Aug 27 Wed
What are cathedrals, basilicas, shrines, and other places of worship?
God is everywhere, but one can deal with Him in our souls in grace, in our hearts or socially, united to others.
CHURCHES
Churches are sacred buildings dedicated to divine worship, common prayer, and the celebration of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.
The faithful have the right to enter the churches for the celebrations and their prayer.
CATHEDRAL
A cathedral is the temple where the bishop has his seat - cathedra. It is the main church of a diocese or particular church, and from it, the bishop presides at prayer, conducts worship, and teaches.
Unlike the cathedral, the "collegiate church" has a structure similar to that of the cathedral, although it is not the seat of the bishop.
BASILICA
It has its origin in the imperial buildings of the Romans (basilikos) re-used by the Church. In the canonical sense, "basilica" is an honorific title granted by formal concession or immemorial custom to certain significant churches. These basilicas enjoy specific privileges. They are divided into two classes: major (or patriarchal) and minor basilicas.
There are in Rome four "major" basilicas: St. Peter's, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls.
SHRINE
It is a church or other sacred place, duly approved by the bishop, to which numerous faithful go on pilgrimage for a particular reason of piety: they go to the shrine to venerate an image or relic, to gain indulgences, or because of the religious and historical-cultural significance of the place.
These can be national, if approved by the Episcopal Conference, or international, if recognized as such by the Holy See.
Some shrines are granted certain graces when the circumstances of the place and the good of the faithful who go on pilgrimage to them make it advisable.
ORATORIES AND PRIVATE CHAPELS
An Oratory is a small church for personal and common prayer for the benefit of a community or group of faithful. Liturgical acts can be celebrated in it if the one on whom the oratory depends gives his consent.
The term private chapel means a place which, by permission of the local Ordinary, is set aside for divine worship, for the convenience of one or more individuals.
Religious or conventual communities may have their own church.
PARISH CHURCH
A parish is a community of the faithful gathered around a priest who makes the diocesan bishop present in that place.
Its pastor is responsible for the administration of Baptism, Confirmation in case of danger of death, the administration of Viaticum and Anointing of the Sick, assistance at marriages, the celebration of funerals, the blessing of the baptismal font at Easter time, and the celebration of the Eucharist on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
CHAPEL
It is a place destined to divine worship for the benefit of one or more individuals, normally of small dimensions; it requires the pertinent episcopal authorization.
HERMITAGE (or ermita)
It is a small temple, normally of small dimensions, usually located on the outskirts of urban centers, in rural areas, that can have a sporadic religious use.