I saw something great at Twitter/X. Full credit to an Irish Dominican Fr Conor McDonough, OP for what I am reorganizing and posting.
‘Christ was a porter when he opened the gates of hell. He was an exorcist when he expelled the seven demons from Mary Magdalene. He was a lector when he opened the book of Isaiah. He was a subdeacon when he turned water into wine at Cana in Galilee.’
‘He was a deacon when he washed the feet of the disciples. He was a priest when he received bread and broke it and blessed it. He was a bishop when he raised his hands to the heavens and blessed his apostles’ (Collectio Canonum Hibernensis, early 8th century).
I spent some time looking for the origin of these images. They seem to be from a 9th c. Missal from the Abbey of Corbie, the Sacramentaire grégorien dit de Corbie ou de Saint Eloi. But… I can’t find it. I found the Sacramentary (HERE), but it didn’t have these images!
What a beautiful post. I’m glad I stopped by today.
Is this what you are looking for?
https://initiale.irht.cnrs.fr/codex/350
https://arca.irht.cnrs.fr/iiif/12635/canvas/canvas-1338869/view
Did he forget acolyte?
You did not mention the minor order of acolyte. Was that skipped, exorcist to sub-deacon?
What about us acolytes?! ;-)
Hey! I’m just reporting.
Beautiful reflection on orders, as i reflect on my own 23 years of priesthood this weekend.
As for acolyte…i would add; Christ was acolyte when he carried his cross!
@Saint110676, @Geoffrey:
Christ was an acolyte when He said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness…”
This is great – many thanks!
fishonthehill (with felicitations) and aflusche,
You’ve got me wondering whether anyone (Patristic, Mediaeval, or later) has elaborated along similar lines – for candelafer, thurifer, crucifer (who else?).
Wow. Very interesting to put it into this perspective. Great post!