The Office of Bishop, Symbols of Office and the Rite of Canonical Installation: A Commentary

By Msgr. RAMON B. AGUILOS, Media Liaison, Archdiocese of Palo
April 5, 2006

Introduction

On May 2, 2006, the Archdiocese of Palo will mark a significant milestone in her history. It will be the installation of His Excellency the Most Reverend Jose Serafio Palma as Archbishop of Palo. He succeeds His Excellency the Most Reverend Pedro Dean who in February 21, 2005 reached the canonical age of retirement at 75 years old, and whose letter of resignation was accepted by the Holy Father Benedict XI on March 18, 2006. It is not clear at this time, though, whether the Holy Father’s newly appointed personal representative to the Philippines, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Fernando Filoni, will attend the celebration.

During the installation rites, the official decree announcing Archbishop-elect Palma’s appointment will be read. Then the Apostolic Nuncio (if present), together with the outgoing Archbishop, will install Archbishop-elect Palma in his chair “cathedra” to take his place as the new shepherd, the seventh bishop/third archbishop of Palo. As a spiritual leader guide, he is the seventh to lead the flock of the ecclesiastical see of Palo; the other bishops who had preceded him were Bishops Manuel Mascariñas (1938-1952), Lino Gonzaga (1952-1967), Teotimo Pacis, CM (1967-1970), Manuel Salvador (1970-1973), Cipriano Urgel (1973-1985) and Pedro Dean (1985-2006). Archbishop-elect Palma will be the third bishop to take on the title of “archbishop” ever since the ecclesiastical see of Palo was elevated to an archdiocese in 1982; the other archbishops were Archbishops Urgel and Dean.

The liturgy of the canonical installation is rich in symbolism and tradition. From the symbols of a bishop’s office to the rite of installation itself, every sign and moment continues the sacred tradition of the Catholic Church. This celebration will draw into prayer and contemplation, as the faithful prays for Archbishop Palma who will take possession of the Archdiocese of Palo. The faithful will also pray for Archbishop Dean that God will grant him many happy years of retirement and reward him for his faithful service. The faithful prays for the Archdiocese of Palo as they welcome their new shepherd.

Explanation of the Office of Bishop

As the authoritative teacher of those entrusted to his care, the bishop interprets the Christian revelation to his flock. At his ordination he is asked to confirm his beliefs in the major tenets of the Creed. He must set forth the moral teaching of Christ and make judgments on conditions within the diocese to which principles of social justice apply. The apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi (the Gospel must be proclaimed) sums up the thought of the Church on this point: “In union with the successor of Peter, the bishops, who are successors of the Apostles, receive through the power of their episcopal ordination the authority to teach the revealed truth in the Church. They are teachers of the faith.” A bishop is to sanctify, teach and govern. These are three distinct but not separate tasks. It is a question, in fact, of three aspects of the one office of the pastor, the successor of the Apostles. Each of these tasks presupposes the other two. As regards his teaching task, the bishop is not only the one who instructs but who leads. His word is not only based on the truth; it is the way. It marks out a path, for the bishop is the head of the flock which he governs in order to lead it to meet the Lord. His teaching is also sanctifying (the Council says deliberately that the bishop is a spiritual guide). Through the specific dynamism of conversion and deepening of religious life, he gathers and constitutes the Christian community which reaches its culminating point in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The bishop, as the local chief shepherd, encourages a spirit of prayer, celebrates the liturgy for all, works for peace and justice, especially for the poor and disenfranchised, and strives to promote a healthy dialogue with other faiths.

Symbols of the Office of the Bishop

There are several symbols of the Office of the Bishop. The first symbols are connected with the bishop’s cathedral. The “Cathedral Church” is the site of the bishop’s chair or “cathedra.” It is a symbol of the spiritual temple that is built up in souls and is resplendent with the glory of divine grace. The bishop’s chair (cathedra) is placed prominently near the main altar. It represents the seat of diocesan authority that is vested in the bishop, our chief priest, teacher and pastor, the one to whom all the people of the diocese look for guidance.

The other symbols are those of the bishop’s office. The miter, or peaked cap, was first used exclusively by the pope as a mark of distinction. By the 12th century, its use was extended to all bishops as a mark of their office and a symbol of their authority. The zucchetto, or skull cap, was developed to cover the tonsure, that part of the back of the head that was shaved as a man entered into the clerical state. The ring originally worn by the pope and known as the “Fisherman’s Ring” was to link the ministry of the pope with the ministry of Saint Peter the Apostle. By the 12th century, all bishops had adopted the custom. It is a sign of the bishop’s fidelity and nuptial bond with the Church, his spouse. The pectoral cross is worn to reflect the order of dignity of the office of bishop. It served originally as a reliquary of the True Cross, which encouraged the custom of wearing this cross close to the heart. The crosier or pastoral staff takes its shape from the crook used by shepherds. Over time, all bishops acquired the custom of carrying a staff as an outward sign of their ministry as shepherds of God’s people. The crosier is carried by the bishop as a sign of his jurisdiction, a sign that this is indeed his flock.

Rite of Canonical Installation

Hopefully, the presence the Holy Father’s representative, the Apostolic Nuncio, will highlight the importance of the installation ceremony. Once the procession has taken place, the nuncio or the archdiocesan chancellor will read the Official Decree of the Holy Father appointing Archbishop Palma as the Archbishop of Palo. Once the Decree has been read, the chancellor will present it to the priests and the faithful. The Chancellor of the Archdiocese will be the one who will record the event in the archives of the Curia. Once this has taken place, Archbishop Palma will be escorted to the cathedra by the Apostolic Nuncio and Archbishop Pedro Dean. When he is seated in the chair, he formally takes up his role of shepherd of the Lord’s Flock in the Archdiocese of Palo. The Congregation acknowledges by applause the acceptance of their new Archbishop. After Archbishop Palma is seated for a moment, he will stand and receive the fraternal kiss of peace from Archbishop Dean. Then, the clergy of the Archdiocese of Palo, some representatives of the archdiocesan community, as well as civic officials will be brought forward to greet and welcome Archbishop Palma.

At this point in the liturgy, Archbishop Palma will become principal celebrant of the Mass. For the first time, the archbishop will celebrate with his priests, the Banquet of Christ’s Sacrifice. For all of this, the celebration is one of joy and thanksgiving. The whole congregation takes this opportunity to pray for the new shepherd.