Rite

A rite is an established, ceremonious, usually religious act.

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Rites fall into three major categories:

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• rites of passage, generally changing an individual's social status, such as marriage, Christian baptism, or graduation.
• rites of worship, where a community comes together to worship, such as Jewish synagogue or Christian Mass
• rites of personal devotion, where an individual worships, including prayer and pilgrimages such as the Muslim Haj.

Within Christianity it can have a much more specific meaning -- in this sense a rite is a particular liturgy. For example, in the Roman Catholic faith, the sacrament now called the Anointing of the Sick has traditionally been known as the last rites, being often performed on someone who is dying.

Related Topics:
Christianity - Liturgy - Roman Catholic - The Anointing of the Sick

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In Christian usage, the term also refers to a body of liturgical tradition usually emanating from a specific center. Examples include the Roman or Latin Rite, the Byzantine Rite, and the Syriac Rite. Such rites may include various sub-rites. For example, the Byzantine Rite has Greek, Russian, and other ethnically-based variants. (See Christian liturgy.)

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Freemasonry in North America is divided into the Scottish Rite and the York Rite.

Related Topics:
Freemasonry - North America - Scottish Rite - York Rite

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Rite: See also ►