National Directory

114

ASPIRANT STAGE OF DIACONAL FORMATION

to ordination publicly manifests his will to offer himself to God and the Church to exercise a sacred order. In this way, he is admitted into the ranks of candidates for the diaconate. 22 “Enrollment among the can didates for the diaconate does not constitute any right necessarily to receive diaconal ordination. It is a first official recognition of the posi tive signs of the vocation to the diaconate, which must be confirmed in the subsequent years of formation.” 23 211. Because of its public character and its ecclesial significance, this rite should be celebrated in a proper manner, preferably on a Sunday or feast day. Special consideration should be given to the inclusion of the candidate’s wife and children, as well as to the cultural tradi tions represented. 212. Aspirants accepted for candidacy—and, if married, their wives—should prepare themselves for the reception of the rite through a spiritual retreat. 24 It will usually be helpful for wives to participate in the retreat, although during portions of the retreat it will usually be helpful to pro vide the opportunity for separate treatment of the respective roles of each in the vocation of the husband to the diaconate. After the celebra tion of the Rite of Admission to Candidacy, a certificate indicating the reception, date, and place, as well as the name of the presiding prelate, must be prepared and signed by the chancellor and officially sealed. This document is to be maintained carefully in the candidate’s personal file and recorded in the diocesan book on ministries and ordinations. 25

Norms

1. The aspirant stage is primarily a time to discern the readiness of the aspirant to be nominated to the diocesan bishop for acceptance into the candidate stage of diaconal formation. (190) 2. A handbook should be available to aspirants detailing the compo nents of the program, rationale and guidance for assessment, and