A reader asked:
…can [you] provide some information about how you came to become a deacon, and offer your advise for others who are discerning that call, it would be greatly appreciated.
As they say —“ start with humor. Asking a blogger to talk about himself is an oxymoron…
And here I was going to begin writing about discernment, formation, the time it takes to have an understanding of yourself and your relationship with Christ in the context of the Church.
It would all be good, sound, doctrinal stuff. It would also be insipid.
What I suggest is that you go on over to the Ancient Faith Radio website or directly to the Our Life in Christ website and listen to their podcasts regarding the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian (he was a deacon by the way).
Here’s the prayer:
O Lord and Master of my life,
Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair,
lust of power and idle talk;
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my
own transgressions and not to judge my brother,
for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.
The key to any vocation and to life in Christ is the humility found in this prayer.
The Lord needs to be the Master of your life. He should be enthroned as its center and seen as its purpose and goal.
For a deacon, humility is ultimately important. Some might look on the vocation as social work and charity under the guise of a confirmed role in the Church. That is very far from the truth. If people want to do charity, enter into social work, or just ‘do good’, there are plenty of opportunities both in the secular world and in parishes.
My vocation had its roots in my family life, the examples of the saints and heroes of the faith, regular attachment to the Church, and the struggles during the dark times of life. Ultimately, my vocation came from my desire to set myself aside; to let the fullness of Christ shine through me and through my service to Him. It is the desire to be an object the Lord uses to accomplish His purposes.
Can I say I am there? Absolutely not! I can only say that I try each day to orient myself to what God desires. It is difficult. It is tempting to focus on the self. Temptation and struggles abound. But when I am in Christ’s presence at the Holy Altar, I cannot help but be overwhelmed with the desire to serve Him; to perform the most menial of tasks, and from that deprecation of the self, to receive the grace to care for my brothers and sisters.
That sense or desire is more than a momentary impression or feeling. It grows with time into a longing desire. Everything flows from Christ and the way He taught us to follow the Father’s will. It flows from His very presence in the Holy Eucharist. It fills the nooks and crannies of your life, your relationship to work, school, friends, family, those who dislike or hate you, the whole world.
I have also written on vocations for our parish website. Check out: Do I have a vocation?
The becoming part is something that happens in your life. It is the way Jesus is moulding you. If you are allowing Him to mould and form you, then you are ready to inquire. There is a process of course, and I would refer you to Fr. Czeslaw Kroliczkowski, Vice-Rector of the Savanrola Theological Seminary for more information on the particulars.
Savonarola Theological Seminary of the
Polish National Catholic Church
1031 Cedar Ave
Scranton, PA 18505
School, (570) 961-9288
Office, (570) 343-0100
If you wish, send me a private E-mail and I will forward your inquiry to him by E-mail.