Text 1323, 57 rader
Skriven 2006-05-15 07:08:20 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
===================================================
Hello All!

                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION: SPIRITUAL AND HISTORICAL TIE TO CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, MAY 10, 2006 (VIS) - Apostolic succession was the subject of
Benedict XVI's catechesis at this morning's general audience, held in St.
Peter's Square in the presence of 50,000 people.

"The Church, which came into being at Jesus' will and around Him, continues her
journey through history," said the Pope. "The Twelve ... involved others in the
functions with which they themselves were entrusted, so that those others could
continue the ministry. ... Just as at the beginning of the apostolic condition
there is a call and an invitation from the Risen One, so the call and
invitation of others, ... from those who are already within the apostolic
ministry, will be the way by which the ministry of the 'episcope' is passed
on."

"In this way," the Holy Father continued, "the succession of the episcopal
function is ... a guarantee of the endurance of apostolic tradition. The link
between the college of bishops and the original community of the Apostles may
be seen, above all, as a form of historical continuity. ... However, continuity
may also be considered in a spiritual sense, because apostolic succession in
the ministry is a privileged place for the action and transmission of the Holy
Spirit."

Benedict XVI then went on to quote the words of St. Irenaeus on the origins of
the Church, "founded and constituted in Rome by the most glorious Apostles
Peter and Paul," highlighting "the tradition of faith that ... comes down to us
from the Apostles through the succession of bishops."

"Episcopal succession - verified on the basis of communion with the succession
of the Church of Rome - is therefore the criterion of adherence of individual
Churches to the tradition of apostolic faith, ... which has come down to us
from the origins."

According to the ancient Church, the Pope explained, "the apostolicity of
ecclesial communion consists in faithfulness to the faith and practice of the
Apostles themselves, through whom the historical and spiritual link of the
Church with Christ is guaranteed. ... What the Apostles represent in the
relationship between the Lord Jesus and the early Church, is similarly
represented by the ministerial succession in the relationship between the early
Church and the modern Church.

"This is not a merely material link," Pope Benedict concluded, "rather it is a
historical instrument that the Spirit uses to make the Lord Jesus present as
the leader of His people."
AG/APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION/... VIS 060510 (420)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)