"Mechanics" of Apostolic Succession

[paterpetri]

Can someone help me with my understanding of the “mechanics” of apostolic succession? Does a newly installed bishop receive his authority from the other bishop(s) who ordain(s) (is this the correct word?) him, or does he receive his authority from the bishop he’s replacing? If the former is the case, is the new bishop the successor of all the bishops who ordain him? If, on the other hand, the latter is true, then it would seem that authority is transferred somehow by way of the vacated see, rather than through any person or persons. And since the bishop being replaced has usually deceased, how can there be any transfer of power from the one person to the other? I guess my question could be summed up by asking, “What is the ‘conduit’ through which apostolic authority is transferred”?

 

[Fred_Flintstone]

the authority is passed on by the laying on of hands of other bishops.
the apostles ordained successors (bishops), and those bishops ordained successors, & so on

 

[paterpetri]

Fred_Flintstone:

the authority is passed on by the laying on of hands of other bishops.
the apostles ordained successors (bishops), and those bishops ordained successors, & so on

Thanks for you reply. It does, however, raise another question; and that is, why is the Pope (just to use the most obvious example) the successor of Saint Peter and not of the other bishops (and, by extension of the other apostles) who ordain him? It seems to me that it is somehow the combination of the bishop being replaced in conjunction with his specific see that must determine the line of direct succession.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

paterpetri:

Can someone help me with my understanding of the “mechanics” of apostolic succession? Does a newly installed bishop receive his authority from the other bishop(s) who ordain(s) (is this the correct word?) him, or does he receive his authority from the bishop he’s replacing? If the former is the case, is the new bishop the successor of all the bishops who ordain him? If, on the other hand, the latter is true, then it would seem that authority is transferred somehow by way of the vacated see, rather than through any person or persons. And since the bishop being replaced has usually deceased, how can there be any transfer of power from the one person to the other? I guess my question could be summed up by asking, “What is the ‘conduit’ through which apostolic authority is transferred”?

It’s both. The Consecrating Bishop is the instrument of Christ in the Sacrament of Ordination to the Office of Bishop. It is Christ Himself who grants the Sacramental powers of Bishop in the Sacrament, those who are validly Ordained are the only ones who can validly Ordain… This is the Succession as it relates to the Apostles. The authority is the succession in the Office as the Bishop of a particular Church, this is the governing power, granted by the Church or specifically the Pope, known as Jurisdiction.

 

[paterpetri]

I appreciate your concise answer, Brother Rich. Thank you