| Home - Latest News | Introduction | Bayside Prophecies | Directives from Heaven | Order Form | Testimonies | Veronica Lueken | Miraculous Photos | Bible | Radio Program |

Our Lady of the Roses and Cardinal Spellman against permanent deacons...

"Why are you now planning to take married men, making them what you call deacons, to give the sanctity and holiness, the grace in marriage to My sheep?  What right have you to change the rules and the direction?" - Jesus, May 23, 1979

 

Non-celibate deacons in the Roman Rite: a break with Tradition

Fr. James McLucas explains that "The preparation for optional celibacy began with the introduction of the permanent diaconate following the Second Vatican Council." Although it was claimed that this change was nothing more than the restoration of a classic practice, many Church leaders "remained silent, however, about the fact that there had never been a Holy ‘Order’ that was non-celibate since the mandating of celibacy in the Western Church." Fr. McLucas goes on to say that "The Vatican signaled early on its growing indifference towards celibacy within Holy Orders by permitting widowed permanent deacons to remarry. This contradicted an ancient practice that even the Eastern Church, which permits a married clergy, does not allow." ("Emasculating the Priesthood," Fr. James McLucas)

     He emphasizes that "even during those periods in the history of the Church which witnessed an active diaconal office, the deacon was celibate and was utilized mainly as a direct assistant to the bishop. He was not an ordinary minister of the Eucharist." This truth is borne out in many manuals on sacramental theology. For example, the 1963 edition of The Administration of the Sacraments states, "It is a certain teaching that the priest alone is the ordinary minister of Holy Communion." (Nicholas Halligan, O.P., The Administration of the Sacraments, 1963, p. 107, Imprimatur: Francis Cardinal Spellman) Fr. Halligan also reiterates Canon 845, § l-2 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law: "By ordination a deacon is the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion but only with permission of the local Ordinary or of the pastor granted by either for a serious reason, but this permission may be presumed in case of need. Apart from necessity a deacon would not be justified in acting without permission." (ibid., p. 108) Fr. Halligan then explains that an ordained transitional deacon would sin gravely if he administered the Eucharist without permission, and without necessity: "The deacon in administering Holy Communion observes the ceremonies as prescribed for the priest.... Unlike inferior clerics the deacon, although sinning gravely, does not incur an irregularity if he acts without permission." (ibid., p. 108) This theological understanding of the role of the transitional deacon is the same as that given by Our Lady of the Roses message.

     With the above facts in mind, we can better understand Fr. McLucas’ concern: "The creation of the married permanent diaconate eliminated the entwined and inseparable relationship among priesthood, celibacy and exclusive Eucharistic stewardship that had been the norm in the Western Church." (ibid., McLucas)

     During the debates at Vatican II, several high ranking clergy were adamantly opposed to reviving the permanent diaconate: "Cardinal Bacci, of the Roman Curia, spoke out against the principle of a married diaconate; it was both inopportune and dangerous. If the law of celibacy were relaxed for deacons, the number of priests would certainly decline, since youth ‘would choose the easier way.’ Moreover, if the Council waived the obligation of celibacy for deacons, the plea would soon be heard that the same should be done for priests." (The Rhine Flows into the Tiber: A History of Vatican II, Fr. Ralph M. Wiltgen, S.V.D., p. 98)

     The bishops of Portugal were also against restoring the permanent diaconate: "Archbishop Custodio Alvim Pereira, of Lourenço Marques, Mozambique, spoke on behalf of thirty-eight bishops from Portugal. He said that, if a candidate did not have the knowledge required of a priest and was not celibate, he was not fit for the diaconate; if, on the other hand, he did possess that knowledge and was celibate, he should become a priest. He contended that it was generally agreed that a married diaconate would undermine priestly celibacy." (ibid., p. 99)

     Bishop Franic of Yugoslavia, "speaking for the 16 Latin bishops of his country, declared that a married diaconate would be harmful to a celibate priesthood." (The Second Session: Letters from Vatican Council II - the Debates at St. Peter’s, Xavier Rynne, p. 103)

     But the most thorough argument against restoring the permanent diaconate was given by Francis Cardinal Spellman of New York. In fact, Cardinal Spellman’s argument is essential the same as that given in Our Lady of the Roses message:

"The first to speak on this controversial theme was the Cardinal of New York, Francis Spellman, in his ‘maiden speech’ on the floor at this Session (Oct. 4). He praised Chapter II as ‘very well composed’ except for Paragraph 15. The proposal to resurrect the diaconate as a permanent degree of the hierarchy was a disciplinary matter, he felt, which should not be included in a dogmatic constitution. The question then arose whether it should be treated anywhere else and his sentiment was that it should not for the following reasons. 1) Although it was true that the diaconate had formerly been a permanent office in the Church, it was now merely a transitional stage toward the priesthood.… Permanent deacons would have to be prepared for their functions, but ‘it is hardly or not at all possible to establish seminaries for candidates for the priesthood. How then can other houses be provided for deacons?’ 2) The main reason why permanent deacons become obsolete, it seems, was the need of the ministry for more priests, an organizational reason. ‘But this condition still prevails in almost the entire world.’ 3) Many lay religious and other members of lay institutes today carry out the functions formerly performed by deacons, and the number of laymen in the service of the Church is continually growing and being fostered. There would appear to be not need for permanent deacons on this score. 4) The proposal to revive permanent deacons stems mostly from liturgists who wish to restore ancient ways without taking into account present conditions. [The French newspaper] Le Monde quotes the cardinal as having said here: ‘Let us not indulge in archeology.’ [Le Monde, Oct. 6-7, 1963]. Pius XII in Mediator Dei warned against considering something as good simply because it was old.* 5) Seminarians obviously wanted to become priests. This is a sign of their divine vocation and nothing should be done to interfere with this. ‘God exercises his Providence over the Church according to present conditions’ the cardinal concluded. ‘It must be decided whether it is better to by-pass the divine will and have fewer priests along with permanent deacons, or more priests without them.’—It was obvious that practical considerations dominated the cardinal’s thought throughout and that he, or his advisers, had little sympathy for the pastoral-theological side of the question developed by modern theologians such as Karl Rahner.… In a press interview the same day at the Grand Hotel, Cardinal Spellman repeated the substance of what he had said on the floor. ‘The reason I am against it,’ he said, ‘is that it is unnecessary.’" (The Second Session: Letters from Vatican Council II - the Debates at St. Peter’s, Xavier Rynne, pp. 99-100)

* Pope Pius XII warned against the error of indiscriminately restoring old practices: "ancient usage must not be esteemed more suitable and proper, either in its own right or in its significance for later times and new situations, on the simple ground that it carries the savor and aroma of antiquity." (encyclical Mediator Dei, November 20, 1947, #61)

"Understand well: when I appointed the Apostles there were no names given as cardinals or bishops; but Peter was the first Pope, the leader, and would you say not that the Apostles were the first bishops? And after that they chose from out of multitudes, seven whom you call deacons and listed as deacons, but they were truly priests at that time. But you do not need the procedure now. If you are willing to ask the Eternal Father, and if you do not give yourselves over to doctrines of demons, you will have priests sufficient to carry out the ministry. But what do you do now? You will seek to make instant priests, against the will of the Eternal Father! You will delude others to think that your deacons can take the Sacraments and give them as in the priesthood! A priest, My children, is a chosen man of God. A true legally-ordained priest is far superior than any man, as he represents Me in the Godhead." - Jesus, May 23, 1979
 

Directives from Heaven...

D4 - Permanent Deacons / Extraordinary Ministers PDF Logo PDF
D5 - The Holy Priesthood
PDF Logo PDF
 

    Fr. Robert Skurla on the Bayside apparitions
    No investigation: in Veronica's own words
    Doctors who said "miracle"
    Letter of psychologist Dr. O'Keefe on Veronica
  Letter by Veronica to a nun
  Fr. Bernard Nunes, O.C.D. 
  Fr. Guillermo Flores y Flores

| Home - Latest News | Introduction | Bayside Prophecies | Directives from Heaven | Order Form | Testimonies | Veronica Lueken | Miraculous Photos | Bible | Radio Program |

We encourage everyone to print or email copies of this web page to all the Bishops and all the clergy.  Also, send this page to as many people as possible.

The electronic form of this document is copyrighted.    http://www.tldm.org
Copyright © These Last Days Ministries, Inc. 1998 - 2005   All rights reserved.
P.O. Box 40
Lowell, MI 49331-0040
Revised:
July 30, 2018