Apostolic Succession

[PJD1987]

So I’m running this Student Bible Study at my University and we are studying the Gospel of St. Matthew. We were reading Chapter 10 today and this new guy who’s going through RCIA asked a good question that I answered to the best of my ability, but got me wondering. The question was:

If Jesus gave His authority to the Apostles to perform miracles and drive out demons and heal sickness, why is this not passed down through Apostolic Succession?

My answer was first, this is passed down through the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (which is a miracle), and exorcism (driving out demons). I also talked about the difference between public/private revelation, which I said ended with the death of the last Apostle (wasn’t able to really explain why that is…just basically that it was needed to build up the church/communities and then wasn’t needed anymore once they were established and could live by faith). I essentially said as much as I knew about it, but it left me wondering.

I told him I would talk with our Priest as well in my next meeting with him, but I thought I’d pose the question here as well. Although I believe that the Holy Eucharist is a miracle, and exorcism does drive out demons (if done correctly of course), there clearly is a distinction between these things, and the very obvious miracles the Apostles brought about.

In Acts 5:15, 19:11-12, merely walking by or touching an object touched by the Apostles healed the sick and cured the diseased, drove out demons, etc. Today, a Bishop walks by and you say, “Hey, that was the Bishop,” and that’s about all the happens. Why were not the same healing powers passed on through Apostolic Succession? I thought it was an interesting question, and I’d love to hear thoughts and/or Church Teaching on this.

Thank you in advance.

God bless,
Paul

 

[kmuestwin]

I would consider an exorcism the driving out of demons.

I also think the annointing of the sick has healed many people.

Aren’t these the same things?

 

[TheDoctor]

…If Jesus gave His authority to the Apostles to perform miracles and drive out demons and heal sickness, why is this not passed down through Apostolic Succession?

In Acts 5:15, 19:11-12, merely walking by or touching an object touched by the Apostles healed the sick and cured the diseased, drove out demons, etc.

Hi Paul, good questions. Here is my answer to them:

On the first point, what makes your friend think it has not? The ordained have the power to do all that the Apostles did and if you read some of the stories of the Vatican exorcist you will see that power manifested.

As to the second point, why were those healed who touched objects touched by the Apostles? Was there some magic power in the object or was the desire of the person to be healed a factor? Look at the healing miracles that Jesus did - what do they have in common? Faith. Those who were healed by touching objects touched by the Apostles were healed because of their faith in Jesus.

So, let me put it to you then my dear friend. If the same power to heal and drive out demons exists in the ordained today but is not manifested, is it due to a lack of divine power on their part or a lack of faith on ours?
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” - Matt 17:20

 

[PJD1987]

Hi Paul, good questions. Here is my answer to them:

On the first point, what makes your friend think it has not? The ordained have the power to do all that the Apostles did and if you read some of the stories of the Vatican exorcist you will see that power manifested.

As to the second point, why were those healed who touched objects touched by the Apostles? Was there some magic power in the object or was the desire of the person to be healed a factor? Look at the healing miracles that Jesus did - what do they have in common? Faith. Those who were healed by touching objects touched by the Apostles were healed because of their faith in Jesus.

So, let me put it to you then my dear friend. If the same power to heal and drive out demons exists in the ordained today but is not manifested, is it due to a lack of divine power on their part or a lack of faith on ours?
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” - Matt 17:20

Thank you for your response. I happen to agree partially with what you say, but not totally. Sure there are many people of little faith who would not have miracles done for them, however there are also very devout faithful Catholics as well. Not painting everyone with a broad brush, we can certainly concede that there are many faithful people who ask for miracles, who believe in their power and still a Bishop or Priest cannot make it happen simply by walking past as the Apostles did.

So yes, while I believe it certainly is a contributing factor, it can’t be the only one.

God bless,
Paul

 

[bz5]

That’s an interesting question. I suppose, as a practical matter, they would never get any rest from the crowds seeking cures. Maybe their fame would eclipse the Gospel message/spiritual salvation they’re really focused on. And I think it’s all part of that larger, eternal question: why is there evil at all? God could heal them all without the intermediaries.

 

[Ignatius]

So I’m running this Student Bible Study at my University and we are studying the Gospel of St. Matthew. We were reading Chapter 10 today and this new guy who’s going through RCIA asked a good question that I answered to the best of my ability, but got me wondering. The question was:

If Jesus gave His authority to the Apostles to perform miracles and drive out demons and heal sickness, why is this not passed down through Apostolic Succession?

Answer, it was passed down through Apostolic Succession. There are demons driven out, the sick healed and other miracles. Even when Jesus was walking the Earth in the Flesh, not everyone that was sick, lame or blind got healed. This is obvious from the great attention and the marvel it is held in to those instances where it does happen.

 

[inkaneer]

Apostolic Succession has nothing to do with miracles. It is all about authority. Many people, to include lay people, have performed miracles. It is apples and oranges to mix the two.

 

[puzzleannie]

If Jesus gave His authority to the Apostles to perform miracles and drive out demons and heal sickness, why is this not passed down through Apostolic Succession?

ul

these powers are handed on through the bishops, the successors of the apostles
the bishops, or those whom they delegate have power to exorcise demons
all priests, because they share the priesthood of the bishop and through the bishops in apostolic succession, have the charism to give the sacrament of anointing of the sick which can heal, when that is God’s will for the recipient.

 

[fred_conty]

Jesus one day saw a man lowered thru the ceiling of a home where Jesus was standing.
Jesus said to the lame man, “Your sins are forgiven.” His friends complained because
they wanted him to walk again. Then Jesus said, “which is greater to say, your sins are
forgiven or to get up and walk? But that you may know that I have the power to forgive sins,” then he turned to the man and said, “get up and walk.”

The Bishops have more power than healing, they have the power to forgive sins and to turn bread into the body of Christ. More miraculous than the miraculous according to Jesus himself.

 

[PJD1987]

Jesus one day saw a man lowered thru the ceiling of a home where Jesus was standing.
Jesus said to the lame man, “Your sins are forgiven.” His friends complained because
they wanted him to walk again. Then Jesus said, “which is greater to say, your sins are
forgiven or to get up and walk? But that you may know that I have the power to forgive sins,” then he turned to the man and said, “get up and walk.”

The Bishops have more power than healing, they have the power to forgive sins and to turn bread into the body of Christ. More miraculous than the miraculous according to Jesus himself.

I actually was always confused by that passage. Thank you for clarifying, it makes more sense now!