How Best to Support the Bishop

[consumedconvert]

I hope I’m posting this in the right forum. I considered the “Catholic Living” forum, but none of the sub-forums seemed quite right. Besides, I know the people over here.

How may one best show support for their Bishop?

We have a wonderful Bishop in my diocese. He was installed in our Diocese, I believe, just after Pope Benedict was elected. Today I discovered that he yearly publishes a Festival Letter, which he uses as a teaching document. He’s a superb teacher.

I have discovered that accoding to Catholic theology each Diocese is a “particular Church.” Thus of course we ought not be cocerned only with maintaining communion with and supporting the Holy Father, but also supporting our Bishop, who is in communion with him. A Bishop is not merely a “lower executive,” like the Assistent V.P. of a bank or something. He is a Successor to the Apostles. The first time I saw the Bishop in person it brought tears to my eyes. “Here he is: the Apostle!”

I figured many on this forum would have practical experience with this. How might the laity best show their support for their Bishop, especially those who live many miles away from the Cathedral?

Oh yes, btw, we gave to the Diocesan Collection, so I’m speaking of “above and beyond” that.

 

[James0235]

I figured many on this forum would have practical experience with this. How might the laity best show their support for their Bishop, especially those who live many miles away from the Cathedral?

One thought comes to mind:

I have heard it said that over 80% of the letters and phone calls that bishops (and priests for that matter) receive are negative. You might consider writing the bishop a letter and expressing your thanks for something specific he has done. Maybe mention something positive about one of his priests and how much you appreciate the priest.

I think receiving something positive like that might just bring a little bit of joy to him.

James

 

[Howard_Roark]

Totally serious suggestion -

Just pray for him. He needs the prayers more than anything; even congratulations or thanks take time out of his already tremendously busy day.

 

[ethelzguy]

One thought comes to mind:

I have heard it said that over 80% of the letters and phone calls that bishops (and priests for that matter) receive are negative. You might consider writing the bishop a letter and expressing your thanks for something specific he has done. Maybe mention something positive about one of his priests and how much you appreciate the priest.

I think receiving something positive like that might just bring a little bit of joy to him.

James

A great idea. He might not know what to think!

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Write a letter to the editor of your diocesan paper expressing appreciation for specific things he has done. Have a mass said for his intentions. Send a birthday or Christmas card with a short note.

 

[Cathryn]

A while back I e-mailed a message to my Bishop, Daniel Walsh, welcoming him to my diocese and just stated that he was much needed. Within a few hours he personally e-mailed me back thanking me for the welcome. I was very pleasantly surprised.

Another way to show support is to go to any Confirmations where the Bishop visits your parish. The church should be overflowing with parishoners to welcome the Bishop and participate in the Confirmations.

 

[Nickkname]

I hope I’m posting this in the right forum. I considered the “Catholic Living” forum, but none of the sub-forums seemed quite right. Besides, I know the people over here.

How may one best show support for their Bishop?

We have a wonderful Bishop in my diocese. He was installed in our Diocese, I believe, just after Pope Benedict was elected. Today I discovered that he yearly publishes a Festival Letter, which he uses as a teaching document. He’s a superb teacher.

I have discovered that accoding to Catholic theology each Diocese is a “particular Church.” Thus of course we ought not be cocerned only with maintaining communion with and supporting the Holy Father, but also supporting our Bishop, who is in communion with him. A Bishop is not merely a “lower executive,” like the Assistent V.P. of a bank or something. He is a Successor to the Apostles. The first time I saw the Bishop in person it brought tears to my eyes. “Here he is: the Apostle!”

I figured many on this forum would have practical experience with this. How might the laity best show their support for their Bishop, especially those who live many miles away from the Cathedral?

Oh yes, btw, we gave to the Diocesan Collection, so I’m speaking of “above and beyond” that.

Prayer, prayer, and prayer.

 

[LittleFlower139]

You can spiritually adopt your Bishop. Set aside time for prayer and penance for your Bishop. I am sure he needs all the prayers! That is the greatest gift that one can give to another, is prayer!

 

[JReducation]

CC

Your post is right on target. Congratulations. Yes, the diocese is a local Church and the Bishop is its highest ranking authority. He is the Apostle to that Church.

Many people confuse the terms Church as in universal church and Church as in local Church (diocese). Every Catholic in a diocese is subject to the authority and the leadership of the Bishop.

As a general rule, the Vatican does not interfere in the internal affairs of a diocese unless there is something terribly wrong or something that places the diocese in danger of breaking communion with the Bishop of Rome.

The difference between the local bishop and the Bishop of Rome is that the Bishop of Rome is the Pontiff. Unlike many people think, he is not the first among equals. He is the Prince of the Apostles.

In order to have a Prince of the Apostles, you must have Apostles. Those are the bishops.

This does not only include the Catholic bishops. It also includes the Orthodox Metropolitans (bishops). If you notice, the Orthodox Churches do not have a Pope. They do accept that the Bishop of Rome is the successor of Peter. It’s the Prince of the Apostles that they are struggling with.

But when we look at the Orthodox Churches we can more clearly see how the system works. Each bishop is a successor of the Apostles.

It is also important to note that because the Bishop of Rome is the Prince of the Apostles, all bishops must maintain communion with him in order to maitain the petrine succession, but not the apostolic succession.

Bishops have apostolic succession, because they are apostles. This is why we recognize the bishops of the Orthodox Church and even the SSPX as valid bishops, because they are valid Apostles. Only some Apostles ae not in communion with the successor of Peter. That is the sad part.

The only time that a Catholic is not subject to a Bishop is if he is a member of an exempt religious order. The operative word here is “exempt.” These religious orders have an exception given to them by canon law. Becaue they make solemn vows, they are subject to their religius superior and to the Pope, but only to the bishop in matters that have to do with any ministry that they perform for him. If they do not run a diocesan ministry or work for a diocesan ministry, they are autonomous of the local bishop.

Men in solemn vows are members of the universal Church, not of any particular Church (diocese). The rest of us are members of either the diocese in which we reside and the diocese in which we were baptized. You never lose your “citizenship” in your home Church.

JR