The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-04-26

444&a AAtAS42
same words and the imposition OF
hands does the church send the last
successor of the APOSTLES to fulfill
his ministry. AS Christ is the ,anoint-
ed one, SO does the church anoint
the bishops head and hands that he
may be like him whom he breaches.
AS Christ is the word of God and it
is the bishops part to give himself
TO the ministry of the word, SO lays,
she upon his shoulders; so puts she
into his hand the book Of the gospels
that it may be the burden of bis
thoughts as Of his episcopate. As
Christ is the good shepherd and de.
tends his sheep and rules them with
a shepherds rod, so places she in.
the hands of Christ's representative
the shepherds staff-symbol of epis-
copal authority and pastoral care. AS
Christ loved the church in st. Paul's
words, as husband should love his
wife. 50 does she espouse with a.
ring bishop to his see. Upon his
head she places the mitre, once a
simple cap worn as crowns were, in
token of authority, and now altered
into its present form and made to
symbolic the helmet of command.
er. Providing for her needs in the
language of the pontifical, the church
seers as Christ-sought men to do her
work, and as he sent them, so does
she send them. The elaboration Of
her ceremonies is intended for the
unseen bishops-the shepherd of all
our souls. Their symbolism is meant
for us and for him who today enters
the ranks of the episcopate.
Tribute to Bishop.
You that have known his merit
that have seen his patient. tireless
labors, that have been witnesses of
his virtuous life. you, his friends, are
gathered here to acclaim him. Your
interested gaze, your beaming coun-
tenances, your mingled joy and sor.
row tell that you know the man
whom the Holy Mother Church has
this day called to the burden of the
episcopate. can almost hear you
say: "A man among men!" "Well
fitted to be bishop" fortunate
the people and the place that shall
receive him." and all the ancient fiat
teries of loving hearts and devoted
Catholic people. But for him this
day is less the crown of the years
that are gone than the opening Of a
new career. 1t Is not what he has
been that stirs him this morning, but
the thought Of what he must be. A
new vista opens before him. The
successor Of the apostles, he stands
in the place of men of the most ex-
allied lives, Of the most tireless devo.
ton. of the greatest capacity. He
feels himself challenged by all the
glory of the church's past, by those
uouAelOoo AASh VI Olu WIN LdC0u GREAT
difficulties and who did not fail, by.
those brave men who fought the good
!! fight against tyrant and usurper and
the prince Of the power Of darkness
who fought for right to the death,
and, dying. were not overcome. The
standard of the church.s episcopate
is perilously high, and rash would be
the man who thought to measure
himself up to 1t without the stern
est discipline. Well may his emo.
lions this morning be mingled with
consultations and with fears as he
joins the ranks of his sanity prede-
cessors. But may their success be
his inspiration and their example his
model. Our hopes. our prayers, our
benedictions, be upon him and may
his days be long and his labors fruit:
full. and this work we accomplish
here today, a memorable event not
only in the diocese of Kearney but
in the history of the Catholic church
in the United States.