CHAPTER I
THE CHURCH AND ITS FURNITURE
IT is not necessary, in a book of ceremonies, to give a full account of rules for building and furnishing churches. Yet, to understand the ceremonies, one must have some idea of the dispositions of the building, and one must know the names of the vestments, vessels and ornaments used. We begin, then, with a summary account of these, as far as they concern the ceremonies.
Normally a Catholic church should be consecrated by a bishop, according to the form in the Pontifical. When a church is consecrated, at least one altar must be consecrated with it. The essential condition for consecration is that the building be a permanent church, both in construction and purpose ; that is, it must be solidly built and must be intended to be used always as a church. To turn a consecrated church to another use is sacrilege. It follows that consecration is not allowed till the building is free of debt and mortgage.
In England many churches are not consecrated, but simply blessed. Canon law makes no provision for temporary churches. A building to be used as a church for a time only should receive the simple "Benedictio loci," as in the case of private oratories.[1] A church may be blessed at first, then consecrated later, when it is free of debt.
It makes no difference to any later ceremony whether the church be consecrated or simply blessed.
According to the old principle churches were orientated, that is, the High Altar was at the East end[2] and the main entrance at the West. In describing ceremonies we speak of the Gospel and Epistle sides of the church and altar. The gospel SIDE is where the Gospel is read at Mass; it is the left side as you face the altar; the epistle side is the right. If the church is orientated properly, the Gospel side will be the North, the Epistle side the South.[3]
The plan of a church varies very considerably according to its size, the architect's design, and so on. There is much latitude in planning a church. A large church will probably have a number of side chapels or side altars, which may be placed anywhere, though in this case, too, the normal principle would be that each altar faces the East, so that the priest look that way when saying Mass. There may also be two or more aisles and a transept.
- ↑ S.R.C. 4025, ad VI. Cod., c. 227.
- ↑ It is a very old Christian principle that people turn to the east at prayer; so the priest saying Mass should face the east.
- ↑ In heraldic language the Gospel side is the dexter of the altar, the right of the crucifix as it faces down the church. The Epistle side is sinister.
