The Miracle of Holy Men

In honor of the feast of St. Damien, an amazingly holy man who truly lived out his vocation en persona christi, I thought I would post some of the pictures from my dear friend's diaconate ordination this weekend.

Apart from the general wonderfulness, pomp and awe of the rite of Holy Orders itself, I was particularly struck by the large amount of men in the chapel that morning. In addition to the three candidates for the diaconate, the bishop (newly ordained himself - a baby bishop! squee!), and his two deacons, there were priests, deacons and seminarians beyond counting.

The procession of vested men went on and on - literally.

It. was. glorious.

I kept looking around at all these men and feeling so grateful.

Grateful that so many had not only heard God's call to serve His Church (which meant they were listening in the first place) but answered it!

Grateful that God continues to send shepherds for His sheep.

And grateful that so many, many men, just in this one diocese, are willing to risk a life of holiness. Because, lets face it, its hard. In the face of secular society, its always easier to not choose God's will.

In a certain way, too, I think it might be harder for a man than a woman to fulfill such a vocation of spiritual athleticism. That isn't to say that women are holier than men (ha!), but that femininity predisposes a soul to be receptive, while masculinity is one of giving. While the priesthood is a vocation of action - shepherding the people of God as another Christ - the heart of serving God isn't in the doing, its in the being. Like Mary, we must sit at His Eucharistic Feet and receive His grace. Perhaps, then, in order to do that, a man has to stretch himself in a way that takes a different sort of effort than he might be accustomed to.

And these are men who have embraced that - with their whole being, their whole lives. It is truly a beautiful thing to behold.

Presentation of the Elect:
Being Called by Holy Mother Church to Holy Orders as a Deacon


Litany of Supplication:
those to be ordained lay down prostrate as a sign of humility before the Lord

Promise of the Elect:
Making his vow of obedience to the local ordinary

Laying on of Hands

Vesiture as a Deacon!

Presentation of the Book of the Gospel by the Bishop:

"Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become.
Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach"

Deacon - from the Greek, diaconi - a waiter, who serves a table.
The new deacons serve at the Table of the Altar.

A cool St. Charles' Seminary Tradition:
once a student is ordained a deacon, he will never in his life have to wear a tie again.
So, every year, the deacons to be ordained, after their last Thursday Apostolate (their weekly work of charity outside the seminary to which they wear suit and tie), "string up" their ties - free from the choke hold.
From now on, its collars only!

Look, the new deacon is so fresh and shiny with Holy Orders!

Pumpkin's Godfather and Godmother - he/she was thrilled to meet them!

St. Jean Vianney, patron of parish priests, watch over these priests and deacons and help them to follow your example of priestly service. Grant that they might always bring Christ to their sheep - in the sacraments they celebrate, their preaching and the works of their service. We make this prayer through the Eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.