RITE OF DEDICATION OF AN ALTAR

INTRODUCTORY RITES

ENTRANCE INTO THE CHURCH

When the people are assembled, the bishop and the concelebrating priests, the deacons, and the ministers, each in
appropriate vestments, preceded by the cross bearer, go from the sacristy through the main body of the church to the
sanctuary.

If there are relics of the saints to be placed beneath the altar, these are brought in the entrance procession to the
sanctuary from the sacristy or the chapel where since the vigil they have been exposed for the veneration of the people.
For a just cause, before the celebration begins, the relics may be placed between lighted torches in a suitable part of the
sanctuary.

As the procession proceeds, the entrance antiphon is sung with Psalm 42.

O God, our shield, look with favour on the face of your anointed; one day within your
courts is better than a thousand elsewhere (alleluia).

or

I will go to the altar of God, the God of my joy.

Another appropriate song may be sung.

When the procession reaches the sanctuary, the concelebrating priests, the deacons, and the ministers go to the places
assigned to them; the bishop, without kissing the altar, goes to the chair. Then, putting aside the pastoral staff and mitre,
he greets the people, saying:

Celebrant: In the name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Celebrant: The grace and peace of God

be with all of you in his holy Church.

All: And with your spirit.

BLESSING AND SPRINKLING OF WATER

When the entrance rite is completed, the bishop blesses water with which to sprinkle the people as a sign of repentance
and as a reminder of their baptism, and to purify the altar. The ministers bring the vessel with the water to the bishop who
stands at the chair. The bishop invites all to pray, in these or similar words:

Celebrant: Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is a day of rejoicing:

we have come together to dedicate this altar by offering
the sacrifice of Christ.

May we respond to these holy rites, receive God’s word

with faith, share at the Lord’s table with joy, and raise
our hearts in hope.

Gathered around this one altar we draw nearer to Christ,

the living stone, in whom we become God’s holy temple.
 But first let us ask God to bless this gift of water. As it is
sprinkled upon us and upon this altar, may it be a sign
of our repentance and a reminder of our baptism.
All pray in silence for a brief period. The bishop then continues:

God of mercy,
you call every creature to the light of life,
and surround us with such great love
that when we stray
you continually lead us back to Christ our head.
For you have established an inheritance of such mercy,
that those sinners, who pass through water made sacred,
die with Christ to rise restored
as members of his body
and heirs of his eternal covenant.

Bless + this water;

sanctify it.
As it is sprinkled upon us and upon this altar
make it a sign of the saving waters of baptism,
by which we become one in Christ,
the temple of your Spirit.

May all here today,

and all those in days to come,
who will celebrate your mysteries on this altar,
be united at last in the holy city of your peace.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
All: Amen.

When the invocation over the water is finished, the bishop, accompanied by the deacons, passes through the main body
of the church, sprinkling the people with the holy water; then, when he has returned to the sanctuary, he sprinkles the
altar. Meanwhile the following antiphon is sung.

I saw water flowing from the right side of the temple, alleluia. It brought God’s life and
his salvation, and the people sang in joyful praise: alleluia, alleluia.

or, during Lent:

I will pour dean water over you and wash away all your defilement. A new heart will I
give you, says the Lord.

Another appropriate song may be sung.

After the sprinkling the bishop returns to the chair and, when the singing is finished, standing with hands joined says:

Celebrant: May God, the Father of mercies,

to whom we dedicate this altar on earth,
forgive us our sins
 and enable us to offer
an unending sacrifice of praise
on his altar in heaven.

All: Amen.

GLORIA (sung)

OPENING PRAYER

The bishop, with hands joined, says:

Celebrant: Let us pray.

All pray in silence for a brief period. Then the bishop, with hands extended, says:

Lord,
you willed that all things be drawn to your Son,
mounted on the altar of the cross.
Bless those who dedicate this altar to your service.
May it be the table of our unity,
a banquet of plenty,
and a source of the Spirit,
in whom we grow daily as your faithful people.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.

All: Amen.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

In the liturgy of the word, everything takes place in the usual way. The readings and the gospel are taken, in accor dance
with the rubrics, either from the text in The Lectionary (nos. 704 and 706) for the rite of dedication of an altar or from the
Mass of the day.

After the gospel the bishop gives the homily, in which he explains the biblical readings and the meaning of the rite.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The general intercessions are omitted since in their place the litany of the saints is sung.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION AND THE ANOINTINGS

INVITATION TO PRAYER

The bishop, without his mitre, invites the people to pray in these or similar words:

Celebrant: Let our prayers go forth to God the Father through

Jesus Christ, his Son, with whom are joined all the
saints who have shared in his suffering and now sit at
his table of glory.

Deacon: Let us kneel.

Then the litany of the saints is sung, with all responding. On Sundays and also during the Easter season, all stand; on
other days, all kneel.

The cantors begin the litany; they add, at the proper place, names of other saints (the titular of the church, the patron saint
of the place, and the saints whose relics are to be deposited, if this is to take place) and petitions suitable to the occasion.

LITANY OF THE SAINTS (sung)

When the litany is finished, the bishop, standing with hands extended, says:

Celebrant: Lord,
may the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and of all the saints
make our prayers acceptable to you.
May this altar be the place
where the great mysteries of redemption
 are accomplished:
a place where your people offer their gifts,
unfold their good intentions,
pour out their prayers,
and echo every meaning of their faith and devotion.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

Deacon: Let us stand.

All rise. The bishop receives the mitre.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Then the bishop, standing without mitre at the chair or near the altar, with hands extended, says:

Celebrant: Father,
we praise you and give you thanks,
for you have established the sacrament of true worship
by bringing to perfection in Christ
the mystery of the one true altar
prefigured in those many altars of old.
Noah, the second father of the human race,
once the waters fell and the mountains peaked again,
built an altar in your name.
You, Lord, were appeased by his fragrant offering
and your rainbow bore witness
to a covenant refounded in love.
Abraham, our father in faith,
wholeheartedly accepted your word
and constructed an altar
on which to slay Isaac, his only son.
But you, Lord, stayed his hand
and provided a ram for his offering.
Moses, mediator of the old law,
built an altar on which was cast the blood of a lamb:
so prefiguring the altar of the cross.
All this Christ has fulfilled in the paschal mystery:
as priest and victim
he freely mounted the tree of the cross
and gave himself to you, Father,
as the one perfect oblation.
In his sacrifice, the new covenant is sealed,
in his blood, sin is engulfed.
Lord, we therefore stand before you in prayer.
Bless this altar built in the house of the Church,
that it may ever be reserved for the sacrifice of Christ,
and stand for ever as the Lord’s table,
 where your people will find nourishment and strength.
Make this altar a sign of Christ
from whose pierced side flowed blood and water,
which ushered in the sacraments of the Church.
Make it a table of joy,
where the friends of Christ may hasten
to cast upon you their burdens and cares
and take up their journey restored.
Make it a place of communion and peace,
so that those who share the body and blood of your Son
may be filled with his Spirit
and grow in your life of love.
Make it a source of unity and friendship,
where your people may gather as one
to share your spirit of mutual love.
Make it the centre of our praise and thanksgiving
until we arrive at the eternal tabernacle,
where, together with Christ,
high priest and living altar,
we will offer you an everlasting sacrifice of praise.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

ANOINTING OF THE ALTAR

When the above is finished, the bishop, removing the chasuble if necessary and putting on a linen gremial, goes to the
altar with the deacon or another minister, one of whom carries the chrism. Standing before the altar, the bishop says:

Celebrant: We now anoint this altar.

May God in his power make it holy,
a visible sign of the mystery of Christ,
who offered himself for the life of the world.
Then he pours chrism on the middle of the altar and on each of its four corners, and it is recommended that he anoint the
entire table of the altar with this.

During the anointing, outside the Easter Season, the following antiphon is sung (see below, no. 51) with Psalm 44.
God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness.

Another appropriate song may be sung.

During the Easter Season the following antiphon is sung with Psalm 117.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the keystone of the building,
alleluia.

Another appropriate song may be sung.

When the altar has been anointed, the bishop returns to the chair, sits, and washes his hands. Then the bishop takes off
the gremial and puts on the chasuble.

INCENSATION OF THE ALTAR

After the rite of anointing, a brazier is placed on the altar for burning incense or aromatic gums. The bishop puts in cense
into the brazier, saying:

Celebrant: Lord,
may our prayer ascend as incense in your sight.
As this building is filled with fragrance
so may your Church fill the world
with the fragrance of Christ.
Then the bishop puts incense into the censer and incenses the altar; he returns to the chair, is incensed, and then sits. A
minister incenses the people. Meanwhile one of the following antiphons is sung with Psalm 137.

An angel stood by the altar of the temple, holding a golden censer.

or

From the hand of the angel, clouds of incense rose is the presence of the Lord.

Another appropriate song may be sung.

LIGHTING OF THE ALTAR

After the incensation, a few ministers wipe the table of the altar with cloths, and, if need be, cover it with a waterproof
linen. They then cover the altar with a cloth, and, if opportune, decorate it with flowers. They arrange in a suitable manner
the candles needed for the celebration of Mass, and, if need be, the cross. Then the bishop gives to the deacon a lighted
candle, and says:

Celebrant: Light of Christ,

shine on this altar
and be reflected by those
who share at this table.
Then the bishop sits. The deacon goes to the altar and lights the candles for the celebration of the Eucharist.

Then the festive lighting takes place: as a sign of rejoicing all the lamps around the altar are lit. Meanwhile the following
antiphon is sung.

In you, O Lord, is the fountain of life; in your light we shall see light.

Another appropriate song may be sung, especially one in honour of Christ, the light of the world.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

The deacons and the ministers prepare the altar in the usual way. Then some of the congregation bring bread, wine, and
water for the celebration of the Lord’s sacrifice. The bishop receives the gifts at the chair. While the gifts are being
brought, one of the following antiphons may be sung.

If you are bringing your gift to the altar, and there you remember that your neighbour
has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar; go at once and make
peace with your neighbour, and then come back and offer your gift, alleluia.

or
Moses consecrated the altar to the Lord and offered sacrifices and burnt offerings; he
made an evening sacrifice of sweet fragrance to the Lord God in the sight of the
children of Israel.

Another appropriate song may be sung.

When all is ready, the bishop goes to the altar, removes the mitre, and kisses the altar. The Mass proceeds in the usual
way; however, neither the gifts nor the altar are incensed.

The Bishop, standing at the altar, takes the paten with the bread and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both
hands, saying in a low voice:

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,

for through your goodness
we have received the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth
and work of human hands,
it will become for us the bread of life.

Then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal. If, however, the Offertory Chant is not sung, he may speak these
words aloud; at the end, the people may acclaim:

Blessed be God for ever.

The Deacon, or the Priest, pours wine and a little water into the chalice, saying quietly:

By the mystery of this water and wine

may we come to share in the divinity of Christ
who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

The Bishop then takes the chalice and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying in a low voice:

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,

for through your goodness
we have received the wine we offer you:
fruit of the vine and work of human hands,
it will become our spiritual drink.

Then he places the chalice on the corporal. If, however, the Offertory Chant is not sung, he may speak these words aloud;
at the end, the people may acclaim:

Blessed be God for ever.

After this, the Bishop, bowing profoundly, says quietly:

With humble spirit and contrite heart

may we be accepted by you, O Lord,
and may our sacrifice in your sight this day
be pleasing to you, Lord God.

Then the Bishop, standing at the side of the altar, washes his hands, saying quietly:

Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

Standing at the middle of the altar, facing the people, extending and then joining his hands, he says:
Celebrant: Pray, brothers and sisters,
that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.

All: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands

for the praise and glory of his name,
for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

With hands extended, the bishop sings or says:

Celebrant: Lord,
send your Spirit upon this altar
to sanctify these gifts;
may he prepare our heads to receive them worthily.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

PREFACE

Celebrant: The Lord be with you

All: And with your spirit.

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them up to the Lord.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Celebrant: Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,

we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

True priest and true victim, he offered himself to you

on the altar of the cross
and commanded us to celebrate that same sacrifice,
until he comes again.
 Therefore your people have built this altar
and have dedicated it to your name with grateful hearts.
This is truly a sacred place.
Here the sacrifice of Christ is offered in mystery,
perfect praise is given to you,
and our redemption is made continually present.

Here is prepared the Lord’s table,

at which your children,
nourished by the body of Christ,
are gathered into a Church, one and holy.

Here your people drink of the Spirit,

the stream of living water,
flowing from the rock of Christ.
They will become, in him,
a worthy offering and a living altar.

We praise you, Lord,

with all the angels and saints in their song of joy:

HOLY (sung)

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER III

COMMUNION RITE

Celebrant: At the Savior’s command

and formed by divine teaching,
we dare to say:

LORD’S PRAYER (sung)

Celebrant: Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,

graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Celebrant: Lord Jesus Christ,

who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you;
look not on our sins,
 but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

The Bishop, turned towards the people, extending and then joining his hands, adds:

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

All: And with your spirit.

Celebrant: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

And all offer one another a sign, in keeping with local customs, that expresses peace, communion, and charity. The
Bishop gives the sign of peace to a Deacon or ministers. Then he takes the host, breaks it over the paten, and places a
small piece in the chalice, saying quietly:

May this mingling of the Body and Blood

of our Lord Jesus Christ
bring eternal life to us who receive it.

Meanwhile the following is sung or said:

LAMB OF GOD (sung)

Or the invocation may even be repeated several times if the fraction is prolonged. Only the final time, however, is grant us
peace said. Then the Bishop, with hands joined, says quietly:

May the receiving of your Body and Blood, Lord Jesus Christ,
not bring me to judgment and condemnation, but through your loving mercy
be for me protection in mind and body and a healing remedy.

The Bishop genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice, while facing the
people, says aloud:

Celebrant: Behold the Lamb of God,

behold him who takes away
the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called
to the supper of the Lamb.

All: Lord, I am not worthy

that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

The Bishop, facing the altar, says quietly:

May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.

And he reverently consumes the Body of Christ. Then he takes the chalice and says quietly:

May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.

While the bishop is receiving the body of Christ, the communion song begins. One of the following antiphons is sung with
Psalm 127.

Even the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest wherein she places her young:
near to your altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.

or

May the children of the Church be like olive branches around the table of the Lord
(alleluia).

Another appropriate song may be sung.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Then, standing at the chair or at the altar, the bishop sings or says:

Celebrant: Let us pray.

Pause for silent prayer, if this has not preceded.

Lord,
may we always be drawn
to this altar of sacrifice.
United in faith and love,
may we be nourished by the body of Christ
and transformed into his likeness,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

The bishop receives the mitre and says:

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

All: And with your spirit.

Celebrant: Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing.

Then the bishop extends his hands over the people and blesses them, saying:

Celebrant: May God, who has given you

the dignity of a royal priesthood,
strengthen you in your holy service
and make you worthy to share in his sacrifice.

All: Amen.

Celebrant: May he, who invites you to the one table

and feeds you with the one bread,
 make you one in heart and mind.

All: Amen.

Celebrant: May all to whom you proclaim Christ

be drawn to him
by the example of your love.

All: Amen.

The bishop takes the pastoral staff and continues:

Celebrant: May almighty God bless you,

the Father,  and the Son, 
and the Holy  Spirit.

All: Amen.

Celebrant: Go forth, the Mass is ended.

All: Thanks be to God.