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Diocese of Oakland. Deacon Discernment and Inquiry Program Third Session. Prayer. Prayerful Discernment. Liturgy of the Hours Lectio Devina. Intro to Liturgy of the Hours. History Purpose Importance to the diaconate. Structure of the Liturgy. Gathering & Hymn
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Diocese of Oakland Deacon Discernment and Inquiry Program Third Session
Prayerful Discernment • Liturgy of the Hours • Lectio Devina
Intro to Liturgy of the Hours • History • Purpose • Importance to the diaconate
Structure of the Liturgy • Gathering & Hymn • Three psalms or canticles • Reading and Responsory • Gospel Canticle • Intercessions • Dismissal
Difficulties in Discernment • Ambivalence and doubt • Certain amount normal • Changes over time • Faithfulness to discernment process • Sufficient input • Sufficient time • Listening to and accepting persistent doubt or ambivalence
Difficulties in Discernment • Anxieties and fears • Expected, normal fears • Not worthy • Not competent • False fears • Valid fears indicating problems
Difficulties in Discernment • Conflict in relationships • Between spouse • With children • Other relationships
Minister of Charity & Justice • Early church and the diaconate • St. Lawrence and Sixtus (258 CE) • Diminishment
Vatican II • Origins: WWII and CST • “One of the fruits of the Second Vatican Council was the desire to restore the diaconate as a proper and stable rank of the hierarchy”.(Vatican Norms, Introduction)
John Paul II: Charity • The deacon is called to “direct service to the needy; to the ill, the abused and battered, the young and old, the dying and bereaved, the deaf, blind and disabled, those who have known suffering in their marriages, the homeless, victims of substance abuse, prisoners, refugees, street people, the rural poor, the victims of racial and ethnic discrimination, and many others.” • John Paul II, “The Heart of the Diaconate: Servants of the Mysteries of Christ and Servant of Your Brothers and Sisters.” Papal Address to the Permanent Deacons. Detroit, Michigan. September 19, 1987.
John Paul II: Justice • The ministry of charity includes responsibility to be of service in the world to bring about positive change in the economic, political, cultural and social spheres to address “evils such as racism, contraception, abortion, and euthanasia to name just a few.” Ibid.
U.S. Bishops • The ministry of charity is “most characteristic of the deacon….he conforms his life to Christ the servant, making himself a generous an faithful servant of God and of those in need, especially among the poorest and those most suffering.” (147) • The deacon “articulates the Church’s concern for justice by being a driving force in addressing the injustices among God’s people.” (37) • National Directory
Charity and Justice • Story of the farmers and hunters
IN THE “BIBLE STUDY" METHOD, YOU . . . IN THE "MEDITATION" METHOD, YOU . . • dissect the text • ask questions about the text, look at context • read and compare facts and new ways of applying facts • savor the text and enter into it • let the text ask questions of you • read to let God speak to you Lectio Devina
Lectio rhythm • Pray for openness, prepare to listen • Read text first time: engage text in silence, let it penetrate your soul • Read text second time: ask for a word or phrase, chew on that word • Read text third time: ask God what he wants from you now. • Thank God.
Sheep and Goats (Mt 25) "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25
Discernment Questions • Am I comfortable meeting the needs of the forgotten, abandoned and despised in the community. • Is my understanding of Church and ministry shaped and defined by Vatican II? • Am I willing to embrace and implement the Church’s teaching on social justice?
Check list Information Sheet Basic Qualifications and Impediments Chronological Autobiography Thematic Autobiography