--- [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Esteemed List,
> For years I have been coming across references to both church
> dedications and church consecrations without thinking much about
> them. The two terms, indeed, appear in many instances to be used
> almost interchangeably. Does anyone know just how the two
> expressions are related to one another. One possibility, I guess,
> would be that the dedication was the same as the original
> consecration, as opposed to subsequent consecrations, after murders
> in the cathedral, etc. And did building activity in churches
> necessitate re-consecration?
> Thanks in advance for any replies.
> Jim Bugslag>
I recently attended the consecration of a church, a very solemn and
impressive ceremony. Crosses are placed in or on the wall, the
building is sprinkled with holy water and anointed with holy oil, and
many other ceremonies are performed.
This is not done until the future of the church is secure, i.e. the
building has been paid for and any mortgage paid off. It is a serious
matter if a consecrated building should revert to profane use. When a
church is first built, in order that worship may take place there at
all, it is dedicated. This is a less solemn ceremony and it is no big
deal if a dedicated building should later be put to other use.
So, for example, if it was desired to use a priest's garage for worship
until a proper church could be built, it would be dedicated, but
certainly not consecrated. When the church itself was built, it would
be dedicated in the first instance (and the priest could have his
garage back). When its debts were paid off and its future was secure,
the church itself would be consecrated.
If a consecrated building suffered abuse so bad as to be considered
desecrated, it might I suppose be re-consecrated. I will see if
anything is said on the subject in canon law.
Bill.
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