Solemn Vespers In Anticipation of the Episcopal Ordination of His Excellency The Most Reverend Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv., dd as the Fourteenth Bishop of Savannah Monday, the Seventeenth of October In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven Seven O Clock in the Evening Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist Savannah, Georgia
Solemn Vespers in anticipation of the Episcopal Ordination and installation of the Most Reverend Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv., dd as the Fourteenth Bishop of Savannah The Most Reverend J. Kevin Boland, dd Bishop Emeritus and Apostolic Administrator of Savannah Presiding Monday, the Seventeenth of October In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven Seven O Clock in the Evening Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist Savannah, Georgia
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
His Excellency, the Most Reverend Wilton Daniel Gregory, sld Archbishop of Atlanta
His Excellency, the Most Reverend J. Kevin Boland, dd Bishop Emeritus of Savannah
His Excellency, the Most Reverend Luis Rafael Zarama, jcl, dd Titular Bishop of Bararus and Auxiliary to the Archbishop of Atlanta
His Excellency, the Most Reverend Raymond W. Lessard, dd Bishop Emeritus of Savannah
His Excellency, the Most Reverend Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv., dd Bishop-Elect of Savannah
Prelude Music Please stand Processional: Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today, and Forever Opening Dialogue Presider: O God, come to my assistance All: Lord, make haste to help me. Presider: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit All: As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia Hymn: O Gracious Lord, O Lord of Light Please be seated
Psalm 11 Psalmody In the Lord I have taken my refuge. How can you say to my soul: Fly like a bird to its mountain. See the wicked bracing their bow, they are fixing their arrows on the string to shoot upright men in the dark. Foundations once destroyed, what can the just do? The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord, whose throne is in heaven. His eyes look down on the world; his gaze tests mortal men. The Lord tests the just and the wicked: the lover of violence he hates. He sends fire and brimstone on the wicked; he sends a scorching wind as their lot. The Lord is just and loves justice: the upright shall see his face.
Psalm 15 Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent and dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks without fault; e who acts with justice and speaks the truth from his heart; he who does not slander with his tongue. he who does no wrong to his brother, who casts no slur on his neighbor, who holds the godless in disdain, but honors those who fear the Lord; he who keeps his pledge, come what may; who takes no interest on a loan and accepts no bribes against the innocent. Such a man will stand firm for ever.
Canticle Ephesians 1: 3-10 Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens. God chose us in him before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight. He predestined us to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ, such was his will and pleasure, that all might praise the glorious favor he has bestowed on us in his beloved. God has given us the wisdom to understand fully the mystery, the plan he was pleased to decree in Christ. A plan to be carried out in Christ, in the fulness of time, to bring all things into one in him, in the heavens and on earth.
Reading 1 Peter 4:13-14 Jack Hartmayer Rejoice, beloved, in the measure that you share Christ s sufferings. When his Glory is revealed, you will rejoice exultantly. Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God s Spirit in its Glory has come to rest on you. The word of the Lord. Response: Thanks be to God. Homily Bishop Boland Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity Bishop-Elect Hartmayer will stand before the altar and face the people to publicly profess his fidelity to the Catholic Church, all of its teachings, and his fidelity and loyalty to the Holy Father. The Oath that is taken is canonically and morally binding on the Bishop. (See pages 18 & 19) Responsory:
Gospel Canticle: Magnificat Please stand and make the sign of the cross as the first words are sung. Magníficat ánima méa Dóminum. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Et exsultávit spíritus méus in Deo salutári meo. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllae suae: For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant: ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes. from this day all generations will call me blessed: Quia fecit mihi magna qui pótens est et sanctum nomen ejus. the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. Et misericórdia ejus a progénie in progénies timéntibus eum. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. Fecit poténtiam in bráchio súo: dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. Depósuit poténtes de séde, et exaltávit húmiles. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. Esuriéntes implévit bonis et dívites dimísit inånes. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. Suscépit Ísrael púerum súum: recordátus misericórdiae suae. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy Sicut locútus est ad patres nostros: Ábraham, et sémini ejus in saecula. The promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever Glória Pátri et Fílio, et Spíritui Sáncto. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculórum. Amen. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Please remain standing Intercessions Presider: This is the hour when the King of martyrs offered his life in the upper room and laid it down on the cross. Let us thank him and say: All: We praise you, O Lord. Deacon: We praise you, O Lord, our Savior, inspiration and example for every martyr, for loving us to the end: All: We praise you, O Lord. Deacon: For calling all repentant sinners to the rewards of life: All: We praise you, O Lord. Deacon: For entrusting to your Church the blood of the new and everlasting covenant poured out for the remission of sin: All: We praise you, O Lord. Deacon: For our perseverance in your grace today: All: We praise you, O Lord. Deacon: For our brother Gregory who will be raised to the order of bishops tomorrow: All: We praise you, O Lord. Deacon: For incorporating our dead brothers and sisters into your own death today: All: We praise you, O Lord. Presider and All: Our Father Closing Prayer Blessing and Dismissal Recessional
Music The Choirs of St. Joseph Church, Macon, Georgia Nelda M. Chapman, Organist and Director of Music Kimberly Dykes, Cantor Beau Palmer, Cantor Servers Seminarians of the Diocese of Savannah
FORMULA OF THE PROFESSION OF FAITH I, Gregory John Hartmayer, having been elected Bishop of Savannah with firm faith believe and profess all the truths contained in the Symbol of faith, namely: I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. With firm faith I also believe everything contained in the word of God, whether written or handed down in tradition, and which the Church, either by a solemn judgment or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium, sets forth to be believed as divinely revealed. I also firmly accept and hold each and everything definitively proposed by the Church regarding teaching on faith and morals. Moreover, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman Pontiff or the College of Bishops enunciate when they exercise their authentic Magisterium, even if they do not intend to proclaim these teachings by a definitive act.
OATH OF FIDELITY TO BE SWORN BY BISHOPS I, Gregory John Hartmayer, having been promoted to the See of Savannah, will always be faithful to the Catholic Church and the Roman Pontiff, her Supreme Pastor, the Vicar of Christ, the Successor of the Blessed Apostle Peter in the primacy and the Head of the College of Bishops. I will respect the free exercise of the primacy of the Supreme Pontiff over the Universal Church, and will take care to promote and defend his rights and authority. I will also acknowledge and respect the prerogatives and duties of the legates of the Roman Pontiff, who act in the person of the Supreme Pastor. With the utmost diligence I will carry out the apostolic duties entrusted to Bishops, namely, to teach, sanctify and rule the People of God, in hierarchical communion with the head and members of the College of Bishops. I will watch over the unity of the Universal Church, and thus will make every effort to ensure that the deposit of faith handed down from the Apostles is preserved pure and entire, and that the truths to be held and put into practice will be passed on and clearly explained to all, as they are proposed by the Church s Magisterium. I will show paternal affection to those who err in faith and I will make every effort to guide them to the fullness of the catholic truth. Having before me the image of Christ, the supreme and eternal priest, I will conduct myself conscientiously and reverently, and thus fulfill the ministry entrusted to me, so that, having become myself an example to the flock, I will be able to confirm the faithful in the pursuit of Christian perfection. I will uphold the discipline common to the whole Church and will carefully promote the observance of all ecclesiastical laws, particularly those contained in the Code of Canon Law. I will be ever vigilant to prevent possible abuses, especially with regard to the ministry of the word and the celebration of the sacraments. I will diligently look after the administration of the Church s temporal goods, especially those destined for divine worship, for the proper sustenance of the clergy and other ministers, and for the works of the apostolate and of charity. In carrying out the mandate entrusted to me I will show particular affection to all priests and deacons, the prudent cooperators of the order of Bishops, and to men and women Religious, sharers in the one work. I will likewise take great care to promote sacred vocations, so that the spiritual needs of the whole Church will be appropriately met. I will recognize and promote the dignity of lay people and their proper role in the Church s mission. And I will be especially concerned to promote missionary works aimed at the evangelization of peoples. Unless impeded, I will personally attend or promptly respond when called to Councils and other legitimate collegial actions.