The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-23

ter by two bishops who acted as sponsors
for his fidelity. He has professed pub
licly the faith he must ever defend ana
promuigate; his obedience 10 the supreme
pontiff and to the canons of the churcn:
his obligation tu practice all the Christian
virtues and To fulfil all the duties of his
exalted Office. le realizes that he must
be perfect. \ bishops life is that of the
state of perfection. The holy sacrifice
then began. celebrated by the consecrator
and the priest 10 be consecrated. The
mass is interrupted at the end of the epis-
tie for the solemn conservation.
The conSecrator Informs the newly
elected prelate what his duty will be: "lt
behooves 4 bishop Ia judge. to interpret,
to cOnsecrate TO Ordain. TO baptizc and
TO confirm Almighty God is invoked 10
shower down His graces upon the chosen
one. and in the litany of the saints. whilst
he lies prosiratc. ;hc whole heavenly court
is asked to pray for him. The three bish-
ops then place their hands on his head.
saying Receive the Holy Ghost The
book Of the Holy Gospels is placed on his
neck ana shoulders and kept there dur
ing the whole conservation, to remind him
that his greatest work as bishop Is 10 80
and nreaG to his flock the Word of God
ana that the Almighty will give him spc-
cial grace for the fultiment of that duty.
His head is anointed with the holy
chrism and consecrated with heavenly
benediction: and his hands are anohted
with the same chrism that. like David,
king and prophet. he may be consecrat"d
and holy. He receives the pastoral staff.
the sign of his spiritual authority over his
people, which he is TO exercise for their
sanctication. with meekness. but with
iirmness, with justice but also with mer-
cy. The ring Is placed on his finger, ,s-
pousing him to the church of God The
mitre will be placed on his head. as the
helmet of strength and salvation: the
gloves on his hands to remind him that
as Jesus Chris, died for the sins of the
world. SO must he offer up that self same
sacrifice for the living and the dead.
Jesus Christ will always be before his
eyes, for he will ever wear on his breast
his holy cross filled with the sacred relics
of His saints. a priest he came into
this sanctuary: he is now by the grace
of the Holy Ghost a bishop of the church.
Through the favor of the apostolic see. TO
which alCne belongs all spiritual jurisdi'-
ton over souls here on earth he Is made
co-adju,or bishop of the important diocese
of Scranton.
APOSTLES CONSEcRATED BISHOPS.
As Matthias was taken to fil the place
of Judas in the apos tJlc college and with
the eleven received the Holy Ghost on
the day of Pentecost. as Saul ana Barna-
bas We're chosen, and through the impo-
sition of the apostles hands were consa-
Grated for their work in the apOstolate; so
did the apostles consecrate bishops for
special churches and provinces fulfilling
the command of their Divine Master
sus, and Titus for Crete. We behold in
the days of 81. John the seven bishops OF
the churches of Asia Minor. Everywhere
frCm the day of Pentecost down TO our
own time. the chain of apostolic success
sion has remained unbroken II is one Of
the marks of the true church. Unity.
catholcity. Sancity, Apostolcity. Tn"
church must be apostolic. She must show
her descent in the line OF her bishops from
the apostles
Brethren. what you have Witnessed is no
empty ceremony. II is Il great sacr2ment,
IA sublime. nay. Divine fact. In spirit
we are carried back to Jerusalem. when
Paul knelt before st. Peter ana received
the imposition of his hands for his great
niission-the conversion of the Gentiies.
Another Paul has knelt before success
sor of the apostles, and through the impo-
siton of his hands has received his episco-
pal mission And what is that? ST. Paul
gives the answer Take heed to your
self and TO all the flock over which the
Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops: to
rule the church of God. which lie hath
bishop personiiies the Divine authority of
the church of the living God. He Is its
center in the diocese committed TO his
care by the Vicar of Jesus Christ.
II belongs to him to feed, to rule AMI
govern the flock entrusted to him The
faithful. subject to the priest: priests
subject to their bishop: bishops, subject
to the center of unity, the Roman poiItiff
--Su'fl Is lilt tntlTtn Ol 'fDl OIL -uftn. he
words of my text are the charter given
by our Divine Lord to His church. just
before His ascension to the right hand
Of His eternal Father: "All power is given
10 me In heaven and on earth Go We
ther, fore and teach all nations. baptiZing
them in the name of the Father and Cf
the Son and of the Holy Ghost: teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever
have commanded you: and behold ] am
with you all days, even to the conslImma-
ton Cf the world" ''Hc that belieycth
and IL baptized shall be saved. but he hat
be lieveth not shall he condemned" TD,n
He opened their understanding, that they
might understand the Scriptures and lie
said to them. "rhus IL is written and
thus it behooved Christ to suffer ana
TO rise again from the dead on the third
day. and that penance and the remission
of sins should be preached in His name
among all nations. beginning at Jerllsa-
lem. And you are witnesses Of these
things.
all power is also mine because I am Cod
man. all power is mine because as Re
de. nler have conquered the world: ] am
the second Adam. the Lord and King Of
the human race. Because have all DOW
er. therefore. as the Father hath sent Me
] now send you. Go and make disciples
CT all mankind and baptiZe all who will
believe in Me- teaching them. etc. Here
you have the rule of faith. Jesus Christ,
who is God the way. the truth and the
life instituted Il living teaching body nf
men to guard. explain and transmit HisJ
revealed doctrine. This body of teachers }
must be Catholic by right ana In fact;
"Go ye into the whole world and teach
all nations" Catholic, that II. universal
In time. existing In all ages: universal in
place. extending over all the earth. ami