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 CATHEDRAL

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CATHEDRAL

First, the episcopal residence may be moved from one city to another within the same diocese, in which event the cathedral also would have to be changed; such a transfer would require the intervention of the Holy See, since it created the diocese and assigned the bishop to his first residence. Second, the cathedral may be transferred from one church to another within the" same city, either to a church already in use or one built specially for the purpose. As the mere act of re- building does not necessitate a removal to another city and hence a change of episcopal title, this second kind of transfer requires no papal authorization. The consent of the bishop and the clergy of the cathedral would therefore regularly suffice, presupposing, of course, reasonable motives, e. g. inadequate size of the church, unhealthy or inconvenient location, etc. (Pallottini, Collect, resolut. S. Cong. Cone, s. v. Ec- clesia cathedralis, § II, n. 1 sq.). In both of the above methods it is necessary to transfer with the cathedral all that is characteristic of it or essential to it as svich: first the name and the pre-eminence of cathedral, then the chapter and clergy, and finally the title in all movables and real estate, except what be- longs to the former cathedral in its capacity of parish church. The suppression of a cathedral follows that of a diocese; — just as its establishment follows the creation of a diocese — but does not do away with the church itself as a place of worship.

Ecclesiastical law, based on the constitution of the Church, provides that there shall be but one bishop of each diocese. The bishop, of course, is at home in all the churches of his diocese, and in any or all of them he is at liberty to erect a temporary throne or seat {cathedra) symbolic of his episcopal jurisdiction, but there is only one cathedral. This unity of residence is implied by the unit}- of headship and direction, and canonists add that the unity of the mystical marriage of the bishop with his church signifies the unity of his spiritual spouse. To this rule of residence there are two so-called exceptions. The first deals with two or even three dioceses united ceque principal iter, i. e. without forfeiting their existence or rights as dioceses, and yet having but one bishop. Such cases are not uncommon in Italy, e. g. the three united Dioceses of Terracina. Sezze, and Piperno. This combining of dioceses was authorized by the Council of Trent (Sess. XXIV, c. xiii.de ref.) to meet the insufficiency of re- sources in certain cases. But while in this case the same bishop has several cathedrals, yet there is but one in each diocese. The following passage relative t:> :i seminary in the Diocese of Piperno clearly estab- lishes the legitimate existence of these cathedrals of united dioceses I l'rivernen., Aperitionis semmarii, 10 March, 1771. in Pallottini, loc. cit., n. 17, 18): "The union on an equal level of dignity does not affect the internal status of the particular dioceses so united; each continues to hold its rights, privileges, etc., as before. The union is really only a personal one, inas- much as henceforth one bishop is charged with the government of all the sees thus united." The second apparent exception is in regard to ancient churches which, for one reason or another, have ceased to be cathedrals, yet preserve their ancient title, retain a certain degree of pre-eminence, and occasionally en- joy some honorary privileges. One of the oldest ex- amples is thai of the ancient cathedral on Mount Sinn at Jerusalem, which ceased to be a cathedral when the bishop's Bee was transferred to the great Constantin- ian church erected on Calvary (Duchesne, Christian Worship, tr. London, 1903, 491-92). Sometime an episcopal see was transferred to another city of the

diocese without losing its first title: thus the Sec of Perpignan still preserves the ancient title of the city of Fine. Several of the ancient French episcopal title-, suppressed by the Concordat of 1801 and never re-established, have been revived in memory of the past and added to the titles of existing sees; thus the

Archdiocese of Aix carries with it the titles of the suppressed Archdioceses of Aries and Embrun. But such honorary survivals of ancient cathedrals in no wise conflict with the unity of the real cathedral.

Formerly a solemn consecration or dedication was requisite to set apart churches for purposes of wor- ship. But for many centuries it has sufficed, at least for churches of minor importance, t hat they be blessed according to the form prescribed in the Ritual. The obligation, however, of consecrating cathedrals has always been maintained in the liturgical books of the Roman Church, and was formally renewed for the ec- clesiastical province of Rome by the Roman provin- cial council of 1725 under Benedict XIII (tit. XXV, c. i). Moreover, the Congregation of Sacred Rites ac- knowledged this as a general law when (7 August, 1875) it replied as follows to the Bishop of Cuneo in Piedmont: "Incumbere debent episcopi ut ecclesiae saltern cathedrales et parochiales solemniter conse- crentur" (Cuneen., ad I ; n. 3364) — i. e. the bishops should see to it that at least the cathedral and the parish churches (strictly so-called) be consecrated. This is all the more imperative for the cathedral be- cause the anniversary of its dedication must be cele- brated by all the clergy of the diocese. Canon law does not specify the form and dimensions of the cathe- dral; nevertheless, it supposes the edifice sufficiently spacious to accommodate a large assemblage of the faithful on the occasion of elaborate pontifical cere- monies. If possible, the sanctuary, choir, and nave should be of suitable proportions, and besides the al- tar and general equipment necessary in ot her churches, the cathedral should have a permanent episcopal seat. The word cathedra, so expressive in the language of antiquity, has gradually been replaced, even in litur- gical usage, by throne (thronus) or seat (series). Accord- ing to the " Cseremoniale Episcoporum " (I.e. xiii) the throne should be a fixture and placed either at the ex- treme end of the apse — when, as in the ancient basil- icas, the altar is in the middle of the church and the celebrant faces the people- or else to the front of the altar on the Gospel side, when the altar is placed, as is usual, against the rear wall, and the celebrant turns his back to the people. In either case the throne should have an approach of three steps and be surmounted by a canopy as a sign of honour. When the bishop pon- tificates, the steps of the throne should be carpeted and both the throne proper and the canopy decorated with costly materials. The thronos of t he I ireek bishop is the same, except that its very high back is sur- mounted by an icon, or sacred image. The cathedral should also have its baptismal fonts (q. v.) or, if it be desirable to conform to the ancient custom, a separate baptistery (q. v.). Finally, not only should it have an ample supply of the sacerdotal vestments and sacred vessels required in all churches, but also of the vestments and pontifical insignia used by the bishop in solemn ceremonies.

As personnel or st aff. eeclcsiast ical law requires that the cathedral should have a chapter (q. v.), taking the place of the ancient presbyterium and constituting, as it were, the senate of the church and the bishop's coun- cil. The chief obligation of the chapter is daily to celebrate the Divine I Iffice and Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the name of t he entire ( !hristian community. Its member.", dignitaries, and canons escort and assist the bishop when he pontificates; even when he merely presides at the services they form an entourage of honour for him. In the United States there arc no chapters, properly so called, these being to a certain extent replaced by "consultors" '111 Cone. Bait., ■passim). The solemnity ol the ceremonies also calls for a greater or lesser number of ecclesiastics of lower rank; there exists, however, no definite legislation on this head. It is sometimes asked whether the cathe- dral can be a parish church. As the bishop is un- questionably the first pastor of the diocese he might,