Bishops and Priests

[CollegeKid]

I’m confused about something. It seems like apart from having far more responsibilities, bishops are the same as priests: ordained ministers of the Church who can offer up the sacrifice of the Mass, hear confessions, and perform all the other sacraments. So why is there a separate ordination to become a bishop? When and why did bishops come to be distinguished from regular presbyters/priests?

 

[matthias]

Priests are not able to preside over all the sacraments.

The first major difference for a Bishop is that he is capable of ordaining. A priest cannot make other priests or deacons, but a bishop can make priests, deacons, and other bishops.

Generally bishops are the successors of the Apostles and as such have authority over their domain and continue the apostolic succession and perpetuate the priesthood.

 

[marty1818]

Bishops have the fullness of Holy Orders because they are able to celebrate all the sacraments like the previous post mentioned.

Matt

 

[Brendan]

In fact, priests can only minister when they recieve authority to do so from a bishop.

For example, a priest who is not given faculties to hear confessions cannot absolve. If a priest recieves faculties from their bishop, but happens to go to another diocese cannot hear confessions in that other diocese.

The Pope (as a Bishop) has given authority for any priest to hear confessions in the case of emergency, or if permission might be presumed, but if the Pope ever removed that authority, an out of town priest could not hear your confession, even if you were dying by the side of the road.

Bishops have the Authority, and priests act as their delegates.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

CollegeKid:

So why is there a separate ordination to become a bishop? When and why did bishops come to be distinguished from regular presbyters/priests?

Because Bishops are Ordained to govern the Church as a successor of the Apostles. A priest is ordained to offer sacrifice.

The three fold order is found in the New Testament.

You will notice that when a Bishop (including the pope) celebrates Mass at certain points he has his Miter and Staff indicating his role as Bishop. At other points he removes all of these and his head is also uncovered showing that he is in the role of priest at the Consecration.

 

[CantorRick]

Br. Rich SFO:

Because Bishops are Ordained to govern the Church as a successor of the Apostles. A priest is ordained to offer sacrifice.

The three fold order is found in the New Testament.

You will notice that when a Bishop (including the pope) celebrates Mass at certain points he has his Miter and Staff indicating his role as Bishop. At other points he removes all of these and his head is also uncovered showing that he is in the role of priest at the Consecration.

Br. Rich,

I might say that the Bishop, when standing “in persona Christe” does not have his miter and staff since he is deferring to the ultimate Shepherd.

Richard

 

[Brain]

is it possible for a priest who’s ministry involves constant travel (im thinking speakers, missionaries, etc) to get a universal faculty from Rome or their own bishop even? For example we had Fr Andrew Apostoli in our town a few months ago and he was hearing confessions, did he have to send a letter to seattle or does he have “travelling” faculties? i mean it would be a hassle to send a letter to the chancery of every diocese you are tavelling to if it changes daily or weekly.
also, it is my understanging that a priest who has faculties from his own bishop may offer mass daily as per his obligation no matter where he is in the world, but must aquire faculties to celebrate publicly or with a congregation.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

CantorRick:

Br. Rich,

I might say that the Bishop, when standing “in persona Christe” does not have his miter and staff since he is deferring to the ultimate Shepherd.

Richard

Yes, as does every priest at that point of the Mass.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Brain:

is it possible for a priest who’s ministry involves constant travel (im thinking speakers, missionaries, etc) to get a universal faculty from Rome or their own bishop even? For example we had Fr Andrew Apostoli in our town a few months ago and he was hearing confessions, did he have to send a letter to seattle or does he have “travelling” faculties? i mean it would be a hassle to send a letter to the chancery of every diocese you are tavelling to if it changes daily or weekly.
also, it is my understanging that a priest who has faculties from his own bishop may offer mass daily as per his obligation no matter where he is in the world, but must aquire faculties to celebrate publicly or with a congregation.

My understanding is that in the US the Bishops have granted priests the ability to exercise their faculity to hear Confessions granted them by their own Bishop in any diocese, without asking for permission. They must have the permission of the Pastor of the parish (area) where they wish to celebrate any other Sacrament (Baptism, Marriage, anointing of the Sick) including Mass within the parish boundry, even when it is not in the parish church.

 

[muledog]

I think what makes it hard to understand is that the English language confuses the terms for bishop and priest.

Bishops (episcopos) and priests (presbyters) are both priests (sacerdos).

As has already been discussed, bishops contain the fullness of the priesthood. Priests share in that priesthood (sacerdos), but not to the extent that they are true “shepherds”. They minister in the name of their own bishop and “in persona christi”.