The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-03
THE CONSIDERATION SERVICE.
The Beautiful and Impressive Cere-
'mony to BE Held To-day.

The conservation ceremony, which
marks the elevation of a bishop in the
Roman Catholic Church to the high office
conferred upon him, is a beautiful and
impressive, though somewhat lengthy
service. Like all important ceremonies
of the Roman Catholic Chureh,
the service is in Latin, with which
the prelates of the church are
required to be thoroughly fam'lS
lar. Rev. Robert F. Kennedy, assist
ant pastor of the Cathedral, who Is with
Bishop Kelley in Richmond to-day as
master of ceremonies. has furnish
ed the Morning News the following trans
lated account of the ceremony, as it viii
be conducted:
Cardinal Gibbons, being vested as for
mass, will sit Immediately in front of the
high altar. Bishop-elect Kelley, attended
by Bishops Northrop and Monaghan, Will
sit before him. Bishop Northrop will then
say 10 the Cardinal:
Most Rev. Father, our Holy Mother,
the Catholic Church. asks that you raise
this priest here, present, to the eplsco-
pacy." The Cardinal will reply; have
YOU the apostolic letters?" The Bishop WI |
answer: 1--WE have" Let them re Rad,
the Cardinal will say.
Then the papa brief appointing che
bishop-elect is read by notary. This be-
ing finished, the Bishop-elect kneels be-
fore the Cardinal and takes the OATH
This is a formula wherein he promises
obedience to The Pope, and the regular
visit to Rome paid by Bishops to give
an account of their diocese. The oath Is
taken on the Gospels.
After this follows a public examination
on matters of faith and conduct: wit
thou teach the people committed to thee,
a4,lA
which thou fndest in the Holy Scrip
tures?" wilt thou reverently receive
and teach the traditions of the orthodox
fathers and the DEGREES and constitution
of the Apostolic See?' wilt thou al
ways exhibit to Blessed Peter Ito whom
was given by God the power OF plnoins
and loosing), and to our Holy Father, the
Pope. Leo XIII, vicar of our Lord, and
his successor, the Roman Pontff, obedi-
ence and submission in accordance with
the authority of the canons|'
"Wilt thou guard thy way of living
from all evil, and, God aiding thee, fol-
low the good?"
"Wnt thou both teach and practice
chastity and temperance. with the help of
God?'
''Wilt thou be always engaged in things
divine and as free as human frailty per-
mits thee, keep myself from secular pur-
suits or the seeking of wealth."
fence and teach them 20 others?"
"Wilt thou for the Lords sake, be
kind and mercifulsto the poor, pilgrims
and all i'm need?'
Then follows an examination on the
creed or a profession of faith.
The Cardinal then commences mass as
usual the Bishop-elect standing at his
left side When the Cardinal goes up the
steps of the altar the Bishop-elect goes
to a side altar, where he vests for mass
he having hitherto worn the purple cas-
sock rochet, alb and cape, He reads the
mass until the last verse of the sequence
Immediately before the gospel, when he
returns TO his former place, and sits,
facing the CARDINAL who says: 1T be-
hooves the Bishop TO judge, interpret,
| consecrate, ordain, offer sacrifice, baptlze
and confirm"
Then. after a short prayer the Cardinal
| and assistant Bishops kneel. and the
| Bishop-elect prostrates himself at the leIt
| OF the Cardinal The Litanies are sung
and. during them the Cardinal rises and
thrice blesses the Bishop-elect. The Litan-
les being ended, all rise, and the Bishop
elect kneels before the Cardinal who
rlaces the open book of the Gospels on
| his shoulder. where it is held by one or
the chaplains, and then lays his hands on
the Bishop-elects head, saying: Receive
the Holy Ghost" The Bishops assisting
do likewise After a prayer the Cardinal
| kneels and intones the "Neni Creator
| Spiritus," the first verse of which being
ended the Cardinal rises and sits, and
| the Rishop-elect kneels before him;
meanwhile a white linen cloth is bound
around the hi ad of the Bishop-elect. and
he is anointed with CHI ism by the Cardi-
nal who says: May thy head be anoint-
ed and consecrated with heavenly bless
ing in the order of a Bishop"
The Cardinal then rising prays that this
amounting may descend in copious streams
on his head and affect his entire person;
that he may have cocstancy In faith,
putity in his affections and sincerity of
peace; that his feet may be beautiful in
announcing the Gospel of peace and good
tidings; that he may receive the ministry
of reconciliation in word and deed; that
his preaching may not be in the persua-
slve words of merely human wisdom, but
In the showing 70 tn of the spirit and
Strength Of God. Grant to h M" he con-
times 'the keys Of the Kingdom of
4 Heaven. that he may use them not glory
ing in the power which Thou grantest TO
him for the building up, not for the des-
trucdon of the faithful; whatsoever he
shall bind on earth, let IL be bound in
heaven. and whatsoever he shall loose on
earth, let it be loosed in heaven. Whose
S ms he retains let tn m be retained: and
whose sins he forgives do Thou forgive
Whosoever curses him may he be occurs
ed aud whoever besses him, may he be
filed with blessings. May he be a pru-
dent and faithful servant whom Thou
o Lord placest over Thy household. that
he may give them food in due season and
show himself perfect.
MAY he be ready and prompt fervent
in spirit hater of pride and a lover
of humility and truth, nor be moved by
praise or fear.
MAY he not declare darkness. light; nor
light. darkness; good, bad nor bad, good
Nav he be debtor to the wise and tlIe
foolish that he may reep fruit from all
Grant him, 0 Lord, the Episcopal chair e
govern thy church ana the people com.
mitted 10 him. Be to him. authority
power and strength. Multiply Thy bless
lngs on him. and Thy grace. that by Thy
favor he may prove worthy OF Thy mercy
and by Thy grace devoted to his duty
through Our Lord, Jesus Christ"