The Ordination Mass for a bishop is rich in symbolism and meaning, but we can miss these beautiful moments of the liturgical celebration if we aren’t fully aware of all that is happening. Although already ordained priests, the bishops-elect will celebrate a third and final degree of the sacrament of Holy Orders (1st-Diaconate, 2nd-Priesthood, and 3rd-Episcopacy). This third and final ordination will bring them into the fullness of the priesthood.
The role of a co-consecrator is exactly what the name implies; they are bishops who stand alongside the main ordaining bishop, which in this case will be our own Archbishop Gomez, and jointly confer the sacrament of Holy Orders upon the bishop-elects.
You might wonder why auxiliary bishops have titular churches. These are ancient but now-inactive churches from around the world, serving as a connection between the bishop and the universal Church.
In Church heraldry, a bishop’s personal episcopal motto is a short phrase unique to each bishop that encapsulates his personal faith, and is an integral part of his Coat of Arms.
Each bishop has a personal coat of arms designed for them by a professional heraldic designer. Each one is different, but they all have a few key elements in common. Each bishop has a personal coat of arms designed for them by a professional heraldic designer. Each one is different, but they all have a few key elements in common.