Nothing New in Letter to Deacons: And That's Nothing New

It's a letter, from the Holy See (most Americans call it 'the Vatican'), to the Catholic Church's permanent deacons.

Catholic World News has a short piece about it, in yesterday's news:

"Cardinal Claudio Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, is urging the world’s permanent deacons to follow the example of St. Stephen in their ministry of the Word and the example of St. Lawrence in their ministry of charity.

" 'The ministry of the Word which, in a special way for Deacons, has as its great model St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr, requires of ordained ministers a constant struggle to study it and carry it out, at the same time as one proclaims it to others,' writes Cardinal Hummes in a letter, dated August 10. 'Meditation, following the style of lectio divina, that is, prayerful reading, is one well traveled and much counseled way to understand and live the Word of God, and make it ones own. At the same time, intellectual, theological and pastoral formation is a challenge which endures throughout life. A qualified and up to date ministry of the Word very much depends upon this in depth formation.'..."
(August 17, 2009)

There's more, of course. But as far as I can tell, it's nothing new.

That doesn't mean it's not important.

I see it as a reminder from headquarters about what's important. And, that "...intellectual, theological and pastoral formation is a challenge which endures throughout life...."

I think a layman like me needs a reminder like that, now and again. God willing, I've got a few decades left in this life: and there's a whole lot that I haven't learned about God and His Church.

Related posts:

• "5th Sunday of Lent 2009: A Reflection"
  (April 5, 2009)

In the news:

• "Vatican Issues Letter to Permanent Deacons"
  Catholic World News Brief, via EWTN (August 17, 2009)