Roman Pontifical
Encyclopedia
The Roman Pontifical or Pontifical, also referred to in Latin as the Pontificale or Pontificale Romanum, is the Roman Catholic liturgical book
that contains the rites performed by bishops.
The Pontifical is practically an episcopal ritual
, containing formularies and rubrics for the sacraments of confirmation and Holy orders
; however, it does not include the rites for the Mass
or the Divine Office
, which can be found in the Roman Missal
and Roman Breviary, respectively.
The Pontifical includes the texts and rubrics which existed in the old sacramentaries
and Ordines Romani
, and were gradually collected together to form one volume for the greater convenience of the officiating bishop. The earliest pontificals date from the late ninth century. From the mid tenth century, one particular version, known as the Romano-German Pontifical
, became dominant, and was widely copied. Nevertheless, pontifical manuscripts were variously described throughout the middle ages
, and a pontifical might well be described as a Liber Sacramentorum, a Liber Officialis, a Liber Pontificalis, a Ordinarium Episcopale or a Benedictionale.
Under Innocent VIII, a standard version was published for the use of the entire Roman Rite
, under the title Pontificale Romanum. An edited traditional version published by Pope Leo XIII
is available online at Liturgia Latina.
The service book should not be confused with the papal annals, also called Liber Pontificalis
, which is used by historians of the early Roman Church.
and the Eastern Catholic Churches, the equivalent of the Pontifical is the Archieratikon (Greek
: Ἀρχηιερατικόν; Slavonic
: Чиновникъ, Chinovnik). This book is often in a large format and contains only those portions of Vespers
, Matins
, and the Divine Liturgy
which pertain to the bishop (hierarch). It also contains those rites (ordination
, the consecration
of a church, etc.) which are normally performed only by a bishop.
Liturgical books of the Roman Rite
The liturgical books of the Roman Rite are officially issued books that contain the words of the prayers to be recited and indicate the actions to be performed in the celebration of the Catholic liturgy as done in Rome....
that contains the rites performed by bishops.
The Pontifical is practically an episcopal ritual
Roman Ritual
The Roman Ritual is one of the official ritual works of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. It contains all of the services which may be performed by a priest or deacon which are not contained within either the Missale Romanum or the Brevarium Romanum...
, containing formularies and rubrics for the sacraments of confirmation and Holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
; however, it does not include the rites for the Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
or the Divine Office
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
, which can be found in the Roman Missal
Roman Missal
The Roman Missal is the liturgical book that contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the Mass in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.-Situation before the Council of Trent:...
and Roman Breviary, respectively.
The Pontifical includes the texts and rubrics which existed in the old sacramentaries
Sacramentary
The Sacramentary is a book of the Middle Ages containing the words spoken by the priest celebrating a Mass and other liturgies of the Church. The books were usually in fact written for bishops or other higher clegy such as abbots, and many lavishly decorated illuminated manuscript sacramentaries...
and Ordines Romani
Ordines romani
The Ordines Romani are collections of documents that are the rubrics for various liturgical services, including the early Medieval Mass, of the Roman Rite...
, and were gradually collected together to form one volume for the greater convenience of the officiating bishop. The earliest pontificals date from the late ninth century. From the mid tenth century, one particular version, known as the Romano-German Pontifical
Romano-German Pontifical
The Romano-German Pontifical is a set of Latin documents of Roman Catholic liturgical practice compiled in St...
, became dominant, and was widely copied. Nevertheless, pontifical manuscripts were variously described throughout the middle ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, and a pontifical might well be described as a Liber Sacramentorum, a Liber Officialis, a Liber Pontificalis, a Ordinarium Episcopale or a Benedictionale.
Under Innocent VIII, a standard version was published for the use of the entire Roman Rite
Roman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
, under the title Pontificale Romanum. An edited traditional version published by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
is available online at Liturgia Latina.
The service book should not be confused with the papal annals, also called Liber Pontificalis
Liber Pontificalis
The Liber Pontificalis is a book of biographies of popes from Saint Peter until the 15th century. The original publication of the Liber Pontificalis stopped with Pope Adrian II or Pope Stephen V , but it was later supplemented in a different style until Pope Eugene IV and then Pope Pius II...
, which is used by historians of the early Roman Church.
Eastern Christianity
In the Eastern Orthodox ChurchEastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
and the Eastern Catholic Churches, the equivalent of the Pontifical is the Archieratikon (Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Ἀρχηιερατικόν; Slavonic
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
: Чиновникъ, Chinovnik). This book is often in a large format and contains only those portions of Vespers
Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Western Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies of the canonical hours...
, Matins
Matins
Matins is the early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in some Protestant denominations to describe morning services.The name "Matins" originally referred to the morning office also...
, and the Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Armenian Christians, both of the Armenian Apostolic Church and of the Armenian Catholic Church, use the same term...
which pertain to the bishop (hierarch). It also contains those rites (ordination
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, the consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
of a church, etc.) which are normally performed only by a bishop.
See also
- Cæremoniale EpiscoporumCæremoniale EpiscoporumThe Cæremoniale Episcoporum is a book that describes the Church services to be performed by Bishops of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church....
- BreviaryBreviaryA breviary is a liturgical book of the Latin liturgical rites of the Catholic Church containing the public or canonical prayers, hymns, the Psalms, readings, and notations for everyday use, especially by bishops, priests, and deacons in the Divine Office...
- MissalMissalA missal is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year.-History:Before the compilation of such books, several books were used when celebrating Mass...
- Rituale RomanumRoman RitualThe Roman Ritual is one of the official ritual works of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. It contains all of the services which may be performed by a priest or deacon which are not contained within either the Missale Romanum or the Brevarium Romanum...
- Solemn Pontifical Mass
- Pontifical vestmentsPontifical vestmentsPontifical vestments, also referred to as episcopal vestments or pontificals, are the liturgical vestments worn by bishops in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, in addition to the usual priestly vestments for the celebration of the Mass...
- EuchologionEuchologionThe Euchologion is one of the chief liturgical books of the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches, containing the portions of the services which are said by the bishop, priest, or deacon...