
The
ordination rites are typically performed in Latin, except for the
questioning and adminitions, which may be said in English. The
English translation of the complete ordination rites for Deacons and
Priests, and a portion of the consecration rite for Bishops is below.
For the ordination rite in Latin as used from the Pontificale
Anglicanum or the Ordinale, see this page.
THE ORDINATION OF DEACONS
The
Bishop sits at the faldstool with mitre and crosier. Those to be
promoted to the Order of the Diaconate are called by the Archdeacon, saying:
Let them come forth who
are to be or-dained Deacons.
And
next each may be called by name by the notary. With the candidates
therefore prepared in amice, alb, cincture, and maniple, and holding
the stole in the left hand and dalmatic over the left arm, and
kneeling before the Bishop, the Arch-deacon offering them to the
Bishop, says:
RIGHT
(or Most) Reverend Father, our holy mother the Church requests that
thou wouldst ordain the Subdeacons here pre-sent to the office of Deacon.
The
Bishop questions, saying: Dost thou know them to be worthy?
The
Archdeacon responds: As far as human frailty allows to
know, I know and I testify that they are worthy of the charge of this office.
And
the Bishop says: Thanks be to God.
The
Bishops proceeds to their ordination. First the Bishop, sitting with
the mitre, announces to the clergy and to the people, saying:
BY
the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose the
Sub-deacons here present for the order of Deacon. If anyone has
anything against them, let him confidently come forward and speak in
the presence of God and for the sake of God. However, let him be
mindful of his condition.
And,
some sort of pause having been made, turning his words to the
ordinands, admonishes them, saying:
DEARLY
beloved sons, about to be pro-moted to the order of Levites,
consider well to what an exalted rank you rise in the Church. The
office of the deacon is to assist at the altar, to baptize, and to
preach. Under the Old Law, indeed, the one tribe of Levi was chosen
out of the twelve tribes, that it should attend with special devotion
to the Tabernacle of God and to its sacrifices according to a
perpet-ual rite. So great was the dignity bestowed upon it that no
one, except of this tribe, could rise to hold an office in the
per-formance of that divine worship. Thus by some great hereditary
privilege it deserved but to be and to be called the tribe of the
Lord. Today, dearly beloved sons, you receive their name and their
office. You are chosen for the service of the Taberna-cle of the
Testimony, that is, the Church of God, in the Levitical office. The
Church, always ready for battle, wages an unceasing warfare against
her enemies, as the Apostle says: "Our wrestling is not against
flesh and blood, but against prin-cipalities and powers, against the
rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of
wickedness in the high places." It is your duty to uphold and
defend this Church of God, even as the Tabernacle, with the armor of
holiness, by divine preaching and perfect example. Levi signi-fies
added, or lifted up. You, dearly be-loved sons, who receive your name
from an office of paternal inheritance, be lifted up above the
desires of the flesh and earthly passions which war against the soul.
Be clean and undefiled, pure and chaste, as it behooves ministers of
Christ and dispensers of the mysteries of God, that you may worthily
be added to the number of those who have ecclesiastical rank and
deserve to be the inheritance and the beloved tribe of the Lord. And
since you are co-ministers and cooperate in the sacrifice of the body
and blood of the Lord, keep yourselves proof against every allurement
of the flesh, as the Scripture says: "Be ye clean, you that
carry the ves-sels of the Lord." Remember that Blessed Stephen
was elected by the apostles for this office, because of his eminent
chas-tity. Take care to interpret the gospel by living works to those
to whom you are preaching so that it may be said of you: "Blessed
are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that
bring glad tidings of good things." Have your feet shod with the
examples of the saints in the propagation of the gospel of peace. May
the Lord grant it to you by His grace. R. Amen.
Then,
the Subdeacons prostrate themselves, and, with the Bishop kneeling
before his faldstool, the Litany of the Saints and
Veni Creator Spiritus are sung.
The
ordinands are blessed kneeling by the Bishop.
LET
common supplication and united prayer continue, that these men, who
are prepared for the ministry of deaconship, may, through the prayer
of the whole Church, shine in the order of Levitical bene diction,
distinguish themselves by a spiritual life and show forth the grace
by which they have been sanctified, through the help of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and
reigneth God world without end.
R. Amen.
Then
rising with the mitre the Bishop, standing towards the ordinands,
says, reading in a high voice:
LET
us pray, dearly beloved brethren, God, the Father Almighty, that He
may gra-ciously pour out His grace upon and bless these His servants
whom He deigns to assume into the office of deaconship, and in His
goodness preserve in them the gifts of the ordination to which they
are admit-ted. May He graciously hear our prayers and by His loving
assistance bring to perfection what we are about to adminis-ter, and
may He by His blessing sanctify and strengthen them, whom according
to our knowledge we consider worthy to be assigned to the celebration
of the sacred mysteries. Through His only-begotten Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ, who with Him and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, God:
Then,
the mitre having been removed, with hands extended before his
breast, he says:
V. Per omnia sæcula
sæculorum. (World without end.)
R. Amen.
V. Dominus vobiscum. (The
Lord be with you.)
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
(And with thy spirit.)
V. Sursum corda. (Lift up
your hearts.)
R. Habemus ad Dominum.
(We lift them up unto the Lord.)
V. Gratias agamus Domino
Deo nostro. (Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.)
R. Dignum et justum est.
(It is meet and right so to do.)
IT
is very meet, right, and our bounden duty that we should at all
times and in all places render thanks unto thee, O holy Lord, Father
Almighty, eternal God, who givest honors, assignest rank, and
bestow-est offices. Abiding in Thyself, Thou renewest all things and
disposest all things through Thy Word and Power and Wis-dom, Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. With eternal providence dost Thou pre-pare
and dispense in due time what is needful. Thou hast adorned with a
variety of heavenly gifts Thy Church, which is His body. Its members
are distinct, but Thou hast united them by a wonderful law which
governs its whole structure. Thus Thou makest it to grow and to
expand, and Thy temple to enlarge. Thou hast ordained that those who
are in charge of the sacred ministry should serve Thy holy name in
three orders. So of old, the sons of Levi were chosen as faithful
guardians to devote their lives to the sacred mysteries celebrated in
Thy house and to possess as their abiding portion the heritage of a
blessing which was to endure forever. Look down graciously, O Lord,
also on these Thy servants whom we, amid humble prayer, ordain to the
office of deacon, that they may serve Thy holy altars. As men without
the re-sources of divine perception and su-preme understanding, we
judge of their lives so far as we are able. But what is unknown to
us, does not escape Thee, O Lord; and what is hidden does not
de-ceive Thee. Thou knowest the secrets; Thou searchest the hearts.
Thou art able to examine their lives with heavenly dis-cernment, by
which Thou always pre-vailest, both to cleanse from sin and to grant
what is to be accomplished.
Here
the Bishop alone, extending his hands, places them upon the head of
each to be ordained, saying to each:
RECEIVE
the Holy Ghost, unto power and to resist the devil and his
temptations. In the name of the Lord.
Then,
extending his hands as at the Preface, he says the words of the form
of the sacrament.
SEND
forth upon them, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the Holy Ghost that they
may be strengthened by Him, through the gift of Thy sevenfold grace,
unto the faithful discharge of Thy service. May the pattern of all
virtue abound in them, modest authority, constant propriety, the
purity of innocence, the observance of spiritual discipline. Let Thy
precepts shine forth in their lives so that, by the example of their
holiness, the faithful may be aroused to holy imitation. May they
prize above all things the testimony of a good conscience, persevere
firm and steadfast in Christ, an by Thy grace make them-selves worthy
to rise in due succession from a lower to a higher order.
Then
joining his hands, he says: Through the same our Lord
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee liveth and reig-neth in the
unity of the same Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
After
this the Bishop, sitting with the mitre, on each ordinand
genuflecting before him, places the stole, which each has in his
hand, successively upon the left shoulder, saying to each:
RECEIVE
the spotless stole from the hand of God, fulfill thy ministry; for
God is powerful to increase His grace unto thee, who liveth and
reigneth world without end.
R. Amen.
Making
over each of them the sign of the cross afetr placing the stole; and
the ministers turn back the tops of the stole and binds them over the
right shoulder.
After
this the Bishop, taking the dalmatic, dresses each with it
successively, until the shoulders, and thus it is done until the
last, whom he dresses totally; and this, if there be only one
dalmatic. But if each have their own, then each is dressed totally,
saying to each:
MAY
the Lord clothe thee with the garment of salvation and the vesture
of gladness, and may the dalmatic of justice ever encompass thee. In
the name of the Lord.
R. Amen.
Finally
the Bishop takes and gives to each the book of Gospels, which they
touch with the right hand, saying:
RECEIVE
the power to read the Gospel in the Church of God, both for the
living and for the dead. In the name of the Lord.
R. Amen.
Which having been
done, the Bishop standing turning to the altar says, without the mitre:
Let us pray.
The
Ministers say:
Flectamus genua. (Let us
bend the knee.)
Levate. (Arise.)
And
turning to the ordained, he says:
HEAR,
O Lord, our prayers, and send forth upon these Thy servants the
Spirit of Thy blessing, so that enriched with the heavenly gift they
may be able to earn the favor of Thy Majesty and give to others the
example of a virtuous life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the same Holy Ghost,
liveth and reigneth God world without end.
R. Amen.
Oremus. (Let us pray.)
HOLY
Lord, Father of faith, hope and grace, Rewarder of progress:
everywhere in heaven and on earth dost Thou em-ploy the services of
angels and scatter the works fo Thy will throughout the uni-verse:
vouchsafe to enlighten also these Thy servants by love of spiritual
things so that, ready for Thy service, they may as irreproachable
ministers join Thy holy altars. May they grow in purity through Thy
grace, and be worthy of the rank of those seven men whom the apostles
elected under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and of whom Stephen
was the chief and the leader. Adorned with all virtues which Thy
service calls for, may they be pleasing to Thee. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of
the same Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth God world without end.
R. Amen.
Then,
when it be time, one of the newly ordained deacons wearing the
dalmatic says the Gospel. And the ordained immediately, having been
prompted by the Archdeacon, return to their places.
ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD
The
Bishop is seated after the Sermon on the faldstool, which has been
placed for him at the middle of the altar. He is wearing the mitre
and holding the crosier.
The
candidates are vested in amice, alb, maniple, and stole worn in the
manner of a deacon. Over the left arm they carry a folded chasuble,
the vestment of priesthood; and in the right hand the white linen
cloth/towel, used later to bind their hands.
The
Archdeacon summons the ordinands: Let those who are to be
ordained to the order of priesthood come forward.
Their
names may be read out one by one by the notary. They arrange
themselves before the Bishop and kneel.
Now
the Archdeacon presents the candidates to the Bishop, saying:
RIGHT
(or Most) Reverend Father, our holy Mother the Church requests that
thou wouldst ordain these Deacons here pre-sent to the burden of the Priesthood.
The
Bishop inquires: Dost thou you know if they are worthy?
The
Archdeacon replies: As far as human frailty allows one to
know, I am certain and I testify that they are worthy to undertake
the burden of this office.
The
Bishop says: Thanks be to God.
The
Bishop addresses the clergy and the people as follows:
MY
dear brethren, since the captain of a ship and its passengers alike
have reason to feel safe or else in danger on a voyage, they ought to
be of one mind in their common interests. Not without reason, then,
have the fathers decreed that the people too should be consulted in
the choice of those who are to be raised to the ministry of the
altar. For sometimes it happens that one or another person has
knowledge about the life and conduct of a candidate that is not
generally known. And the people will necessarily be more inclined to
be loyal to a priest if they have given consent to his ordination. As
far as I can judge, the conduct of these deacons, who with God's help
are to be ordained to the priesthood, is commendable and is pleasing
to God. In my opinion, then, they are deserving of being promoted to
a higher honor in the Church. Yet it is well to consult the people as
a whole, rather than to rely on one or a few, whose ap-proval might
be a consequence of partiality or of misjudgment. Be perfectly free,
then, to say what you know about the conduct and character of the
candidates and what you think of their fitness. But let your approval
of their elevation to the priesthood be based more on their merits
than on your own affection for them. Consequently, if anyone has
anything against them, let him for God's honor and in God's name come
forward and sin-cerely speak his mind. Only let him remember his own state.
After
a brief pause the Bishop continues, addressing himself now in
exhortation to the candidates:
MY
dear sons, who are about to be conse-crated to the office of the
priesthood, endeavor to receive that office worthily, and once
ordained, strive to discharge it in a praiseworthy manner. A priest's
duties are to offer sacrifice, to bless, to govern, to preach, and to
baptize. So high a dig-nity should be approached with great awe, and
care must be taken that those chosen for it are recommended by
eminent wis-dom, upright character, and a long-standing virtuous
life. Thus it was that when the Lord commanded Moses to choose as his
helpers seventy men from the whole tribe of Israel, to whom He would
impart the gifts of the Holy Spirit, He said to him: "Choose the
ones whom thou knowest to be elders of the people" (Num 11.16).
It is you yourselves who are prefigured in these seventy elders, if
now, by the help of the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit, you are
faithful to the Ten Commandments, and display soundness and maturity
in knowledge and in action. Under the same kind of sign and figure,
our Lord, in the New Law, chose the seventy-two disciples, and sent
them be-fore Him two by two to preach. Thus He taught us both by word
and by deed that the ministers of His Church should be perfect both
in faith and in works; in other words, that their lives should be
founded on the twofold love of God and of neighbor. Strive, then, to
be such, that by God's grace you may be worthy of being chosen to
assist Moses and the twelve apostles, that is, the Bishops who are
prefigured by Moses and the apostles. Then indeed is Holy Church
surrounded, adorned, and ruled by a wonderful variety of ministers,
when from her ranks are consecrated Bishops, and others of lesser
orders, priests, deacons, and subdeacons, each of a different
dignity, yet comprising the many members of the one body of Christ.
Therefore, my dear sons, chosen as you are by the judgment of our
brethren to be consecrated as our helpers, keep yourselves blameless
in a life of chastity and sanctity. Be well aware of the sacred-ness
of your duties. Be holy as you deal with holy things. When you
celebrate the mystery of the Lord's death, see to it that by
mortifying your bodies you rid your-selves of all vice and
concupiscence. Let the doctrine you expound be spiritual medicine for
the people of God. Let the fragrance of your lives be the delight of
Christ's Church, that by your preaching and example you help to build
up the edifice which is the family of God. May it never come about
that we, for promoting you to so great an office, or you, for tak-ing
it on yourselves, should deserve the Lord's condemnation; but rather
may we merit a reward from Him. So let it be by His grace.
All: Amen.
Then,
the Deacons prostrate themselves, and, with the Bishop kneeling
before his faldstool, the Litany of the Saints and
Veni Creator Spiritus are sung. If there was a
Diaconal ordination earlier, then the prostration is done during that time.
THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
When
the litany is ended the candidates rise and go in pairs to kneel
before the Bishop. The Bishop places both his hands on the head of
each candi-date in turn, without saying anything. Priests may
participate in the laying on of hands by standing around the
candidate and extending their right hand over the candidate.
The
Bishop (wearing the mitre) now says the following prayer:
MY
brethren, let us implore God the Fa-ther almighty to multiply His
heavenly gifts in these servants of His whom He has chosen for the
office of the priest-hood. May they fulfill by His grace the office
they receive by His goodness; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Then
the Bishop removes the mitre, turns to the altar, and says:
Let us pray.
The
Ministers say:
Flectamus genua. (Let us
bend the knee.)
Levate. (Arise.)
Then
the Bishop turns around to the ordinands and says:
HEAR
us, we pray, O Lord God, and pour out on these servants of yours the
blessing of the Holy Spirit and the power of priestly grace. And now
as we present them for consecration in your benign presence, may you
sustain them forever by the bounty of your gifts. We ask this through
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, God,
Here
the Bishop extends his hands and chants or recites the conclusion to
the preceding prayer and the following versicles:
B: World without end.
All: Amen.
B: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
B: Lift up your hearts.
All: We have lifted them
up to the Lord.
B: Let us give thanks to
the Lord our God.
All: It is meet and right
so to do.
IT
is very meet, right, and our bounden duty that we should at all
times and in all places render thanks unto thee, O holy Lord,
almighty Father, everlasting God, the source of all honors and the
dispenser of all dignities. Through thee all things make progress and
receive their perma-nence. In accord with thy wise designs all
rational creatures advance to a higher excellence. And in accord with
this same principle the various grades of priests and the offices of
Levites, instituted for sacred functions, did grow and develop. For
after appointing chief priests to rule the people, thou didst select
men of lesser degree and second rank to be their associates and their
helpers. Thus in the desert thou didst propagate the spirit of Moses
in the hearts of seventy judicious men, with whose help he was
enabled to govern easily the count-less multitude. Thus too thou
didst imbue Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron, with the abundant
graces of their father, in order to assure a sufficient number of
priests for the offering of saving sacrifices and the performance of
the more com-mon sacred rites. By the same providence, O Lord, thou
didst give the apostles of thy Son associate teachers of the faith,
and by their help as preachers of a second rank the apostles made
their voice heard unto the ends of the earth. Therefore, we beseech
thee, Lord, to support us in our weakness with similar helpers, for
inas-much as we are weaker, so much the more we stand in need of
them. Almighty Fa-ther, we pray that thou wouldst bestow on these thy
servants the dignity of the priest-hood. Renew in their hearts the
spirit of holiness, so that they may be steadfast in this second
degree of the priestly office received from thee, O God, and by their
own lives suggest a rule of life to others. May they be prudent
fellow-workers in our ministry. May they shine in all the virtues, so
that they will be able to give a good account of the stewardship
en-trusted to them. and finally attain the reward of everlasting
blessedness. We ask this through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who
liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever
one God, world without end.
All: Amen.
Now
the newly ordained priests go and kneel before the Bishop one by one.
The Bishop is seated on the faldstool and is wearing the mitre. He
takes the stole, until now worn by the newly ordained on the left
shoulder, draws it over the right shoulder, and arranges it in the
form of a cross over the chest (in the manner worn by a priest). As
he does so he says to each one:
TAKE
thou the yoke of the Lord, for His yoke is sweet and His burden light.
Next
he invests each one with the chasuble. As he does so he says:
TAKE
thou the vestment of priesthood which signifies charity; for God is
able to advance thee in charity and in perfection.
The
ordained adds: Thanks be to God.
The
Bishop rises, removes the mitre, and says the following prayer,
during which all the others kneel:
O
GOD, the source of all holiness, whose consecration is ever
effective, whose blessing is ever fulfilled, pour out on these thy
servants, whom we now raise to the dignity of the priesthood, the
gift of thy blessing. By their noble and exemplary lives let them
prove that they are really elders of the people, and true to the
norms laid down by Paul to Timothy and Titus. Let them meditate on
thy law day and night, so that they may believe what they have read,
and teach what they have believed, and practice what they have
taught. May justice, constancy, mercy, courage, and all the other
virtues be re-flected in their every way of acting. May they inspire
others by their example, and hearten them by their admonitions. May
they keep pure and spotless the gift of their high calling. For the
worship of thy people may they change bread and wine into the body
and blood of thy Son by a holy consecration. May they through
persevering charity mature "unto the perfect man, unto the
measure of the age of the fulness of Christ," and rise on the
day of the just and eternal judgment of God with a good conscience,
true faith, and the full gifts of the Holy Spirit. We ask this
through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with
thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
All: Amen.
THE ANOINTING OF HANDS
Afterwards
the Bishop rises and sits on the faldstool (wearing the mitre). He
removes his gloves but puts the episcopal ring back on his finger.
The gremiale is placed over his knees. The ordained come forward and
one by one kneel before the Bishop. He then takes the Holy Chrism and
anoints both of their hands which they hold together palms upward. He
anoints the inside of the hands, tracing a cross from the thumb of
the right hand to the index finger of the left, and from the thumb of
the left hand to the index finger of the right. He says as he
performs the anointings:
MAY
it please thee, O Lord, to consecrate and sanctify these hands by
this anointing and our blessing.
R: Amen.
He continues:
That whatever they bless
may be blessed, and whatever they consecrate may be consecrated in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R: Amen.
Then
the Bishop closes or joins together the hands of the ordained. The
latter, keeping his hands joined, goes to the side of the altar where
one of the assistants of the Bishop binds the consecrated hands
together with a white cloth, leaving the fingers free. Each of the
ordained goes back to his place. The Bishop cleanses his fingers with
a piece of bread.
PRESENTATION OF THE
SACRED VESSELS
The
Bishop now presents each of the ordained with a chalice containing
wine and water and a paten upon it with a host. These are placed upon
the joined, bound hands of the priest. During this ceremony the
Bishop says:
RECEIVE
thou the power to offer sacrifice unto God, and to celebrate Masses
for the living and the dead, in the name of the Lord.
R: Amen.
Having
cleansed his hands the Bishop goes to the throne or to the faldstool
at the epistle side. Mass is resumed with the Offertory.
CONCELEBRATION OF THE MASS
From
now on all the newly ordained priests pray the Mass along with the
Bishop, saying all prayers aloud, even those usually said in a low
voice. They are given seats as convenient, but should not crowd the
altar or be upon the predella. They receive the kiss of peace from
the Bishop at the usual time. At holy communion the ordained receive
the host with their own hands. They then may receive wine, but not
from the chalice which the Bishop has consecrated, but from another
containing ordinary wine. One of the assisting priests holds a
chalice and a purificator in readi-ness for this purpose.
CHARGE TO NEW PRIESTS
Those
who have been ordained priests should say, after their first Mass,
three other Masses: one of the Holy Ghost, another of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, and the third one for the faithful departed. They should
further pray during the masses to almighty God for their Bishop.
CONSECRATION OF BISHOPS
The
ideal days for consecration of a Bishop are Sundays, Feasts of
Apostles, or other major feasts. However, any day on which an
ordination is permitted is acceptable.
The
mass is of the day, with the prayers for Consecration of a Bishop
added as a commemora-tion.
The
Elected Bishop concelebrates the mass from the Offertory through the
Ablutions inclusive from the Epistle horn of the altar, using a
second missal. He makes all the motions of the Consec-rator that do
not involve holding an item (such as the chalice), except that he
does not take the crosier and turn to the people for the absolution
and comfortable words. Neither does he say the Ecce Agnus Dei. He
genuflects at the elevations with the Consecrator, but does not raise
his hands or another host (he does not have a second host or
chalice). At the minor elevation, he says the words, but does not
make the motions. All signs of the cross and other actions of the
Elect are directed towards the chalice and paten in the center of the altar.
After
the Consecrator receives the Sacred Host, he takes a host on the
paten to the Elected Bishop, who receives the host by his own hand.
After the Consecrator receives the Precious Blood, including the
particle, he leaves a bit of the Precious Blood in the chalice and
takes it to the Elect, who receives it by his own hand. The Elect
keeps his thumb and forefinger joined on each hand as usual from the
time he receives the host, and then performs the Second Ablution
after the Consecra-tor.
The
Elect processes in purple cassock and rochet, without mozzetta,
carrying the purple biretta, immediately before the Sacred Ministers.
The
vestments and pontificalia for the Elected Bishop are arrayed in a
suitable location, either upon a low altar or on a table on the
Epistle side, in the Sacntuary. These are: Mitre, pectoral cross,
stole, maniple, episcopal ring, pontifical gloves, pontifical
dalmatic, chasuble, prelatial alb, cinc-ture, and crosier.
The
Elected Bishop may be attended by two other Bishops or senior
prelates, vested in cope and, if Bishops, the mitre. He may also have
a suitable number of Chaplains and other attendants vested in choir
dress suitable to their rank.
After
the Sermon, the Consecrator moves to the faldstool before the altar
and sits with the mitre and crosier. The Elected Bishop moves, with
his attendants, to the Epistle side, and the senior assisting Bishop
(else the senior assisting prelate, or the Archdeacon, if there are
no assisting Bish-ops or Prelates) prepares to announce him to the
Consecrator. At this time, the Elect does not wear the biretta. Also,
none of his assistants wear the mitre or biretta at this time.
Senior
Assisting Bishop:
MOST
Reverend father, our Holy Mother the Catholic Church prayeth thee to
elevate this Priest here present to the order of the Episco-pate.
Consecrator: Have ye the
Apostolic mandate?
Senior Assisting Bishop:
We have.
Consecrator: Thanks be to God.
The
Consecrator, holding the Book of the Gospels open on his lap with
both hands, with the lower part of the book turned towards the Elect,
accepts from him the fulfillment of this oath, with the Elect still
kneeling before him saying:
SO
help me God and these Holy Gospels of God.
And
touching the very text of the Gospels with both hands, then, not
before, the Consecrator says: Thanks be to God.
Then
the Consecrator reads to the Elect and to the Assisting Bishops
(seated in their places with the mitre) the following examination,
which always ought to be read just as it appears, in the singular,
even if several are being examined together.
EXAMINATION
The
Consecrator asks: Wilt thou teach, by word and example,
those things which thou discernest from divine Scriptures to the
people for whom thou art about to be ordained?
The
Elect responds. I will.
Question: Wilt thou keep
thy ways from every evil, and as far as thou art able, God being thy
helper, wilt thou change them towards every good?
R. I will.
Question: Wilt thou, with
God's help, observe and teach chastity and sobriety?
R. I will.
Question: Wilt thou
always be given over to divine matters, and estranged from earthly
matters and disgraceful profits, as far as human fraility shall
permit you?
R. I will.
Question: Wilt thou
observe humility and patience in yourself, and teach others to do as well?
R. I will.
Question: Wilt thou be
approachable and compassionate to the poor, to strangers, and to all
who are in need, for the sake of Lord's Name?
R. I will.
Then
the Consecrator says to him:
MAY
the Lord grant thee all these, and other goodly things; and may he
preserve thee and strengthen thee in every good-ness.
All respond: Amen.
Question: Dost thou
believe, according to thy understanding and the capacity of thy
perception, in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; One
Almighty God and Deity complete in the Holy Trinity; co-essential,
consubstantial, co-eternal and co-omnipotent; of one will, power and
majesty; maker of all creatures; from whom, through whom and in whom
all things which are in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
corporeal and spiri-tual?
R. I assent and so believe.
Question. Dost thou
believe that each person in the Holy Trinity is one God, true, full
and perfect?
R. I do believe.
Question. Dost thou
believe that the very Son of God, the Word of God eternally born of
the Father, consubstantial, co-omnipotent, and co-equal to the Father
in all things in His divinity; born in time through the Holy Spirit
to Mary ever Virgin, with a rational soul and having two wills: one
eternal from the Father, the other temporal from His mother; that He
is True God and true man, in both natures distinct and perfect,
neither adopted nor ghostly, but the one and only Son of God in and
from two natures yet in the singularity of one person; that He is
unsusceptible to pain and immortal owing to His divinity, but in His
humanity, for us and for our salvation, He suffered true torment of
the flesh, was buried, and on the third day He rose again from the
dead in a true resurrection of the flesh; that on the fortieth day
after the resurrection, with His spirit and the flesh in which He had
arisen, He ascended into heaven and took his place at the right hand
of the Father, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead;
and that He shall render to each man according to his works, whether
such be good or evil?
R. I assent and
absolutely believe it to be so.
Question. Dost thou
further believe that the Holy Ghost is full, perfect and true God,
proceeding from the Father and the Son; co-equal and co-essential,
co-omnipotent and co-eternal to the Father and the Son in all things?
R. I do believe.
Dost thou believe that
this Holy Trinity is not three Gods but one God, almighty, eternal,
invisible and unchangeable?
R. I do believe.
Question. Dost thou
believe that the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is the one true
Church, in which is conferred one true baptism, and true remission of
all sins?
Question. Dost thou also
anathematize every heresy raising itself against this Holy Catholic Church?
R. I anathematize them.
Question. Dost thou also
believe in the true resurrection of the same flesh which thou now
bearest, and in eternal life?
R. I do believe.
Question. Dost thou also
believe that God, the Lord almighty, is the sole author of the New
and Old Testaments, of the Law, and of the Prophets and the Apostles?
R. I do believe.
Afterwards
the Consecrator says:
DEAREST
brother in Christ, may this faith be increased in thee by the Lord,
to thy true and eternal happiness.
All respond: Amen.
Then,
giving up the mitre and crosier, the Bishop stands and repeats the
Collect for the Consecration of a Bishop (which was said earlier
under one ending with the Collect of the Day), facing the altar as usual:
ATTEND
to our prayers, Almighty God, so that that which is to be done by
the ministry of our lowliness might be fulfilled by the effect of
thine excellence. Through.
R. Amen.
Then
taking the mitre and facing the Elect and the people, he says:
DEARLY
beloved brethren, let us pray that the provident generosity of
Almighty God might grant an abundance of His grace to this Elect for
the benefit of the Church. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
And
thereupon the Consecrator kneels at the faldstool, and the assisting
Bishops at their own seats, wearing their mitres; but the Elect
prostrates himself before the altar. The Litany of the
Saints is chanted. When the phrase Ut
omnibus fidelibus defunctis, etc. R. Te rogamus, audi nos. is
said, the Consecrator rises from his kneeler and turns towards the
Elect, and holding the pastoral staff in his left hand, he says
first, under the tone of the Litany:
THAT
it may please thee to bless this Elect.
R. We beseech thee, hear us.
THAT
it may please thee to bless and hal low this Elect. R. We beseech
thee, hear us.
THAT
it may please thee to bless, hal low and conse crate this Elect.
R. We beseech thee, hear us.
Then
the Consecrator once again kneels, and the cantor continues the
litany all the way to the end.
Which
being finished, all rise; and with the Consecrator standing before
the faldstool, wearing his mitre, the Elect kneels before him.
LAYING ON OF HANDS
The
Consecrator stands wearing the mitre in front of the Elect. The Elect
is kneeling before the faldstool, facing the altar. The Consecrator
places both hands on the head of the Elect and says the following words:
RECEIVE
the Holy Ghost.
Co-Consecrators
have arrayed themselves around the Elect as possible, and those who
may lay one or two hands upon the Elect's head do so; the rest extend
their right hand toward him. Then the Consecrator gives up the mitre
and says, standing:
BE
pleased with our prayers, O Lord; and with the horn of priestly
grace inclined over this thy servant, pour out the power of thy bless
ing upon him. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who with thee
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, ever one God:
Then,
with his hands extended before his breast, he says:
B: World without end.
All: Amen.
B: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
B: Lift up your hearts.
All: We have lifted them
up to the Lord.
B: Let us give thanks to
the Lord our God.
All: It is meet and right
so to do.
IT
is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all
times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father
almighty, everlasting God, source of all dignities which serve thy
glory through the sacred orders. O God, who by speech of intimate
mystery did command thy servant Moses, among the other patterns of
heavenly culture, estab-lishing also the habit of priestly vesture,
that the chosen one, Aaron, be clothed in a mystic garment during the
sacred rites, so that generations to come might grasp the sense of
meaning from the examples of their ancestors, lest the knowledge of
thy instruction be wanting to any age: and since among the ancients
the very repre-sentation of signs inspired awe, while among us they
would be more more cer-tain experiences of reality rather than an
obscurity of forms: for the habit of that same earlier Priesthood is
embellished by our understanding: and it is no longer honor that
commits to us the Pontifical glory of vestments, but it is rather the
splendor of souls: for even those things, which at that time would be
admired by worldly gazes, demanded rather an ap-preciation of what
they signified. And so we beseech thee, O Lord, that thou might
bestow this grace upon this thy servant whom thou hast chosen for the
ministry of the High Priesthood; so that, whatever those garments
once signified in the brightness of gold, the brilliance of gems, and
the variety of diverse ornamen-tation, this might be discerned in his char-acter
and conduct. Fulfill in thy Priest the perfection of thy ministry;
and sanctify him, clothed in the ornaments of perfect glory, with the
dew of heavenly anointing.
The
Elect then retires and puts on the remainder of the full pontifical
mass vestments, except for the mitre, gloves, ring, and crosier.
Hymns may be sung during this time. The Consecrator sits at the
faldstool with mitre and crosier.
VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS
When
the Elect returns, the Veni Creator Spiritus
is sung. All kneel.
ANOINTING
The
Elect kneels before the Consecrator. The Consecrator, having removed
the pontifical gloves and replaced the ring, anoints the forehead of
the Elect with the Holy Chrism in the form of a cross, saying:
IN
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
R. Amen.
V. Peace be with thee.
R. And with thy spirit.
Then
the palms are anointed as at the presbyteral ordination:
MAY
these hands be anointed with the sanctified oil and the chrism of
sanctifi-cation, as Samuel anointed David to be King and Prophet; so
may they be anointed and consecrated. In the name of God the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, making the image of the Holy
cross of Our Savior Jesus Christ, Who has redeemed us from death and
led us to the kingdom of Heaven. Hear us, O loving, Almighty Father,
Eternal God, and grant that we may obtain what we ask for. Through
the same Christ Our Lord.
R. Amen.
The
Consecrator and Elect clean their hands.
The
Bishop continues, standing without the mitre and facing the altar,
turning to the Elect to make the sign of the cross, the following:
MAY
this, O Lord, flow abundantly upon his head; may it course down upon
his mouth; may it sink into the uttermost parts of his whole body, so
that the power of thy Spirit might replenish him inwardly as well as
shield him outwardly. May constancy of faith, purity of love, and
sincerity of peace abound in him. Through thy gift, may his feet be
fair to carry a message of peace and to proclaim thy good works.
Grant him, O Lord, a ministry of reconciliation in word and in deeds,
in the power of signs and of won-ders. May his word and his preaching
be, not in the convincing words of human wisdom, but rather in the
display of spirit and power. Give him, O Lord, the keys of the
kingdom of heaven, that he might not use for boastfulness that power
which thou grantest for edification, and not for destruction.
Whatever he shall bind upon the earth, may it be bound also in
Heaven; and whatever he shall loose upon the earth, may it be loosed
also in Heaven. Whose sins he shall retain, may they be retained; and
whose sins he shall forgive, mayst thou forgive. Whoever shall curse
him, may that one himself be ac-cursed; and whoever shall bless him,
may he be filled with blessings. May he be the faithful and judicious
servant whom thou thyself hast appointed, O Lord, over thy family, so
that he might give them food in due season and offer every man
per-fected. May he be diligent in care and fervent in spirit; may he
despise pride; and may he love humility, and truth, and never forsake
it, overcome by either flattery or fear. May he not regard light as
darkness, or darkness as light; may he not say that evil is good, or
good is evil. May he be indebted to both the wise and unwise, so that
he might obtain fruit from the progress of all. Grant him, O Lord,
the Episcopal Chair, in order to guide thy Church and the people
assigned to him. Mayst thou be his authority, his power and his
constancy. Multiply thy bless ing and grace upon him, so that, by thy
gift, he might always be found suitable to implore thy mercy, and by
thy grace he might always be devout. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, One God, forever and ever.
R. Amen.
After
this, the Bishop stands with the mitre and says:
MAY
God and the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath Himself of the
Episcopate, bedew thee with chrism and with the liquor of mystic
ointment, and make thee fruitful with the richness of spiritual bene
diction: Whatsoever thou shalt bless may it be blessed, and
whatsoever thou shalt sanctify may it be sanctified; and may the
imposition of this consecrated hand, or thumb be profitable in all
things unto salvation. R. Amen.
IMPOSITION OF THE CROSIER
Then
he blesses the crosier in the usual manner, standing without the
mitre, if it is not already blessed thusly, sprinkling it with holy
water after:
O
GOD, who dost sustain human weakness, bless this staff; and in the
clemency of Thy merciful kindness, operate inwardly in the manners of
this Thy servant, what it outwardly designates. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Then,
sitting with the mitre, the Consecrator places the crosier into the
hands of the Elect, who is kneeling, and he says:
RECEIVE
the staff of the pastoral office, so that in the correction of vices
thou mayst be lovingly severs, giving judgment without wrath,
softening the minds of thy hearers whilst fostering virtues, not
neglecting strictness of discipline through love of tranquillity.
R. Amen.
IMPOSITION OF THE RING
If
the episcopal ring is not blessed, he blesses it thusly, without the
mitre, sprinkling it with holy water:
CREATOR
and Preserver of the human race, Giver of spiritual grace, Bestower
of eternal salvation, do Thou send forth Thy blessing upon this ring;
so that whosoever shall be adorned with this sign of holiest
fidelity, it may avail him by the power of heavenly protection unto
eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Then,
sitting with the mitre, he places the ring on the right hand of the
Elect, saying:
RECEIVE
the ring, the symbol of fidelity, in order that, adorned with
unspotted faith, you may keep inviolably the Spouse of God, namely,
His holy Church. R. Amen.
IMPOSITION OF THE BOOK OF GOSPELS
The
Consecrator, sitting with the mitre, hands the Book of Gospels or
entire Bible to the Elect, who remains kneeling, saying:
RECEIVE
the Gospel and go preach to the people committed to thee, for God is
powerful to increase his grace in thee, who liveth and reigneth world
without end.
R. Amen.
CONTINUATION OF THE MASS
The
Consecrator then says:
Peace be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
The
mass continues as usual from the Offertory. The Elect concelebrates
from the Epistle horn from a second missal, saying and doing all that
the Consecrator does. However, only the Consecrator gives the
Absolution. The Consecrator consumes the wine and particle as usual,
but either leaves enough consecrated wine for the Elect or uses a
second chalice with wine to be consecrated as well. The Elect is
communicated first with the host, and then brought the wine. He takes
both with his own hand. Then the rest are communicated as usual. The
proper forms of the Canon for the Elect are given in the Propers.
IMPOSITION OF THE MITRE
The
Bishop stands at the throne, faldstool, or before the altar before
the Pontifical Blessing and blesses the mitre, himself not wearing
the mitre, in the form as follows; he then sprinkles it with holy water:
O
LORD God, Father Almighty, whose goodness is wonderful and whose
power immense, from whom is every best and every perfect gift, the
ornament of all beauty, vouchsafe to bless and sanc-tify this mitre
to be placed on the head of this Prelate Thy servant. Through Christ
our Lord.
R. Amen.
Then
sitting at the throne or faldstool with the mitre, the Consecrator
places the Elect's mitre on the head of the Elect, saying:
WE,
O Lord, place on the head of this Thy bishop and champion, the
helmet of protection and salvation, so that his face being adorned
and his head armed with the horns of both testaments, he may seem
terrible to the opponents of truth, and through the indulgence of Thy
grace may be their sturdy adversary, Thou Who didst mark with the
brightest rays of Thy splendor and truth the countenance of Moses Thy
Servant, ornamented from his fellowship with Thy word : and didst
order the tiara to be placed on the head of Aaron thy high priest.
Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
IMPOSITION OF THE
PONTIFICAL GLOVES
Then
the Bishop stands and blesses the pontifical gloves, if they are not
already blessed; and then sprinkles them with holy water.
O
ALMIGHTY Creator, Who hast given to man fashioned after Thy image,
hands notable for their formation, as an organ of intelligence for
correct workmanship : which Thou hast commanded to be kept clean, so
that the soul might worthily be carried in them and Thy mysteries
worthily consecrated by them, vouchsafe to bless and sanc tify these
hand coverings, so that whosoever of Thy ministers, the holy Bishops,
shall humbly wish to cover their hands with these, Thy mercy shall
accord to him cleanness of heart as well as of deed. Through Christ
our Lord.
R. Amen.
Then
sitting with the mitre, the Bishop, first removing the ring, places
the gloves on the hands of the Elect, and then replaces the ring, saying:
ENCOMPASS,
O Lord, the hands of this Thy minister with the cleanness of the new
man who descended from Heaven, so that as Thy beloved Jacob, his
hands covered with the skins of young goats, implored and received
the paternal bene-diction, having offered to his Father most
agreeable food and drink, so also this one may deserve to implore and
to receive the benediction of Thy grace by means of the saving host
offered by his hands. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who in
the likeness of sinful flesh, offered himself to Thee for us.
R. Amen.
TE DEUM & CONCLUSION
The
Bishop returns to the throne or faldstool and the Elect returns to
his place. All stand (Bishops without the mitre) for the
Te Deum. (This is omitted if it is during a
penitential season.)
After
the Te Deum, the Bishop stands at
the throne or faldstool and says or sings the following antiphon:
Let thy hand * be
strengthened, and thy right hand exalted, justice and judgment are
the preparation of Thy throne. Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and
ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
All
repeat the above antiphon. This having been sung, the Bishop continues:
V. Dominus exaudi
orationem meam. (Lord hear my prayer.)
R. Et clamor meus ad te
veniat. (And let my cry come unto thee.)
V. Dominus vobiscum. (The
Lord be with you.)
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
(And with thy spirit.)
Oremus. (Let us pray.)
O
GOD, the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, look
down in Thy mercy upon this Thy servant, whom Thou hast ap-pointed
over Thy Church, and grant, we beseech Thee, that both by word and
example, he may edify all those who are under his charge, so that
with the flock intrusted to him, he may attain unto life everlasting.
Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Here
the Consecrator stands without mitre at the throne or faldstool. The
Elected Bishop stands with mitre and crosier at his faldstool or in
the center of the altar to give the Pontifical Blessing.
The
crosier is held in the left hand, and the right hand is held in front
of the breast. At Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini, he
makes the sign of the cross on himself. Alternatively, he may hold
his right hand extended through the versicles and responses. This
method of the Pontifical Blessing is used at any Pontifical Sung mass
when the Bishop will give the Pontifical Blessing.
PONTIFICAL BLESSING
V. Sit nomen Domini
benedictum. (Blessed be the name of the Lord.)
R. Ex hoc nunc et usque
in saecula. (Now and forever more.)
V. Adjutorium nostrum in
nomine Domini. (Our help is in the name of the Lord.)
R. Qui fecit coelum et
terram. (Who hath made the heavens and the earth.)
Raising
and extending his right hand and bring-ing it back to the center of
his breast, the Elect says:
Benedicat vos omnipotens
Deus. (May Almighty God bless you.)
Making
three signs of the cross over the people with the index and third
fingers of the right hand (the fourth and fifth fingers being curled
or closed),
he says:
Pa+ter, et Fi+lius, et
Spiritus + Sanctus. (Father, + Son, + and Holy + Spirit)
Then
the Consecrator accepts the mitre and, standing at the throne or
faldstool, says to the Elected Bishop, who is still standing with
mitre and crosier:
Ad multos annos. (Unto
many years.)
Then
the mass concludes with the Last Gospel as usual. In the processional
to the sacristy, the Elected Bishop walks immediately before the Consecrator.
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