Permanent Deacon

Another highlight of my German pilgrimage was a visit to the majestic Benedictine monastery of Ottobeuron. Here is a photo of one of the saints enshrined in the abbey church - I forget his name, but he was the deacon of Pope St Stephen I (r.254-57), and on the other side of the church is his companion, the Pope's subdeacon. As you can see, his remains are dressed in a rather fine dalmatic and he holds a burse. His crown indicates that he was a martyr. He is truly a 'deacon for ever' - reminding us that Ordination is not just an inauguration but a ceremony that changes who someone is.