Basilicas in the Catholic Church
Basilicas are Catholic church buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by the Pope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectural sense (a rectangular building with a central nave flanked by two or more longitudinal aisles). Basilicas are either major basilicas, of which there are four, all in the Diocese of Rome, or minor basilicas, of which there were 1,810 worldwide as of 2019[update].[1]
Numerous basilicas are notable shrines, often even receiving significant pilgrimages, especially among the many that were built above a confessio or the burial place of a martyr; although this term now usually designates a space before the high altar that is sunk lower than the main floor level (as in the case in St Peter's and St John Lateran in Rome) and that offer more immediate access to the burial places below. Some Catholic basilicas are Catholic pilgrimage sites, receiving tens of millions of visitors per year.[2][3]
Churches designated as papal basilicas, in particular, possess a papal
Ranking of churches
The papal or major basilicas outrank in precedence all other churches. Other rankings[
The distinction between major basilicas and minor basilicas appears to have arisen in the early 18th century. The earliest document that records the use of the term major basilica dates from 1727.[6]
Major and papal basilicas
To the category "major basilica" belong only the four great churches of Rome, which among other distinctions have a special
- St. John Lateran, also called the Lateran Basilica. Since it is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, in the tradition of the Catholic Church, it has claims as the Mother Churchof the world. For this reason, St John Lateran is the only church that is also known as an "archbasilica".
- St. Peter's Basilica, also called the Vatican Basilica, is a major pilgrimage site, built over the burial place of Peter the Apostle.
- St. Paul Outside the Walls, also known as the Ostian Basilica because it is situated on the road that led to Ostia, is built over the burial place of Paul the Apostle.
- Virgin Mary.
The four major basilicas, together with the minor basilica of
- Bishop of Rome and the Patriarch of the West.
- Patriarch of Constantinople.
- St. Paul Outside the Walls was associated with the Patriarch of Alexandria.
- St. Mary Major was associated with the Patriarch of Antioch.
- St. Lawrence Outside the Walls was associated with the Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Nominally, the respective patriarchs could avail of accommodation attached to the basilicas should they have business in Rome.
Gallery of major basilicas
-
Archbasilica of St John Lateran
41°53′09″N 12°30′22″E / 41.88583°N 12.50611°E -
St. Peter's Basilica 41°54′8″N 12°27′12″E / 41.90222°N 12.45333°E
-
Basilica of St Paul Outside-the-Walls
41°51′31″N 12°28′38″E / 41.85861°N 12.47722°E -
Basilica of St Mary Major
41°53′51″N 12°29′55″E / 41.89750°N 12.49861°E
Minor basilicas
The
Regarding minor basilicas the terms "papal minor basilica", "pontifical minor basilica" and "patriarchal minor basilica" are also in use.
Papal minor basilicas
There are three papal minor basilicas, one in Rome,
-
Basilica of St Lawrence Outside-the-Walls, Rome
-
Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, Assisi
-
St Mary of the Angels, Assisi
Pontifical minor basilicas
There are five pontifical minor basilicas in the world (the word "pontifical" referring to the title "pontiff" of a bishop, and more particularly of the Bishop of Rome):
- Pontifical Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Pompei
- Pontifical Basilica of St Nicholas, Bari
- Pontifical Basilica of St Anthony, Padua
- Pontifical Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto
- Pontifical Basilica of St Michael, Madrid
-
Loreto
Patriarchal minor basilicas
The description patriarchal applies to two minor basilicas[10] associated with archbishops who have the title of patriarch – the Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of St Mark in Venice and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia.
Not all patriarchal cathedrals are minor basilicas. Notably, the Patriarchal Cathedral of St Mary Major (in Lisbon, Portugal) and the Patriarchal Cathedral of Santa Catarina (in Old Goa, India) are not.
Basilicas and pilgrimages
In recent times, the title of minor basilica has been attributed to important
Every year, on 13 May and 13 October, the significant dates of the Fatima apparitions, pilgrims fill the country road that leads to the
Ecclesiastical basilicas by region
As of 31 December 2020[update], there are 1,881 Roman Catholic churches that bear the title of basilica.[15]
Region | Basilicas |
---|---|
West Europe | 1,116 |
East Europe | 244 |
North America | 152 |
Central America | 26 |
South America | 240 |
South and East Asia | 59 |
Central and Southwest Asia | 12 |
Oceania | 8 |
Western and Northern Africa | 14 |
Eastern and Central Africa | 9 |
Southern Africa | 1 |
Total | 1,881 |
On 10 May 1997 Pope John Paul II visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, Lebanon. The basilica is under the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate.[19] The Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson, Ohio, US is under the jurisdiction of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon. The shrine was elevated to the status of a minor basilica by Pope Francis on 8 July 2014.[20]
Gallery of minor basilicas around the world
-
Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Montmartre, Paris
-
Koekelberg Basilica, Brussels
-
Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Manila, Philippines
-
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. National and Patronal Church of Catholicism in the United States.
-
Côte d'Ivoire
See also
- Architecture of cathedrals and great churches
- Catholic Marian church buildings
- Duomo
- List of Catholic basilicas
References
- ^ "Basilicas in the World". GCatholic.org. 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
- ^ ISBN 1-4405-2489-0page 53
- ^ a b c "Eternal Word Television Network, Global Catholic Network". Ewtn.com. 13 June 1999. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ a b Gietmann, G. & Thurston, Herbert (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).
- ^ Esconde, Ernie (12 December 2019). "Pope Francis declares Orani Church as 'Minor Basilica'". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
He said that basilica symbols like the Papal chair, umbrella, bell, Vatican logo, among others, can be seen in the altar.
- ^ Sergio Bianchi, Le Basiliche Minori (Rome: Marianum 1976), 2.
- ^ Joachim Nabuco, Ius Pontificalium: Introductio in Cæremoniale Episcoporum (Paris: Desclée & Socii, 1956), 232.
- ^ Dictionnaire de droit canonique, vol. 2, s.v. "basilique," p. 242 (1937).
- ^ "Book on Basilicas". www.gcatholic.org. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
- ^ San Nicola di Tolentinoin 1783. Older minor basilicas are referred to as "immemorial basilica".
- ^ "St.Patrick's Basilica".
- ^ "Knock Basilica". Roaringwater Journal.
- ISBN 978-1-884964-02-2page 245
- ^ Jaime Septien (14 December 2009). "6.1 Million Pilgrims Visit Guadalupe Shrine". Zenit.org. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "Basilicas in the World". GCatholic.org. 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
- ^ "St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica Ernakulam::Ernakulam - Angamaly Archeparchy:: Syro Malabar Church Parish". www.syromalabarchurch.in.
- ^ "Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese". www.ernakulamarchdiocese.org.
- ^ "EDAPALLY ST. GEORGE FORANE CHURCH | Ernakulam District Website | India".
- ^ "History & Information". Our Lady of Lebanon. 1 July 2016.
- ^ "North Jackson Shrine being consecrated as Minor Basilica". www.wfmj.com.
External links
- Gietmann, G.; Thurston, Herbert (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).
- List of All Major, Patriarchal and Minor Basilicas & statistics by Giga-Catholic Information