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With the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the Apostolic College showed itself filled with the new vitality which comes from the Paraclete. Peter, "standing with the Eleven",(9) speaks to the crowd and baptizes a large number of believers; the first community appears united in listening to the teaching of the Apostles (10) and accepts their decision in relation to pastoral problems.(11) It was to the Apostles who had remained in Jerusalem that Paul turned in order to ensure his communion with them and not risk having run in vain.(12) The Apostles' awareness that they constituted an undivided body was also demonstrated when the question arose whether or not Christians converted from paganism were obliged to observe certain precepts of the Old Law. At that time, in the community of Antioch, "Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and the elders about this question".(13) In order to examine the problem the Apostles and the elders meet, consult one another and deliberate, guided by the authority of Peter, and finally issue their decision: "It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things...".(14)
2. The saving mission which the Lord entrusted to the Apostles will last until the end of the world.(15) For this mission to be carried out, in accordance with Christ's will, the Apostles themselves “were careful to appoint successors... Bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the Apostles as pastors of the Church".(16) Indeed, in order to carry out the pastoral ministry, "the Apostles were endowed by Christ with a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit coming upon them",(17) and by the imposition of hands they passed on to their assistants the gift of the Holy Spirit,(18) "a gift which is transmitted down to our day through episcopal consecration".(19)
"Just as, in accordance with the Lord's decree, Saint Peter and the rest of the Apostles constitute one apostolic college, so in like fashion the Roman Pontiff, Peter's Successor, and the Bishops, the successors of the Apostles, are joined to one another".(20) Thus, all the Bishops in common have received from Christ the mandate to proclaim the Gospel in every part of the world and are consequently bound to have concern for the whole Church. So too, for the fulfilment of the mission entrusted to them by the Lord, they are held to cooperate with one another and with the Successor of Peter,(21) in whom the Lord established "the lasting and visible source and foundation of the unity both of faith and of communion".(22) The individual Bishops are in turn the source and foundation of unity in their particular Churches.(23)
3. Without prejudice to the power which each Bishop enjoys by divine institution in his own particular Church, the consciousness of being part of an undivided body has caused Bishops throughout the Church's history to employ, in the fulfilment of their mission, means, structures and ways of communicating which express their communion and solicitude for all the Churches, and prolong the very life of the College of the Apostles: pastoral cooperation, consultation, mutual assistance, etc.
From the first centuries on, the reality of this communion has found an outstanding and typical expression in the holding of Councils. Worthy of mention among these are, together with the Ecumenical Councils which began with the Council of Nicaea in 325, the Particular Councils, both plenary and provincial, which were frequently held throughout the Church from the second century on.(24)
The practice of holding Particular Councils continued throughout the Middle Ages. Following the Council of Trent (1545-1563), however, they became less frequent. Nevertheless, the 1917 Code of Canon Law, seeking to revitalize so venerable an institution, included provisions for the celebration of Particular Councils. Canon 281 of that Code spoke of the plenary Council and laid down that it could be held with the authorization of the Supreme Pontiff, who would designate a delegate to convene the Council and preside over it. The same Code called for provincial Councils to be held at least every twenty years (25) and conferences or assemblies of the Bishops in each province to be held at least every five years, in order to deal with the problems of the Dioceses and prepare for the provincial Council.(26) The new Code of Canon Law of 1983 retains a considerable body of laws governing Particular Councils, both plenary and provincial.(27)
Nor is it so simple as to make one decision once and for all. Angels could do so and have done so, but humans have it otherwise. We struggle day in and day out in our decision making. Satan, as the Great Deceiver, revenging himself against God, wishes to steal us from Him, our Creator. Mary, having been given by Jesus, our Savior, the motherly charge over each one of us, pleads that we remain close to her that she might carry us in her arms to the Father to Whom we really belong. Satan uses subtleties to confuse and trip us up. Mary makes use of her motherly wisdom and love that we might not only clearly understand the ways of Satan, but obtains graces for us that we might have continual power of him.
In previous installments of this column, we had given some thought to satan's subtleties. Let us now turn our attention to what it is that Mary asks and pleads for in order to give us a helping hand to detect these subtleties and to opt continuously for the directives she offers.
Foremost, and perhaps the most basic of her directives is that we pray. She emphasizes this often by repeating the word "pray" three times, i.e. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. In addition to this, over and over again she speaks of the necessity to pray with the HEART. She asks that we seek guidance from her Spouse Who is the Source of Wisdom, understanding and knowledge. She makes it clear that if we pray, we will find out what it is that the Father wants of us. She continually requests of us to pray the rosary for in this form of prayer all of the above can be put into practice.
Mary is the Mother of all children whether these be good, bad or indifferent, whether these be of the True Faith, of other faiths or of no faith at all. It is to all of her children, all without one single exception, that she pleads for prayer from them. Prayer is the umbilical cord that connects each human being with his/her Maker and Owner. This cord may be of different sizes, different textures, different forms, but it must be there if human beings are to be in touch with their Source of Life. Imagine an employee who never touches base with his/her employer. There are many of God's most special creatures on earth who never make contact with Him. Especially for these does Mary weep. She knows well that satan is the chief destroyer of this umbilical cord, thus contributing to a condition that keeps the minds of human on themselves rather than upon their God.
NEXT WEEK: Part Seven of the sublteties of satan
