THE ORDER OF THE DEDICATION, OR CONSECRATION, OF A CHURCH.

Though the consecration of churches may be lawfully performed on any day, it is nevertheless more fitting that it take place on Sunday, or the solemn festivals of the Saints. When the church is ready for consecration, the Archdeacon should give notice to the clergy and people, for whom it is to be consecrated, of a fast which should precede the consecration. For both the consecrating Bishop and they on whose behalf a church is to be consecrated, should fast on the eve of the ceremony. In the evening before the day of consecration, the Bishop prepares the Relics3 to be inclosed in the altar of the new church, putting them into a fitting and clean case, together with three grains of incense, and a small strip of parchment bearing the following inscription:

A.D. MDCCC. . . . ., on the -th day of the month of N., I., N., Bishop of have consecrated this church

The Dedication of churches and Consecration of altars could at first be lawfully performed only on Sundays and festivals, as still recommended in the Rubric, but the answer of Innocent III. to the Bishop of Tournai allows these functions on common (in the text, "private") days. See Decretals, Book iii. Title 40, De Consecratione Ecclesia, chap. 2.

2 The Congregation of Sacred Rites has ruled that this fast on the eve of Dedication is of strict obligation for the Consecrating Bishop, and for those only at whose petition the Church is consecrated. Thus the obligation is not local, but personal. Further, unless the consecration take place on a Sunday or Day of Obligation, the community, or parish, whose church is consecrated, are not bound to hear Mass, or to abstain from work. See Gardellini, Mechlin. No. 4400, 29 July 1780. Ruling affirmed, as regards the obligation of the fast, in Camberien. 12 Sept. 1840.

3 The Second Council of Nice, Canon 7, orders that Relics be deposited in churches which have been consecrated without them.

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