Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 4.djvu/328

 CONSECRATION

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CONSECRATION

cipal dogma of the Christian religion. The Greek and Latin languages represent the Jews and Gentiles re- spectively. The Greek alphabet is written first be- cause the Jews were first called to the Christian Faith. The bishop then blesses the Gregorian water, a mix- ture of water, salt, ashes, and wine, prescribed by St. Gregory I to be used at the consecration of a church (P. L., LXXVIII, 152 sqq.). After this he goes to the main door of the church and with the ])oint of the cro- sier traces a cross on the upper part and another on tlie lower part of the door inside. The ingredients of this water are to recall to our mind the legal ]jiirilications and the sacrifices of the Jewish people, the wine taking the place of the blood. The symbolism of this mix- ture is explained by authors in various manners. The cross traced on the door is to be, as it were, a guard lest the work of redemption in the church be thwarted by the malignant influences from without. The bish- op now traces, with the Gregorian water, five crosses on the altar and then sprinkles the support and table of the altar seven times, passing round it seven times, whilst the chanters sing or recite the Psalm "Mise- rere". He then sprinkles the walls in the interior of the church three times, first the lower part, then on a level with his face, and lastly, the upper part, after which he sprinkles the floor of the church in the form of a cross, passing from the altar to the door, and from the Gospel to the Epistle side in the middle of the church. Having returned to the middle of the church, he sprinkles with one swing each time the floor before him, behind him, at his left, and at his right.

The bishop, clergy, and laity then go to the place in W'hich the relics repose and in solemn procession carry them to the church. Before entering, the relics are borne round the outside of the church, whilst the clergy and people rejieat "Lord, have mercy on us", Having returned to the church door, the bishop gives a suitable exhortation to the people and aiklresses the founder of the church. Then one of the cli-ixv nads the two decrees of the Council of Trent fnun the- I'lm- tifical. The bishop next anoints with holy chrism, three times, the pillar on each side of the door, after which the clergy and the laity enter the church, and the consecration of the altar takes place. (See II above.) Finally, the twelve crosses on the interior walls are anointed with holy chrism and incensed by the bishop; the altar-cloths, vases, and ornaments of the church and altar are blessed, and solemn or low Mass is celebrated by the bishop. If he be too fa- tigued, he may appoint a priest to celebrate a high Mass in his stead. If more than one altar has been consecrated, it will suffice to celebrate Mass on the principal one (Cong. Sac. Rit., 22 February, 1888). At the end of the Mass an Indulgence of one year is published, which may be gained by all who visit the church on the day of consecration. At the same time another Indulgence which may be gained in the same manner on the anniversary of the consecration is published. If the latter Indulgence is granted by a cardinal in his titular church or in his diocese, it may be of two hundred days; if by an archbishop, of one hundred days; if by a bishop, of fifty days, in their respective dioceses. (S. C. Indulg., 28 Aug., 190:^.)

The anniversary of the consecration is kept solemn- ly as a double of the first class with an octave each recurring year, imtil the church falls into ruin or is profaned. In order to avoid the inconveniences likely to arise from its clashing with other solemnities, the bishop is empowered to appoint, in the act of conse- cration, another day for the anniversary, provided such day be not a doulile feast of the first or second class in the Univers.-il Church, a privileged Sunday, or a local fea.st of the first class (Cong. Sac. Hit., 4 Feb., 1896), or a day in .\dvent or Lent (Cong. Sac. Rit., 12 June, 16G0). Should the bishop fail to do so, or defer

making stieh arrangement, the anniversary must be kept on the recurring actual day, or recourse must be had to the Apostolic See (Gardellini, Adnot. super Deer. dat. 6 Sept., 1834).

Besides the anniversary of the consecration of indi- vidual or parish churches, the anniversary of the con- secration of the cathetlral of a diocese is celebrated as a double of the first class with an octave by the secular clergy living within the limits of the cathedral city; the secular clergy li\-ing outside the cathedral city cel- ebrate it as a double of the first class without an octave, the regular clergy living within the limits of the cathedral city celebrate it as a double of the second class without an octave ; the regular clergy outside the cathedral city are not obliged to celebrate it in any manner (Cong. Sac. Rit., 9 July, 1895). In some dio- ceses the simultaneous celebration on a fixed day of the consecration of all the churches of a diocese, irre- spective of the fact that some of the churches are not consecrated, is granted by special indult. In this case individual consecrated churches are not allowed to celebrate the anniversary of the consecration of their respective churches. This day of conmion celebration is a double of the first class for all the clergy in the dio- cese, with this distinction, that it is a primary feast for those attached to consecrated churches and a sec- ondary feast for the others (Cong. Sac. Rit., 24 March, 1900).

Loss of Consecration. — From the axiom in canon law "Consecratio adharet parietibus Ecclesire", it follows that a chtirch loses its consecration ( 1 ) when the walls of the church are totally or in greater part simultatie- oiisly demolished ; (2) when the inner walls are totally or in greater part simultuneously destroyed by fire; (3) when an addition is made to the walls of the church in length, breadth, or height, greater than the original walls.

Bona, Rerum- LUuraio

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V. Consecration of a Ch.\lice and Paten. — The ordinary minister of the consecration of the chalice and paten used at Mass is a bishop. In missionary countries some priests, by Apostolic indult, have the privilege of consecrating these sacred vessels. The | bishops of the United States have the faculty of dele- | gating priests for performing this rite by virtue of the I Facultates ExtraordinariiB, C, VI. These two altar 1 vessels must be consecrated before they can be used ! at the altar. They are always consecrated at the same '. time, because botli are inilispensable at the celebration of Mass, the paten for holding the Body of Christ and the chaHce for containing the Precious Blood. Chal- ices which were fonnrrly u.sed for the offerings of wine made by the faithful, for the ornamentation of tlie altar, and at the administration of baptism, to give to the newly baptized a symbolical beverage composed of milk and honey, were not consecrated. The same is true of the ]iatens used at present at the Conununion of the faithful to prevent consecrated Particles from falling to the floor.

Chalices and patens may be consecrated on any day of the year antl at any hour, without solemnity, al- though in many jilaces this rite takes place after M:uss and at the altar. First the paten is consecrated, prob- ably because it is to hold the Sacred Host, which is con- secrated before the Precious Blood, and because the species of bread is always mentioned before the species of wine. The function begins with an aildress to the faithful, or at least to the attendants, exhorting them to implore the blessing of ( iod on the action the conse- crator is about to perform. This is followed by a prayer that God may render th<' rite efficacious, after