We
have been born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God. The Lord Jesus Christ gave His Spirit to
His Apostles; they in turn laid their hands on those who should
succeed them; and these again on others; and so the sacred gift has
been handed down to our present Bishops, who have appointed us as
their assistants, and in some sense representatives.
– Blessed
John Cardinal Henry Newman from
his writings
