Category Archives: Rite of Dedication of a Church and an Altar

The final chapter of the RDCA (Dedication of a Church and Altar) provides for the blessing of the vessels used in the celebration and distribution of the Eucharist. First, a brief introduction: 1. The chalice and paten for offering, consecrating, … Continue reading →

If you’ve been following this rite with us, some of these considerations have already been addressed in the rites for dedicating a church (RDCA, chapter II) and the dedication of an altar (chapter IV). There is a seven-section introduction for … Continue reading →

After the altar is blessed, it is dressed with a cloth and decorated with flowers (V, 23). Candles are lit and used, “if need be, the cross.” The bishop then receives the gifts at the chair (V, 24), and the … Continue reading →

The opening prayer cites, “Lord, bless this church …” and so today’s sections 20-22 address in text the Blessing of the Altar. But also a little bit more. 20. Then the bishop goes to bless the altar. Meanwhile the following … Continue reading →

The outline for the first two parts of the Mass for blessing a church: Introductory Rites Entrance into the Church          Greeting Blessing and Sprinkling of Water Hymn: Gloria Opening Prayer The entrance is a simple one, the third form … Continue reading →

What differentiates between a church dedication and a blessing? Today’s post will cover it. Chapter V of the RDCA addresses the rite for blessing a church. The introduction is fairly brief and we’ll cover it today. The rites themselves should … Continue reading →

The rite gives two possible antiphons “(w)hile the gifts are being brought.” From the sermon on the mount: If you are bringing your gift to the altar, and there you remember that your neighbor has something against you, leave your … Continue reading →

After the dedication prayer, the altar is anointed (49). Two possible psalms accompany this action (50-51): the 45th outside of the Easter season (updated to verses 1-8 in the 2003 draft), and the 118th (with verses 1, 16-18, 21-27), for … Continue reading →

The rest of the rite for the dedication of an altar consists of the Liturgy of the Word (40-42) followed by the extended rituals of dedication and anointings. I won’t belabor the particulars until we get to the dedication prayer, which … Continue reading →

This will be a relatively brief post compared to the ground we covered for the church dedication. For an altar’s rite, there is an entrance procession (31) largely as at a usual Mass, or exactly as in the dedication of … Continue reading →

Part VI wraps up the introduction to the dedication of an altar. Start with a list: 27. For the celebration of the rite the following should be prepared: The Roman Missal; The Lectionary; The Roman Pontifical; the cross and the … Continue reading →

Part five of chapter IV is brief, just this one numbered section, but I think it gives us a good springboard for discussing within the parish how to prepare people for the celebration: 26. The people are to be informed in … Continue reading →

As is true of all rites, adaptations are possible at the judgment of the conference of bishops, and others at the judgment of the minister. The fourth section of this chapter details proper adaptations: Adaptations within the Competence of the … Continue reading →

A “closest harmony” concludes the Mass, according to saintly tradition: 23. After the altar has been prepared, the bishop celebrates the eucharist, the principal and the most ancient part of the whole rite,(See Pope Vigilius, Epistula ad Profuturum Episcopum 4: … Continue reading →