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Objection 1: It seems that it is part of a deacon's duty to
baptize. Because the duties of preaching and of baptizing were
enjoined by our Lord at the same time, according to Mt. 28:19:
"Going . . . teach ye all nations, baptizing them," etc. But
it is part of a deacon's duty to preach the gospel. Therefore it
seems that it is also part of a deacon's duty to baptize.
Objection 2: Further, according to Dionysius (Eccl. Hier. v)
to "cleanse" is part of the deacon's duty. But cleansing from sins
is effected specially by Baptism, according to Eph. 5:26:
"Cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life." Therefore
it seems that it belongs to a deacon to baptize.
Objection 3: Further, it is told of Blessed Laurence, who was a
deacon, that he baptized many. Therefore it seems that it belongs to
deacons to baptize.
On the contrary, Pope Gelasius I says (the passage is to be found
in the Decrees, dist. 93): "We order the deacons to keep within
their own province"; and further on: "Without bishop or priest they
must not dare to baptize, except in cases of extreme urgency, when the
aforesaid are a long way off."
I answer that, Just as the properties and duties of the heavenly
orders are gathered from their names, as Dionysius says (Coel.
Hier. vi), so can we gather, from the names of the ecclesiastical
orders, what belongs to each order. Now "deacons" are so called
from being "ministers"; because, to wit, it is not in the deacon's
province to be the chief and official celebrant in conferring a
sacrament, but to minister to others, his elders, in the sacramental
dispensations. And so it does not belong to a deacon to confer the
sacrament of Baptism officially as it were; but to assist and serve
his elders in the bestowal of this and other sacraments. Hence
Isidore says (Epist. ad Ludifred.): "It is a deacon's duty to
assist and serve the priests, in all the rites of Christ's
sacraments, viz. those of Baptism, of the Chrism, of the Paten
and Chalice."
Reply to Objection 1: It is the deacon's duty to read the Gospel
in church, and to preach it as one catechizing; hence Dionysius says
(Eccl. Hier. v) that a deacon's office involves power over the
unclean among whom he includes the catechumens. But to teach, i.e.
to expound the Gospel, is the proper office of a bishop, whose action
is "to perfect," as Dionysius teaches (Eccl. Hier. v); and
"to perfect" is the same as "to teach." Consequently, it does not
follow that the office of baptizing belongs to deacons.
Reply to Objection 2: As Dionysius says (Eccl. Hier. ii),
Baptism has a power not only of "cleansing" but also of
"enlightening." Consequently, it is outside the province of the
deacon whose duty it is to cleanse only: viz. either by driving away
the unclean, or by preparing them for the reception of a sacrament.
Reply to Objection 3: Because Baptism is a necessary sacrament,
deacons are allowed to baptize in cases of urgency when their elders are
not at hand; as appears from the authority of Gelasius quoted above.
And it was thus that Blessed Laurence, being but a deacon,
baptized.
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