Święcenia biskupa

Abstract

The article starts with a short historical outline of the issue and with a definition of the bishop, and then it discusses and in turn explains particular rites of the liturgy of the bishop’s consecration. First, the question of the choice of the day, when the conscration should be carried out, is discussed – in principle it should be a Sunday or a holiday, especially the feast of the Apostles. This is justified by its connection with the Apostolic and Pentecostal mystery. Next, presentation and choice of the elect is shown. Bishops, putting their hands on the elect, exercise their authority, always in unity with the Pope, who elects the new bishop. The elect’s oaths are concentrated on care for purity of the faith and its propagation as well as on unity with the college of bishops under the leadership of the Pope. The supplicatory litany shows the unification with the heavenly Church, since it is recited during the liturgy of the bishop’s consecration; it clearly stresses that the bishop is a guarantor of the Church’s unity. The essence of the sacrament, that is putting hands on the bishop and the consecration prayer, is presented in the Biblical context and in the context of the Tradition of the Church. The Gospel held over the elect’s head is a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s descent and of the bishop’s having it. The gesture refers to Luke 4, 18. The rite of anointing the head is explained by referring to the Constitution of the Church (no 26). Handing the Gospel points to the bishop’s responsibility for teaching in the Church. Putting on the ring signifies marriage to the Church, which was already explained by St Thomas Aquinas. Putting on the pallium, in the case of a metropolitan (a novelty in the current rites) is a symbol of unity with the Apostolic See. However, it seems that the information-jurisdiction part should not be placed in the liturgical formula, taking into consideration the fundamental liturgical norm: lex credendi – lex orandi. Also putting on the mitre connected with an appropriate formula is a novelty in the current pontifical. The symbolism of the mitre refers to Ex 28,36 and I Pet 5, 4. The crosier is a sign of the pastoral office (cf. Ps. 23, 4). The newly consecrated bishop, taking his place in the college of bishops receives a kiss of peace from particular bishops, which is a sign of joyful accepting him to their company The consecration rites (when the prayer after the Communion is over) end with a blessing given by the newly consecrated bishop. This act is not quite comprehensible, as at the end there is a general blessing, finishing the whole liturgy. Double blessing is contradictory to the Constitution on Liturgy no 34.