Ordination Facts

On Tuesday, May 23, 2023 we received the joyful news that our Holy Father Pope Francis had appointed Msgr. Edward M. Lohse to become the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo.  We now eagerly look forward to his Ordination as a Bishop in our own St. Augustine cathedral at 2:00pm on Tuesday, July 25, the Feast of St. James the Apostle. 

You can watch the recording of our Diocesan Press Conference announcing Bishop-elect Lohse's appointment by clicking here.  

This is a historic moment in the life of our local Church, the Diocese of Kalamazoo; one in which we all have an important role since the Bishop is constituted for the sake of the entire local Church.  Over the next several weeks, we will explore together several facets of our personal and communal preparation for Bishop-elect Lohse's Ordination.

Our first, and ongoing, duty is to pray for the Bishop-elect as he prepares to become our new Bishop.  As Pope Francis reminds us at each of his Sunday Angelus addresses:  "Non dimenticare di pregare per me!"  That is, "Don't forget to pray for me!"

This duty, the Introduction to the Rite of Ordination tells us, is fulfilled especially in the Universal Prayers (Prayers of the Faithful) at Mass and in the Intercessions at Vespers (Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours).  Sample Universal Prayers are included in the Liturgical Notes during an Episcopal Transition.  Other initiatives of prayer, both personal and communal, are highly encouraged.  Some examples of prayer initiatives include:

• A special Mass for the intentions of the Bishop-elect (cf. Roman Missal, Mass for Various Needs and Occasions, 4. For the Election of a Pope or a Bishop);
• An intentional time of Eucharistic Adoration for the intentions of the Bishop-elect;
• Collecting a Parish Spiritual Bouquet (which may include specific prayers prayed for the Bishop-elect and intentional sacrifices made by the Faithful on his behalf) to present to the Bishop-elect;
• Praying for the Bishop-elect by name as you begin or close a parish gathering (e.g. Parish Council, Finance Council, Bible study, etc.);
• Since July 25th is the Feast of St. James, Apostle, we recommend that our prayers for the Bishop-elect be made through the intercession of St. James.  (Below is a prayer card courtesy of our Diocesan Office of Communications.  You can also download it from the PDF listing above.) 

This is a historic moment in the life of our local Church, the Diocese of Kalamazoo; one in which we all have an important role.  Let us begin by praying fervently for our Bishop-elect that God, "who has begun the good work in [him] bring it to fulfillment."
  
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Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ:

"Who even ordains a new bishop?" This is a question that I've heard repeated several times over the last two weeks. We know that, after a man in the seminary has finished his studies and formation and is ready to become a priest, his bishop is the one who ordains him to the priesthood. We also know that the bishop is the one who ordains men to the diaconate. But who ordains a man to become a bishop? The purpose of this email is to address this question and to equip you to answer this question for any who may ask.

To ordain a bishop (which is also referred to as "consecrating a bishop"), you need two things: First, you need another bishop; second, you need approval from the Holy Father. In today's Church, the pope must approve the ordination of a new bishop, who may be consecrated only by other bishops. Let's explore why: 

Why can only a bishop
ordain another bishop?

 

"Through those who were appointed bishops by the apostles,
and through their successors down in our own time,
the apostolic tradition is manifested and preserved."
(Lumen Gentium, no. 20)

Bishops are, the Second Vatican Council teaches, successors to the apostles. In the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, the Second Vatican Council reiterates the calling and mission of the apostles: The Lord Jesus, after praying to the Father, calling to Himself those whom He desired, appointed twelve to be with Him, and whom He would send to preach the Kingdom of God; [...] That divine mission, entrusted by Christ to the apostles, will last until the end of the world, 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 (emphasis added).  Christ founded his Church on the apostles, who in turn appointed successors.

The leadership of the Church is in direct succession to the apostles. We profess this to be true every time we make the Profession of Faith: "I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church" (emphasis added). The Church is apostolic because the present leadership can trace itself back to the first leaders of the Church, the apostles. The Church is also apostolic in the sense that it professes the same doctrine and Christian way of life taught by the apostles. It is the mission of the bishops to teach, defend, and hand on the faith.

St. Irenaeus (130-202 AD) testifies that "through those who were appointed bishops by the apostles, and through their successors down in our own time, the apostolic tradition is manifested and preserved"
(Lumen Gentium, no. 20).

The preservation of the apostolic line is of such importance to the Church that the Rite of Ordination of a Bishop calls for three bishops to be present. It states: "In accord with the usage handed down from antiquity, the principal ordaining Bishop should join to himself at least two other Bishops in celebrating the Ordination" (Rite of Ordination, Introduction, no. 16). To preserve the apostolic line, (at least) three bishops are present for the ordination.

Does it matter which bishop ordains another bishop? Yes and no. All bishops are successors of the apostles, and so, with proper permissions are capable of ordaining another bishop. So, a new bishop of Kalamazoo does not have to be ordained by the previous bishop of Kalamazoo. Rather, as directed by the Rite of Ordination and according to an ancient practice: "As a rule, the Metropolitan [i.e. the archbishop in charge of the region] should ordain a bishop [of territories within his region]" (Rite of Ordination, Introduction, no. 16).

This is exactly what will happen on July 25. The principal bishop ordaining Bishop-Elect Lohse is Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron (Detroit). Joined with the Archbishop as the co-ordaining bishops are: Bishop Paul J. Bradley (Kalamazoo), and Bishop Lawrence T. Persico (Erie). We are excited to welcome many other (arch)bishops to Kalamazoo for the ordination as well.

Why do you need approval
from the Holy Father?

 

"The College of Bishops, gathered under one head,
the Roman Pontiff, successor of Peter,
expresses the unity, diversity, and universality of the flock of Christ."
(Lumen Gentium, no. 22)

While individual bishops are placed in charge of a particular Local Church (e.g. the Diocese of Kalamazoo), every bishop throughout the world together forms the College (i.e. the "collegium") of Bishops. The Second Vatican Council teaches that Jesus called and formed his apostles "after the manner of a college or a stable group, over which He placed Peter chosen from among them" (Lumen Gentium, no. 19). Just as the first apostles were formed as a stable group in which each member has similar authority, so too are their successors formed in a similar way. Only by the Lord's divine election did He place Peter at the head of the College of the Apostles. Therefore, similarly, the pope, as successor of Peter, is placed at the head of the College of Bishops. The pope is a visible sign of unity for the Church spread throughout the world. To be a Catholic, and more to be a successor to the apostles, is to be in union with the successor to the head of the apostles, i.e., the Holy Father.

During the Mass of the Ordination of a Bishop, when the candidate for ordination is presented to the principal ordaining bishop, the Local Church (represented by one of our priests) addresses the principal ordaining bishop in these words: "Most Reverend Father, the Church of Kalamazoo asks you to ordain this Priest to the responsibility of the Episcopate." The principal ordaining bishop replies with a unique yet crucial question: "Have you a mandate from the Apostolic See?" That is, "Have you permission from the Holy Father?" After an answer in the affirmative, the bishop orders that the mandate be read aloud for all gathered in the cathedral, and those listening in our live stream, to hear.

On July 25, our Holy Father Pope Francis will not be able to join us personally for the Mass. However, we will be honored to welcome his personal representative to the United States, His Excellency Archbishop Christophe Pierre (Apostolic Nuncio) to Kalamazoo. He will read the mandate from the Apostolic See during the Ordination Mass for all of us to hear.

Conclusion

To be a bishop is to serve as a modern day apostle, entrusted with the teaching mission of the Church. Therefore, to ordain a bishop, a new successor to the apostles, you need two things: (1) you need another bishop, and (2) you need approval from the Holy Father. I hope that this brief note can serve you as a beginning to discovering the riches of our Catholic Faith. For further reading, I recommend:

• Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1555-1561.
• Second Vatican Council. Lumen Gentium, nos. 18-27 (click here)

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The Catholic Church is full of signs, both ceremonial and in everyday life. The external life of the Church (her decorum, vesture, insignia, and protocol) proves both captivating and cryptic to the "churched" and "un-churched" alike. However, we recognize that the external life of the Church is not simply a show, but that it points to internal realities.

We will explore the meaning of three insignia which are unique to a bishop, and with which he is invested during his ordination. These three insigina are: (1) the episcopal ring, (2) the mitre, and (3) the crosier. There are additional insignia that are unique to a bishop (e.g. the pectoral cross, the zucchetto, the colors of the cassock, etc.). Prior to the Second Vatican Council, there were even more unique vestures, insignia, and protocols; however, many of these items are no longer in use. Today's email will focus on the three insignia which are presented during the Rite of Ordination: the episcopal ring, the mitre, and the crosier.

The Episcopal Ring

The episcopal ring is the symbol of a prelate's authority which first appeared in the third century. By the fifth century, it was part of the episcopal insignia. Saint Isadore of Seville wrote in 637: "To the Bishop at his consecration is given a staff; a ring likewise is given him to signify pontifical honor or as a seal [to authenticate and make confident his letters]." This is not surprising, as kings and princes were also given a ring of governance at their coronations, which were always ceremonies of religious consecration. Later, the ring took the additional symbolic meaning of a bishop's marriage to the Church and his spiritual parentage over the faithful of his diocese. The ring, fashioned as a circle without beginning or end, is a sign of the bishop's fidelity to the Church.

During the Mass of Ordination, the newly-ordained bishop receives a ring from the principal ordaining bishop. As it is placed on the ring finger of the right hand of the newly-ordained bishop, the principal ordaining bishop says: Receive this ring, the seal of fidelity: and adorned with undefiled faith, preserve unblemished the Bride of God, the holy Church.

The power of the ring is significant, as it binds priests and the faithful to the bishop and his teaching on all spiritual matters.

The Mitre

After receiving the ring, the newly-ordained is given a mitre to wear. The mitre (or miter) is a ceremonial headdress for prelates which only the pope, cardinals, and bishops can wear. The mitre has taken many shapes and forms over the centuries. What we recognize as the miter today is a large linen hat folded in the middle and producing two stiff peaks. Two lappets (sometimes called fannons) are attached at the back. The symbolism attached to this shape became elaborate. As a whole the mitre was seen as a helmet of salvation (Eph 6:17; Thess 5:8). The two folded peaks symbolized the Old and the New Testaments, and the two lappets were reminders to keep both the spirit and letter of the Bible.

During the Mass of Ordination, the newly-ordained bishop receives a mitre from the principal ordaining bishop, As the principal ordaining bishop places the mitre upon the newly-ordained bishop's head, he says: Receive the mitre, and let the splendor of holiness shine in you, so that when the chief Shepherd appears you may merit to receive an unfading crown of glory.

The mitre symbolizes our belief in God’s promise: “Because you have kept my message of endurance, I will keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the whole world to test the inhabitants of the Earth. I am coming quickly. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown” (Rev 3:10-11).

The Crosier

After receiving both the ring and the mitre, the newly-ordained bishop is presented with the crosier (or crozier). The official name of the crosier is the baculus pastoralis, or pastoral staff. The crosier's history can be traced to the Twelve Apostles, as legend has it that they carried large staffs, typical of the travelers of their time. It symbolizes Christ's love and protection for His people as a shepherd would watch over his sheep.

During the Mass of Ordination, the newly-ordained bishop is presented with the pastoral staff. As he receives it, the principal ordaining bishop says: Receive the crosier, the sign of the pastoral office, and keep watch over the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as Bishop to govern the Church of God.

The crosier symbolizes the role of bishop as the Good Shepherd. In the Gospel of John (10:1-21), our Lord identified Himself as the Good Shepherd. The word translated as “good” in the original Greek text is kalos, which also means “model.” Our Lord is the model shepherd for the apostles and their successors, the bishops, who are appointed as shepherds. The bishop, like a good shepherd, must lead his faithful flock along the path of salvation, disciplining and protecting them as needed. The shepherd’s staff is therefore a most appropriate symbol for the office of bishop. St. Isidore explained that a newly-ordained bishop received the crosier “that he may govern and correct those below him or to offer support to the weakest of the weak.”
 

Conclusion

These different insignia all give a certain distinction to the Order of Bishop. While “the clothes do not make the man,” the man must strive to fulfill what the clothes signify. They also remind us of the significance and role which the bishop takes on in the Church. Please continue to pray for Bishop-Elect Edward Lohse as he prepares to become a faithful shepherd to us in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. For further reading, I recommend:
 

• Noonan, James-Charles. The Church Visible: The Ceremonial Life and Protocol of the Roman Catholic Church. Penguin Books, 1996.
• Cicognani, His Eminence Amleto Giovanni. Ut sive sollicite. Published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis 61 (1969) 334-40.

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