age, even upon those living in the married state. It may also be conferred upon suitable
young men, for whom the law of celibacy must remain intact. 60
The gateway to the restoration of the permanent diaconate was opened. A permanent diaconate,
“of the liturgy, of the word, and of charity to the people of God.” Deacons could now be
ordinary ministers of baptism and Holy Communion and preside over liturgical services, as well
as assist the bishop in pastoral service. Now the Church needed to establish a process by which it
could be put into practice, that task would be left to competent regional authority, at the approval
of the Papacy. In the Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church, Ad Gentes, it states:
Where episcopal conferences deem it opportune, the order of the diaconate should be
restored as a permanent state of life according to the norms of the Constitution "De
Ecclesia." For there are men who actually carry out the functions of the deacon's office,
either preaching the word of God as catechists, or presiding over scattered Christian
communities in the name of the pastor and the bishop, or practicing charity in social or
relief work. It is only right to strengthen them by the imposition of hands which has come
down from the Apostles, and to bind them more closely to the altar, that they may carry
out their ministry more effectively because of the sacramental grace of the diaconate. 61
Pope John XXIII would not survive the end of Vatican II, the task of putting into effect the
promulgations of Vatican II would go to Pope Paul VI his successor.
60
61
Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium. 29.
Vatican Council II, Ad Gentes. 16
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