DUTIES OF THE DEACON DURING THE MISSAL IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
DUTIES OF THE DEACON DURING THE MISSAL IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Entrance:
1. When the Book of Gospels is carried:
Carry the book (slightly elevated), walking in front of the presiding priest. (When there are concelebrating priests, the deacon with the Book of Gospels precedes them.)
At the altar, without bowing, go up and place the book on the altar. (from behind, facing the people).
Then, along with the priest, kiss the altar.
2. When the Book of Gospels is not carried:
Walk at the priest's side.
At the altar, bow deeply before the altar along with the priest.
Go up to the altar and kiss the altar together with the priest.
See "Sign of Reverence" on page 6 for notes about veneration when the Blessed Sacrament is in the sanctuary.
B. Introductory Rites
3. If incense is used, assist the priest.
4. Go to your chair (next to the presiding priest).
5. In Form C of the penitential rite, the deacon normally leads the invocations. (This may also be done by the cantor, or even the priest.)
6. When the rite of sprinkling is used, the deacon assists (perhaps carrying the Holy water).
Liturgy of the Word
7. Sit next to the priest. (If no other minister is available for the readings, the deacon reads them. This is preferable to the priest reading the texts. But the deacon should not read when another minister is available to do this.)
8. Proclaim the Gospel:
During the Gospel acclamation:
(If incense is used, assist the priest as he places incense in the thurible.)
Bow low before the priest and — in a low voice — ask for the blessing. Make the sign of the cross as you receive the blessing and answer Amen to it. Then stand up straight.
If the Book of Gospels is on the altar, bow to the altar, pick up the Book of Gospels, and carry the book (slightly elevated) to the ambo (preceded by the incense and accompanied by candles, if these are used.)
At the ambo, with hands joined, greet the people, and then announce the Gospel as you make the sign of the cross with your thumb first on the book and then on your forehead, mouth, and breast.
If incense is used, incense the Book of Gospels (deep bow; three swings of the thurible; deep bow). Then proclaim the Gospel. In order to stir the hearts of the faithful and convey the importance of the Gospel itself, the greeting, the announcement of the reading, the concluding acclamation and even the entire Gospel may be sung. Musical settings should be easily understood and enhance rather then obscure the meaning of the sacred text." (Book of the Gospels, Introduction, n. 19, see also Lectionary for Mass n.17, 14)
At the end (without showing the book to the people) say, "the Gospel of the Lord."
After the response of the people, kiss the book saying inaudibly, "May the words of the Gospel wipe away our sins."
(If assisting a Bishop, unless instructed otherwise, take the book to him without kissing it yourself. Hold it open to the Bishop so that he can kiss the book. On solemn occasions the Bishop may take the book to bless the people. Then he will return it to you or to another minister.)
Go to your chair (unless you are going to offer the homily or [when there is no homily or Creed] the General Intercessions follow immediately from the ambo).
9. If you should be called upon to offer the homily, do so from the ambo, or standing at your chair (taking care not to obscure the priest) or from some other convenient place.
10. When the Profession of Faith (Creed) is used, bow deeply at the words, "By the power of the Holy Spirit…became man." (On the solemnities of Christmas and the Annunciation, genuflect during these words.)
11. After the priest introduces the General Intercessions, announce the petitions, as a rule from the ambo. (These may also be led by the cantor [especially if sung], or, if the occasion warrants, by other ministers.)
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Preparation of the Altar and Gifts
12. While the priest remains at the chair, prepare the altar (corporal, Sacramentary, chalice, purificator). Servers may assist as needed.
13. Help the priest receive the gifts from the people (at the altar, at the chair, or at another place). The deacon never receives the gifts on behalf of the priest.
14. At the altar, offer the paten of bread to the priest to set upon the altar.
15. Pour wine into the chalice. Add a few drops of water. Pass the chalice to the priest to set upon the altar. (The preparation of the chalice may also take place at the side table.) Water is only to be added to the chalice of the principal celebrant.
16. If incense is used, assist the priest in the incensation of gifts and altar. Afterward, the deacon (or another minister) may incense the priest and the people (deep bow; three single swings; deep bow).
17. Step aside so that the priest may wash his hands. (If only one server is present, the deacon presents the towel.)
18. [Note: There is no "Amen" after the people say, "May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands …all his Church."]
Eucharistyeric Pra
19. Stand next to but somewhat behind the priest. (This is the case also when concelebrants are present. The deacon should have access to help with Sacramentary and chalice, but not appear as a concelebrating priest.)
20. [If helpful for the priest, turn the pages of the Sacramentary.]
21. If the chalice and / or paten with bread is / are covered with a pall, remove the pall before the epiclesis (i.e., the prayer for which the priest extends his hands over the gifts).
22. As a general rule, kneel from the epiclesis through the elevation of the chalice.
23. If several deacons are present, one of them may fill the thurible and incense the Blessed Sacrament at the two elevations. (The movement of the deacon must not distract from the action at the altar.)
24. [The "Memorial Acclamation" is introduced by the priest.]
25. At the final doxology, lift up the chalice as the priest lifts the paten until after the people have sung the Amen. (Only priests say / sing the doxology itself.)
Communion Rite
26. After the priest offers the peace greeting ("The peace of the Lord be with you…"), call for the sign of peace, then receive the sign from the priest and share with others nearby.
27. Assist with the fraction rite, as needed (i.e., by breaking portions of the consecrated bread, filling extra patens.) Chalices of the Precious Blood are never to be poured into other chalices.
28. [The prayers, "May the Body (Blood) of Christ bring me to everlasting life" are said inaudibly by the priest. There is no "Amen" spoken by the deacon or anyone else.]
29. After the priest receives Holy Communion, you receive from the priest under both forms and then help the priest in giving Holy Communion to the people.
30. When Holy Communion is offered under both forms — even with a number of ordinary and extraordinary ministers — the deacon normally ministers the chalice.
After Communion:
31. Return to the altar with the priest. There, consume any of the Blood of Christ which remains.
32. At the altar, any remaining fragments of the consecrated bread are collected. (They are taken quietly to the tabernacle by the deacon or other minister of communion.) The priest returns to his chair. (In cases of need, the fragments may be collected at the tabernacle itself.)
33. The chalice and other Communion vessels are taken to the side table. They are purified there in the usual manner or they are left to be purified after the people have gone. (The deacon never purifies vessels at the altar.)
34. Go to your place at the priest's side.
Concluding Rite
35. If there are any announcements, they follow the Prayer After Communion and are given by the deacon — or by the priest or other minister.
36. If there is a Solemn Blessing or Prayer Over the People, the deacon first invites the people, saying "Bow your heads and pray for God's blessing."
37. Immediately after the blessing, the deacon gives the dismissal according the Sacramentary. (Note that for the entire octave of Easter and again at the Masses of Pentecost, the dismissal includes the double Alleluia and should certainly be sung.)
38. Along with the priest, the deacon kisses the altar, then bows deeply to it, and leaves.
39. The Book of Gospels is not carried out in procession.
General Notes
Signs of Reverence
A genuflection is made by bending the right knee to the ground. As an act of adoration, it is reserved:
to the Blessed Sacrament and
to the Holy Cross from the solemn adoration in the liturgy of Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.
If there is a tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament in the sanctuary, the priest, deacon and other ministers genuflect to it when they approach or leave the altar, but not during the celebration of Mass itself.
For the entrance: genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament, bow deeply before the altar, then kiss the altar.
For the exit: kiss the altar, bow deeply before the altar, genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament.(Otherwise, all who cross before the Blessed Sacrament genuflect unless they are involved in a procession.)(Ministers who carry things like cross or candles bow their heads instead of genuflecting.)
Those who pass before the altar make a deep bow to it. (Never lean on the altar or place anything upon it except what is called for in the various rites.)
Distribution of Diaconal Roles
When several deacons are present and vested, the functions are normally distributed among them, while maintaining the integrity of the rite. e. g.:
the deacon who proclaims the Gospel carries the Book of Gospels in the procession;
the deacons at the chair (not more than 2) give announcements or petitions associated with the Liturgy of the Word or the Dismissal;
the deacons assisting at the altar (not more than 2) make the appropriate invitations.
Other deacons remain in their places and do not gather at the altar until the time for Communion (unless provision is made for them to receive in some other way). If needed, they may assist with the distribution of Holy Communion
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