May 14 2025 - St. Matthias - Apostolic Succession

 In the Creed each week, we profess, our belief “in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church”. Today, we might say, is one of the great feasts of Apostolicity. For St. Matthias was the first to be appointed an Apostle after the death and resurrection of Jesus showing that apostolic mission would continue through the ages until the Lord’s return. 

In the first reading, we read that following the death of the fallen Apostle Judas, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the remaining eleven apostles elected Matthias to join them and share in the apostolic mission to tend the flock, to shepherd the People of God. 

St. Matthias was the first bishop of the Church named after the ascension. 

Some protestants will argue that the Catholic Church’s hierarchy was not intended by God, but Scripture is clear that the appointment of Matthias, and therefore every bishop after him, was due to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

The naming of apostolic successors is implicit in the Lord Jesus’ mandate to the apostles at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, when he says: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations... And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." The command to preach and teach until "the end of the age" implies a continuous apostolic mission—one that is meant to persist through successors.

The apostles understood clearly from Christ’s teachings and actions that their role was an office with specific authority and responsibilities that must persist. Matthias’s appointment thus illustrates the apostles’ understanding of their ministry as an ongoing office, not limited merely to their original twelve.

That apostolic ministry continues unbroken from the apostles to every Catholic bishop throughout history.  Hence we believe that "the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such a way that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ."

We commend to God, today, all of the bishops, that through their preaching and teaching, the Christian faith may be spread and deepened, and that we may persevere in being faithful coworkers with them, in witnessing to the death and resurrection of Jesus, that we may be counted among the elect of heaven for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit and inspired by the apostolic witness of St. Matthias, we lift our prayers to our Heavenly Father.

For Pope Leo and all bishops, successors to the Apostles, that they may shepherd the Church with wisdom, courage, and fidelity to Christ’s teachings

For Christian unity, that the apostolic foundation of our faith may inspire greater unity among all who profess belief in Christ.

For our parish, that we may actively participate in the Church’s mission, joyfully witnessing to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

For those who experience doubt or confusion regarding Church teachings, that through the apostolic witness and clear guidance of Church leaders, they may find clarity, truth, and peace.

For the sick and the suffering, those in nursing homes and hospice care, those undergoing surgery, and all of the poor and afflicted, for the grace to carry their crosses with faith, hope, and love.

For the faithful departed, for the departed members of our families friends and parish, for deceased bishops, priests, and those who dedicated their lives to apostolic service, that they may share in the eternal joy of heaven…

Loving Father, through the prayers of St. Matthias, hear our petitions and guide your Church in steadfast fidelity to Christ and the apostolic mission. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May 14 2019 - St. Matthias - Apostolic Church

“I believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.” What does it mean that the Church is Apostolic?

Firstly, it means that the Church was and remains built on "the foundation of the Apostles," We are heirs to that original mission given by Jesus to the Twelve apostles—to preach, to teach, to cast out demons, to baptize, to forgive sins. We are the fruit of their faithfulness.

Secondly, that the Church is Apostolic means that the Church, with the help of the Holy Spirit dwelling within her, keeps and hands on the “deposit of faith” entrusted to the Apostles by Christ. The content of the faith is guarded and passed on by the Apostles.

Thirdly, that the Church is Apostolic means that the Church continues to be taught, sanctified, governed and guided by the apostles until Christ returns through their successors, the bishops.

That third dimension of Apostolicity is rooted in the election of St. Matthias whose feast we celebrate today. Matthias was the first to be appointed Apostle after the death and resurrection of Jesus. And as the Church continued to grow, the number of Apostles needed to shepherd the Church also grew.

The apostolic ministry continues unbroken from the apostles to every Catholic bishop throughout history.  Hence we believe, as the Catechism states, that "the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such a way that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ."

Jesus governs the Church through his faithful bishops. To be a Christian is to look to and follow the leadership of the apostles, the bishops, who are a of mark of guarantee that the Church remains faithful to the teachings of Jesus.

We live in an age that mistrusts authority, that seeks to forget the past and work for a future fashioned simply according to our own ideas. But this is not Christianity. The Christian recognizes the importance of being faithful to what has been received by God. That Christian truth doesn’t simply change according to the whims of each generation.

We pray for our Bishop and for all bishops, the successors of the Apostles, that they may be faithful in teaching, governing, and sanctifying the Church, handing on the “deposit of faith” which enables us to follow Christ without error for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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May we join the Holy Apostles in our prayer for the world and the Church.

As the Apostles witnessed to the Resurrection of the Lord, may we be his witnesses to the farthest corners of the world.

For the bishops, the successors of the apostles: That they may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.

For all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. We pray to the Lord.

For all who long to see the face of the Father, for all our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

May 14 2018 - St. Matthias - Counterbalancing evil

Matthias is mentioned only once in the entire New Testament—that short passage in the Acts of the Apostles describing the resplendent hour when he was chosen as an apostle.

More than forty days had passed since the unforgettable events of Holy Week.  The eleven were no doubt still astonished by all that took place.  The Lord had risen just as he said he would; the Resurrected Lord had appeared to them multiple times.  He had just Ascended into heaven and promised that the Holy Spirit would descend upon them.

The eleven decided that they had to replace Judas.  So Matthias became the first apostle chosen after the death of the crucified Lord.  One author said, “the dead branch of Judas had to be broken away from the living vine of Christ, that Matthias might be grafted in its place.  What Judas squandered was now entrusted to Matthias; what Judas should have accomplished was now to be completed by Matthias.”

In a reflection on these events, Pope Benedict wrote: “He was enrolled with the eleven apostles.  We know nothing else about him, if not that he had been a witness to all Jesus’ earthly events, remaining faithful to him to the end.  To the greatness of his fidelity was added the divine call to take the place of Judas, almost compensating for his betrayal” and “we draw from this a final lesson: while there is no lack of unworthy and traitorous Christians in the Church, it is up to each of us to counterbalance the evil done by them with our clear witness to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.”

To counterbalance scandal and betrayal by clear witness to Jesus.

In an age, when we have no lack of Christians who have abandoned the commandments, the clear witness of the faithful is needed.  To counterbalance their apathy and listlessness, we go forth to bear good fruit.  To counterbalance their idolatry of worldly vices, we fast, do penance, and purify our heavenly worship. To counterbalance materialism, we practice generous self-giving. Pope Francis himself said recently, that we must heed the call to offer the total commitment of our lives to Christ in order to be a “counterbalance to evil.”

Jesus chose the twelve personally.  But he also chose Matthias through the apostles.  And he has chosen us to be clear witnesses in this twenty-first century of the Church, to be a source of goodness the world so desperately needs.

Through the example and prayerful intercession of the Apostle Matthias, may we also be faithful to this divine call of ours and bear good fruit for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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May we join the Holy Apostles in our prayer for the world and the Church.
As the Apostles witnessed to the Resurrection of the Lord, may we be his witnesses to the farthest corners of the world.
For the bishops, the successors of the apostles: That they may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.
For all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. We pray to the Lord.
For all who long to see the face of the Father, for all our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

January 26 2018 - Sts. Timothy and Titus - Apostolic Succession in Scripture and Tradition

If you were a Christian in the 1st century or are a Christian in the 21st century, how can you be sure that you belong to the True Church of Jesus Christ?

The first Christians had no doubts about how to determine which was the true Church and which doctrines were the true teachings of Christ. The test was simple: can the community or the teaching be traced back to the Apostles or not?

In founding the Church, Our Lord Himself marked her with four characteristics, which reflect her essential features and mission. The four marks of the Church are listed in the Nicene Creed: the Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.

The doctrine of Apostolic Succession—the belief that the apostles handed on to others their authority to teach and govern the church in the name of Christ—is clearly biblical and also unanimously defended by the writings of the early Church Fathers.

Timothy and Titus were both appointed bishops by the apostle Paul. In their respective New Testament epistles, Paul directs Titus as bishop of Crete to go from town to town appointing presbyters, one of the tasks of bishops which continues to this day. He was also to appoint other bishops who would practice what they preached. Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus. In the first letter, Paul writes to offer personal encouragement and advice on how to administer the great responsibility of being a bishop. In the second Paul tells, Timothy to be courageous in defending his flock from false teachers who were passing on doctrines which were not supported by the apostles.

The bishop is a visible sign that we remain connected to the true Church of Christ, and he helps us to grow in fidelity and sanctity through his teaching and governance. The bishop, St. Ignatius of Antioch, writing early in the 2nd century enjoined priests and lay faithful to be in harmony with their bishop as strings to a harp.

We here in Cleveland are grateful for having been sent a new bishop, Bishop Perez, and are greatly looking forward to his leadership and teaching. We pray for him at every Mass in the Eucharistic prayer, and we do well to remember our bishop in our personal prayers, that he may be a source of Christian unity and sanctification for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That our bishops may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.We pray to the Lord.

That through the ministry of bishops, Our Lord will bring an end to division in his Church. We pray to the Lord.

That through our bishops and priests, Christ, the doctor of souls, may bring healing and mercy to sinners and to the brokenhearted. We pray to the Lord.

For all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. We pray to the Lord.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord