Malecha 4 Questions - c/o Fr. RLM Flashcards
Basilicas: Description (3)
Churches which for their singular dignity and importance
for the pastoral and liturgical life of an area
enjoy special prerogatives.
Basilicas: How do they get designation, historically? (2)
They have either had this for time immemorial
or were given it by the Holy See.
Basilicas: Major (7) and Patriarchal (5)
There are 7 major Basilicas [patriarchal basilicas]. In Rome there are 5: St. John Lateran, Mary Major, St. Peters, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, and St Laurence Outside the Walls. The other two are in Assisi: St. Francis and Santa Maria Degli Angeli. All other Basilicas are known as minor basilicas.
Basilicas: Who confers title?
The title Basilica is conferred by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Basilicas: Conditions for being named (4):
Short form: dedication, liturgical/pastoral center, noteworthy, priests
- The Church must have been dedicated to God with a liturgical rite.
- It needs to be a center of liturgical and pastoral life in the diocese
- The Church must be well known in the diocese whether for having the relics of a saint or some famous image or architecture that draws the faithful to visit
- There needs to be a sufficient number of priests there dedicated to liturgical and pastoral needs.
Basilicas: Documents to be presented for consideration (5):
Short form: petition, nihil obstat, history, photos, questionnaire
- Petition of the Ordinary of the place
- The consent [nihil-obstat] of the National Episcopal Conference
- The history of the church
- Photographs of the inside and outside of the church
- The completed questionnaire from the Congregation which includes detailed questions about the building, its history, its liturgical life, and its pastoral works
Basilicas: Duties of a Basilica (4):
Short form: lit. formation, lit. celebration, lit. participation, Roman feasts (3)
- Promote liturgical formation of the faithful
- Liturgical celebrations must be beautiful and dignified
- Must promote the active participation of the faithful in the liturgy
- In order to underline the unity with St Peters in Rome, it must celebrate every year the Feast of St Peter, the Feast of Peter and Paul, and the anniversary of the Election of the Pope
Basilicas: Rights of a basilica (3):
Short form: feast day, seals, Mozzetta
- A feast on the day of being named a minor basilica, as well as on the day of the dedication of the Basilica, the name day of the Basilica, the Solemnity fo St Peter and Paul etc… at all of which the faithful attending can receive a plenary indulgence
- In the Seal can be used the keys indicating its papal status and the umbrella signifying its status as a basilica.
- The rector is able to use a black mozzetta with red piping
Reduction: Which canon governs?
1222
Reduction: Two conditions of 1222:
The first regards when a church is beyond repair, and the second regards other grave reasons. If a church cannot be used in any way and there is no possibility of repair, the diocesan bishop can relegate it to profane but not sordid use. For other grave reasons, the diocesan bishop can relegate it to profane but not sordid use only after meeting three conditions: (1) he must hear the presbyteral council [required for validity per can 127] (2) he must gain the consent of those who legitimately claim rights over that church (3) the good of souls must suffer no detriment
Reduction: Talk about “beyond repair” and numbers of grave causes
In the first case of a church beyond repair, it refers to the relative impossibility of restoring the church to worship, not an absolute impossibility. In the second case, it requires a grave cause. Usually, a single cause is not sufficient in itself. So, for example, a lack of money is in itself not a grave cause. Suppression of a parish by itself does not justify the reduction of a church to profane use. A grave cause often comes at the confluence of many reasons.
Reduction: Who gives consent?
When speaking of the need of the consent of those with rights does not mean that every parishioner or every major donor must give consent. These individuals are not considered to have individual rights over the church.
Reduction: Do altars lose dedication? Explain.
Another thing to be aware of is that per canon 1238 p. 2, when a church is reduced to profane use, the altar does not lose its dedication. The altar must be removed or destroyed.
Reduction: What is profane but not sordid?
Short form: two issues: morality and christianity
What does it mean to say profane but not sordid use? It means that the church can not be allowed to be used for anything contrary to morality. It also cannot be used for anything contrary to Christianity. Therefore, jurisprudence has shown that it can not be allowed to be used as a Mormon or Islamic worship space.
Dedication: History
Periods: ancient, hebrews, pre-313, after 313, after WWII
Dedicating things is an ancient concept, known both to the pagan and Jewish world. In the OT, for example, we see the rededication and blessing of the Temple which is still celebrated annually as the feast of Hanukkah (1 Mac 4:36-59).
In the early days of Christianity, there were no official churches. Eventually, when Christianity was legalized, they began building churches and celebrating the dedication of these churches every year. After this, specific rites were developed for dedicating churches. These rites developed over time, eventually solidifying in the rite found in the Tridentine form. After the destruction of WWII, as new churches were being built throughout Europe, bishops asked for a more abbreviated rite which eventually emerged after Vatican II.
