Third stage

So we come to the third and last stage.  The Apostles, acting as Our Lord’s personal representatives, appointed and ordained men to take their place as Apostles of the Catholic Church.  And Our Lord, through the Apostles, gave them also the full Apostolic Commission so that they too, like the Apostles themselves, now had the authority (right and power) to act as his representatives in any part of the Church.  At first they do not seem to have had any special title because they were so well known by name, like Timothy and Titus who were appointed by St Paul (cf 2 Timothy 1:6; Titus 1:5).

Bishops

Now, you remember we said that presbyters were also called bishops in the early days (cf Philippians 1:1).  Well, as time went on, they were just called presbyters, and the title of bishop was used only by the men who had taken the place of the Apostles.

Some of these first bishops were travelling missionaries whom the Apostles appointed to be bishops and who then settled accordingly in this place or that.  Others may have been presbyters who were promoted by the Apostles to be bishop of the particular place where each already was.

And these bishops, acting as the personal representatives of Our Lord, appointed bishops as they were needed, and in that way Our Lord gave to these also the Apostolic Commission to act on his behalf just as the Apostles had done, so that each bishop was really a new Apostle.

The three-fold ministry

So gradually each place of importance had its own bishop as a governor of the Church, and guardian of its Faith and Sacraments.  And there was everywhere the three-fold ministry of bishop, presbyter (later to be called priest), and deacon.  And this three-fold ministry was, as we have seen, formed by the Apostles themselves acting on Our Lord’s own behalf.

SUMMARY

1. On the first Easter Day Our Lord gave the Apostles their Apostolic Commission, that is, the authority (right and power) to act on his behalf by governing the Church, teaching the Faith and administering the Sacraments.  In particular he gave them a share in his own High Priesthood by giving them the power to offer the Sacrifice of the Eucharist and to forgive sins.

2. The Apostles, acting as Our Lord’s personal representatives, formed the three-fold ministry of bishop, priest and deacon, and Our Lord, through the Apostles, gave to these bishops the Apostolic Commission to act on his behalf as the Apostles had done.  These bishops in their turn appointed other bishops and in that way Our Lord gave to these also the Apostolic Commission.