Latin Rite

Latin Rite, in the singular and accompanied, in English, by the definite article ("The Latin Rite"), is a term by which documents of the Catholic Church designate the particular Church, distinct from the Eastern Rite Churches, that developed in western Europe and northern Africa, where Latin was the language of education and culture. The Latin Church (again in the singular) is an alternative term, used, for instance, in the opening canon of both the 1917 and the 1983 editions of the Code of Canon Law.

Related Topics:
Catholic Church - Particular Church - Eastern Rite - 1917 - 1983

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The term Latin rite is used also, in singular or plural, to refer to one or more of the forms of sacred liturgy used in different parts of this Latin Church. They include the widely used Roman rite, the Ambrosian rite of Milan, Italy and neighbouring areas, and the Mozarabic rite, in very limited use at Toledo, Spain. Other Latin liturgical rites have fallen into into disuse, such as the Gallican rite that was associated with France, and the rites that some religious orders practised until after the Second Vatican Council.

Related Topics:
Liturgy - Ambrosian rite - Milan, Italy - Mozarabic rite - Toledo, Spain - Religious orders - Second Vatican Council

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sometimes, the term "Roman Catholic" is treated as synonymous with "Latin-Rite", though never by the Catholic Church itself.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Characteristic of the Latin Rite (in the first-mentioned sense) are obligatory celibacy of priests, Confirmation after reaching the age of reason (but not necessarily as late as pre-adolescence), direct appointment of bishops by the Pope, honorary titles of patriarch and primate, and, of course, the Latin-rite liturgies. The Eastern-Rite Churches differ, to varying extents, from the Latin Church in these respects. For instance, ordination to priesthood (but not to the order of bishop) may be conferred on married men, and Eastern patriarchal and major archiepiscopal Churches elect bishops for their own territory (though not outside it).

Related Topics:
Celibacy - Priest - Bishop - Pope - Patriarch - Primate - Liturgies - Major archiepiscopal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Canon law for the Latin-Rite Church has, since 1917, been codified in the Code of Canon Law. A completely new edition was promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1983.http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM

Related Topics:
Canon law - 1917 - Pope John Paul II - 1983

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~