THE RITE OF The Consecration of a Bishop IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. I GENERAL RUBRICS. Tis proper that the Consecrating Bishop, as well as the Bishop. Elect, should fast, on the day before consecration. The Consecration ought to be on a Sunday, or on the Feast of an Apostle but it may be, by the special grant of the Holy See, on any other Festival. Unless the Consecration be celebrated at Rome, it should be solemnized in the Church, or at least within the Province, to which the Elect has been promoted. In the Church appointed for the Consecration, two Chapels are to be prepared; a larger for the Consecrator, a smaller for the Elect. The former is to be furnished with an Altar, decorated as is usual; with a Crucifix in the middle, and at least four lights. The Chapel of the Elect must also be furnished with an Altar, having on it a Crucifix, and two lights. The Bishop Elect is to present himself to the Consecrator robed as a Priest, with a cope; and whatever be the colour for the day, all the vestments he wears must be white. There must be, at least, two Assistant Bishops, robed in rochets, amices, stoles, and copes, and wearing white mitres. All being thus prepared, at the appointed hour, the Bishops, with their attendants, assemble before the altar; and after the Consecrating Bishop has offered up a short prayer, he and the Elect proceed to their respective Chapels, and there put on their robes. This done, the Elect, with an Assistant Bishop on each hand, places himself before the Consecrating Bishop, seated in the middle of the Altar. The Senior Assisting Bishop then says: postulat Sancta Ma ter Ecclesia Catholica ut ther, the Catholic Church, hunc præsentem Presby- | demands of you to proterum ad onus Episcopa- mote the Priest here pretus sublevetis. sent, to the heavy office. of a Bishop. The Apostolic mandate is read. The Bishop Elect then kneeling before the Consecrating Prelate, takes the usual oath, which being pronounced, the Consecrating Prelate says, Deo gratias. Thanks be to God. The Bishops are then seated and mitred, and the Elect also takes his seat. The Consecrating Prelate then proceeds to the examination. Ntiqua sanctorum Patrum institutio docet, et præcipit, ut is qui ad Episcopatus ordinem eligitur, antea diligentissime examinetur cum omni caritate, de fide sanctæ Trinitatis, et interrogetur de diversis causis, et moribus, quæ huic regimini congruunt, ac necessaria sunt retineri secundum Apostoli dictum: "Manus nemini cito imposueris." Et ut etiam is qui ordinandus est, erudiatur, qualiter sub hoc regimine consti HE ancient ordinance of the Holy Fathers, teaches and commands, that he who is chosen for the rank of Bishop, be first most diligently examined, with all Christian charity, concerning the Faith of the Holy Trinity: and that he be interrogated, concerning the different matters and morals which are befitting such government, and necessary to be kept up; according to the saying of the Apostle: "Impose not hands lightly upon THE RITE OF The Consecration of a Bishop IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. IT GENERAL RUBRICS. T is proper that the Consecrating Bishop, as well as the Bishop Elect, should fast, on the day before consecration. The Consecration ought to be on a Sunday, or on the Feast of an Apostle but it may be, by the special grant of the Holy See, on any other Festival. Unless the Consecration be celebrated at Rome, it should be solemnized in the Church, or at least within the Province, to which the Elect has been promoted. In the Church appointed for the Consecration, two Chapels are to be prepared; a larger for the Consecrator, a smaller for the Elect. The former is to be furnished with an Altar, decorated as is usual; with a Crucifix in the middle, and at least four lights. The Chapel of the Elect must also be furnished with an Altar, having on it a Crucifix, and two lights. The Bishop Elect is to present himself to the Consecrator robed as a Priest, with a cope; and whatever be the colour for the day, all the vestments he wears must be white. There must be, at least, two Assistant Bishops, robed in rochets, amices, stoles, and copes, and wearing white mitres. All being thus prepared, at the appointed hour, the Bishops, with their attendants, assemble before the altar; and after the Consecrating Bishop has offered up a short prayer, he and the Elect proceed to their respective Chapels, and there put on their robes. This done, the Elect, with an Assistant Bishop on each hand, places himself before the Consecrating Bishop, seated in the middle of the Altar. The Senior Assisting Bishop then says: Everendissime Pater, Rpostulat Sancta Ma OST Reverend Father, our holy Mo ter Ecclesia Catholica ut ther, the Catholic Church, |