Father Daniel Dozier

BYZANTINE PRIEST GIVES COMMUNION AT DENVER PARISH

Guardians of the Holy

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One of the observations I frequently hear from those who attend an Eastern-rite Catholic liturgy is that the sense of reverence strikes them. The word “reverence” comes from the Latin reverential, meaning “awe” or “respect.” In the Catholic tradition, reverence is considered a virtue that can and should be cultivated in the soul, and is Read More

‘It Is Time for the Lord to Act!’

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Just before the blessing of the deacon to leave the sanctuary and go out before the Royal Doors at the beginning of the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, the deacon begins prayers of dialogue with the priest by saying: “It is time for the Lord to act. Reverend Father, give the blessing.” The priest, in response, says, Read More
deacon liturgy

Animators of Charisms in Worship and Life

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One of the prominent features of the deacon in the Eucharistic liturgy in every Christian tradition — Eastern or Western — is his use of particular phrases, sometimes called petitions or commands. In the Byzantine tradition, these sound like: “It is time for the Lord to act! Reverend Father, give the blessing!”; “Let us pray Read More
Ladder of Divine Ascent

The Ladder of the Spiritual Life

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In the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, the priest offers a prayer before the reading of the Gospel while the deacon is incensing the holy table and the faithful. In it, he prays, “Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments, so that, having trampled all carnal passions, we may lead a spiritual life, both Read More
Holy Spirit

Servant of the Epiclesis

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Within the Divine Liturgy, there are many different kinds of prayer. One type of prayer, which is offered in nearly all of the sacramental mysteries in the Christian East, is a particular type of invocation to the Holy Spirit known as an epiclesis. This prayer involves the calling down of the Holy Spirit upon an Read More
deacon ordination

Divine Grace and the Diaconate

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In the Byzantine ordination rite of a deacon, the bishop places his omophorion (stole) and his right hand on his head and offers the following prayer: “Divine grace, which always cures the infirm and supplies what is wanting, ordains the devout subdeacon N., to the diaconate; therefore, let us pray for him that the grace Read More
pray

Repentance and Lamentation

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Since our first parents’ exile from paradise, two very important forms of prayer in response to sin have developed, which I believe have much to tell us about a Christian response to the clerical sexual abuse crisis. The first is the prayer of repentance. Repentance is both a turning away from evil and a calling Read More
Father Daniel Dozier

Diaconal Lessons for Priestly Ministry

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After 12 years as a deacon, on May 2, 2020, the feast of St. Athanasius, I knelt before the Holy Table of St. Stephen’s Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Phoenix and was made a priest of the Catholic Church. As I knelt, I consciously offered my life to God on this Holy Table, asking him for Read More
Deacon Meets Young Parishioners 1

Servant Leaders in the School of Jesus

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One way of considering the three-year public teaching ministry of Jesus during his earthly life is through the lens of leadership development. In this regard, the late Cardinal Carlo Caffara, in his work “Living in Christ,” identified three main differences between the school of the rabbis and the school of Jesus in first-century Palestine, which Read More