At present, the local media has been publishing diverse comments regarding the Church leadership under Mgr Paul Cremona. In one of the articles, it was written that the leadership of the Maltese Church is in crisis. Others reacted to this statement by saying that our Archbishop is authentic, humble and a good pastor. The problem is not him but certain ‘self-grooming’ people wearing black. Besides the ideas that are being advanced, it is highly opportune to have a look at what Saint Ignatius of Antioch, himself a bishop, had to say about the matter.

Saint Ignatius also known as the “Doctor of Unity”, since he staunchly defended the unity of the Christian people within the Church hierarchy, rightly pointed out that the latter essentially consists in the three degrees of Holy Order: Bishop, Priest, Deacon.

In his Letter to the Smyrnaeans, Saint Ignatius wrote:

“See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as ye would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. […] Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. […] Whatsoever [the bishop] shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid.”

In the following chapter of the same letter Saint Ignatius clearly states that all the remainder ranks of Church hierarchy should submit to the bishop’s authority. “Let all things therefore be done by you with good order in Christ. Let the laity be subject to the deacons; the deacons to the presbyters; the presbyters to the bishop; the bishop to Christ, even as He is to the Father.”

The holy bishop of Antioch also noted that obedience to the bishop in the Christian community means sharing his vision for the Church. When writing to the Magnesians, Ignatius said: “It is becoming, therefore, that ye also should be obedient to your bishop, and contradict him in nothing; for it is a fearful thing to contradict any such person. For no one does [by such conduct] deceive him that is visible, but does [in reality] seek to mock Him that is invisible, who, however, cannot be mocked by any one. And every such act has respect not to man, but to God” (Letter to the Magnesians chapter 3).

Moreover, Saint Ignatius said that being in communion with one’s bishop entails involving him, directly or indirectly, in what one is doing in the Church. Otherwise one risks violating the basic Church principle of unity. In the subsequent chapter, the early Church prelate says: “Some indeed give one the title of bishop, but do all things without him. Now such persons seem to me to be not possessed of a good conscience, seeing they are not steadfastly gathered together according to the commandment.”

Wholehearted obedience to the bishop harmonizes the various aspects of Church hierarchy as his fourth chapter of his Letter to the Ephesians metaphorically asserts.

“Wherefore it is fitting that ye also should run together in accordance with the will of the bishop who by God's appointment rules over you. Which thing ye indeed of yourselves do, being instructed by the Spirit. For your justly-renowned presbytery, being worthy of God, is fitted as exactly to the bishop as the strings are to the harp.

“Thus, being joined together in concord and harmonious love, of which Jesus Christ is the Captain and Guardian, do ye, man by man, become but one choir; so that, agreeing together in concord, and obtaining a perfect unity with God, ye may indeed be one in harmonious feeling with God the Father, and His beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Let us all, priests, consecrated people and laity, pray for and obey our beloved Archbishop Paul Cremona. It was Jesus Christ who called him to serve us to the best of his abilities. Instead of simply publicly criticizing our Archbishop, let us all be co-responsible with him in building Christ’s Church by edifying deeds and words that strengthen our ecclesial communion.

 

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

Paola