I understand that priests were a post-biblical development, which evolved once Christian communities grew sufficiently large that one man couldn't plausible say mass for and minister to all of them, so the bishops delegated certain of their responsibilities to priests. So it is the bishop of London who has the oversight of my soul, but he's delegated it to the vicar of Holy Trinity (and confusingly, he's also introduced an intermediate delegation to the suffragan bishop of Edmonton). The priest says mass in persona episcopi who is himself in persona Christi.
The deaconate was not originally a liturgical role at all. I suspect that the deacon's role in the high mass evolved just to give them something to do. (Incidentally this is sometimes used as an argument against women deacons, because although there were women deacons in the NT, they didn't do what deacons do now.)
Just to address some specific points made above (although I realise that Alex will know this), any Christian can baptise people, and deacons frequently do. Deacons can also marry people. Priests (and bishops) can say mass, give absolution and administer extreme unction (commonly but inaccurately referred to as the last rites). Bishops retain to themselves the power to confirm and ordain.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 01:35 pm (UTC)The deaconate was not originally a liturgical role at all. I suspect that the deacon's role in the high mass evolved just to give them something to do. (Incidentally this is sometimes used as an argument against women deacons, because although there were women deacons in the NT, they didn't do what deacons do now.)
Just to address some specific points made above (although I realise that Alex will know this), any Christian can baptise people, and deacons frequently do. Deacons can also marry people. Priests (and bishops) can say mass, give absolution and administer extreme unction (commonly but inaccurately referred to as the last rites). Bishops retain to themselves the power to confirm and ordain.