Memorial of Saint Patrick, Bishop
March 17, 2014

Prayer:

O God, who chose the Bishop Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the peoples of Ireland, grant, through his merits and intercession, that those who glory in the name of Christian may never cease to proclaim your wondrous deeds to all.


Saint Patrick's Breastplate: Click here to listen

Question of the Day:

Is an Archbishop higher than a bishop?

The office of archbishop has been of importance in the Latin Church since the last millennium. Basically, the title is accorded to a bishop governing or overseeing one or more dioceses in what has become known as an ‘ecclesiastical province.’ He is the one who presides over the metropolitan or principal city of the ecclesiastical province. The bishops under the jurisdiction of the archbishop are known as suffragan bishops ( the word suffragan referring to the bishops voting at a provincial synod). Once regarded as a very powerful position in the Church — the archbishop confirmed the appointment of a new suffragan bishop and consecrated him; summoned and presided over provincial councils; maintained discipline among suffragan bishops, and acted as a court of appeal over decisions taken by suffragan bishops or their Tribunals — the office of archbishop today is one of precedence and honour in many respects. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) greatly reduced the power and authority of archbishops.

With the promulgation of the Code of Canon Law in 1983, the authority of archbishops over suffragan bishops has become very limited in its scope, although the archbishop does have specific functions which come into effect at certain times in a particular church. According to canon 436, §1, the archbishop is (1) to be vigilant that faith and discipline are preserved in suffragan dioceses; (2) he is to carry out (after giving the reason and receiving approval of the Apostolic See) the canonical visitation of a diocese if the suffragan bishop has neglected this; (3) in the case of a vacant diocese, he can appoint a diocesan Administrator under certain prescribed conditions (e.g., the college of consultors fail to do so within the required time frame). In paragraph two of this same canon, we are told that the archbishop, under certain circumstances and if conditions warrant it, be granted special functions and authority by the Apostolic See.

The answer to this question, for our purposes, really can be found in paragraph three of this canon, which states:"The metropolitan has no other power of governance over suffragan dioceses. He can however, celebrate sacred functions in all churches as if he were a Bishop in his owndiocese, provided, if it is the cathedral church, the diocesan Bishop has been previously notified."

Although the archbishop does have some limited duties and authority, he is basically the bishop of a diocese, overseeing and celebrating the mysteries of faith, to that portion of the People of God entrusted to his full pastoral care. The only distinguishing mark of difference between the archbishop and suffragan bishops is the wearing of the pallium — a garment worn around the neck and shoulders, having six small blacks crosses. For interest sake, this pallium is made from wool gathered from sheep and blessed by the Holy Father on the Feast of St. Agnes (January 21). They are presented to new archbishops by the Pope in Rome on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29).