Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 2nd Sunday of Advent.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The ninth article of the Apostle’s Creed is “I believe in the Holy Catholic Church.” There are thirty-five (35) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 935.
Christ sent His Apostles and now sends the successors of the Apostles, the Bishops, for two (2) specific purposes: to announce the faith and to implant His Kingdom. We see Christ sending the Apostles to announce the faith in the ‘great commission’ right before His Ascension (cf. Matthew 28:19). The Lord Himself further instructs us that those whom He sends speak on His behalf (cf. Luke 10:16). Saint Paul, inspired by God, instructs us that ‘Faith comes from hearing’ (cf. Romans 10:17). We learn about the implantation of the Kingdom through apostolic labors also through another of Saint Paul’s inspired works (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:7–12). It is not enough for the Bishops to believe and safeguard the deposit of faith (cf. Jude 1:3), it must also be announced, even until Christ returns in glory (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:16).
Christ has given His Apostles and their successors, the Bishops, a part of His mission. While Jesus Christ is the one only Savior and mediator between God and man, He nevertheless associates others to His saving mission and has done so with the Apostles and their successors, the Bishops (cf. Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:3–6).
The Apostles and their successors, the Bishops, have received from Christ the power to act in His Person. The phrase ‘in persona Christi’ (better when including ‘capitis’) has a significant history in the study of the Church, eclesiology, specifically when treating Holy Orders. The Bishops, who are the successors of the Apostles, have received the fullness of the grace of Holy Orders and act in His Person when they teach, govern and sanctify the people of God, with and under the Successor of Saint Peter, the Pope. Priests, who are the collaborators of the Bishops also act in the Person of Christ when, in communion with their Bishop they likewise teach, govern and sanctify. The words of Psalm 127:1 come to mind when thinking about apostolic labors, announcing the faith and implanting the Kingdom of Christ which is His Church, namely “Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain.” We know that Jesus Christ has in fact built His one only Church upon Saint Peter. To the extent that we are faithful to Saint Peter and his successors, the Bishops of Rome, and those Bishops who remain with and under the Pope we can be sure to not labor in vain and to be building, working with the Lord.
Even if we are not Bishops, by Baptism and Confirmation we have received the apostolic faith. We each have our part: to hold and share the faith with any and all we meet, day by day, wherever we are.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr