Fr. Chuck's Column, August 30, 2020

 

This Thursday, September 3, we celebrate the feast of St. Phoebe. Less than a year ago we installed a statue of St. Phoebe above the steps going to the sanctuary, holding a scroll to the right of St. Paul. This is St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, a very important Epistle, sometimes called “St. Paul’s Gospel.” St. Paul entrusted this important letter to Phoebe to bring, and perhaps to read, to the Roman Christians. He was planning to visit Rome, and this was to be an introduction and defense of his teaching. St. Phoebe was advancing the way for the controversial St. Paul.

In the Letter to the Romans 16:1-3 we learn that Phoebe was a deaconess of the Church at Cenchreae, the port of Corinth in Greece, whom St. Paul admired. Many have speculated that she was a woman of means who contributed financial support to Paul's apostolate, and likely hosted the house church of Cenchreae, as well as provided shelter and hospitality to Paul himself.

So she is a model and patron of all those who support the Church and help in so many ways, and hence she is a great model and patron for our parish. She also is something of a problem. In the old New American Bible, as above, she is referred to as a “deaconess”, but in the Revised New American Bible she is referred to as a “minister”. There is some ambiguity about the word, and at the time St. Paul wrote, offices in the church were not clearly established and codified. So there is some debate about exactly what Phoebe did and what her role in the Church was.

That debate continues today, as Pope Francis has established a commission to study the possibility and practicality of the women’s diaconate in the church today. Considerable research has revealed written and archaeological evidence (mostly tombstones) of women deacons in the early church. Were they ordained, and what did they do? They certainly assisted at the Baptism of women, since people at that time were baptized naked. All this is now under study.

We value our deacons, Billy and Dan. Would it be beneficial to have women deacons as well, to preach, baptize, witness weddings, care for the poor, and do what men deacons now do? Personally, I think it would be a great advantage and help our evangelization. But the Church, who does not rush into these things, has not yet decided.

In any case, the word “phoebe” is Greek, and means, “bright” or “shining”. How appropriate to have St. Phoebe now shining in our church. God bless!