During the 5-day retreat prior to ordination, I spent time discerning, thinking, getting distracted, praying, and everything else that goes through a candidate before ordination.
I concluded that the retreat was about my wife. Let me briefly explain.
A married deacon brings his wife and kids to the diaconal ministry. It is both a joy and a challenge. In my case, it can be a double challenge since I bring not just kids but young kids as well.
A deacon's wife is the deacon's first bishop. His home is his first seminary. His Sacrament of Matrimony his first vow of obedience.
Throughout the retreat, I tried to discern God's voice. It wasn't me. It's about others, and in this case the one with whom I have become one flesh in Holy Matrimony.
A deacon's wife is indispensable for a deacon. This was confirmed most profoundly when God gave me the gift of tears on the last night.
A married deacon lays down his life for his wife in a most profound way as Christ loved His Body, the Church. Yes, this is true for all Christians who are called to be Christ-like, but there is a unique sacramental bond of unity that occurs with the deacon's wife. This is why I am utterly convinced that a man considering the diaconate must also include his wife in the process.
I remember when I first thought about the diaconate as a teenager. Even then, I thought about marrying someone who would some day be a holy deacon's wife. Not all women are cut out for this.
The deacon's wife is the deacon's first bishop.
I concluded that the retreat was about my wife. Let me briefly explain.
A married deacon brings his wife and kids to the diaconal ministry. It is both a joy and a challenge. In my case, it can be a double challenge since I bring not just kids but young kids as well.
A deacon's wife is the deacon's first bishop. His home is his first seminary. His Sacrament of Matrimony his first vow of obedience.
Throughout the retreat, I tried to discern God's voice. It wasn't me. It's about others, and in this case the one with whom I have become one flesh in Holy Matrimony.
A deacon's wife is indispensable for a deacon. This was confirmed most profoundly when God gave me the gift of tears on the last night.
A married deacon lays down his life for his wife in a most profound way as Christ loved His Body, the Church. Yes, this is true for all Christians who are called to be Christ-like, but there is a unique sacramental bond of unity that occurs with the deacon's wife. This is why I am utterly convinced that a man considering the diaconate must also include his wife in the process.
I remember when I first thought about the diaconate as a teenager. Even then, I thought about marrying someone who would some day be a holy deacon's wife. Not all women are cut out for this.
The deacon's wife is the deacon's first bishop.
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| Photo credit: Fr. John Brennan, retreat master |
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| Photo of Class of 2014 courtesy of Deacon John & Beatrice Bockman |
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