Apostolic succession refers to the unbroken line of authority and teaching that extends from the original Apostles to the bishops of the Church today. This succession is both historical and sacramental in nature, representing one of the foundational pillars of Catholic ecclesiology.
At its core, apostolic succession embodies the transmission of sacred power and responsibility that Christ first bestowed upon the Twelve.
When our Lord told Peter, “Upon this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18) and later commissioned the Apostles to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), He established a pattern of authority meant to endure through the ages.
This succession is physically manifested through the laying on of hands during episcopal consecration, a ritual act that can be traced back to the New Testament (Acts 6:6, 1 Timothy 4:14). Each validly consecrated bishop has received this consecration from bishops who themselves stand in this line of succession, creating an unbroken chain reaching back to apostolic times.
Beyond the physical act, apostolic succession encompasses fidelity to apostolic teaching and communion with the entire episcopal college under the headship of the Pope, the successor of Peter. The Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, beautifully articulates that bishops have “by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church” (LG 20).
This doctrine assures the faithful that the Church today continues to teach with the same authority as the early Church and administers the same sacraments that have nourished Christians throughout the centuries.
