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Two sacraments are proper to the Roman Catholic deacon: Baptism and Holy Matrimony. Deacons are forbidden to perform the sacraments proper to priests (Reconciliation, Annointing of the Sick, and Eucharist) and bishops (Holy Orders and Confirmation). In the liturgy, it is proper for the deacon to proclaim the Gospel, offer the Intentions, and when the Eucharist is distributed under both species, to administer the Chalice.
The vestment most particularly associated with the Roman Catholic deacon is the Dalmatic . Deacons, like priests and bishops, wear the stole; however, deacons place the stole over their left shoulder and it hangs across to their right side, while priests and bishops wear it around the neck.
Often these deacons serve on a part time basis, and have another full time position. Permanent deacons may also act as parish administrators. In such a case, the deacon would be responsible for most administrative work, while a priest would serve on a part time basis to perform sacramental duties (a sacramental moderator). As in Anglican churches, deacons often work directly in ministry to the marginalized inside and outside the church: the poor, the sick, the hungry, the imprisoned.
In the Roman Catholic church, women are not ordained to the diaconate. This is matter of tradition, however, in the same way that the Church does not regularly ordain married men to the priesthood. Married men may be ordained as deacons, however they may not marry after being ordained. A married deacon may not be elevated to the priesthood. See clerical celibacy.
Prior to the Second Vatican Council ordination to the diaconate was regarded as a transitional stage leading to ordination to the priesthood. In the years following the Council, the distinctive roles of permanent deacon and transitional deacon have emerged. Men on track to be ordained to the priesthood are first ordained to the transitional diaconate for a period of not less than six months. (Code of Canon Law, 1031) They then may be ordained to the priesthood.
Men who wish to be deacons but do not seek ordination to the priesthood are ordained to the permanant diaconate. Because permanent deacons are not expected to be ordained to the priesthood, married men may be ordained; however, once ordained, a permanent deacon may never remarry, even if he becomes a widower. The permanent diaconate is particularly popular in the United States.
Question: Was being a servant in God's Kingdom really meant to be this complicated?
Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant (deacon) of all.
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