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Third
Part
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Consecration
of the Church
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Not only
the Altar, but the whole church is consecrated to be a sacred
place. In the Book of the Apocalypse, St. John describes
his vision of the Wall of the Great City , the Holy Jerusalem
: "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and
in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb".
The
Pontiff shall anoint the twelve crosses upon the church
walls with chrismal oil in the Name of the Lamb and of Our
Lady of the Immaculate Conception and of Her Immaculate
Heart
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The
consecration of the church consists of the Chrismal Unction
in the form of twelve crosses on the walls of the church,
and in the anointing of the two door-posts of the principal
entrance. |
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During
the unction of the walls the 147th Psalm is sung. |
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After the sixth unction the chant
is interrupted to let the Pontiff be heard as he pronounces
the consecration of the door: "O gate, be thou blessed,
hallowed, consecrated, signed with the cross and made over
to the Lord God: be thou, O gate, an entrance of salvation
and peace; be thou, O gate, the peaceable door, through Him
Who called Himself the door (Jn 10:9), even Jesus Christ our
Lord. " Then he resumes the anointing of the walls.
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The Pontiff then concludes
the rite by the prayer, "O God, Who in all places of thy dominion
art present, hallowing them in grace and mercy, hear us, we
beseech Thee, and grant that the consecration of this place
may remain inviolate, and that the entire body of Thy suppliant
faithful may deserve to receive the favors of Thy bounty.
Through Christ..."
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Consecration
of the Altar |
Unctions
The consecration
of the altar commences with the Chrismal Unction
in the form
of five crosses on the altar (prayer "Signetur"), while the
44th Psalm, "Eructavit,"
is sung with the antiphon "Unxit te Deus."
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Offering
of Incense |
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Renewing the movement
of the Angel of the Apocalypse, the Pontiff will incense
the Altar: "And another angel came and stood at the altar,
having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much
incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all
saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
(Apoc 8:3)" |
After the rite of Unction comes that of the Incensation
which is enacted in two periods. |
Firstly,
the incensation of the altar similar to the incensation
during Mass, followed by the prayer "Dirigatur." |
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Finally, the burning
('combustion') of the incense on the five crosses themselves,
which are the memorial of the Glorious Wounds that Our
Lord kept in His Risen Body, while the prayer "Veni Sancte
Spiritus" is sung.
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The Consecration is
achieved by the invitation of the Pontiff to join him in
reciting the prayer, "Deus omnipotens in cuius honore":
"Almighty God, in
whose honor, and that of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary we
do consecrate this altar, graciously and mercifully give
ear to our humble prayers. that at all times, Thou mayest
be moved to relieve the anxieties of Thy people who shall
call upon Thee in this place, to hear their prayers, to
accept their vows, to strengthen their good purposes, to
grant whatsoever they ask," and the preface
"Et ut propensori." |
Vestition,
or Clothing of the Altar
While the Pontiff returns to the Sacristy
to prepare for Mass, the altar is vested. The Vestition is accompanied
by the singing of the 95 th Psalm, "Cantate," with the antiphon,
"Confirma hoc," taken from the 67 th Psalm.
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Dedication
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