Which concept describes bishops maintaining the mission of the Apostles through an unbroken line?

• A. Magisterium
• B. Grace
• C. Apostolic Succession
• D. Liturgy

Answer: (C)

Apostolic succession is the belief that bishops preserve the mission entrusted to the Apostles by forming an unbroken line of ordination from the original apostles to today’s bishops. This continuity is maintained through the laying on of hands in ordination, ensuring the same authority to teach, govern, and sanctify is passed down across generations. Because the Apostles were commissioned to proclaim the gospel and shepherd the church, bishops act as their successors who safeguard that mission over time. The other terms refer to different aspects: the Magisterium is the Church’s teaching authority as a body, grace is God's gift to believers, and liturgy is the public worship and sacraments. None of these alone captures the idea of an unbroken chain of ordination that transmits the Apostles’ mission.