special Consecration Section THE DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Thursday, Sept. 25, 1946 Page One Work of Bishop in Bringing Christ Into Lifo of Worid Told in Sermon APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION AND POWERS Principals in Service Shown OF HIERARCHY MASTERFULLY OUTLINED BY ORDINARY OF SALT UKE DIOCESE Following is the full text of the sermon delivered by the Most Rev. Duane G. Hunt, D.D., Bishop of Salt Lake, Wednesday, Sept. 24, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Denver, at the consecration of the Most Rev. Hubert Michael Newell, D.D., as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne. “ And behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.”—Matt, xxviii, 20. ' The grace of God’s friendship, the highest of all His gifts, has been offered to man in all ages of human existence. It has been fhanifested in many ways; in pat;ernal guidance, in benevolent protection, in redeeming from sin, and in the daily outpouring of mercy and love. This friendship has unfolded itself in a progressive pattern, advancing from distant to close intimacy, until we of today are blessed by its final measure of completeness. The first period of God’s relationship with man includes all the time before the coming of Cur Divine Lord. Limiting attention to the chosen people, to those who had the true faith, we note that even with them there was little close intimacy with God. He was a remote being, far away in heaven, looking down upon His people. Being a pure spirit. He was beyond the power of man to see and touch, He was spoken about only in hushed terms of reverence and fear. So sacred was His proper name that it could be spoken only once each year and then only by the high priest in the holy of holies of the temple. To the Jewish people God was the Omnipotent Creator, the mighty Ruler and King, the Father who commanded, who threatened, and yho punished. He was not among them as a visible object of worship. He did not offer Himself as a sacrifice for them, the sacrifices in the temple being mere substitutes and a forerunner o f things to come; Neither did He give Himself to His people in Communion; again, as a substitute they received the food which had been offered in sacrifice on their altars. The repentant sinners could not hear from God the assurance that they .were forgiven their past sins; they had to rely upon their own judgment. Under such circumstances the people, those who had caught a glimpse o f God’s great and expanding plan, looked ahead to the coming of Our Divine Lord. He would be the Emmanuel, God among men. He would lift them to new heights of-divine friendship and intimacy. That they might live to see that day the faithful Jews prayed fervently, as they hoped and waited. This first period of God’s relationship^ with man came to an end with the hirth of Our Lord; a new period began. Now at last God was among His people. In His human nature, a nature like to that of every other man. Our Lord was the object of worship. The Shepherds hastened from their night watches to the stable in Bethlehem in order to adore the Infant Savior. The Wise Men from the East followed the example and they, too, bowed down in humble adoration. In later years, during the public ministry, not only was Our Lord respected and loved by His followers. He was adored and worshiped by them. They could and did address Him as their Lord and their God. He forgave sins to those who truly repented, in return for love The principals in the consecration cere­ back are Fathers Donald McMahon and shown to Him. “ Thy sins are forgiven thee,” He said, “ go and sin no mony are shown in the upper picture. Left Michael ICaranafh; in the second row front to ri(ht are Bishop Joseph M. Gilmore of the back are the Rt. Rer. John R. Mulroy, more.” From His voice, from His words, they had the assurance that Helena, co-consecrator; Bishop Newell, Archbishop Vehr, and the Rt. Rer. Matthew they were forgiven. Archbishop Urban J. Vehr, consecrator; Smith; third row. Bishop Gilmore, Bish> and Bishop Joseph C. WillcinK of Pueblo, op Newell, and Bishop W ill(lnf; and front To a few close followers, the chosen Apostles, He gave Himself in co-consecrator. row, the Rt. Rey. Charles Ha^us, the Rcy. Communion. This was at the Last Supper, the night before He died. In the bottom picture the procession is Gregory Smith, and the Very Rey. Joseph shown leaeiniT the Chancery on the way P. O’Heron. Here was the perfect Communion, of infinite worth, replacing the wholly to the Cathedral foe. the ceremony. In the imperfect communions of the past; but it was reserved for a very few. And in the presence of even fewer devoted loved ones. He offered Him­ could live in the.Divine Presence; they could look at Him, touch Him, self on the cross of Calvary. Although the merits of His act were for all walk with Him, knd listen to Him. Is it not a sacrilege even to suggest men, the sacrifice itself was witnessed by only a few, the Blessed Mother, that anything more perfect was possible? In what sense, then, can it the Beloved Apostle, and a few others. be said that the last period of God’s relationship with man is a step ahead ? With Our Lord’s Ascension into heaven this second period of God’s It was Our Lord’s wish that the Divine friendship which He had given friendship with man came to an end; the third and final period began. to a very few persons should henceforth be offered to everyone. His per­ Looking back upon the transition, we can understand the thoughts and sonal ministry had been limited* to a few short years. It must now bo feelings of Our Lord’s followers. We ask, therefore, if the clock had been made available for all times. Our Lord’s ministry had been ,limited to a • turned back again. Had men been given a taste of God’s intimate friend­ few square miles of Palestine. It must now be extended to^,reach every ship only to be left with mere memories? Was God never again to be among corner of the world. His ministry was thus to be expanded, in number o f men as the object of worship? Would repentant sinners never again be persons affected, in time, and in geographical extent. It was to become told that they were forgiven? Would there never again be a perfect Com­ truly catholic. munion? Would there never again be an infinite sacrifice? Was Our Lord’s We pause to ponder how all this coujd be. As Mary, when con­ real presence among men to become only a legend in history books? fronted by the angel and when told that she was to become the mother of the Savior, asked in awe and humility how this should be done, so' From our vantage point of today we can answer the questions; and we also, let us hope with something like the same awe and humility, ask we answer not only with confidence but with the deepest gratitude. how God’s plan coul<^ be accomplished. The answer brings us into the We know that there was not only no turning "back to the former con­ Christian Church. fusion and groping in darkne^, to the former detachment from God, but that there was a step ahead into a new and still grander intimacy be­ Our Lord chose a few. men, taking them with Him as He preached tween man and God, into the final phase of divine friendship. the Gospel, instructing them in the mysteries of faith and the laws of His kingdom. He ordained them as priests, so that they, in His At once the question arises as to how perfection could be perfected. Name and following His example, could offer the same sacrifice that Our Lord’s association with His chosen followers was the very .zenith of He would offer; so that they could give His Body and Blood in Com­ Divine friendship; by its very nature it gave a perfect opportunity for munion ; so that they could hear confessions and speak the healing words, man to believe in God, to obey and worship Hinv. What a blessed and “ Thy sins are forgiven thee;” so that they could pronounce the words unique privilege had been permitted the Apostles and disciples. They (Turn to Page g — Column 1) Page Two THE DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Thursday, Sept. 25, 1946 Sermdn Details Work At Dinner for Clergy Of Bishop in Bringing God Into Lives of Men (Continued From Page One) o f tranaubstantiation, “ This is My Body,” and “ This is My Blood,” thus bringing Our Lord before His people as an object of love and worship. Through the ministry of priests, therefore, men especially chosen and set apart for the purpose. Our Lord commanded that what He had done for a few would henceforth be done for the many. Yet this is not all. Our Lord loved not only the few persons who came to Him; not only those who would hear His Apostles and re­ spond to their preaching. He loved those of the next generation. He has loved us who now live in the twentieth century. He loves all who are to come after us, in all ages to the last days of the world.