Jesus’ age?/Apostolic succession

Q I understand that in 1983 Pope John Paul II proclaimed that the year  marked 1,950 years since Jesus died.  That would indicate that Jesus died in the year 33 A.D. Is the year 33 correct?

A In the book “What Christ Suffered: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Passion,” the author Dr. Thomas W. McGovern “proves” that the year 33 is almost certain.

First:  Based on the Gospels, we know that Caiaphas was the high priest when Jesus was crucified.  Caiaphas was high priest during the years 18 to 36.

Second: Based on Roman sources, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea from 26 to 36.

Third:  The Gospel of St. Luke (Lk 3:1-3) tells us that in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, St. John the Baptist began his ministry.  The 15th year was 29.  Therefore, Jesus died between the years 29 and 36.

Fourth:  All four Gospels tell us that Jesus died on a Friday.

Fifth:  St. John’s Gospel (Jn 18:28) tells us that Jesus died on the feast day of Passover.  Based on the Jewish calendar, Passover occurred on a Friday only two times during those years, 30 and 33.

Sixth: The Gospel of St. John indicates that during his ministry, Jesus celebrated three different Passovers.  Since Jesus’ baptism by St. John the Baptist could not have happened before 29 A.D., there would be no way that Jesus could have celebrated three Passovers by the year 30, so the year 33 is almost certainly the year that Jesus died.  From the Jewish calendar, Passover occurred on April 3 of that year.

Finally, based on the three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) we know that Jesus died at about the “ninth hour” after sunrise.  Sunrise on April 3 would be about 6 a.m., so Jesus died nine hours later, about 3 p.m.

So, using the Gospels and information from Roman and Jewish history, as well as McGovern’s analysis, it appears that Jesus died at 3 p.m. on April 3 of the year 33.

Q  I have heard the term “apostolic succession.”  What does that mean?

A Basically, the term apostolic succession refers to the fact that each bishop can trace their spiritual lineage (rather than their biological lineage) all the way back to the apostles.  In other words, each bishop is ordained by another bishop, who was ordained by another bishop; this succession goes all the way back to the apostles.

Currently, three bishops ordain a new bishop – one Principal Consecrator (the primary bishop who ordains a bishop) and two Principal Co-Consecrators.

As an example, let’s discuss Bishop Michael G. Duca’s lineage.  On May 19, 2008, Father  Duca was ordained a bishop by the Principal Consecrator, Archbishop Alfred Clifton Hughes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.  Principal Co-Consecrators were Archbishop Michael Jarboe Sheehan of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Bishop Kevin Joseph Farrell of Dallas Texas.

Archbishop Hughes had been ordained a bishop in 1981 by the Principal Consecrator, Cardinal Humberto Sousa Medeiros and two Principal Co-Consecrators, Bishop Thomas Vose Daily and Bishop John Michael D’Arcy.  The lineage of each of the consecrators goes all the way back to the apostles.

Apostolic succession also ensures that the teachings of Jesus will be passed on to future generations without error.  St. Paul says in his second letter to St. Timothy, “… what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well” (2 Tm 2:2).  This passage reflects three generations of apostolic succession:  St. Paul’s, St. Timothy’s and those who St. Timothy ordained.

Deacon Hooper is a deacon assistant at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs. He can be reached at [email protected].