Consecration of a new Church

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twiztedseraph

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Anyone know the form for a consecration of a new Church?
 
I was the head altar boy when we consecrated our new church back in 1967 so things have most probably changed. The archbishop came and blessed and censed the exterior of the church and then proceeded up to the altar where he installed the relic into the altar, annointed the altar, censed the altar and then said Mass. Since it was 1967 and just after VII there was Latin and English used.
 
I would try to find myself a text of the Ritual (probably by googling). I’m guessing it should be in there.
 
there is a specific rite in the Sacramentary for consecrating a new Church, the Bishop presides (and it cannot be done without his permission in any case), there is also a rite for the anniversary of the dedication of a Church. There is also a rite for re-consecrating a Church which has been desecrated by sacrilege.
 
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twiztedseraph:
Anyone know the form for a consecration of a new Church?
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Seraph,

Note that there is (or at least used to be) a difference between the consecration and the dedication (or simple blessing) of a church; not all churches were consecrated - although all cathedrals are and it was commonly the practice that parish churches would be.

You can read the ancient rite at Feast of the Consecration of the Basilica of Our Saviour (St. John Lateran).

There are few things more haunting than the chant in Latin of the opening lines of the Introit for a Mass of Consecration of a Church:

Terribilis est Locus iste, hic Domus Dei est, et porta coeli: et vocabitur aula Dei. (tr. Terrible is this Place, for it is the House of God and the Gate of Heaven, and it shall be called the Court of God).

As to its haunting quality, to my ear, it ranks with the Catholic funeral chant of the Dies Irae (Day of Wrath), the Kaddish Yatom (Orphan’s or Mourner’s Sanctification) of the Jews, and the Prayer to the Holy Table of the Syriac and Maronite priests at the conclusion of the Holy Qurbono.

Joe
 
Joe Monahan:
Seraph,

Note that there is (or at least used to be) a difference between the consecration and the dedication (or simple blessing) of a church; not all churches were consecrated - although all cathedrals are and it was commonly the practice that parish churches would be.

You can read the ancient rite at Feast of the Consecration of the Basilica of Our Saviour (St. John Lateran).

There are few things more haunting than the chant in Latin of the opening lines of the Introit for a Mass of Consecration of a Church:

Terribilis est Locus iste, hic Domus Dei est, et porta coeli: et vocabitur aula Dei. (tr. Terrible is this Place, for it is the House of God and the Gate of Heaven, and it shall be called the Court of God).

As to its haunting quality, to my ear, it ranks with the Catholic funeral chant of the Dies Irae (Day of Wrath), the Kaddish Yatom (Orphan’s or Mourner’s Sanctification) of the Jews, and the Prayer to the Holy Table of the Syriac and Maronite priests at the conclusion of the Holy Qurbono.

Joe
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Nice to see you outside the Eastern Christianity forum Joe, please pray for me and my compatriots, we have exams tommorow.
 
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