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Minor basilica

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Minor basilica

Tintinnabulum and conopaeum, privileges formerly granted to basilicas

Minor basilica (Latin: Basilica minor, Basilicae minores in plural) is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom.[1]

In relation to churches, writers on architecture use the term "basilica" to describe a church built in a particular style. The early Christian purpose-built cathedral basilica of the bishop was in this style, constructed on the model of the semi-public secular basilicas, and its growth in size and importance signalled the gradual transfer of civic power into episcopal hands, which was under way in the 5th century.

In the 18th century, the term took on a canonical sense, unrelated to this architectural style. Basilicas in this canonical sense are divided into major ("greater") and minor basilicas. Today only four, all in Rome, are classified as major basilicas: the major basilicas of St John Lateran, St Peter, St Paul outside the Walls, and St Mary Major. The other canonical basilicas are minor basilicas.

Privileges, obligations and conditions

Privileges previously attached to the status of basilica included a certain precedence before other churches, the right of the conopaeum (a baldachin resembling an umbrella; also called umbraculum, ombrellino, papilio, sinicchio, etc.) and the bell (tintinnabulum), which were carried side by side in procession at the head of the clergy on state occasions, and the wearing of a cappa magna by the canons or secular members of the collegiate chapter when assisting at the Divine Office. In the case of major basilicas these umbraculae were made of cloth of gold and red velvet, while those of minor basilicas were of yellow and red silk—the colours traditionally associated with both the Papal See and the city of Rome.[2]

These external signs, except that of the cappa magna, are sometimes still seen in basilicas, but the latest regulations of the Holy See on the matter, issued in 1989, make no mention of them. The status of being a basilica now confers only two material privileges: the right to include the papal symbol of the crossed keys on a basilica's banners, furnishings and seal, and the right of the rector of the basilica to wear a distinctive mozzetta over his surplice. The other privileges now granted concern the liturgy of the celebration of the concession of the title of basilica, and the granting of a plenary indulgence on certain days to those who pray in the basilica.[3]

The document imposes on basilicas the obligation to celebrate the liturgy with special care, and requires that a church for which a grant of the title is requested should have been liturgically dedicated to God and be outstanding as a center of active and pastoral liturgy, setting an example for others. It should be sufficiently large and with an ample sanctuary. It should be renowned for history, relics or sacred images, and should be served by a sufficient number of priests and other ministers and by an adequate choir.[3]

Many basilicas are notable shrines, and often receive significant pilgrimages. In December 2009 the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico set a new record with 6.1 million pilgrims in two days for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.[4]

Categories of minor basilicas

As of 2008, there were four major basilicas and 1,609 minor basilicas in the world.[5] Of these 1,609 minor basilicas, three have the title of papal minor basilica and four the title of pontifical minor basilica.

Papal minor basilicas

The three papal minor basilicas are Saint Lawrence outside the Walls, Rome, and the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, both in Assisi.[6]

Pontifical minor basilicas

The four pontifical minor basilicas are the Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Bari, the Basilica of the Holy House in Loreto, Italy, the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, and the Shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei.[6] All but the Paduan basilica were for some years jointly under the care of a Cardinalatial Commission for the Pontifical Shrines of Pompei, Loreto and Bari, which was suppressed in 1996 to establish the Pontifical Delegation for the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii and the Pontifical Delegation for the Shrine of the Holy House of Loreto.[7] All four pontifical minor basilicas now have individual pontifical delegates. For the Bari basilica, which is a dependency of the Secretariat of State (Holy See), the pontifical delegate is the local metropolitan archbishop.[8] For the basilicas of Loreto and Pompei, which are within their own territorial prelatures, the pontifical delegate is the local territorial prelate. Only for the Paduan basilica is the pontifical delegate (now Francesco Gioia, Archbishop Emeritus of Camerino-San Severino Marche) distinct from the local bishop (now Antonio Mattiazzo).

Lesser types

The remaining 1,576 minor basilicas are all classified merely as such. Even the three recognized minor basilicas that are also pontifical basilicas are not classified as pontifical minor basilicas.

In Torre del Greco is the Pontifical Basilica of the Holy Cross, called by that name not only on its own site, which recalls the visits to it of Pope Pius IX in 1849 and Pope John Paul II in 1990, but also in the list of the world's minor basilicas,[9] which, however, calls it simply a minor basilica.

Another such Italian church, recognized as a minor basilica, but not as a pontifical minor basilica, is the Pontificia Reale Basilica di S. Giacomo degli Spagnoli in Naples.[10] This name, qualifying it as both pontifical and royal, is confirmed by several other sources.[11][12][13][14]

One pontifical basilica in Spain listed not as a pontifical minor basilica, but simply as a minor basilica,[15] is the Pontifical Basilica of St. Michael, Madrid, the ownership of which is since 1892 vested in the Apostolic Nunciature to the Kingdom of Spain.

The description "pontifical basilica" is sometimes given, perhaps without canonical justification, also to some churches that, whether pontifical or not, are not in the list of those with a right to the title of basilica. One in the town of Grumo Nevano in the province of Naples is called on the Italian WorldHeritage the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Tammaro the Bishop, a designation confirmed by the inscription "Basilica Pontifica" on its façade.[16] Others are the Pontifical Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Bitonto and the Pontifical Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Avigliano.

One patriarchal basilica, namely the Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of St Mark in Venice, called patriarchal because it is the cathedral of the Patriarch of Venice, is a minor basilica.[17]

Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral, the first church in North America north of Mexico elevated to the rank of minor Basilica

Other minor basilicas

The minor basilicas form the vast majority, including some cathedrals, many technically parish churches, some shrines, and some abbey or convent churches. Some oratories and semi-private places of worship, have been raised to the status of a minor basilica, such as Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal.

The Old Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico City was the first basilica in North America, so designated by Benedict XIV in 1754.[18] The first in the Americas north of Mexico was Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral in Quebec City, elevated by Pius IX in 1874. The Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis became the first Basilica in the United States, designated in 1926, by Pope Pius XI. In Colombia, the Las Lajas Cathedral has been a minor basilica since 1954. In Africa, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro, in Cote d'Ivoire is reported to be slightly larger than St Peter's Basilica.[19]

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico City, is considered the second most important sanctuary of Roman Catholicism, second to the Vatican City on the basis of the number of pilgrims it hosts each year (between 12 and 20 million).[20] The Sanctuary of Lourdes in France, with several basilicas, receives between 5 and 6 million pilgrims each year.

There was a pronounced tendency in the 20th century to increase the number of churches that were granted the title of minor basilica. Examples among the many are the church containing Francisco Franco's tomb and those of many others in the monumental Valley of the Fallen near Madrid, the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, in Carmel, California, Manila Cathedral (also known as the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Intramuros or the original Spanish settlement of Manila), and the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano. Towards the end of the century, stricter rules were applied and it was decided, for instance, that since cathedrals outrank basilicas in any case, the title of minor basilica would no longer be granted to them.[3]

Gallery

As of 31 December 2008, there were 1,584 minor basilicas (an increase from 1,476 on 26 March 2006), of which the majority are in Europe (537 in Italy alone, including all those of elevated status (papal or pontifical); 168 in France; 119 in Poland; 105 in Spain; 73 in Germany; 30 in Austria; 27 in Belgium; 15 in Hungary; 15 the Czech Republic; 12 in Switzerland; 22 in the Netherlands; 9 in Slovakia; 8 on Malta; 7 in Croatia; 6 each in Slovenia and Portugal; 5 in Lithuania; and fewer in many other countries), many in the Americas (69 in the United States, 55 in Brazil, 45 in Argentina, 28 in Mexico, 26 in Colombia, 21 in Canada, 15 in Venezuela, 12 in Peru, 9 in Chile, 8 in Bolivia, 5 in Uruguay, 4 in El Salvador, and smaller numbers elsewhere), and fewer in Asia (19 in India, 12 in the Philippines, 9 in the Holy Land (Israel/Palestine), with smaller numbers elsewhere), 18 in Africa (4 in Ghana and several countries having one or two) and Australasia (5 in Australia and 1 in Guam).[21]

Europe

Africa and the Middle East

Asia and Oceania

The Americas

See also

Literature

References

  1. ^ Minor Basilicas in the United StatesRobert F. McNamara,
  2. ^ 1907Catholic EncyclopediaHerbert Thurston, "Basilica" in
  3. ^ a b c , Instruction of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 9 November 1989Domus ecclesiae
  4. ^ ZENIT News Agency, 14 December 2009
  5. ^ list
  6. ^ a b Basilicas, Italy, Vatican City State, San Marino
  7. ^ Cardinalatial Commission for the Pontifical Shrines of Pompei, Loreto and Bari
  8. ^ Arcidiocesi di Bari-Bitonto, Pontificia Basilica San Nicola, Storia
  9. ^ Basilica Pontificia di S. Croce
  10. ^ Pontificia Reale Basilica di S. Giacomo degli Spagnoli
  11. ^ List of the Cultural Heritage Sites of the Region of Campania
  12. ^ Napoligrafia
  13. ^ The Cultural World of Eleanora di Toledo, Duchess of Florence and Siena 1991, cited in Konrad Eisenbichler, La Reale Pontificia Basilica di San Giacomo degli SpagnoliGiuseppe de Vargas Machuca,
  14. ^ 2005Carlo Vanvitelli: architettura e città nella seconda metà del SettecentoOrnella Cirillo,
  15. ^ Basílica Pontificia de San Miguel
  16. ^ The church's website
  17. ^ Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of St Mark
  18. ^ http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/northamerica/1083.htm
  19. ^ Guinness World Records lists Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro as the largest church in the world, having surpassed the previous record holder, St. Peter's Basilica, upon completion. It has an area of 30,000 sq metres (322,917 sq ft) and is 158 m (518 ft) high. However, it also includes a rectory and a villa (counted in the overall area), which are not strictly part of the church, and it can accommodate 18,000 worshipers, compared to 60,000 for St. Peter's.
  20. ^ Septién, Jaime (11 December 2007). "Our Lady of Guadalupe Attracting Record Numbers". Zenit. Retrieved 12 December 2009. 
  21. ^ GCatholic.org: Basilicas in the World as of 2008.12.31

External links

 

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