also of deacons; and teach, in words the most weighty, what things are especially to be
attended to in the Ordination thereof; and, from the very beginning of the church. 41
It is in the language of chapter 17 of Trent, which is referenced in Pope Paul VI’s Sacrum
Diaconatus Ordinem, that restoration is mentioned:
That the functions of holy orders, from the deacon to the janitor,-which functions have
been laudably received in the Church from the times of the apostles, and which have been
for some time interrupted in very many places,-may be again brought into use in
accordance with the sacred canons; and that they may not be traduced by heretics as
useless; the holy Synod, burning with the desire of restoring the pristine usage, ordains
that, for the future, such functions shall not be exercised but by those who are actually in
the said orders. 42
Does this language point to a permanent diaconate? I believe that reading this section in light of
scripture, and early Church writings leads to a discontent with a diaconate which is just a
stepping stone to the priesthood. The diaconate is an order of its own, with its own dignity and
role in the Church. The diaconate is an Apostolic ministry, subordinate to the office of priest, but
active in the community and the hierarchy of the Church. A deacon has a special role in the
Church’s service to the world. As I stated earlier, although not promulgated by Trent, the
permanent diaconate will remain a topic of discussion in the Church until Vatican II.
41
Ibid. Session 23/2
J. Waterworth, Ed. and trans. The Council of Trent The canons and decrees of the sacred and oecumenical
Council of Trent. Session 23/17.
42
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