Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2
GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1966
Archbishop Paul J. Hallman enters Charleston Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist to consecrate Bishop Joseph L. Bemardin.
Three Georgia prelates in the Consecration procession: Rt.
Rev. Msgrs. Joseph G. Cassidy, Thomas I. Sheehan, John J.
Toomey.
Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin enters the Cathedral sanctuary
preceded by concelebrating priests.
Bishop Bemardin with Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler of Char
leston before the Consecration ceremonies.
w
Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan of Atlanta talks with his new Auxil
iary Bishop in the Cathedral rectory before the ceremonies.
John the Baptist at Charleston.
Story Of Bishop’s Consecration
Ceremonies began at4:00p.m.
at The Cathedral of St. John the
Baptist.
An episcopal consecration is
one of the most splendid cere
monies in a Catholic Church.
It took place in the beautiful
Gothic Cathedral of St. John the
Baptist. Special music for this
occasion had been written by
Mr. Robert L Blanchard, di
rector of Music of the diocese.
The magnificence of the oc
casion reflects the importance
the church attaches to the ele
vation of another successor to
the apostles.
The bishop's consecration
follows his priestly dedication
to the service of God at ordi
nation. The power to ordain
other priests is conferred at
consecration.
The role of consecrator is
reserved to the Pope but he
usually delegates it to a bishop.
T wo other bishops assist as co-
consecrators. In this case,
Archbishop Hallinan, Bishop"
Unterkoefler and Bishop Reh.
The consecrator wears the
full episcopal vestments of the
color of the day. The co-con
secrators also wear Mass Vest
ments. The bishop-elect is
dressed in like manner.
In a procession preceding
the ceremony, churchmen's
robes of different colors signify
ecclesiastical rank, purple
for bishops as well as for
monsignors. Other secular
clergy wear black with white
surplice; religious clergy wear
the color of their order.
The consecration consists of
reading the apostolic letter,
preliminary examination, the
consecration itself, and inves-
tituture with external signs of
office.
In the sanctuary the senior
;o-consecrator, Bishop Unter
koefler, presented the bishop-
elect to die consecrator, Arch
bishop Hallinan.while the apos
tolic commission was read.
The bishop-elect is question
ed, concerning conduct of the of
fice and teachings he is to ex
pound, and whether he will be
"affable and merciful to the
poor and to pilgrims and all
those in need.”
The Mass of the Consecra
tion was concelebrated with the
consecrating prelates, Bishop
Bemardin and the following
priests of the diocese, Msgr,
John L. Manning, Donald C.
Hamburger, Rev. Charles J.
Kelley, and Rev. St. John
E. Patat.
The consecrators and the
bishop-elect and the concele-
brants begin the Mass. After
the Gradual, the consecrator
goes to the faldstool before the
altar where the bishop-elect is
presented, to hear the duties
and powers: "A bishop judges,
interprets, consecrates, or
dains, offers, baptizes and con
firms.”
The consecrator asks clergy
and faithful to pray for the
bishop-elect who, while the lit
any of the saints is chanted, lies
prostrate on the sanctuary
floor. Then the consecrator
opens the book of the gospels
and lays it on the shoulders of
the kneeling bishop-elect, and
on his head the consecrator and
both assistants impose hands
with the words: "Receive ye
the Holy Spirit.'*
ANOINTING
While the hymn, "Veni Cre
ator Spiritus” (Come, Holy,
Spirit, Creator) is sung, the
consecrator anoints with holy
oil the head of the new bishop.
This symbolizes the gifts of
the Holy Spirit: wisdom, un
derstanding, counsel, fortitude,
knowledge, piety and fear of the
Lord. The consecrator anoints
the hands to indicate powers
conferred; the joined hands are
placed in a linen cloth suspend
ed from the new bishop's neck.
The consecrator presents the
bishop with objects of office:
crozier or pastoral staff, dra
matizing his spirutual flock;
Most Rev. Joseph L. Bernardin D.D.
ring symbolic of espousal to the
church, and the book of gos
pels, along with the command to
proclaim the word of God.
The bishop receives the kiss
of peace from the consecrator
and co-consecrators. He is es
corted to the altar and his head
and hands are cleaned. The
Mass is resumed with gospel,
creed and offertory. The ser
mon is delivered between gospel
and creed.
During the offertory the bish
op is led to the throne whee
the kneeling consecrator offers
two loaves of bread and two
small wine casks, in token of an
ancient custom of such offerings
by the Catholic laity for sup
port of the clergy and main
tenance of worship.
Mass is resumed atthe altar,
all concelebrants partaking of
the communion host and chalice.
In final blessing, the kneeling
bishop receives his mitre from
the consecrator who has bless
ed it as a “helmet of defense
and salvation” making the bish
op “formidable to the oppo
nents of truth.”
The consecrator blesses
gloves and puts them on the
newly consecrated hands, after
removing the episcopal ring
which he restores over the
gloved finger.
The choir intones a hymn of
thanksgiving,”
The choir intones a humn of
thanksgiving, while the bishop
proceeds with his assistants
through the Church, blessing
the faithful. Moving to the
epistle side, he faces the con
secrator and both assistants on
the other side of the altar, gen
uflects and chants: “Ad mul-
tos annos” (For many years).
Each time in a higher voice, he
repeats this chant, first from
mid-altar and again as he ap
proaches the consecrator.
From the consecrator and the
co-consecrators, the bishop re
ceives a kiss of peace. From
the altar, crozier in hand, he
gives a final blessing, and all
prepare for the recessional.
Consecration
Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan, consecrator, and Bishops Ernest
L. Unterkoefler and Francis R. Reh, co-consecrators, begin
the Consecration Mass with Bishop Bemardin.
Religious superiors attending the Consecration of Bishop Ber
nardin: Abbot M. Joseph Chassagne, OCSO, Mepkin, S.C.:
Father Vincent P. Brennan, S.M., Marist School, Atlanta; Father
J. L. Hein, S.J., Ignatius House, Atlanta; Abbot M. Augustine
Moore, OCSO, Conyers, Ga.; Father Arthur Murray, O.F.M.,
Immaculate Conception, Atlanta.
Mr. Robert L Blanchard and members of the choir during the
Mass of Consecration.
Atlanta priests attending consecration festivities: Revs. Joseph
F. Ware, Eusebius J. Beltran, Rt. Revs. Michael J. Regan,
P. J. O'Connor.
Clergy from Atlanta discuss the ceremonies of consecration:
(1-r) Revs. Jerry E. Hardy, Thomas J. Roshetko, John J. Cotter,
William J. Hoffman.