church, the biggest bombshell was being exploding over in Rome, where Pope Paul VI issued a letter making a dramatic change to one of the sacraments.

On June 18, 1967, he officially renewed the diaconate as a permanent level of Holy Orders.

Bill Ditewig takes note:

Following the conclusions of the Second Vatican Council (cf. Lumen gentium, #29), the Holy Father directed the appropriate changes to canon law which would permit the diaconate to be renewed as a “particular and permanent” order, and opened the diaconate to be conferred on married as well as celibate men. The introductory paragraphs offer significant insights into the vision behind the renewal:

Beginning already in the early days of the Apostles, the Catholic Church has held in great veneration the sacred order of the diaconate, as the Apostle of the Gentiles himself bears witness. He expressly sends his greeting to the deacons together with the bishops and instructs Timothy which virtues and qualities are to be sought in them in order that they may be regarded as worthy of their ministry.

Furthermore, the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council, following this very ancient tradition, made honorable mention of the diaconate in the Constitution which begins with the words “Lumen Gentium,” where, after concerning itself with the bishops and the priests, it praised also the third rank of sacred orders, explaining its dignity and enumerating its functions.

…It 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.”

You’ll want to read it all—and read, once again (or for the first time, perhaps), Pope Paul’s moto proprio Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem

What followed that decree is a history of service and sacrifice that is continuing to have a profound and lasting effect around the world. The diaconal vocation is growing at an exceptional rate and shows no signs of slowing down. The Holy Spirit has been busy.

Deacons this day owe a deep debt of gratitude to Paul VI and the pioneers who made this possible. The Catholic Church has been immeasurably enriched by so many who have given so much to serve the people of God. Where would our parishes be today without the selfless sacrifice of deacons, their wives, their families and the pastors and bishops who support them?

This Sunday, whisper a prayer of thanksgiving for what was, what is, and what will be.

Ad multos annos!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 18, 2017

Horror and heroism: Christians hiding in the basement in the Philippines

Next Post

June 18, 2017 Two bishops die on the same day

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism Education education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized Vatican VATICAN vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I was breathing out murderous threats, but a blinding light changed everything. I became the greatest missionary the church has known. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Barnabas Saul Peter Stephen

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »