The Order of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar implores God’s blessing on the physical places to be dedicated to God for worship and celebration of the divine mysteries.
Each chapter of blessing or dedication has an introduction that gives valuable guidelines for bishops, priests, and deacons in the celebration of these solemn liturgical rites. It will also be useful for masters of ceremonies, offices of worship, and seminaries, as well as parishes that are building new churches or undergoing major renovations. The book includes the order for laying a foundation stone, rites for dedicating and blessing a church or altar, as well as for blessing a chalice and paten.
The Order of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar has an updated English translation that the Holy See approved with its confirmatio in 2017. Beginning on November 9, 2018, the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, this text becomes the required English translation for use in the United States.