This This placeplace is is

holy…holy…

House of God & Gate of House of God & Gate of HeavenHeavenThe Liturgy The Liturgy

of the of the DedicationDedication of a of a ChurchChurch

""My House will be My House will be called a house of called a house of prayer," says the prayer," says the Lord. "In it, all who Lord. "In it, all who ask, receive; those ask, receive; those who search, find; who search, find; and to those who and to those who knock, the door will knock, the door will be opened."be opened." (Mt 21, 13; Lk (Mt 21, 13; Lk 11, 9-10)11, 9-10)

The DEDICATIONDEDICATION……

…is that grandiose liturgy by which a church is consecrated to God; image of the heavenly Jerusalem, image of heaven, and image of our souls called to be the "temple of God" through baptism and holiness of life.

With the passing of the centuries, the With the passing of the centuries, the ceremonies of ceremonies of the the DedicationDedication of a Church developed into a of a Church developed into a long, long, majestic and splendid rite. majestic and splendid rite.

One can see there an analogy with the One can see there an analogy with the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and sacraments of baptism, confirmation and marriage. The new church is first baptized: marriage. The new church is first baptized: one sprinkles the walls with holy water. one sprinkles the walls with holy water.

Then it receives confirmation: Then it receives confirmation: the bishop the bishop traces a cross with holy chrism on each of traces a cross with holy chrism on each of the twelve crosses which are placed around the twelve crosses which are placed around the interior of the church.the interior of the church. Then follows the Then follows the nuptials with Christ Jesus, by the celebration nuptials with Christ Jesus, by the celebration of the Eucharist.of the Eucharist.

The CrossThe Cross: : symbol of our symbol of our salvation.salvation.

TwelveTwelve: : for the twelve for the twelve apostles of Christ Jesus, apostles of Christ Jesus,

immolated Lamb.immolated Lamb.

Twelve crosses:Twelve crosses: decorated decorated and illuminated by a candle on the and illuminated by a candle on the

anniversary of the anniversary of the DedicationDedication..

""My temple will be in the midst My temple will be in the midst of them," says the Lord. "They of them," says the Lord. "They will be my people and I will be will be my people and I will be their God, and I shall dwell in the their God, and I shall dwell in the midst of them " midst of them " ( 2 Cor 6, 16).( 2 Cor 6, 16).

"I shall make them happy in my "I shall make them happy in my house of prayer" house of prayer" (Is 56, 7).(Is 56, 7).

We are your Temple, O Lord! You have made our souls

your sanctuary! St. Benoît-du-Lac (Canada)

It is a feast particularly dear to the hearts of monks: that of the

consecration of their church,

of its DEDICATION.

Since a thousand years, this feast sings in the hearts

of BENEDICTINES OF SOLESMES.

Since 150 years, it resounds also in the Since 150 years, it resounds also in the

hearts of monks and moniales of the hearts of monks and moniales of the Congregation of Solesmes.Congregation of Solesmes.

12 octobre 12 octobre 1010 :1010 :

It should first be said that in monasteries, one sees the It should first be said that in monasteries, one sees the DedicationDedication of an abbatial church as an image of the of an abbatial church as an image of the consecration of the souls of monks. consecration of the souls of monks. It is a deep joy that we love to share with those who It is a deep joy that we love to share with those who come to visit us. At Solesmes, in France, this great day come to visit us. At Solesmes, in France, this great day goes far back… goes far back…

Very close to the castle of Sablé, it’s a feast day: a very great Very close to the castle of Sablé, it’s a feast day: a very great feast day. The feast day. The DedicationDedication of the little church of Saint-Pierre of the little church of Saint-Pierre of Solesmes, recently given to the monks, is celebrated.of Solesmes, recently given to the monks, is celebrated.

It is a day of profound rejoicing in the hearts of the It is a day of profound rejoicing in the hearts of the monks.monks.

October 12, 1010

Every year,Every year,

on October 12,on October 12,

the monks relivethe monks relive

the the DedicationDedication of their church of their church..

LocusLocus

isteiste

sanctusanctuss

est…est…

This place is holy, it is nothing less than the house of This place is holy, it is nothing less than the house of God God

and the gate of heaven and the gate of heaven (Gen 28. 17).(Gen 28. 17).

I will worship toward thy holy I will worship toward thy holy temple,temple, and bow in reverence of you and bow in reverence of you (Ps 5, 8).(Ps 5, 8).This is the house of the Lord, solidly This is the house of the Lord, solidly

constructed.constructed.

It is founded on firm rock.It is founded on firm rock.

O Lord, I love the house where you dwell, the place where your glory dwells.

Come to His house

to give Him thanks,

Sing His praises in

His dwelling place.

One more reason for which the Dedication celebrated at Solesmes is a feast day, is that it is also the birthday of

Mother Cécile Bruyère (1845-1909), first Abbess of Sainte-Cécile de Solesmes, spiritual heir to Dom Guéranger,

Mother of the Congregation of Solesmes.

The Majesty of the Lord fills the temple" Seek that interior temple where the divine Majesty resides,

and to which love gives us access.This tender and devoted love is a permanent act of adoration " (Mother Cécile).

" How beautiful is your dwelling place, O Lord! My soul longs, yea, faints for the courts of the Lord! Just as the swallow makes a nest and the sparrow makes its dwelling for its little ones, so your altar is the dwelling place of my soul." (Ps 84/83)

I shall see the Lord I shall see the Lord

in His Temple!in His Temple!

Jerusalem, blessed city,called Vision of Peace!

It rises into the heavens, made of living stones,

and the angels surround it like a wedding cortège.

She comes down from heaven, She comes down from heaven, all new, ready for her all new, ready for her spiritual nuptials. spiritual nuptials. She is adorned,She is adorned, and the spouse unites herself to and the spouse unites herself to

the Lord. the Lord. Her courts, like her walls, are of the purest gold.Her courts, like her walls, are of the purest gold.

Her gates, sparkling like jewels, are

wide

open

and the virtue of her and the virtue of her

merits lets in... merits lets in...

...all those who in this world have suffered for the name of Jesus Christ.

By blows, by rubbings, the stones have been polished; they are fixed in place by the hand of the Artisan; He inserts them forever in the sacred edifice.

He took the stone which served as a pillow to He took the stone which served as a pillow to him, him, erected it as a stele, and poured oil over its erected it as a stele, and poured oil over its summit. He gave the name summit. He gave the name Bethel: House of Bethel: House of GodGod to this place. to this place.

From the beginnings of the religious From the beginnings of the religious history of the people of Israel, certain history of the people of Israel, certain places sanctified places sanctified by a presence, a by a presence, a particular theophany,particular theophany, were consecrated. were consecrated. From camp to camp, Abraham erected an From camp to camp, Abraham erected an altar to God.altar to God.

Jacob, after a dream in which Jacob, after a dream in which God renewed the promises to God renewed the promises to him made to Abraham, woke him made to Abraham, woke up and said: "up and said: "This place is This place is holy, it is nothing less than holy, it is nothing less than the house of God and the gate the house of God and the gate of heavenof heaven." ." (Gen 28, 16-19)(Gen 28, 16-19)

Solomon in prayer

before the House

of Yahweh which he

just built

To Solomon, the pacific

king, was designated

the glory of building

the Temple of the Lord.

Adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum, et confitebor Adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum, et confitebor nomini tuo, Domine.nomini tuo, Domine. Alleluia ! I shall adore in your holy temple, and I shall Alleluia ! I shall adore in your holy temple, and I shall praise your name, Lord. praise your name, Lord. (Ps 5, 8)(Ps 5, 8)

Before the people in Before the people in prayer, Solomon prayer, Solomon offers to God the offers to God the "House " which he "House " which he had just built, in the had just built, in the form of a model form of a model which he presents which he presents before the altar:before the altar:

""Day and night, may your eyes watch over this temple, overDay and night, may your eyes watch over this temple, overthis place in which you have promised to put your name."this place in which you have promised to put your name." (2 Ch 6, 20)

Domine Deus, in simplicitate Domine Deus, in simplicitate cordis cordis

mei laetus obtuli universa…mei laetus obtuli universa…

Lord Jesus,Lord Jesus,in the in the simplicitysimplicity of my heartof my heart

I have offered I have offered everything everything

with joy. Deign to with joy. Deign to keep keep

this good will of mine.this good will of mine.

Solomon offers a holocaust on the altar of bronze.

He offers to God, who appears to him, the sacrificial lamb.

"Destroy this "Destroy this Temple, and in Temple, and in three days I will three days I will raise it up ! " raise it up ! " (Jn 2, (Jn 2, 19)19)

After Jesus’ death After Jesus’ death on the cross, the on the cross, the veil of the Temple veil of the Temple was torn. The risen was torn. The risen body of Jesus is body of Jesus is the new Temple. the new Temple. Christians are Christians are living stones of it. living stones of it.

By the By the Presence of Presence of Jesus, the Son Jesus, the Son of the Father of the Father made man, the made man, the true temple, true temple, the new and the new and eternal eternal Temple, is the Temple, is the sacred sacred humanity of humanity of the incarnate the incarnate Word. Word.

""I will worship toward thy I will worship toward thy holy temple, and bow downholy temple, and bow downin reverence of you"in reverence of you" (Ps 5, 8).(Ps 5, 8).

""You are fellow-citizens You are fellow-citizens with the holy people of God with the holy people of God and part of God’s and part of God’s household… household… Every structure knit together in Every structure knit together in him grows into a holy temple in him grows into a holy temple in the Lord…the Lord…

And YOU TOO, in him, are being And YOU TOO, in him, are being built up into a dwelling-place of God built up into a dwelling-place of God

in the Spirit" in the Spirit" (Ep 2, 19-21).(Ep 2, 19-21).

Translation of the hymn Translation of the hymn

chanted throughout this slide showchanted throughout this slide show

MountingMounting The Benedictine Moniales Abbaye Sainte-Marie des Deux-Montagnes (Canada)

TextsTextsLiturgy of the Dedication

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info@sm2m.ca

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ChantsChantsAbbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes

and Abbaye Sainte-Marie des Deux-Montagnes

Website of the monks of Solesmes, click :www.abbayedesolesmes.fr