Pope's homily for Jubilee of Deacons read by Archbishop Fisichella: Be ‘sculptors’ of the merciful face of the Father

“The deacon is a servant, the one who washes the feet of the world.” These words were constantly on the lips of thousands of deacons who arrived in Rome for their Jubilee, which was held from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 February in Rome. Italy, Spain, Poland, France, Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, the United States, and Cape Verde, were just some of the 100 or so countries from which the 6,000 deacons came, many with their wives and families, to take part in the Jubilee.

The three-day event began on Friday 21 February with a welcome to the deacons in 12 churches in the center of Rome, where they first gathered for Midday Prayer, and then had sessions of catechesis with participating bishops. Then, on Saturday afternoon, after the pilgrimage to the Holy Door, Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, presided over the Prayer Vigil in the Paul VI Audience Hall with the deacons, their wives and family members. During the vigil, three deacons from different countries also spoke briefly.

On Sunday morning, the Pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, His Excellency Archbishop Rino Fisichella, presided at Mass, as delegate of Pope Francis, for the ordination of 23 new permanent deacons. The text of the Homily, read by Monsignor Fisichella, was prepared by the Holy Father.

"The message of the Readings we have heard could be summed up in one word: gratuity, a term certainly dear to you Deacons, gathered here for the celebration of the Jubilee. Let us then reflect on this fundamental dimension of Christian life and of your ministry, in particular under three headings: forgiveness, selfless service and communion…”

First the homily focused on forgiveness. "The proclamation of forgiveness is an essential task of the deacon. It is in fact an indispensable element for every ecclesial journey and a condition for every form of human coexistence. Jesus shows us the need for, and the fulness of this requirement when he says: ‘Love your enemies’ (Lk 6:27). And it is precisely this which is needed: to grow together, sharing lights and shadows, successes and failures of one another, knowing how to forgive and ask for forgiveness, reconnecting relationships and not excluding from our love even those who strike us and betray us."

The second point covered was ‘selfless service’ … "The Lord, in the Gospel, describes it with a phrase as simple as it is clear: ‘Do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return’ (Lk 6:35). These few words bear within them the good scent of friendship. First of all, that friendship of God for us, but also our own friendships. For the deacon, this attitude is not a secondary aspect of his activity, but a substantial dimension of his being. In fact, he consecrates himself to be, in his ministry, a ‘sculptor’ and ‘painter’ of the merciful face of the Father, a witness to the mystery of God-Trinity.”

The last perspective highlighted was that of gratuity as a source of communion. “Giving without asking for anything in return unites, creates bonds, because it expresses and nourishes the idea of being together that has no other purpose than the gift of self and the good of the people. Saint Lawrence, your patron, when asked by his accusers to hand over the treasures of the Church, showed them the

poor and said: ‘Here are our treasures!’ This is how communion is built: by telling your brother and sister, with words, but above all with deeds, personally and as a community: ‘You are important to us.’ ‘We love you.’ And, ‘We want you to be part of our journey and our life’. This is what you do as husbands, fathers, and grandfathers - always ready, in service, to expand your families to those in need, where you live.”

The next great jubilee event will be the Jubilee of the World of Volunteering to be held from 8 to 9 March.