Understanding the Role of Bishops

Why does the Church need bishops? Dr. Michael Sirilla joins Mike Gormley and Dave Van Vickle to explore the role of bishops in the Church, referencing St. Thomas Aquinas' insights. They discuss the spiritual fatherhood, pastoral duties, and theological understanding of bishops. They also unpack the processes of selecting bishops and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the Church.

Snippet from the Show

"Bishops are more than administrators; they are spiritual fathers."

Quotes

"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." - St. Ignatius of Antioch

"I would not say so in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the Pope. I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were. The Holy Spirit leaves us much space, much freedom. Without entirely abandoning us. Thus, the spirit's role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined." - Pope Benedict XVI (then Cardinal Ratzinger)

"This charge I commit to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophetic utterances which pointed to you, that inspired by them you may wage the good warfare.." (1 Timothy 1:18)

"Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you." ( 1 Timothy 4:14)

"In the early church, where elections were conducted purely and for God's sake.  No one was selected for the Episcopal, except by divine choice as Ambrose and Nicholas were chosen. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

"The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. 2 Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, 3 no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; 5 for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil;[a] 7 moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (1 Timothy 3: 1-7)