Holy and Unholy Deacons in Late Nineteenth-Century Popular Verse

Vernacular rhyme about deacons abounded in popular literature in the late-nineteenth century, presenting a thought-provoking interplay between the ideal of diaconal holiness and the vicissitudes of daily life. These verses, ideologically balanced between free will and determinism, used humor to defuse economic and social tensions within rural communities. The use of rural vernacular was a signal that the writer was in tune with bedrock values, the moral cornerstones of the Republic. The single lesson that emerges is that while deacons may be subject to any of the seven deadly sins, true charity means being a good neighbor to the hungry and poor.