Catholic Sensibility

Yet more on hierarchy. I laughed a bit over the comment about the ecclesiologist choking over this section of Vatican II. It's important to recall that many lay people have very negative experiences of clergy who have, let's say, mismanaged their role as servant. Christ chided the apostles for seeking a high place, and reinforced this with his example at the footwashing.

First, let's read that the apostolic tradition is not authoritarianism as the world is used to it, but leadership in the example of the Lord himself: That divine mission, entrusted by Christ to the apostles, will last until the end of the world,(Cf. Mt. 28, 20) since the Gospel they are to teach is for all time the source of all life for the Church. And for this reason the apostles, appointed as rulers in this society, took care to appoint successors.

Bishops are chief among the heirs of the apostles:

For they not only had helpers in their ministry,(Cfr. Act 6, 2-6; 11, 30; 13, 1, 14, 23; 20, 17; 1 Thess. 5, 12-13; Phil. 1, 1 Col. 4, 11, et passim.) but also, in order that the mission assigned to them might continue after their death, they passed on to their immediate cooperators, as it were, in the form of a testament, the duty of confirming and finishing the work begun by themselves,(Cfr. Act. 20, 25-27; 2 Tim. 4, 6 s. coll. c. I Tim. 5, 22; 2 Tim. 2, 2 Tit. 1, 5; S. Clem. Rom., Ad Cor. 44, 3; ed. Funk, 1, p. 156.) recommending to them that they attend to the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit placed them to shepherd the Church of God.(Cf. Act. 20, 28) They therefore appointed such men, and gave them the order that, when they should have died, other approved men would take up their ministry.(S. Clem. Rom., ad Cor. 44, 2; ed. Funk, I, p. 154 s.) Among those various ministries which, according to tradition, were exercised in the Church from the earliest times, the chief place belongs to the office of those who, appointed to the episcopate, by a succession running from the beginning,(Cfr. Tertull., Praescr. Haer. 32; PL 2, 52 s.; S. Ignatius M., passim.) are passers-on of the apostolic seed.(Cfr. Tertull., Praescr. Haer. 32; PL 2, 53.) Thus, as St. Irenaeus testifies, through those who were appointed bishops by the apostles, and through their successors down ln our own time, the apostolic tradition is manifested (Cfr. S. Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. III, 3, 1; PG 7, 848 A; Harvey 2, 8; Sagnard, p. 100 s.: manifestatam.) and preserved.(Cfr. S. Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. III, 2, 2; PG 7, 847; Harvey 2, 7; Sagnard, p. 100: . custoditur ,., cfr. ib. IV, 26, 2; col. 1O53, Harvey 2, 236, necnon IV, 33, 8; col. 1077; Harvey 2, 262.)

Service is underscored yet again:

Bishops, therefore, with their helpers, the priests and deacons, have taken up the service of the community, (S. Ign. M., Philad., Praef.; ed. Funk, I, p. 264.) presiding in place of God over the flock,(S. Ign. M., Philad., 1, 1; Magn. 6, 1; Ed. Funk, I, pp. 264 et 234.) whose shepherds they are, as teachers for doctrine, priests for sacred worship, and ministers for governing.(S. Clem. Rom., 1. c., 42, 3-4, 44, 3-4; 57, 1-2; Ed. Funk. I, 152, 156, 171 s. S. Ign. M., Philad. 2; Smyrn. 8; Magn. 3; Trall. 7; Ed. Funk, I, p. 265 s.; 282; 232 246 s. etc.; S. Iustinus, Apol., 1, 6S G 6, 428; S. Cyprianus, Epist. assim.) And just as the office granted individually to Peter, the first among the apostles, is permanent and is to be transmitted to his successors, so also the apostles' office of nurturing the Church is permanent, and is to be exercised without interruption by the sacred order of bishops. (Cfr. Leo XIII, Epist. Encycl. Satis cognitum, 29 iun. 896: ASS 28 (1895-96) p. 732.) Therefore, the Sacred Council teaches that bishops by divine institution have succeeded to the place of the apostles, (Cfr. Conc. Trid., Sess. 23, ecr. de sacr. Ordinis, cap. 4; enz. 960 (1768); Conc. Vat. I, ess. 4 Const. Dogm. I De Ecclesia Christi, cap. 3: Denz. 1828 (3061). Pius XII, Litt. Encycl. Mystici Cororis, 29 iun. 1943: ASS 35 (1943) p. 209 et 212. Cod. Iur. Can., c. 29 1.) as shepherds of the Church, and he who hears them, hears Christ, and he who rejects them, rejects Christ and Him who sent Christ.(Cf. Lk. 10, 16)(Cfr. Leo XIII, Epist. Et sane, 17 dec. 1888: ASS 21 (1888) p. 321 s.)

We read of the importance of the bishops as part of an uninterrupted apostolic tradition. Funny how nothing yet is mention of the curia.

Comments?