The Consecration of Marcus van Alphen, June 4th 2006
On the 4th of June 2006, on the festival of Whitsunday, the priest Marcus van Alphen was consecrated to the episcopacy by his father bishop Johannes van Alphen, assisted by the bishops Mario Herrera Jorges and Benito Rodriguez Cruz. This weighty ceremony took place in the inspiring chapel of the Remonstrantse Brotherhood, situated at the ‘s Gravelandseweg in Hilversum [The Netherlands]. The consecration was conferred according to the rite of the Liberal Catholic Church.
The consecrator starts the ceremony by posing a number of questions to the candidate, accentuating the majesty of the position of bishop: “remembering that the noblest title of a bishop is: Servant of the servants of God…!!”
Subsequently the celebration of the Holy Eucharist commences with the invitation: ”Let us now lay the foundation of our temple."
After the Gradual, all those operations are performed that lead to the actual consecration of the bishop. The Litany, Veni Creator, the anointing of the head and hands of the candidate, the blessing of the pectoral cross, the crosier and the ring, the presentation of the book of the Gospels, this, together, performed as one voice with power and authority by the three consecrating bishops, leads to the effectuation of the uttered words of consecration: “Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a bishop in the church of God."
The celebration of the Eucharist continues and now all the actions, prayers and hymns are concelebrated by the consecrator and the new bishop. After the Benediction, the new bishop is ‘crowned’ and ‘throned’, after which the triumphant Te Deum Laudamus echoes through the chapel.
The motto: Indagator pro lumen, (translated freely) Seeker for the Light, seems to fit the new bishop like a glove. My personal reaction: An impressive, merciful, powerful and love-filled get-together!! Amicable and liberating. Deo Gratias.
Bernard Aleven (translated from Dutch).
Bishop Marcus van Alphen -- Retirement.
On September 29, 2015 Bishop Marcus van Alphen retired from The Council of Three. He is still involved with The Young Rite as he is able and remains a Bishop within The Rite.