Posted on 05/30/2008 5:50:21 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham
Thoughts on the vocation of a bishop
Later this week, on May 30, Msgr. James D. Conley will be ordained as auxiliary bishop of Denver. This is a huge joy for the Church in northern Colorado, and Bishop Conley’s energy, intelligence, personal warmth and pastoral skill have already won him the enthusiasm of our people. It’s a good moment to reflect on the importance of the new life God has called him to.
The Early Church Father, St. Ignatius of Antioch, reminded the Christians of his day that, “Those [who] belong to God and to Jesus Christ—they are with the bishop.” Every bishop is a successor to the apostles and a pastor of souls. Every bishop has the duty to safeguard the worship life of the local Church. Every bishop must proclaim the Gospel and teach the true Catholic faith in his diocese. Every bishop should also give an example of personal sanctity in charity, humility and simplicity of life. Every bishop should help the poor and suffering.
Every bishop also has the obligation to encourage and govern the local People of God. And above all, every bishop needs to do these things with genuine, unselfish, unflagging fatherly love, because the Church is a family of faith, not a political party or a corporation or impersonal institution. That’s why bishops are so reluctant to excommunicate anybody, even a grave public criminal or a Catholic public official who directly opposes Church teaching on a serious matter. A good father will do almost anything, and bear almost anything, to keep his daughter or son in the family.
And of course, he owes that same fidelity to his priests. Vatican II commanded bishops to support their priests, and to treat them with the dignity of sons and brothers. In Catholic teaching, a priest shares intimately in the mission of his bishop through the sacrament of Holy Orders. A priest is never simply an “employee” of the Church, and the bishop is forbidden to treat him that way.
Shortly after his election as Pope, Benedict XVI told a group of new bishops to pray for “a humble trust in God and for the apostolic courage born of faith.” In 2002, the then-Cardinal Ratzinger said that “a bishop must do as Christ did: precede his flock, being the first to do what he calls others to do and, first of all, being the one who stands against the wolves who come to steal the sheep.” We should keep these words close to our hearts. The future of the Church in the United States finally depends on us—bishops, clergy, religious and laypeople alike—and how zealously we live our faith; how deeply we believe; and how much apostolic courage we show to an unbelieving world that urgently needs Jesus Christ.
Seventeen centuries ago a young deacon and scholar named Athanasius of Alexandria was inspired by the Holy Spirit. In a time of heavy turmoil in the world and in the Church, Athanasius fought for the true Catholic faith at the great ecumenical Council of Nicaea and throughout his entire career. Emperors hated him. His enemies falsely accused him of cruelty, sorcery and even murder. He was exiled five times. And in the face of it all, he became the single most articulate voice defending the true and undiluted Catholic faith, which is why even today we remember him as Athanasius contra mundum: “Athanasius against the world.” He never gave up. He always had courage. He had the truth, and the truth won. And in the end, he became one of the best-loved bishops and greatest Doctors of the Church—and the Catholic faith we take for granted today, we owe in part to him.
That’s the vocation of a bishop. That’s the vocation Bishop-elect Conley will take up on behalf of God’s people. But that’s also the vocation of every Catholic believer fully alive in Jesus Christ.
May God bless Bishop-elect Conley, his wonderful family and his many, many friends who join us for his ordination this week. And may our joy in welcoming him to Colorado fill his heart today and in the years ahead with courage, peace, happiness and the strength that comes from the presence of Jesus Christ, and the love of God’s people.
Pope Benedict said during his visit was that it was not the number of priests that we have in the Church but that they are worthy to be priests...
I don't remember the exact quote...
I wonder if he has any skills in janitorial work around convents or cataloging crypts in the catacombs in Rome?
He’s best brush up on both opportunities.
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