¶ Tractatus Gulielmi Durandi de ecclesia et eccle= siasticis locis et sacramentis et ornamentis et de consecrationibus incipit feliciter. CHAPTER I. OF A CHURCH AND ITS PARTS. 1. FIRST of all, let us consider a church1 and its parts. The word church hath two meanings: the one, a material building, wherein the Divine Offices are celebrated: the other, a spiritual fabrick, which is the Collection of the Faithful. The church, that is the people forming it, is assembled by its ministers, and collected together into one place by HIM WHO MAKETH MEN TO BE OF ONE MIND IN AN HOUSE. 2 For as the material church is constructed from the joining together of various stones, so is the Spiritual Church by that of various men. 2. The Greek ecclesia is in Latin translated by convocatio, because it calleth men to itself: the which title doth better befit the spiritual than the material church. The material typifieth the spiritual Church as shall be explained when we treat of its consecration. Again, the Church is called Catholick, that is universal, because it 1 It has been found advisable to print the word church in the following pages with a great or a small initial letter, according as "The Blessed Company of all Faithful People," or the material building, were intended. 2 PSALM (lxviii,) Exsurgat Deus, 6. 3 See below, chapter vi. hath been set up in, or spread over, all the world, because the whole multitude of the faithful ought to be in one congregation, or because in the Church is laid up the doctrine necessary for the instruction of all. 3. It is also called in Greek synagoga, in Latin congregatio, which was the name chosen by the Jews for their places of worship: for to them the term synagogue more appropriately belongeth, though it be also applied to a church. But the Apostles never call a church by this title, perhaps for the sake of distinction. 4. The Church Militant is also called Sion: because, amidst its wanderings, it expecteth the promise of a heavenly rest for Sion signifieth expectation. But the Church Triumphant, our future home, the land of peace, is called Jerusalem: for Jerusalem signifieth the vision of peace. Also, the church is called the House of God: also, sometimes, Kupiaký, that is, the Lord's House. At others Basilica, (in Latin, a royal palace), for the abodes of earthly kings are thus termed: and how much more fittingly our Houses of Prayer, the dwelling-places of the King of Kings! Again, it is called temple, from tectum amplum, where sacrifices are offered to GOD: and sometimes the tabernacle of God, because this present life is a journey, and a progress to a lasting Country: and a tabernacle is an hostelrie: 5 as will be explained when we speak of the Dedication of a church. And why it is called the Ark of the Testimony, we shall say in the ensuing chapter, 4 So the Hymn in the Parisian Breviary, for the Dedication of a church: Urbs beata, vera PACIS 5 Compare Cicero de Senect. xxiii. Et ex vitâ ita discedo tanquam ex hospitio, non tanquam ex domo: commorandi enim Natura diversorium nobis, non habitandi dedit. 6 Chapter vi, sect. 5, ad fin. under the title Altars. Sometimes it is called Martyrium, when raised in honour of any Martyr; sometimes capella," (chapel,) (see under the head Priest in the second part;) sometimes cœnobium, at others sacrificium; sometimes sacellum; sometimes the House of Prayer: sometimes monastery: sometimes oratory. Generally, however, any place set apart for prayers is called an oratory. Again, the Church is called the Body of CHRIST: sometimes a Viryin, as the Apostle saith, THAT I MAY PRESENT YOU AS A CHASTE VIRGIN TO CHRIST: 8 sometimes a Bride, because CHRIST hath betrothed Her to Himself, as saith the Gospel: HE that hath the BRIDE, IS THE BRIDEGROOM: sometimes a Mother, for daily in Baptism She beareth sons to GOD: sometimes a Daughter, according to that saying of the Prophet, INSTEAD OF THY FATHERS THOU SHALT HAVE CHILDREN : 10 sometimes a Widow, because She SITTETH SOLITARY THROUGH HER AFFLICTIONS, AND, LIKE RACHEL, WILL NOT BE COMFORTED. Sometimes She is set forth under the emblem of an Harlot, because She is called out of many nations, and because She closeth not Her bosom against any that return to Her. Sometimes She is called a city, because of the Communion of Her Holy Citizens, being defended by the munitions of the Scriptures, whereby Hereticks are kept off: having stones 7 Durandus, II. 10. 8. "In many places, Priests be called chaplains. For of old the Kings of France, when they went forth to war, carried with them the Cope of Blessed Martin, which was kept in a certain tent, [where Mass was said] and from the cope [cappa] the tent was called chapel, [capella]." We may observe that chapel was used in former times with much greater latitude than now. An additional aisle or Chantry was so called. So in Haddenham, Cambridgeshire, on a brass in the North Aisle, Orate pro animabus fundatorum hujus Capella: that is, the Aisle itself. 8 2 COR. xi, 2. |