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Concerning the tragedy at Conception Abbey: The Abbey Church is to be "re-consecrated" in the future. If this happened in an Orthodox church or a Byzantine church, do all jurisdictions consider it mandatory to "re-consecrate" the churches if "violated" by a shedding of blood or other major crime? I always thought that the Eastern mentality was "once consecrated always consecrated". Any thoughts?
Silouan

I think the Byzantine practice is to read a special prayer found in the Trebnik before any more services can take place. Volume 2 of the new (and rather bulky) "Book of Needs" from St. Tikhon's has three such prayers: one for a church desecrated by heretics, one for a church desecrated by pagans, and one for a church in which a violent death has occurred.

I think the Byzantine practice is to read a special prayer found in the Trebnik before any more services can take place. Volume 2 of the new (and rather bulky) "Book of Needs" from St. Tikhon's has three such prayers: one for a church desecrated by heretics, one for a church desecrated by pagans, and one for a church in which a violent death has occurred.

Dear Chtec,

Are these services done to "exorcize" the places affected in some way?

What is the theological rationale precisely here?

Alex

In the dark recesses of my mind, I recall a presentation in a Liturgics class that states that persons, places and things can be consecrated to the service of the Lord and His Church. If they are defiled by heinous sin/evil, then they are to be cleansed. Persons, by confession. Objects, by blessing. And places, also by blessing.

Inasmuch as the church building is 'baptized' by sprinkling of water (who'd want to immerse a church?!?!) and anointed, then it is merely an act of penance to remove the taint. I understand the Latin perspective/understanding that a location can be defiled and is therefore in need of care, but I'm not sure in my heart of hearts that a re-consecration is necessary. As with people, it is cleansing that is called for. If this understanding were to obtain across the board, we'd have to rebaptize people after serious sin. (And, were I a priest, I would not want to dunk a 200 pound guy on a weekly basis. Oy, the back pain! just joking!)

I am sure that the monks of the Abbey must be feeling very serious pain at the loss of their brethren to a senseless act of violence. If the performance of the re-consecration ritual salves the wounds, by all means, let it be done. We must always remember that the rituals of the Church, while serving as bridges between God and man and which have spiritual/grace efficacy in themselves, are also intended for the comfort of the souls of God's people.

(Someone asked me about how the Roman Church could permit a Catholic funeral for John Gotti who may have been responsible for much suffering and death as a result of his actions. My response: 1. Perhaps he repented and deserves the rites of the Church. And: 2. The rituals are there ALSO (primarily?) for the living who wish to pray for him and his soul and who need the support of the community to accomplish this.)

May the Lord bring comfort to all who suffer. And may our Holy Mother, the Theotokos: Joy of All Who Sorrow, come to God's children who call upon her.

Blessings!

My understanding is that John Gotti has been denied a Catholic Funeral Liturgy by the Bishop of Brooklyn. As reported by CNN.
Silouan

Some information to add to the discussion:

1. Monk Silouan is correct. John Gotti has indeed been denied a Catholic Funeral Liturgy by the Bishop of Brooklyn. That bishop is allowing him to be buried in a family plot in a Catholic cemetery and will allow a private family requiem liturgy for him a few days after his burial

2. After the hostage siege at the Church of the Nativity the Orthodox chapel/church was reconsecrated by the local Greek Orthodox bishops since it was deemed to have been desecrated. The Fransciscan Catholic chapel/church did not receive as much damage and was not reconsecrated.

3. There is a wonderful Akathist in the Jordanville Book of Akathists to Our Lady, Joy of All Who Sorrow.

Dear All,

Some of you are correct. Once consecrated a church is always so. What we did to our abbey church was technically called a "rededication" since it did not involve the placement of chrism on the walls or altar, etc. Our monastic master of ceremonies described the rite as follows:

"We will have a Mass of Rededication in the Basilica. The requirement in canon law for a space to be returned to sacred use following an act of violence or profanation is that the bishop celebrate Mass with the intention of restoring the place. The bishop may delegate another to do this. Bishop Boland has delegated Abbot Gregory to do this. Although some places have developed ancillary rites for this purpose, there are none in the Roman Ritual, nor are there prescribed formularies. We will incorporate some elements of the Rite of Dedication into the Mass."

What we did was use the prayers proper to the anniversary of the dedication of a church and performed an aspergis (sp?) or sprinkiling with holy water.

That's all for now. I'm very tired after a long day. BTW we had about 700 people at Vespers tonight. Funeral tomorrow.

PAX

Br. Elias