Common 0f the Dedication of a Church: Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

 

Novus Ordo:

Extra ipsam ecclesiam dedicatam:

  Deus, qui de vivis et eléctis lapídibus ætérnum habitáculum tuæ prǽparas maiestáti, multíplica in Ecclésia tua spíritum grátiæ, quem dedísti, ut fidélis tibi pópulus in cæléstis ædificatiónem Ierúsalem semper accréscat. Per Dóminum.

O God, who from living and select stones has prepared an eternal dwelling place for your majesty, increase in your Church  the spirit of grace, which you have given, that the people being faithful to you will ever grow in the building of the heavenly Jerusalem.

  Vel

Deus, qui pópulum tuum Ecclésiam vocáre dignátus es, da, ut plebs in nómine tuo congregáta te tímeat, te díligat, te sequátur et ad cæléstia promíssa, te ducénte, pervéniat.

O God, who vouchsafed to call your people the Church, grant that the people gathered in your namemay fear you, love you, follow you, and be lead by you to the promise of heaven. 

Extraordinary Form

Deus, qui nobis per síngulos annos huius sancti templi tui consecratiónis réparas diem, et sacris semper mystériis repræséntas incólumes: exáudi preces pópuli tui, et præsta; ut quisquis hoc templum benefícia petitúrus ingréditur, cuncta se impetrásse lætétur.

O God, who dost every year bring round unto us again the day whereon this thine holy temple was hallowed, and bringest us again in soundness of body and mind to be present at thine holy worship, graciously hear the supplications of thy people, and grant that whosoever shall come into this thine house to ask good at thine hand, may be rejoiced in the obtaining of all his request.

O GOD, who year by year dost renew for us the day of consecration of this Thy holy temple, and dost safely bring us again and again to these holy Mysteries: hear the prayers of Thy people and grant that whosoever enters this Temple to ask blessings of Thee, may joyfully obtain all his petitions. Through our Lord … 

Lauds: 8^th-9^th Centuries

 

Anguláris fundaméntum

lapis Christus missus est,

qui paríetum compáge

in utróque néctitur,

quem Sion sancta suscépit,

in quo credens pérmanet.

 

Omnis illa Deo sacra

et dilécta cívitas,

plena módulis in laude

et canóre iúbilo,

trinum Deum unicúmque

cum fervóre prædicat.

 

Hoc in templo, summe Deus,

exorátus ádveni,

et cleménti bonitáte

precum vota súscipe;

largam benedictiónem

hic infúnde iúgiter.

 

Hic promereántur omnes

petíta acquírere

et adépta possidére

cum sanctis perénniter,

paradísum introíre

transláti in réquiem.

*Gloria et honor Deo
Usquequaque Altissimo,
Una Patri, Filioque,
Inclyto Paraclito,
Cui laus est et potestas
Per æterna sæcula. Amen.

 

Byrne: Use: Lauds of the dedication of a church.

l. "Christ the cornerstone was sent to be the foundation, and He is bound in both joints of the wall: whom holy Sion received and, believing in Him, she endures." Angularis. Cf. scriptural references before stanza I of Urbs Jerusalem beata. "Behold I will lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that shall believe in Him, shall not be confounded" 1 Pet, 2:6). Sion. Generally, the term Sion is used Of the Church militant, while Jerusalem is used of the Church triumphant, Utroque. Christ is the cornerstone on which both walls (i.e. Jews and Gentiles) were united and on which both rested and were supported, forming only one edifice (MacEviIIy, Exposition of the Epistles, Eph, 2:20).

 

2. "All this city, sacred and beloved of God, is full of melodies in praise and sonorous jubilation: she extols with fervor the God who is one and three." It may be noted here that some hymnologists (e.g.. Neale) consider this stanza to have been the conclusion of the original hymn; others e.g., Trench) hold a contrary view. Trinum, unicum. Cf. I Jo tn 5:7. Modulis. Cf. Apoc. 4:8.

 

3. "In this temple, O God most high, be present when Thou art invoked; and in Thy merciful goodness receive our prayers; here pour out forever Thy abundant blessing." Templo, the particular church, the dedication of which we are celebrating. Vota, the desires or wishes that underlie all prayer. Infunde. "Try Me in this, saith the Lord: if I open not unto you the floodgates of heaven. and pour you out a blessing even to abundance" (Mal. 3:10).

 

4. 4.     "Here may all merit to obtain the things requested and to retain forever with the saints the things granted, and to enter paradise when taken to their rest." Requiem. Heaven is frequently styled a place of everlasting rest. "And the Lord will give thee rest continually, and will fill thy soul with brightness" (Isa. 58: Il).

 

Christ, the cornerstone, was made the foundation, who joined together the walls, which holy Zion received and in which she abides in confidence. The whole city, sacred to God and beloved by him, filled with music of praise and joyful song, fervently proclaims God, the three and one. Into this temple, O most high God, come and in your good mercy receive the requests of our prayers; here ever pour out your great blessing. Here may all be worthy to have their petitions answered and to possess what they ask and with the saints forever enter paradise and be taken into rest.

 

The Office of Readings: 7^th Century?

 

Christe, cunctórum dominátor alme,

plebs tibi supplex résonet in aula,

ánnuo cuius rédeunt colénda

  témpore festa.

 

Hic locus nempe vocitátur aula

regis imménsi nitidíque cæli

porta, quæ vitæ pátriam peténtes

  áccipit omnes.

 

Hæc tuam plebem sacra cogit ædes,

hæc sacraméntis pia ditat usque,

cælicis escis alit in perénnis

  múnera vitæ.

 

Quæsumus ergo, Deus, ut seréno

ádnuas vultu fámulos gubérnans,

qui tui summo célebrant amóre

  gáudia templi.

 

Æqua laus summum célebret Paréntem

teque, Salvátor, pie rex, per ævum;

Spíritus Sancti résonet per omnem

  glória mundum. Amen.

 

 

O Christ, the life-giving ruler of all, may the people’s humble prayer resound in your churches at this time of the year when the celebration of your feast comes around again.  This is the place which is called the court of the great King and the gate of heaven bright, which receives all seeking the fatherland of life. This holy temple gathers your people, this holy place continuously enriches them with the sacraments; it feeds them with the heavenly food of eternal life. We beseech you, therefore, O God, that you pleased to guide with your presence your servants, who celebrate with great love the joys of your temple. Equal praise to the heavenly Father, and to you, holy King, through the ages; may the Holy Spirit resound though all the world. Amen.

 

II Vespers: 8^th-9^th Centuries

 

Walpole: This grand old hymn, full of poetical feeling though rugged enough as to its prosody, was written in VI- Vlllth cent, if we may judge by its metre and the character of its rhymes. The main idea is taken from Rev. xxi. 2, some of its imagery from Is. xxviii. 16 and i Pet. ii. 5 f. …This hymn is the ultimate source of inspiration to all the many hymns concerning the New Jerusalem.

 

 

Urbs Ierúsalem beáta, (1)

dicta pacis vísio,

quæ constrúitur in cælis

vivis ex lapídibus, (2)

angelísque coronáta (3)

sicut sponsa cómite,

 

Nova véniens e cælo,

nuptiáli thálamo

præparáta, ut intácta

copulétur Dómino.

Platéæ et muri eius

ex auro puríssimo; (4)

 

Portæ nitent margarítis

ádytis paténtibus,

et virtúte meritórum

illuc introdúcitur

omnis qui ob Christi nomen

hic in mundo premitur .

 

Tunsiónibus, pressúris

expolíti lápides

suis coaptántur locis

per manum artíficis;

disponúntur permansúri

sacris ædifíciis.

 

Glória et honor Deo

usquequáque altíssimo,

una Patri Filióque

atque Sancto Flámini,

quibus laudes et potéstas

per ætérna sæcula. Amen.

 

1.       ' Blessed city called Jerusalem, (that is to say) the vision of peace.'

2.      vivis ex lapidibus I Pet. ii. 4: Ad quem accedentes lapidem vivum, ab hominibus quidem reprobatum, a Deo autem electum, et honorificatum:et ipsi tamquam lapides vivi superædificamini, domus spiritualis, sacerdotium sanctum, offerre spirituales hostias, acceptabiles Deo per Jesum Christum.

3.      ' adorned by angels as a bride (is adorned) by her attendants,'

4.      Rev. XXI. 21:  Et duodecim portæ, duodecim margaritæ sunt, per singulas: et singulæ portæ erant ex singulis margaritis: et platea civitatis aurum mundum, tamquam vitrum perlucidum.

 

 

Byrne: Author:Use: Vespers and Matins of the dedication of a church.

Note. This hymn is based on several passages of Scripture which are given here for convenient reference. (a) "But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels" Heb. 12:22. (b) "And I John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" Apoc. 21:2 (C) “be you also as living stones built up,like to clear glass. . . And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. . . . And the twelve gates are twelve pearls. . . . And the gates thereof shall not be shut by day" (Apoc. 21:18, 19, 21, 25). (e) "But you are fellow citizens with the saints, and the domestics of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone: in whom all the building, being framed together, groweth up into an holy temple in the Lord. In whom also you are built together into an habitation of God in the Spirit" (Eph. 2:19—22).'

 

1.       Jerusalem, the blessed city, called the vision of peace. which is built up in heaven of living stones, and surrounded by angels as a bride by her retinue." The first three stanzas make up one sentence. In Hebrew the word "Jerusalem" has the meaning of "city, or habitation, of peace." Beata, blessed, holy. Dicta, one of the names given to heaven where the just soul "shall delight in abundance of peace" (Ps. 36: I l). Vivis lapidibus. souls of men, "spirits of the just made perfect" (Heb. J2: 23).

 

2. "Newly coming from heaven, prepared for the nuptial chamber, so that as a bride she may be united to her Lord: her streets and walls are of purest gold.' Nova agrees with Jerusalem above.

 

3. "Her gates glitter with pearls, her inmost shrines are wide open: and everyone who is persecuted in this world for the name of Christ is conducted thither in virtue of His merits." Meritorum, of Christ, 'by whose grace you are saved" (Eph. 2:5). Premitur. "Blessed are they that suffer persecution for jus• tice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:10).

 

4."The stones, polished by blows and afflictions, are fitted to their places by the hands of the Builder: they are arranged to remain in the sacred mansions." Expoliti. "Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:21). Artificis. "Whose builder and maker is God" (Heb.11:0). Ædificiis.  'In My Father's house there are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).

 

Blessed city Jerusalem, called vision of peace, which was built in heaven from living stones, crowned by the angels, like a noble bride. Coming down from heaven prepared for the nuptial bed, a virgin joined to the Lord, her streets and walls made from purest gold. Her gates bright with pearls, her inner places of the temple opened and by virtue of merits all are lead there who in this world suffered for the name of Christ. The stones are struck, pressed and polished, arranged for their place by the hands of the craftsman; designed to remain forever in the holy buildings. Glory and honor to God most high and to the Son equally and the flaming Spirit: praise and power through endless ages. Amen.