The Church preaches our Lord through the liturgy, through the works of charity, and through the word. The vocation of deacon involves of its nature the function of preaching God's word (e.g. Stephen and Philip), and giving catechetical instruction to children and adults. To this end the deacon would need not a complete theological training, but a sound grasp of religious knowledge. The parish would not expect him to expatiate on theological problems and principles, but they would require a simple presentation of the faith and the commandments. For this purpose they might expect that by reason of the deacon's personal contact with particular spheres of life, he could be on terms of easy familiarity with them. The deacon could also perform baptisms with the full ceremonies, and burials. If the Church were willing to legislate for it, people coming to be married could confer the sacrament on each other before him.