The Deacon: Serving charity, serving at the altar, serving with the Word

Dear sisters and brothers in the Risen Lord Jesus, let me begin my reflections this morning with an experience of St. Pope Paul VI during the Second Vatican Council. As some of you may be aware, every day of the council, the Book of the Gospel was enthroned. The pontiff once told the masters of ceremonies that he himself would like to be the one who enthroned the Gospel. They said, “No, this is a task for deacons and not for the pope, the Supreme Pontiff, or the bishops.” He noted in his diary: “But I am also a deacon, I am still a deacon, and I too would like to exercise my diaconal ministry by enthroning the Word of God.”

The past, present and future of Ordinary Time

By Lucia A. Silecchia

“White smoke” was all that my friend’s text said.

That was, of course, all that I needed to hear to know that the quiet afternoon I had planned in my office at Catholic University would no longer be so quiet. That text was followed by an invitation to everyone on campus to gather in the student lounge to watch the events of the afternoon unfold and to wait for the announcement of the gaudium magnum or “great joy” that we, once again, had a Pope.

So, I gathered with colleagues and many students to spend the afternoon together, both wishing I were in Rome and grateful to be exactly where I was.