Bishop Indoctrinal Mass

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OBrother

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Dear Catholic Answers,

My family and I have been asked to participate in our new bishop’s indoctrinal Mass. We are to present to him his Mitre, Crosier and other things.
We live in a very liberal diocese and I don’t want to participate in something, or in some way that is against church teachings. Is this usually done during one of these Masses? I’ve never been, nor seen one done. Could you please explain what goes on during such a Mass and if this type of participation is legitimate?

Thank you.

God Bless,

OBrother
 
I have no clue what this implies, however I can tell you when a bishop visits our church, usually a priest or seminarian known as the emcee arrives with the bishop. This emcee usually will direct the servers in what is expected during any liturgy. Your church should have a director for liturgy formation as well, or the least your parish priest who will guide you through the service. Relax and with all things, pray on it. We have never had a full family participate unless their children were servers, the parents as lectors, cantors or perhaps even the deacon of the mass. With all things, pray and ask lots of questions in advance.
 
From what I know and what I’ve seen, the co-consecrating bishops are to bestow the Mitre and Crosier. This practice of letting the laity do it sounds questionable.
 
I am by no means an expert concerning the rubrics found in the Pontifical but I am relatively sure that this not proper. I believe that at his enthronement (as it is properly called) it is the co-consecretory Bishops that fill the role of presenting these items because they are symbols of his office. The gift of these to a bishop by lay people would imply that he receives his governance from the people or community when in fact it stems from God and the Church.
 
If you do determine this is not allowed, my suggestion would be that when you respectfully decline, you provide the documentation as to why. Maybe you can help educate some of those around you (lovingly, of course!).
 
Thank you to all for your replies! If anyone knows where I can find the doctrine or rules governing such a Mass, please let me know.
I do have the current GIRM, but I don’t think it states anything about the institution of a new bishop.

God Bless,

OBrother
 
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OBrother:
Dear Catholic Answers,

My family and I have been asked to participate in our new bishop’s indoctrinal Mass. We are to present to him his Mitre, Crosier and other things.
We live in a very liberal diocese and I don’t want to participate in something, or in some way that is against church teachings. Is this usually done during one of these Masses? I’ve never been, nor seen one done. Could you please explain what goes on during such a Mass and if this type of participation is legitimate?

Thank you.

God Bless,

OBrother
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My reading of the liturgical books leads me to believe that altar servers should be bringing the ring, crozier and miter over.

Having a family do it seems like creating a second offertory procession. The Roman Missal encourages an offertory procession: “It is desirable that the participation of the faithful be expressed by members of the congregation bringing up the bread and wine for the celebration of the eucharist or other gifts for the needs of the Church and the poor.” (The Sacramentary, The Order of Mass, Catholic Book Publishing Company, New York, 1985, page 370.)

But there is nothing like this encouraging a separate procession of ring, crozier and miter (which would be before the offertory procession).

Instead the ring, crozier and miter are listed among the things that should be prepared. In the introduction to the rite of the “Ordination of a Bishop” it has:

“8. In addition to what is needed for the concelebration of a pontifical Mass, there should be ready: a) the Roman Pontifical; b) copies of the consecratory prayer for the consecratng bishops; c) a linen gremial; d) holy chrism; e) a ring, staff, and miter for the bishop-elect.” (The Rites, Volume 2, Liturgical Press, 1991, page 66).

The ceremony describes the principal consecrator as putting the ring on the hand of the bishop being ordained, the miter on his head and giving him the staff (i.e. crozier).
 
now, is this the mass of the bishop(-elect)'s concecration or is the bishop just taking over the diocese. I mean if he is already a bishop, isnt there a ceremony when he takes posession of his cathedra(l) and would he be given a set pontificals at that point?
 
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Brain:
now, is this the mass of the bishop(-elect)'s concecration or is the bishop just taking over the diocese. I mean if he is already a bishop, isnt there a ceremony when he takes posession of his cathedra(l) and would he be given a set pontificals at that point?
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There is such a ceremony (if he is already a bishop), but the bishop would not receive a ring, crozier or miter at it.

The Ceremonial of Bishops, Part VII, Chapter 4 has the ceremony: “Reception of the Bishop in his Cathedral Church”. It includes: “1143. … After the reading of the apostolic letter, a bishop who is entitled to the pallium is invested with it …”. (Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 310).

But the bishop receives the ring, crozier and miter at his ordination as a bishop.
 
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