“Look with favor on this servant of yours, whom we now dedicate to the office of deacon…”

This morning, I’ll be attending the ordination of transitional deacons for the Diocese of Brooklyn, and will have the privilege of vesting one of the new deacons, Jeremy Canna, who served at our parish during his pastoral year.

Below is the beautiful prayer of consecration that will be prayed over him:

Almighty God, be present with us by your power.  You are the source of all honor, you assign to each his rank, you give to each his ministry.  You remain unchanged, but you watch over all creation and make it new through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord: he is your Word, you power, and your wisdom.  You foresee all things in your eternal providence and make due provision for every age.  You make the Church, Christ’s body, grow to its full stature as a new and greater temple.  You enrich it with every kind of grace and perfect it with a diversity of members to serve the whole body in a wonderful pattern of unity.

You established a threefold ministry of worship and service for the glory of your name.  As ministers of your tabernacle you chose the sons of Levi and gave your blessing as their everlasting inheritance.  In the first days of your Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the apostles of your Son appointed seven men of good repute to assist them in the daily ministry, so that they themselves might be more free for prayer and preaching.  By prayer and the laying on of hands the apostles entrusted to those chosen men the ministry of serving at tables.

Lord, look with favor on this servant of yours, whom we now dedicate to the office of deacon, to minister at your holy altar.

Lord, send forth upon him the Holy Spirit, that he may be strengthened by the gift of your sevenfold grace to carry out faithfully the work of the ministry.  May he excel in every virtue: in love that is sincere, in concern for the sick and the poor, in unassuming authority, in self-discipline, and in holiness of life.  May his conduct exemplify your commandments and lead your people to imitate his purity of life.  May he remain strong and steadfast in Christ, giving to the world the witness of a pure conscience?  May he in this life imitate your Son, who came, not to be served by to serve, and one day reign with him in heaven.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  R.  Amen.

Pray for Jeremy and all his classmates as they embark on this next great chapter of their lives. By the grace of God, they will be ordained to the priesthood next June.