The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-05-06

ourselves, conceive of life and death
as a whole and center our universe
on the living God. The Bishops of,
this country for the most part, aware,
alert, if not alarmed, recognize the
task that Is before them. 1t is theirs
to inspire their 1ocks with the for
NAL consciousness of their divine pro-
gram, to build up Catholic mentality
in the groups with whose guidance
they are charged and to use the means
that are necessary and that are adapt
ed to that end. No body of Bishops
in any country of the world has a
more difficult task set before them than
have they who today welcome into fell
lowship the third Bishop of Superior.
He comes a man of mark in his own
community. Prudent, learned, skilled
| in the administration of diocese,
large-handed in his charities, suave in
| his address, to grace the Office he as
sumes, to help his brethren in the
episcopate by his council and to rule
the Church of God in the diocese
which by the authority OF the sover.
eign Pontiff, he shall govern.
Bishop Pinten.
The glittering ceremony of his con.
secration recalls the stored past of
which it is a symbol. The inspira.
! ton of his life as the burden of his
thought must be henceforth the de.
post of the faith which in this sacred
rite is represented by the open book
of the Scriptures that have rested
upon his shoulders. The fullness OF
the priesthood which exerts itself
through the dispensation of the Sac.
raments has been impaired to him
with the imposition of hands, and his
full initiation into episcopal equality
| is betokened by the Mass which he
now celebrates in union with his con
secrators. Mitre and crosier and jul.
dicial chair await him to convey with
unmistakable clarity the insignia OF
his authority to rule the Church OF
God.
Office of Bishop.
The spirit of ancient reverence
breathes through the solemn prayers
and prefaces and examinations and
charges. 1t is no light thing, in the
language of the Pontifical, the Church
is doing today. This is no reward
of merit, no decoration for services
rendered, but rather challenge and
a command to justify the choice OF
men and to be indeed as Paul bade
Timothy, a man of God. The unac
customed one may mark the form, may
admire the. splendor, may be caught
by the accessories that seem to speak
of state and the pageantries of days
long gone by, but underneath it all
the sober meaning of the hour tells
of an Office that saints have hallowet
and only a saint can properly dis
Icharge. To speak of a Bishop is tt
speak of an immemorial line that runs
back to the apostles, of grave and rev
erent men in all ages and all lands
who lived and wrought for God, guard
ed truth, bestowed grace and ruled
the Church of God. High and holy
names of men who lived in self-denial
spent laborious days and passed the
nights in watching and in prayer
names from far and near, come tt
daunt and, to inspire our newest Amer
lean Bishop. Now may his heart bt
filled with courage to labor with JOY
in diocese that shall henceforth bt
his to rule in love and mercy and tt
enrich with the flowers of his virtues
May he who sprung from the soil O
the land, know it's qualities and it.
| defects, learn to love the people ane
the place with which his life an6
his activities shall henceforth be as
| SOciated