Monday, September 11, 2006
A bishop marked with the fullness of the sacrament of Orders, is "the steward of the grace of the supreme priesthood," (Oratio consecrationis cpiscopalis in ritu byzantino: Euchologion to mega, Romae, 1873, p. 139.) especially in the Eucharist, which he offers or causes to be offered,(Cfr. S. Ignatius M. Smyrn 8, 1: ed. Funk, 1, p. 282.) and by which the Church continually lives and grows. This Church of Christ is truly present in all legitimate local congregations of the faithful which, united with their pastors, are themselves called churches in the New Testament.(Cfr. Act. 8, 1; 14, 22-23; 20, 17, et passim.) For in their locality these are the new People called by God, in the Holy Spirit and in much fullness.(Cf. 1. Thess. 1, 5.) In them the faithful are gathered together by the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, and the mystery of the Lord's Supper is celebrated, that by the food and blood of the Lord's body the whole brotherhood may be joined together.(Oratio mozarabica: PL 96 7S9 B) In any community of the altar, under the sacred ministry of the bishop,(Cfr. S. Ignatius M., Smyrn 8, 1: ed. Funk, I, p. 282.) there is exhibited a symbol of that charity and "unity of the mystical Body, without which there can be no salvation."(S. Thomas, Summa Theol. III, q. 73, a. 3.) In these communities, though frequently small and poor, or living in the Diaspora, Christ is present, and in virtue of His presence there is brought together one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.(Cfr. S. Augustinus, C. Faustum, 12, 20: PL 42, 26S Serm. 57, 7: PL 38, 389, etc.) For "the partaking of the body and blood of Christ does nothing other than make us be transformed into that which we consume". (S. Leo M., Serm. 63, 7: PL 54, 3S7 C.)
Bishops, not Rome, oversee liturgy in a sacramental way, keeping in mind the previous sections stating the relationship between the local bishop, other bishops, and Rome. In my mind, this would be one of the serious theological flaws of Liturgiam Authenticam in its attempt to supercede the natural liturgical authority of the local bishop.
Every legitimate celebration of the Eucharist is regulated by the bishop, to whom is committed the office of offering the worship of Christian religion to the Divine Majesty and of administering it in accordance with the Lord's commandments and the Church's laws, as further defined by his particular judgment for his diocese.
A slightly more detailed list of the bishop's responsibility in all the sacraments: