Atlanta - Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan, Metropolitan of the Province of Atlanta, officiated at the consecration ceremonies of Bishop-elect Joseph L. Bernardin. Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler of Charleston and Bishop Francis F. Reh, Rector of the North American College in Rome, were consecrators. Bishop John J. Russell, of Richmond, delivered the sermon.

Ceremonies began at 4:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on April 26th. An Episcopal consecration is one of the most splendid ceremonies in a Catholic Church.

It took place in the beautiful Gothic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Special music for this occasion had been written by Mr. Robert L. Blanchard, director of music of the diocese.

The magnificence of the occasion reflects the importance the church attaches to the elevation of another successor to the apostles.

The bishop’s consecration follows his priestly dedication to the service of God at ordination. The power to ordain other priests is conferred at consecration.

The role of consecrator is reserved to the pope but he usually delegates it to a bishop. Two other bishops assist as co-consecrators. In this case, Archbishop Hallinan, Bishop Unterkoefler and Bishop Reh.

The consecrator wears the full episcopal vestments of the color of the day. The co-consecrators also wear Mass Vestments. The bishop-elect is dressed in like manner.

In a procession preceding the ceremony, churchmen’s robes of different colors signify ecclesiastical rank, purple for bishops as well as for monsignors. Other secular clergy wear black with white surplice; religious clergy wear the color of their order.

Apostolic Letter

The consecration consists of reading the apostolic letter, preliminary examination, the consecration itself, and investiture with external signs of office.

In the sanctuary the senior co-consecrator, Bishop Unterkoefler, presented the bishop-elect to the consecrator, Archbishop Hallinan, while the apostolic commission was read.

The bishop-elect is questioned concerning conduct of the office and teachings he is to expound, and whether he will be “affable and merciful to the poor and to pilgrims and all those in need.” The Mass of Consecration was concelebrated with the consecrating prelates, Bishop Bernardin and the following priests of the diocese, Msgr. John L. Manning, Donald C. Hamburger, Rev. Charles J. Kelley, and Rev. St. John E. Patat.

The consecrators and the bishop-elect and the concelebrants begin the Mass. After the Gradual, the consecrator goes to the faldstool before the altar where the bishop-elect is presented, to hear the duties and powers: “A bishop judges, interprets, consecrates, ordains, offers, baptizes and confirms.”

The consecrator asks clergy and faithful to pray for the bishop-elect who, while the litany of the saints is chanted, lies prostrate on the sanctuary floor. Then the consecrator opens the book of the Gospels and lays it on the shoulders of the kneeling bishop-elect, and on his head the consecrator and both assistants impose hands with the words: “Receive ye the Holy Spirit.”

Anointing

While the hymn, “Veni Creator Spiritus” (Come, Holy Spirit, Creator) is sung, the consecrator anoints with holy oil the head of the new bishop. This symbolizes the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. The consecrator anoints the hands to indicate powers conferred; the joined hands are placed in a linen cloth suspended from the new bishop’s neck.

The consecrator presents the bishop with objects of office: crozier or pastoral staff, dramatizing his spiritual flock; ring symbolic of espousal to the church; and the book of gospels, along with the command to proclaim the word of God.

The bishop receives the kiss of peace from the consecrator and co-consecrators. He is escorted to the altar and his head and hands are cleaned. The Mass is resumed with Gospel, creed and offertory. The sermon is delivered between Gospel and creed.

During the offertory the bishop is led to the throne where the kneeling consecrator offers two loaves of bread and two small wine casks, in token of an ancient custom of such offerings by the Catholic laity for the support of the clergy and maintenance of worship.

Mass is resumed at the altar, all concelebrants partaking of the communion host and chalice. In final blessing, the kneeling bishop receives his mitre from the consecrator who has blessed it as a “helmet of defense and salvation” making the bishop “formidable to the opponents of truth.” The consecrator blesses gloves and puts them on the newly consecrated hands, after removing the episcopal ring which he restores over the gloved finger.

The choir intones a hymn of thanksgiving, while the bishop proceeds with his assistants through the Church, blessing the faithful. Moving to the epistle side, he faces the consecrator and both assistants on the other side of the altar, genuflects and chants, “Ad multos annos” (For many years). Each time in a higher voice, he repeats this chant, first from mid-altar and again as he approaches the consecrator and the co-consecrators, the bishop receives a kiss of peace. From the altar, crozier in hand, he gives a final blessing, and all prepare for the recessional.

The four bishops of Charleston with whom Bishop Bernardin served in official capacities will have major roles in the elevation of Msgr. Joseph Louis Bernardin to the fullness of the priesthood as Titular Bishop of Lugura and auxiliary to the Archbishop of Atlanta.