Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on Christmas.

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 938.

The First Vatican Council (1869–1870) is often thought to be the ‘Council of the Pope’ in that the dogma of Papal Infallibility was solemnly taught in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Pastor Aeternus. This teaching is echoed by the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, 25. There was some work left undone by the Council Fathers in the 19th Century which was picked up in the 20th. The case in point is the highlighting of the role of Bishops in the one Church founded by Jesus Christ. Four (4) points addressing the role of Bishops based on Lumen Gentium, 23 are: Bishops and the Holy Spirit; Bishops as successors to the Apostles; Bishops as the visible principle of the unity in their particular Church; Bishops as the foundation of the unity in their particular Church.

While the Holy Spirit has been sent into the entire world at Pentecost, a special outpouring occurred for the Apostles in the upper room (cf. Acts 2:1–4). Saint Paul reminds Saint Timothy about the special outpouring of the Spirit at the imposition of hands, that is, his ordination (cf. 1 Timothy 4:14).

In this light it is no less important for us to recall that the College of Bishops succeeds the Apostolic College even if not all Bishops are able to speak in tongues or work fabulous miracles (cf. Mark 16:16–20; Acts 2:11; 1 Corinthians 12:6–11, 28–30). As the Apostles taught, governed and sanctified the people in their day, so now the Bishops, their successors, do the same, thanks to the fullness of the grace of Orders which they receive and their communion with and under the head of the College, namely, the Pope.

Thanks to the graces received in their Episcopal Consecration, Bishops are made the visible principle of the unity in their particular Church. What the Pope is for Rome and for the Universal Church, each individual Bishop is for his diocese or eparchy (the Eastern term for a region/territory), although subordinate to the Pope.

Besides being the visible principle of unity, or rallying point around whom the faithful gather, Bishops are also, for the same reason, the foundation of the unity in their particular Church. What the venerable, ancient Petrine axiom, ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia (Where Peter [is], there [is] the Church), is for the Universal Church in the person of the Holy Father, is true, analogically, for the Bishop in his diocese. The Bishop and Martyr, Saint Ignatius of Antioch (35–108), a successor to Saint Peter, although not as Bishop of Rome is an early witness to this aspect of our saving Faith in his Letter to the Magnesians.

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr