Why does A DEACON wear his STOLE across his shoulder?

Why does the deacon wear his stole differently from the priest?

The answer is deep and beautiful.🤚

🔹 Not Power, But Service

The deacon is not ordained to lead the Church like a priest.

He is ordained to serve, just like Jesus did.

The word "deacon" comes from the Greek "diakonos" meaning "servant".

So, his vestment, especially the stole, must reflect that.

While a priest wears his stole straight down on both shoulders,

the deacon wears it from his left shoulder, across his chest, and ties it at the side.

But why?

💡 Every Part Has Meaning:

🔥From the shoulder – because that’s where you carry a burden.

 The deacon carries the burden of the Gospel, of the poor, of the Church.

🔥Across the chest – it crosses the heart.

 Because service must come from love. Without love, it's just work.

🔥Tied at the side – because he’s ready to serve.

 Like a servant rolling up their sleeves, the deacon is always ready.

✝️ The Stole Is a Cross

That stole, crossing from shoulder to side, is shaped like a cross.

It reminds the deacon, and all of us, that to serve like Jesus is to carry a cross.

👉It's not about looking important.

👉It's about loving deeply, serving humbly, and giving joyfully.

The deacon wears what Christ wore:

👉A towel to wash feet.

👉A cross to save the world.

💬 A Message Without Words

When you see a deacon in his stole, you’re seeing a message:

👉“I am here to serve, not to be served.”

👉“I carry Christ’s message, with love.”

👉“I stand between the altar and the street, to bring God to the people, and the people to God.”

❤️ So:

The priest’s stole says: I lead you to the altar.

The deacon’s stole says: I walk with you to the streets.

👉It’s not just a cloth.

👉It’s a cross.

👉It’s a calling.

And it's worn…

with the heart in the middle.