.::Firmum Est::. - - My Heart is Steadfast

Maybe each of us can reach out to someone in a special way today!

This evening, the twenty-one ‘deacons-elect’ stood in front of the community during evening prayer to profess their faith and to make an oath of their fidelity to the Word of God and the teachings of the Church.

As a ‘deacon-elect’, I professed my faith and made an oath of fidelity.

“But what is all this cryptic language you are using?” Ok - I will define.

Deacon-elect |ˈdēkən-iˈlekt| noun
A seminarian who has been approved by the Seminary and his Archbishop to be ordained as a deacon. I was ‘called-to-orders’ (Holy Orders - Priest, Deacon, etc) this summer by Archbishop Wuerl. Think as well of the election of a the President. He is elected, called the President-elect, but not President until he is sworn in to office. On October 4th, I will be ’sworn-in’ by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is much more supernatural and divine than being sworn into public office.

Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity:
I have included them below; that is, what I actually said this evening in front of the school with the other twenty-one men. God has given His “Yes.” In some ways, these actions are the beginnings of my “Yes.” The official “Yes” will be at the Diaconate Ordination - but these prepare the way for that date.
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PROFESSION OF FAITH

I, Kevin James Regan,

with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I also believe everything contained in God’s Word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the Church, whether in solemn judgment or in ordinary and universal magisterium, as divinely revealed and calling for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by the Church definitively regarding teaching on faith and morals.

Moreover, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman Pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.

OATH OF FIDELITY

I, Kevin James Regan,

in assuming the office of deacon, promise that both in my words and in my conduct I shall always preserve communion with the Catholic Church.

I shall carry out with the greatest care and fidelity the duties incumbent on me toward both the universal Church and the particular Church in which, according to the provisions of the law, I have been called to exercise my service.

In fulfilling the charge entrusted to me in the name of the Church, I shall hold fast to the deposit of faith in its entirety, I shall faithfully hand it on and explain it, and I shall avoid any teachings opposed to that faith.

I shall follow and foster the common discipline of the whole Church and I shall observe all ecclesiastical laws, especially those which are contained in the Code of Canon Law.

In Christian obedience I shall unite myself with what is declared by the bishops as authentic doctors and teachers of the faith or established by them as those responsible for the governance of the Church; I shall also faithfully assist the diocesan bishops, in order that the apostolic activity exercised in the name and by mandate of the Church may be carried out in the communion of the same Church.

So help me God, and God’s holy Gospels, on which I place my hand.