The Importance of the Hierarchy in the Church

by Thomas Hurley

MASS SCHEDULE, INTENTIONS, SCRIPTURE READINGS AND FEAST DAYS

Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. Holy Day of OBG May 28 May 29 May 30 May 31 June 1 June 2 Sat. June 2 Sun. June 3 4:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Sacred Heart, Chariton Helen Miskimin Saint Francis, Corydon For All Parishioners Louis Van Ert Saint Brendan, Leon Sacred Heart, Chariton Norma Rodgers Mullins 5:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. Sacred Heart, Chariton Sacred Heart, Chariton Saint Brendan, Leon Tribunal Marilyn Corbett Women of Sacred Heart Ida Mancino 1 Peter 1:3-9 Mark 10:17-27 1 Peter 1:10-16 Mark 10:28-31 1 Peter 1:18-25 Mark 10:32-45

Catholics are not and never have been just a group of people who gather together because they believe the same things. The Church was founded by Jesus Christ as an institution with a definite structure. Over time, obviously, this institution has become much more developed. Today the Church is a highly complex and organized body with its own laws and legal system. However, while the Church has developed since the first century, the fundamental structure remains the same. Jesus founded this institution with one head and a small group of leaders under that head, and the bishops and the Pope today are the successors of Peter and the Apostles. Thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: In fact, from the beginning of his ministry, the Lord Jesus instituted the Twelve as "the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy." Chosen together, they were also sent out together, and their fraternal unity would be at the service of the fraternal communion of all the faithful: they would reflect and witness to the communion of the divine persons. For this reason every bishop exercises his ministry from within t h e episcopal college, in communion with the bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter and head of the college. S o also priests exercise their ministry from within the presbyterium of the diocese, under the direction of their bishop.1 This hierarchy is the foundation of the whole structure of the Church. Without it, there would be no organized institution, but only many people trying to live by the teachings of Jesus. It is good and necessary to strive to imitate Jesus and follow the teachings of Jesus, but by themselves these things are not enough. First of all, of course, we know that without some teaching authority to speak definitively on behalf of Jesus on earth, there are inevitably many disagreements about how exactly to follow the teachings of Jesus. In each disagreement, someone will be wrong and thus fail to follow the true teaching of Jesus. Furthermore, and even more importantly, it must be recognized that Jesus came to bring not only teaching, but above all redemption and salvation. No matter how carefully we try to live by his teaching, we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is a supernatural gift, which we can only receive from God through Jesus Christ. For that to occur, we need real contact with Jesus, and that is precisely what we can have through the Church in the sacraments. The Apostles and their successors have passed on the sacramental power given to them by Christ to priests in every generation. Without the Church structure instituted by Christ for this purpose, there would be no more sacraments, and our link to Christ would be lost. In addition, when Jesus offers us salvation through the Church, he offers us more than just external contact with him. One of the traditional terms used for the Church is the "Mystical Body of Christ." This is not just a meaningless pious phrase, but rather expresses a crucial truth. By being part of the Church we are incorporated into a mystical Body with Christ as the Head. A body needs to have structure and the ability to act in a unified way. Jesus Christ himself, as the Head of the Body, is the ultimate unifying principle of the Church. Christ, though, chose to work through human beings, and as a result the structured nature of the Church is a necessary aspect of the Mystical Body of Christ. One can make an analogy between the hierarchy in the Church, and the bones in a physical body: the Church is far more than just the hierarchy, as the body is far more than just its bones, but both are completely necessary and must be present in their entirety to hold the body together properly. One sometimes hears presumably well-meaning people say things such as "You and I are the Church," or occasionally even the more grammatically offensive "We are Church." A real understanding of the Church, however, tells us that this is not exactly true. Individual Catholics are members of the Church, and in a certain sense it can be said that we make up the Church, but without the structure Jesus gave us to hold his Mystical Body together, Catholics would be just a group of individuals devoted to Jesus. That is not sufficient for salvation, and that is not the plan of God. There are criteria for membership in any body, and one of the criteria for membership in the Church as the Body of Christ is acceptance of the institution of the Church as Christ founded it. We show that we are part of the Church by living

within the bounds of its hierarchical structure. Scripture records that Christ not only founded a hierarchy, but gave it authority in his Church. The Catechism explains this clearly: Jesus entrusted a specific authority to Peter: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." The "power of the keys" designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: "Feed my sheep." The power to "bind and loose" connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church. Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom.2 If we reject or ignore this authority structure established by Christ, we are no longer part of the body. Accepting hierarchical authority does not mean only accepting the dogmas and doctrines of the Catholic Church, although of course that is necessary. Acceptance of the teaching power alone would make all Catholics believe the same truths, but would not necessarily make the Church one body. If all Americans believed in the same ideals of freedom and justice, but did not live under the same government, one could hardly call the United States one nation. In the same way, in order for hierarchical authority to be a completely unifying principle in the Church, the hierarchy must be accepted as possessing governing authority as well. Any person or group or local church that is not under the government of the hierarchy is not fully united to the Body of Christ in the Church. As Pius XII wrote concerning the Mystical Body of Christ in his encyclical Mystici Corporis, "those who are divided in faith or government cannot be living in the unity of such a Body, nor can they be living the life of its one Divine Spirit."3 This does not mean that Catholics must never question or criticize decisions made by members of the hierarchy. While Church teachings on faith and morals must always be accepted as infallible, it has been made all too clear many times in history that bishops and even popes are not immune from prudential mistakes and even sins. In some cases, it may be appropriate to question them and perhaps even address certain actions and decisions with respectful criticism. However, it should be remembered that, regardless of their personal failings, members of the hierarchy hold a necessary office. We often hear in relation to civil government officials about the necessity of respecting the office, even if one does not respect the man. In practice, we know that all purely natural offices can in fact lose respect if the person who holds the office is bad enough. However, the offices of those in the hierarchy have a role in a supernatural reality, regardless of the personal dignity of those who hold the offices. As such, the hierarchy itself must always be respected, and every Catholic should be consciously subject to its authority. Issues such as the administrative control that a bishop has over his diocese may seem far removed from questions of grace and salvation and the most fundamental nature of the Church. However, the distance between these realities is not nearly as great as might be supposed. All Catholics need to be brought to understand fully that where the authority of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church is in question, issues of authority are never unimportant or purely administrative matters. Authority in the Church is unlike any other authority on earth. As Christians, all of us want to be united with Jesus Christ, and the hierarchical authority of the Pope and bishops helps to preserve for Catholics the unity of the Church as Christ's Mystical Body. Through humbly submitting to that authority Catholics are inconceivably exalted by being a member of that Mystical Body. For nothing more glorious, nothing nobler, nothing surely more honorable can be imagined than to belong to the One, Holy Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church, in which we become members of One Body as venerable as it is unique; are guided by one supreme Head; are filled with one divine Spirit; are nourished during our earthly exile by one doctrine and one heavenly Bread, until at last we enter into the one, unending blessedness of heaven.4

Zep 3:14-18 Luke 1:39-56

1 Peter 4:7-13 Mark 11:11-26 Jude 17, 20b-25 Mark 11:27-33

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Memorial of St. Justin, Martyr Optional Memorial of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Deut 4:32-34, 39-40 Romans 8:14-17 Matthew 28:16-20

Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in honor of her patronal feast, celebrates The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ with a procession on Sunday, June 10 at 3:00 p.m. A reception will follow. Bishop Pates will be in attendance. Knights of Columbus will be providing and preparing the meat. Everyone is asked to bring a side dish to share. All are invited and welcome to attend.

SACRED HEART CHARITON

Tithes- $1,504 Adventures in Matthew Bible Study on Wednesday, May 30 at 6:00 p.m. Lesson 24 will be discussed and the DVD will be viewed. Annual Diocesan Appeal- Our goal is $25,802. We are still within $10 of making our goal if all the pledges are paid. Thanks to all who helped make this happen. Women of Sacred Heart Rummage Sale will be May 31, June 1 & 2. Items may be taken to the church basement. The front East door will be open 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. After hours call 203-2529. Sorting will be Mon., Wed., and Fri. at 9:00 a.m. All help is appreciated. Our Prayers and Sympathy go to the family of Theda Gerkey. Totus Tuus "Totally Yours" summer youth program will be June 11-15. This is a great opportunity for your child to have a fun and faith filled week learning about the Catholic faith. This years theme is "The Creed of Our Faith" and also the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. If you have not signed your child up, it is not to late. Please contact Sheila Adams (641-344-3100). Registration fees will be collected on June 11. First through eighth grade students will participate from 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. The cost is $10/student or max. of $20/ family. Snacks and Lunch will be provided. Totus Tuus for the High School youth is for youth going into 9th grade thru college. They will begin June 10th and run thru June 14th and it will be from 8:00-10:00 p.m. Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus- If you would like to donate money for flowers to decorate the church for Corpus Christi in honor of our patronal feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, please put in collection basket marked Corpus Christi or drop off at the office.

Items found in the Church- One double look earring, ladies watch and I Have Daddy childs book. Check in parish office if one of these items belongs to you.
Correction to last weeks Senior Bulletin- Parents of Josh Ruth should have been listed as Joe and Tammie Ruth. We sincerely apologize for the error.

SAINT FRANCIS CORYDON

Tithes- $252 Celebration: Jeff & Sandy Lutz will be celebrating their 30th Anniversary on May 26, 2012, at their home in Powersville, MO. meal at 5:00pm. Please join us.

SAINT BRENDAN LEON

Tithes-May 13- $834.00 Tithes-May 20- $756.00 Garage Sale and Bake Sale on June 1 & 2. Items for Garage Sale can be left in classroom directly off the kitchen. Your committee chairperson will be contacting you to ask for bake sale items and volunteers to work on June 1 & 2. If you are interested in helping, please contact Sarah Dale at 446-8024 or Tonya Lindsey at 446-4889. We need help the week of May 27 to set out items on the tables for the sale. Congratulations to the Graduates- Jacob Hayworth and Joshua Price Knights of Columbus meeting is June 7 in Mt. Ayr. ATTENTION- We have some fish left from our Fish Frys. If you would like to buy a box or two, please contact parish office (446-4789) or Kevin Buckingham (641-414-7702). The price for a 10lb. box is $16.20

Totus Tuus summer youth program will be July 15-20. More information to follow.