The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-12-08

mSN ANA, YIN HE OCCASION
OF THE INSTALLATION OF RT.
REV. JOHN HENRY THEN AS
BISHOP OF DENVER, AT THE
CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMAcU-
LATE CONCEPTION, DENVER,
COLORADO, NOVEMBER 2s; 1912.
You have witnessed the solemn in
stallation of Rt. Rev. John Henry
THhen as Bishop of Denver. The Ad-
ministrator of the Diocese, who has
held the reins of government since
they fell from the hands of the late la
mented Bishop Matz, received the new
Bishop at the entrance to the sanctu-
ary and led him to his throne, thus
Symbolizing the transmission of au-
thority to him whom Rome has Sc
lected to rule the destinies of this dio-
cese. In their turn the clergy ap-
preached the throne, kissed the ring of
the new Bishop and, placing their
hands in his, repeated the solemn
promise they made on the morning of
their ordination: Il promise thee and
thy successors reverence and obed-
ience." This obeisance of the clergy
is the chief feature of the installation.
1t is the one great consolation of the
Bishop as he takes upon his shoul-
ders the burden of Diocesan admins
tration. 1t is the guarantee of the
success of his work For, the loyalty
OF the priests insures the loyalty of
the people, and when Bishop, priests
and people work together, there is
nothing that can withstand the onward
march of the cause they espouse.
Bishop, priests and people are the
three strands of spiritual cable cap
able of lifting with ease load of re-
ligious responsibility that would re-
sist their divided efforts.
Episcopal authority, then, is the OBJ
ject-lesson of this ceremony. Whence
is that authority and what is its ma
ture, that ifdlt4Fados snould throngs
this Cathedral and gladly assent to
the acknowledgment of it by their spir-
itual leaders? Does it come from
priests or people? Through spiritual
or temporal rulers? No, Brethren, it
comes directly from God. Our Holy
Father the Pope, as visible head of
the Church, selects the persons and
determines the field of their jurisdic-
ton, but it is the Holy Ghost who in
h0 rit q of
points Bishops to rule the Church of
God" By conservation the Bishop
becomes a successor of the Apostles
and receives from Christ the Apos-
tolic commission: go ye into the
whole world and preach the gospel to
every creature" Going, therefore,
teach all nations all things whatsoever
/ have commanded you. And be-
hold l am with you all days even to
the consummation of the world "As
the Father hath sent me, | also send
you" He that heareth you, heareth
me; and he that despiSeth you, de-
spiseth me-" IF there is any author
ity on earth that should command the
reverence and obedience of priests and
people, it is the authority of the
Bishops For he rules and teaches by
right divine Your new Bishop will be
a ruler, firm and gentle. Through
synod and pastoral letter and by word
of mouth he will apply the great canon
law of the Church to the needs of his
diocese, hewing to the line of order
and discipline. But he will not be I'M
mindful of the words of the prayer the
officiating prelate offered UP for him
on the day of his conservation: Give
HIN, o Lord, the Keys of the Kingdom
of Heaven that he may use, and not
glory in, power which thou be-
stowest for edification, and not for
lo~truction' THE bruised reed he
will not break, the smoking fax he
Will not extinguish.' Bishop Then
is not an untried man. His past rec
ord gives assurance that he will be
with his priests and people in every
undertaking which makes for the glory
of God and the exaltation of Holy
Mother Church.
Bishop Preacher.
That your new Bishop will be a
preacher l need not tell you who
heard him so often from this very
pulpit. Realizing the Importance OF
the law of the Council of Trent that
1.-The chief Office of the Bishop is to
preach''-a law which receives fresh
emphasis in the new code of Plus X
and Benedict XV-he will see to il
that his spokesmen and representa-