Saturday, September 3, 2011

A Saint right out of Scripture(and a deaconess too)

St. Phoebe

Feastday: September 3


Phoebe (1st century) was a deaconess of the Church at Cenchreae, the port of Corinth. She was recommended to the Christian congregation at Rome by St. Paul, who praised her for her assistance to him and to many others. She may have brought Paul's epistle to the Romans to Rome with her. Her feast day is September 3rd.

>>>The use of the term deaconess from the Vulgate is not to imply the church ordained women deacons.  There is no evidence of this at all.  No laying on of hands; no Bishop ordaining Phoebe or any other women for that matter.  The Vulgate terminology may simply mean of service, serving.  And there may indeed have been women, set apart and given titles to attend specifically to physical needs of other women.  But still, the mention of Phoebe by those who advocate for the ordination of women as Permanent Deacons in the Catholic Church would be a mistake!

Meanwhile, dear St. Phoebe, pray for us!

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