Installation of the New Archbishop of Manila

Celebrates the installation of the new Archbishop of Manila, His Excellency Most Rev. Luis Antonio G. Tagle, DD. Let us pray for his fruitful ministry and service that the Lord may console and confirm him as he takes up this important and demanding responsibility in our local Church.

INSTALLATION RITES OF THE NEW ARCHBISHOP (reposted from www.rcam.org)

RECEPTION OF THE ARCHBISHOP IN THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH

Archbishop Tagle in choral vesture enters the main door of the Cathedral. At the door, Bishops Bernardino Cortez and Broderick Pabillo, the Auxiliary Bishops of Manila receive formally the new Archbishop.
The rector of the cathedral, Rev. Msgr. Nestor C. Cerbo, presents a crucifix to be kissed by Archbishop Tagle. A deacon hands in a sprinkler of holy water to Archbishop Tagle, who then blesses himself and those present. All the people in the assembly stand. Archbishop Tagle kneels for a moment in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. A fitting hymn is sung. After which he goes to the vesting area to prepare for Mass. All sit.

SOLEMN PROCESSION

While the Entrance Hymn is sung, the procession through the church takes place. The servers lead the procession followed by the deacon carrying the Book of the Gospels, the concelebrating bishops and Archbishop Tagle. Cardinal Rosales, wearing a cope, is the last in the order of procession. The other Cardinals present take their place at the sanctuary before the procession begins.

ENTRANCE HYMN GREETING

The Cardinal, Archbishop Tagle and the Concelebrating Bishops give reverence to the altar and proceed to their respective places. The altar and the cross are incensed. At the cathedra, the Cardinal greets the people, introduces the celebration, and bids the Apostolic Letter to be shown and read.

THE RITE OF CANONICAL INSTALLATION
Cardinal Rosales:
Let the Apostolic Letter from the Holy See be read.

READING OF THE APOSTOLIC LETTER

The Chancellor, Fr. Rufino C. Sescon, Jr., shows the Apostolic Letter to the college of consultors and to all those present. At the ambo, Fr. Sescon reads in English the Apostolic Letter to which all listen.After the Chancellor has read the Apostolic Letter the Acclamation is sung as a joyous response.

Thanks to the Lord Almighty God
All the angels sing halleluiah
Halleluiah, Halleluiah!

SEATING OF THE NEW ARCHBISHOP

Cardinal Rosales invites Archbishop Tagle to sit on the cathedra. The Archbishop sits on the cathedra.

GREETING AND HOMAGE

The Clergy of the Archdiocese of Manila and designated representatives of the religious and the various sectors in the Archdiocese give homage and offer a sign of obedience and reverence to the new Archbishop. During the greeting and homage, appropriate hymns are sung. After the homage and greeting, Archbishop Tagle puts aside the miter and rises for the Opening Prayer.



THE COAT-OF-ARMS OF HIS EXCELLENCY MOST REV. LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE, DD, ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA

The coat of arms of His Excellency Most Reverend Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, has two sides. The left side represents the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Manila. The right side represents the personal coat of arms of the Archbishop.

On the upper left (red) side, the tower of Castille portrays the Almighty God, He who is called in Psalm 60, “My shelter, a strong tower against the enemy.” The three windows in the figure of the tower signify the Three Divine Persons. To its right is a Crescent, the symbol of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the Archdiocese of Manila.


On the lower left (blue) side, a sea lion engarde holding a pilgrim’s cross on its right represents the origin of Christianity through the evangelization of the Philippines by the Spaniards and the Philippines’ role in Christianizing the Orient. Manila played a key role in the development of faith for the whole of the Philippine archipelago. The sea lion itself is the symbol of the Philippines.

On the right, which represents the coat of arms of the Archbishop, there are three levels.

The top level contains the image of the Good Shepherd. It tells of the centrality of Jesus in the Episcopal ministry of the Archbishop. He who directs the catch of fish is also the Shepherd who goes before his sheep (Jn 10:4) and lays down his life for them (Jn 10:15). The figure also calls to mind the diocesan seminary of Imus, Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol, that the Archbishop served cumulatively for twenty-two years as rector.


In the top level, there is also an open Bible. The living Word is the ultimate rule of life and service of the Archbishop. He pays tribute to all those who taught him to love the Word of God, especially his family, teachers, students, and the poor. It also stands for his ministry as a theology teacher, a servant of the Word. But more than just being a teacher of the Word, the Archbishop hopes to live by Jesus, the Incarnate Word, so that through his person and service, many may come to know, love and serve the Living Lord.

On the middle and the bottom levels are symbols of two persons who, upon discerning the will of God, made Jesus the center of their lives. The middle level depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom the Archbishop is devoted under her title of Our Lady of the Pillar, patroness of the Cathedral Parish and Diocese of Imus. The bottom level refers to St. Joseph, the just man and worker, to whom the town of Imus and the Archbishop is devoted. He is the patron San Jose Seminary where he underwent priestly formation.

The motto of the Archbishop is taken from John 21:7, “It is the Lord” (Dominus Est!). Following Peter’s initiative, the disciples went fishing but that night caught nothing. When the risen Lord, unrecognized by them, directed their fishing, they had a bountiful catch. Thereupon the beloved disciple said, “It is the Lord!” The motto conveys the Archbishop’s conviction that the Lord must direct his mission. So he entrusts the care of the Archdiocese to Him. The Archbishop’s modest role is to discern His voice, to follow his bidding, and to end every fruitful endeavour in a loving prayer and of recognition and adoration of the Lord.