253 THE BISHOP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE APOSTOLIC MISSION OF THE CHURCH

YOUCAT Lesson 253

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

253  How important for a Catholic Christian is his bishop?

A Catholic Christian feels that he is under an obligation to (understands a special significance toward*) his bishop; the bishop is appointed for him, too, as Christ’s representative.  Moreover, the bishop, who exercises his pastoral ministry together with priests and deacons as his ordained assistants, is the visible principle and the foundation of the local Church (diocese).  [1560-1561]

Art: …..Jesus saying farewell to his eleven remaining disciples, from the Maesta by Duccio, 1308–1311. …..253

Through these 11 men, plus the Apostle Matthias who was selected by the Holy Spirit to replace Judas Iscariot, (Acts of the Apostles 1:15-26) we receive our bishops who in turn ordain our priests and deacons.  Just as Jesus’s message to us through the Gospels is as relevant today as it was to the early Christians 2000 years ago, so also our ordained clergy infused with the Holy Spirit are as effective as were those first disciples who then walked with Jesus to form the foundation and pillars of the Church for all time.

Episcopal ordination - fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders (continued)

…….1560   As Christ's vicar, each bishop has the pastoral care of the particular Church entrusted to him, but at the same time he bears collegially with all his brothers in the episcopacy the solicitude for all the Churches: "Though each bishop is the lawful pastor only of the portion of the flock entrusted to his care, as a legitimate successor of the apostles he is, by divine institution and precept, responsible with the other bishops for the apostolic mission of the Church."(Pius XII, Fidei donum: Act Apostolicae Sedis 49 (1957) 237; cf. Lumen Gentium 23; Christus Dominus 4; 36; 37; Ad Gentes 5; 6; 38.)⁴¹ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

…….1561   The above considerations explain why the Eucharist celebrated by the bishop has a quite *special significance as an expression of the Church gathered around the altar, with the one who represents Christ, the Good Shepherd and Head of his Church, presiding.(Compare Sacrosanctum Concilium 41; Lumen Gentium 26.)⁴² --CCC