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Four Bishops Officiated
At Consecration Rites
ATLANTA - Archbishop Paul
J. Halllnan, Metropolitan of the
Province of Atlanta, officiated
at the Consecration ceremonies
of Bishop-elect Joseph L. Ber-
nardin. Bishop Ernest L. Un-
terkoefler of Charleston and
Bishop Francis F. Reh, Rector
of the North American College
in Rome, were consecrators.
Bishop John J. Russell, of Rich
mond delivered the sermon.
Ceremonies began at 4:00
p.m. at The Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist on April 26th.
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 I. Blanchard,
director of Music of the dio
cese.
The magnificence of the occa
sion reflects the importance the
church attaches to the eleva
tion of another successor to the
apostles.
The bishop’s consecration
follows his priestly dedication
to the service of God at or
dination. The power to ordain
other priests Is conferred at
consecration.
The role of consecrator is
reserved to the Pope but he us
ually delegates it to a bishop.
Two other bishops assist as co-
consecrators. In this case, Ar
chbishop Halllnan, Bishop Un-
terkoefler 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 1s
dressed in like manner.
In a procession preceding the
ceremony, churchmen’s robes
of different colors signify ec
clesiastical rank, purple for
bishops as well as for mon
signors. Other secular clergy
wear black with white surplice;
religious clergy wear the color
of their order.
Apostolic Letter
The consecration consists of
reading the apostolic letter,
preliminary examination, the
consecration itself, and Investi
ture with external signs of of
fice.
In the sanctuary the senior
co-consecrator, Bishop Unter-
koefler, presents the bishop-
elect to the consecrator, Arch-,
bishop Hallinan, while the apos
tolic commission is read.
Archbishop Hallinan
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The bishop - elect is ques
tioned concerning conduct of the
office and teachings he is to
expound, 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-
elect Bernardin and the follow
ing priests of the diocese: Rt.
Rev. Msgr. John L. Manning,
Very Rev. Msgr. Donald C.
Hamburger, Rev. Charles J.
Kelley, and Rev. St. John E.
Patat.
The consecrators and the bis
hop-elect and the concelebrants
began the Mass. After the Gra
dual the consecrator goes to the
foldstool'before thealtarwhere
the bishop-elect is presented,
to hear the duties and powers:
“A bishop judges, interprets,
consecrates, ordains, offers,
baptizes and confirms.'*
The consecrator asks clergy
and faithful to pray for the
bishop-elect who, while the li
tany of the saints is chanted,
lies prostrate on the sanctuary
floor. Then the consecrator op
ens the book of the gospels
and lays It on the shoulders
of the kneeling bishop-elect,
and on his head the consecra
tor and both assistants impose
hands with the words: “Re
ceive ye the Holy Spirit.”
Anointing
While the hymn, “’ifeni Crea
tor Spiritus” (Come, Holy Spi
rit, Creator) is sung, the con
secrator anoints with holy oil
the head of the new bishop.
This symbolizes the gifts of the
Holy Spirit: wisdom under
standing, counsel, fortitude,
knowledge, piety and fear of the
Lord. The consecrator anoints
the hands to indicate powers
conferred; the joined hands are
Bishop Russell
Bishop Reh
placed in a linen cloth sus
pended from the new bishop’s
neck.
The consecrator presents the
bishop with objects of office;
crozier or pastoral staff, dra
matizing his spiritual flock;
ring symbolic of espousal to the
church, and the book of gospels,
along with the command to pro
claim 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 bis
hop is led to the throne where
the kneeling consecrator offers
two loaves of bread and two
small wine casks, in token of an
ancient custom of such offer
ings by the Catholic laity for
support of the clergy andmain-
tenance of worship.
Mass is resumed at the altar,
all concelebrants partaking of
the communion host and cha
lice. Infinal blessing, the kneel
ing bishop receives his mitre
Best Wishes & Congratulations
Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin
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Bishop Unterkoefler
from the consecrator who has
blessed it as a “helmet of de
fense and salvation’* making
the bishop “formidable to the
opponents of truth.”
The consecrator blesses glo
ves and puts them on the newly-
consecrated hands, after re
moving the episcopal ring which
he restores over the gloved fin
ger.
The choir Intones a hymn of
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 20)
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