From the earliest times, women have taken an active part in the ministry
of the Church. The precise extent and nature of this ministry is not easy to
unravel, partly because of the scarcity of historical records, partly because
of divergent ministries and a variety of names given to such ministries. During
the first two centuries the order of ‘widows’ seems to have absorbed
most of the female involvement in the apostolate. The rise and decline of women's diaconate is a complex
story.
For the sake of our main argument, we will here concentrate on the
undeniable fact that from the third to at least the ninth century the Church
has had validly ordained and active women deacons.
- The diaconate ordination imparted to women was a true sacramental ordination, parallel in all
essentials to that of the diaconate for men.
-
- The ordination of women deacons was sanctioned by
Church councils.
-
- The tasks of women deacons ran parallel to those expected from male
deacons, with some specific duties inherent in the position and the need of
women at the time. These tasks corresponded to a
complete diaconate ministry.
-
- Historical records confirm that the
diaconate of women flourished for many centuries, especially in Greece, Syria
and throughout Byzantium.
Since the diaconate is part of sacramental holy orders, it follows
that, if women could be validly ordained deacons, they can be validly ordained
priests.
The Council of Trent defined:
“If anyone says that in the Catholic Church there does not
exist a hierarchy, established through divine ordination, which consists of
bishops, priests and deacons, let him be anathema.” (Denzinger no
966).
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Women Deacon
Texts
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