Saturday, June 04, 2011

Father Andreas Hoeck:

"The Trinity in John's Apocalypse and Holy Orders

"Reflecting on the mystery of the Trinity gives insight into the three degrees of Holy Orders ..."


A snippet from Father Hoeck's article in the Homiletic & Pastoral Review. June / July 2011 issue.


"Introduction

"The early Church Fathers recognized all three offices of holy orders and regarded them as essential to the structure of the Church.

"Especially significant are the letters of St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, who traveled from his home city to his execution in Rome around A.D. 110.

"On the way he wrote letters to the churches he passed.

"In every church there was the same threefold ministry.

"Ignatius said that without this threefold ministry a group cannot be called a church.

"In his Letter to the Magnesians (2) he compares the bishop to God the Father, and recognizes Christ in the priest..."

What follows is St. Ignatius' own words:

"Now, therefore, it has been my privilege to see you in the person of your God - inspired bishop, Damas; and in the persons of your worthy presbyters, Bassus and Apollionius; and my fellow servant. the deacon, Zotion.

"What a delight is his company!

"For he is subject to the bishop as to the grace of God, and to the presbytery as to the law of Jesus Christ..."

As our author comments:

"In other passages of his letters Ignatius interchangeably links bishops, priests and deacons to Christ..."

And the article just keeps getting better! :)

Because after a brief, detailed discussion, the author is able to convincingly assure us that:

"Ignatius, therefore, emphasizes the mysterious relationship that exists between the Blessed Trinity and the three orders of the ordained priesthood in the Church ..."

As, indeed, he does ... ! :)

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home