Music for the Order of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar
Introduction
"Through his Death and Resurrection, Christ became the true and perfect temple of the New Covenant and gathered a people to be his own. Moreover, this holy people, made one by the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the Church, that is, the temple of God built of living stones, where the Father is worshiped in Spirit and in truth. Rightly, therefore, from ancient times the name 'church' has also been given to the building in which the Christian community is gathered to hear the Word of God, to pray together, to take part in the Sacraments, and to celebrate the Eucharist."
— The Order of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar (ODCA), ch. II, no. 1
The Order of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar, implemented in the United States as of November 9, 2018, is enriched with many chant settings for the actions connected with the blessing of the church site, dedication of the new church and/or altar, and related rites.
To assist choirs and in the preparation of worship aids, the various chants are made available here. For easier reference and use, the titles of some chant settings on this webpage vary slightly from those found in the ritual book.
The following music and texts may be reproduced free of charge in printed form, for non-commercial purposes, in publications not for sale, by parishes, dioceses, schools, and religious communities, provided that the copyright acknowledgment which appears at the foot of each page is included.
Chapter I – The Laying of a Foundation Stone or the Commencement of Work on the Building of a Church
"When the building of a new church begins, it is desirable to celebrate a rite by which God's blessing may be implored on the work to be undertaken and the faithful may be reminded that the structure to be built of stones will be a visible sign of the living Church, God’s building, which they themselves constitute."
— ODCA, ch. I, no. 1
Approach to the Place Where the Church Is to Be Built
- Form A: Procession – Antiphon with Psalm 84
- Form B: Station – Acclamation
Blessing of the Site of the New Church
Blessing and Laying of the Foundation Stone
Chapter II – The Dedication of a Church
"Because the church is a visible building, this house is a special sign of the pilgrim Church on earth and an image of the Church dwelling in heaven. Moreover, when a church is constructed as a building destined solely and permanently for gathering the People of God and for carrying out sacred functions, it is fitting that it be dedicated to the Lord with a solemn rite, in accordance with the ancient custom of the Church."
— ODCA, ch. II, no. 2
Introductory Rites
- Entrance into the Church
- Form A: Procession –
Procession: Antiphon with Psalm 122
Into the Church: Antiphon with Psalm 24 - Form B: Solemn Entrance –
At the Doors: Antiphon with Psalm 122
Into the Church: Antiphon with Psalm 24 - Form C: Simple Entrance: Entrance Antiphon Options –
"God is in his holy place" with Psalm 122
"Let us go rejoicing" with Psalm 122 - Sprinkling of Holy Water
Dedication
- Litany of the Saints
- Deposition of the Relics: Antiphon Options –
"Beneath the altar of God" with Psalm 15
"The bodies of the Saints" with Psalm 15 (or Easter Time variant) - Prayer of Dedication
- Anointing of the Altar and the Walls of the Church: Antiphon Options –
"Behold God's dwelling" with Psalm 84
"Holy is the temple of the Lord" with Psalm 84 - Incensation of the Altar and the Church: Antiphon Options –
"An Angel stood by the altar" with Psalm 138
"In the presence of the Lord" with Psalm 138
"Stetit angelus iuxta aram templi" with Psalm 138 - Lighting of the Altar and the Church: Antiphon Options –
"Your light has come, Jerusalem" with the Canticle of Tobit
[Lent] "Jerusalem, city of God" with the Canticle of Tobit
Liturgy of the Eucharist
- Offertory Antiphon
- Preface
- Communion Antiphon Options –
"My house shall be a house of prayer" with Psalm 128
"Like shoots of the olive" with Psalm 128 - Inauguration of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (or Tabernacle)
Chapter III – The Dedication of a Church in Which Sacred Celebrations are Already Regularly Taking Place
Introductory Rites
- Entrance Antiphon Options –
"God is in his holy place" with Psalm 122
"Let us go rejoicing" with Psalm 122 - Sprinkling of Holy Water
Dedication
- Litany of the Saints
- Deposition of the Relics: Antiphon Options –
"Beneath the altar of God" with Psalm 15
"The bodies of the Saints" with Psalm 15 (or Easter Time variant) - Prayer of Dedication
- Anointing of the Altar and the Walls of the Church: Antiphon Options –
"Behold God's dwelling" with Psalm 84
"Holy is the temple of the Lord" with Psalm 84 - Incensation of the Altar and the Church: Antiphon Options –
"An Angel stood by the altar" with Psalm 138
"In the presence of the Lord" with Psalm 138
"Stetit angelus iuxta aram templi" with Psalm 138 - Lighting of the Altar and the Church: Antiphon Options –
"Your light has come, Jerusalem" with the Canticle of Tobit
[Lent] "Jerusalem, city of God" with the Canticle of Tobit
Liturgy of the Eucharist
- Offertory Antiphon
- Preface
- Communion Antiphon Options –
"My house shall be a house of prayer" with Psalm 128
"Like shoots of the olive" with Psalm 128 - Inauguration of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (or Tabernacle)
Chapter IV – The Dedication of an Altar
"When Christ the Lord instituted in the form of a sacrificial banquet a memorial of the Sacrifice he was about to offer the Father on the altar of the Cross, he made holy the table where the faithful would come to celebrate their Passover. Therefore the altar is the table of the Sacrifice and of the banquet at which the Priest, representing Christ the Lord, does what the Lord himself did and what he handed on to his disciples to do in his memory."
— ODCA, ch. IV, no. 3
Introductory Rites
- Entrance Antiphon Options –
"Turn your eyes, O God" with Psalm 43
"I will come to the altar of God" with Psalm 43 - Sprinkling of Holy Water
Dedication
- Litany of the Saints
- Deposition of the Relics: Antiphon Options –
"Beneath the altar of God" with Psalm 15
"The bodies of the Saints" with Psalm 15 (or Easter Time variant) - Prayer of Dedication
- Anointing of the Altar: Antiphon Options –
"God, your God, has anointed you" with Psalm 45
[Easter Time] "The stone which the builders rejected" with Psalm 118 - Incensation of the Altar: Antiphon Options –
"An Angel stood by the altar" with Psalm 138
"In the presence of the Lord" with Psalm 138
"Stetit angelus iuxta aram templi" with Psalm 138 - Lighting of the Altar
Liturgy of the Eucharist
- Offertory Antiphon
- Preface
- Communion Antiphon Options –
"The sparrow finds a home" with Psalm 128
"Like shoots of the olive" with Psalm 128
Chapter V – The Blessing of a Church
- Sprinkling of Holy Water
- Antiphon before the Blessing
- Prayer of Blessing
- Offertory Antiphon
- Inauguration of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (or Tabernacle)
Chapter VI – The Blessing of an Altar
Chapter VII – The Blessing of a Chalice and Paten
"Since the chalice and paten are used for the offering and consecration of the bread and wine and for communion, they are reserved exclusively and permanently for the celebration of the Eucharist, and so become 'sacred vessels.' The intention of reserving these vessels exclusively for the celebration of the Eucharist is made manifest before the community of the faithful by a special blessing which is appropriate to impart during Mass."
— ODCA, ch. VII, nos. 1-2
The English translation and chants of The Order of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar © 2014, 2018 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010 ICEL. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
The Revised Grail Psalms, copyright © 2010, Conception Abbey/The Grail, admin. by GIA Publications, Inc., www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved.
English Psalm Tones © 2018 Adam Bartlett. Used with permission. All rights reserved.