Because Jesus came not to be served but to serve (Mk 10:45), his Mystical Body, the Church, is essentially a servant Church. It’s precisely through this service that she carries out her mission. The ancient diaconate was instituted, and has been restored in our time, not simply to stand alongside priestly, religious, and lay ministry but to imbue and empower each with a renewed sense of service. Indeed, the Greek word diakonia, which is translated in English as “service,” can also be translated into the Latin word ministerium, translated in English as “ministry.” Thus, when we look at episcopal ministry, priestly ministry, religious ministry, or lay ministry, service is essential to all. Service is not something we do but someone we give: our very selves. It is an act of love rooted in a divine love already poured out for us. This book provides a radical but thoroughly consistent rethinking of the Christian life that takes up the tradition and builds upon it in a way that is both old and new. About the Author Deacon Dominic Cerrato, Ph.D., is editor of OSV’s The Deacon magazine, executive director of Diaconal Ministries, and director of the diaconate for the Diocese of Joliet. He also offers spiritual direction through the Pastoral Solutions Institute. Formerly, he served in full-time pastoral ministry, specializing in adult faith formation. In 2020, he was appointed by Pope Francis to the international pontifical commission on women and the diaconate. He and his wife, Judith, have been married for 39 years, and they have ten children and many grandchildren.
Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach. These are the words a newly ordained deacon hears from his bishop as the Book of the Gospels is placed in his hands. It is a solemn but joyous moment in which the deacon is called to a lifelong pursuit of bearing witness to Christ the Servant. The foundation of the deacon’s diaconate, the very foundation of his ministry, is intimate communion with Christ the Servant. This communion originates and deepens in the interior life, and it is here, through prayer and meditation, where he truly discovers God on a personal level and, at the same time, discovers himself in a more profound way. In Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate, Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, offers deacons and deacon candidates an integrated approach to diaconal life and ministry, rooted in the cultivation of the interior life. In this study, Deacon Dominic outlines the primacy of the interior life, the necessity of abandonment, the sacrament of the present moment, and living the Servant Mysteries. Entering into a new and more intimate relationship with Christ the Servant will open deacons and deacon candidates to their true identity, and their mission, as heralds of the Gospel of Christ. "In this book, Deacon Dominic provides a fresh way of looking at the diaconate based on his personal experience, unique theological reflection, and a spirituality centered on Christ, the Servant. His insights are worthy of contemplation by the laity and priests." — Most Reverend Shawn McKnight, Bishop of Jefferson City, Missouri "A fascinating book that every deacon — and anyone curious about deacons — should add to their library. Deacon Cerrato has crafted a rich resource that serves as an excellent introduction to the spirituality of the diaconate, linking this vocation of service to the entire Body of Christ. Encountering Christ the Servant really means encountering him in one another — and this book helps open our eyes to the beautiful possibilities of a servant church." — Deacon Greg Kandra, author and blogger, The Deacon's Bench "Encountering Christ the Servant penetrates the heart of diaconal spirituality like no other work before it. Rooted in the ordained deacon's intimate participation in divine love and cultivated by a rich interior life that enlivens his ministry, Deacon Cerrato elevates and advances the understanding of deacons as a living icon of Christ the Servant. This book, which shines a bright light on the spiritual life of the deacon, is truly a gift to the entire Church!" — Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, author of Father Augustus Tolton: The Slave Who Became the First African American Priest "Anytime there is a specialized work that focuses on the uniqueness of the deacon, it is a blessing. Anytime anyone attempts to plumb the depths of diaconate identity and spirituality the blessing is doubled! Readers who draw from this text will be consoled, challenged, and hopefully opened up to God's plan for their ongoing conversion. Thank you, Deacon Dominic, for providing one aspect of a broader and important movement seeking the renewal of the Diaconate." — Dcn. Stephen F, Miletic, Ph.D., Professor of Scripture, Interim Director at the Institute for Diaconate Renewal, Franciscan University of Steubenville ABOUT THE AUTHOR Deacon Dominic Cerrato, Ph.D., is Editor of OSV’s The Deacon magazine, Executive Director of Diaconal Ministries, and Director of Diaconal Formation for the Diocese of Joliet. Ordained 25 years, Deacon Dominic is an author, national speaker, and retreat master. In 2020, he was appointed by Pope Francis to the international papal commission on women and the diaconate. He and his wife, Judith, have been married for 38 years, and they have 10 children and many grandchildren.
“No one can serve two masters,” Jesus told us, “for he will hate the one and love the other” (Mt 6:24). Freemasonry in its beliefs and practices sets itself up as another master in opposition to Christ. Learn why the Catholic Church has forbidden participation in this secret society for centuries in Serving Two Masters. About the Series: Faith Basics The Faith Basics series is about living life well. The booklets cover those topics of the Faith that most directly relate to the practical Catholic. Written for the person spread a bit too thin, the booklets are easily readable, coving the fundamentals in few words, while both informing and inspiring busy people to understand and live the Faith. Their convenient size makes them readily portable by purse or pocket. They are economically priced—ideal for distribution in evangelization efforts, RCIA classes, study groups, and outreach programs.
Winner of a 2022 Association of Catholic Publishers Excellence in Publishing Award: Resources for Ministry (Third Place). Whether you are seasoned from years of ministry or are just getting started living out the vows you made at ordination, this essential handbook will provide the spiritual and practical support you need as a Catholic deacon in the Church today. In Our Life of Service, international speaker and bestselling author Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers will inspire and uplift you as he and his brother deacons—including Greg Kandra, Larry Oney, Dominic Cerrato, and Thomas J. Fox—share their testimonies and insights about how to serve God with determination, faith, and vision. Burke-Sivers explains the gift of the diaconate as a living image of Christ the Servant in the world, a source of comfort and hope at a time when both are in short supply. Burke-Sivers explores the daily realities of life to answer important questions about the diaconate such as: What does the Church teach about the purpose of this ministry both within the parish and the world? How are the three key responsibilities of teaching, sanctifying, and leading entrusted to a deacon at ordination practiced in daily life? How does his commitment to his wife help a married deacon balance his duties to his family and ministry? What are practical strategies and solutions for the challenges deacons face, especially when conflicts arise within ministry? Burke-Sivers also calls for younger, more diverse groups of men who reflect on the face of the Church to become permanent deacons in order to bridge the gap between the Church and the world and to reach the unchurched. Each chapter contains questions for reflection, action steps, and prayers to help deacons strengthen their own commitment to their calling. Drawing from the writings of St. John Paul II and other ecclesial writings about the purpose and gift of the permanent diaconate, Burke-Sivers educates and inspires us to more fully appreciate this gift and enriches and encourages those who have themselves answered this call. Written for deacons in active ministry, Our Life of Service is also inspiring reading for Catholics in the pew who are considering a call or who simply want to understand the purpose and gift of the permanent diaconate.
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