CHARACTER OF A CATHOLIC BISHOP.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 190, 17 November 1876, Page 8

CHARACTER OF A CATHOLIC BISHOP.

The Right Rev. Dr. Ullathorne, Bishop of Birmingham, England, a prelate famous for learning and good works, delivered a masterly discourse on the occasion of the consecration of the Bishops of Salford and Amycla. Towards the close of the noble discourse, the Bishop defines in eloquent words the true glory, the honor and privilege appertaining to the episcopal office now-a-days. Immediately prior to this, as if affording him his key-note, Bishop Ullathorne takes occasion to remark that what was said by an eminent orator to the Revolutionary Assembly of France towards the close of the last century is everywhere exemplified in this: "Drive the bishops from their palaces, and they will find refuge in the poor man's cottage ; snatch their jewelled croziers from their hands, and they ■will grasp a staff of wood." The Bighfc Rewprelate is here clearly referring to the glorious words of M. Del Montlozier, whose utterance upon the occasion referred to' surpassed in its effect the expressions placed in his mouth by the Bishop of Birmingham, rising, in truth, to the height of sublimity. What M. De Montlozier said was really this— "Drive the bishops from their palaces, and they will find refuge in the cottages of the poor; tear from their breasts their crosses of gold and jewels, and they will replace them with crosses of wood. But remember — it wot ly a wooden cross that the world was saved !" It was immediately after that reminiscence of a sublime apostrophe thafc the Bishop closed his ruly episcopal discourse thii3 impressively — " If ever," said his Lordship, " a Catholic bishop was sti'ong, he is strong in this hour of the world's history. He is strong, because he is free. He is strong because he leads a simple and frugal life. He is strong, because he is a bishop, and nothing bnt a bishop ; strong, therefore, in the vivid consciousness of his high office. Strong he is in the affections of his people; of a people who hold the faith with the loss of advantage in this world, that makes the representative of that faith all the dearer to their soulsStrong and vigorously strong is he, because more closely than ever united with the Apostolic Chair. Such is the Catholic bishop of this nineteenth century. The arduous difficulties that beset his path but plume his courage. The heat and pressure of the combat with ignorance and error bring out his light to greater radiance. On so much has he to think, against so many things has he to guard, so much must he endure in the patience of his soul* so much has he to construct, so many affairs to set in order, that every spark and atom of his sacramental energy is brought into life and action." The Bishop of Birmingham adding immediately, that " If ever the essential qualities of the perfect bishop were required, they are demanded in our day and circumstances," thus continued — " His learning is called for to withstand and confound the intellectual follies, to detect the sophistries and fallacies of writers, who constitute themselves the guides of men both for this life and the next ; and to know how to steer the bark of the Church amidst the tempests of life. His virtue must be calm as it is firm, and solid as tender in compassion, as unflinching in justice; upholding the Cross, and bearing its reproaches with a martyr's spirit, a pattern to the flock in all the charity and patience of God. His wisdom must appreciate the circumstances of the times in a great spirit among the blended elements of the new and old conditions of human life and society, discerning and holding to that in which the will and providence of God is made manifest." Having said thus much in regard to the episcopal dignity now-a-days, the revered Prelate added : — " Such is the bishop whom the Church demands, and whom the world stands in need of in this latter part of the nineteenth century. And so let us all with one heart and voice pray to God that, through the grace of the Holy Ghost, such may be the Right Rev. Prelates who are this day consecrated to the saving of souls."