Author(s):
Ratzmann, Wolfgang
|
Plank, Peter
[German Version] I. Practical Theology – II. Orthodox Church
I. Practical Theology Episcopal ordination is the rite whereby a person chosen as bishop receives his office (the legal aspect) and is empowered to exercise this (the spiritual aspect). After Vatican II, episcopal ordination in the Roman Catholic church was given a structure parallel to the ordination rites of deacons and priests. As in the Orthodox and Old Catholic churches, it is understood as a sacrament and is carried out within the context of a eucharistic celebration. After preparatory ceremonies (including the public reading of the papal appointment, the declarations made by the candidate, and a litany prayed by the congregation), the central epicletic rite of the laying-on of hands (in which all the bishops present take part) and the consecratory prayer take place. During the consecratory prayer, the book of Gospels is held over the head of the ordinand. The modern rite includes the following outward signs from the rites in the Roman Pontifical of 1596: the anointing of the bishop's head (sign of his priestly office) and the handing-over of the book of Gospels (symbolizing his ministry of preaching), a ring (symbolizing his fidelity to the church), a miter, and a crozier (symbolizing the ministry of government). Luther too ordained bishops and applied the term “episcopal ordination” to this rite, although he did not understand this legally and spiritually significant act in sacramental terms, i.e. as the reception of a higher grade of Orders or of the plenitude of the ecclesial ministry. This is why the concept “episcopal ordination” has been replaced in the altar-book of the Lutheran churches by words such as “installation.” T…