Bascillica

[Guest Misty]

What is the difference between a Cathedral and a Bascillca?

[Cam42]

The main difference between a cathedral and a basilica is quite simple really.

The cathedral is the "home church" of any given diocese or see. It is called the cathedral, because it contains the cathedra or chair of the Ordinary or presding bishop. There is one cathedral for every diocese. No execptions.

A basilica is a church that has been granted favor by the pope. It is designated as such for varying reasons. One of the functions of the basilica is to house a visiting pope. Since, properly speaking the Pope is not the Ordinary, he does not have the right to sit in the cathedra. So, there are designated Churches throughout the world that are for this function, ie. basilicas. The Basilica is often referred to as the Pope's church for his use in the event he should ever visit the area.

There are two classifications for a basilica. Major and minor. There are four major basilicas in the world. St. John Lateran (the Cathderal church of the patriarchal See or diocese of Rome), St. Mary Major, St. Paul's Outside the Walls, and St. Peter's in the Vatican City State. Any other basilica in Christendom is considered a minor basilica. Incidentally, there are 52 of them in the USA.

There are signs of a basilica, they are the pavilion and bell. The pavilion, or the umbrella, is so constructed that it cannot be fully opened since it is not expected that the Pope will ever visit. The origin of the pavilion dates back to a period when a sun shade was held over oriental potentates when they appeared in public ceremonies. Eventually, the church adopted the use of the umbrella, in the early days restricting its use only to Rome. Later the pavilion tradition was extended to Minor Basilicas outside of Rome.

The origin of the bell is not so clear. It was probably used for announcing the beginning of a clerical procession to meet the Pope at the Basilica doors. The bell which is small and elaborately mounted, is symbolic of a portable belfry. The Papal insignia, namely the keys and the tiara, are surmounted on the bell arch. Both the pavilion and the bell are carried during all processions, inside and outside of the church. When not in use they are placed in open view in the Sanctuary.

The first basilica awarded to the USA is in Minneapolis, MN. It is the [url="http://www.mary.org/alt.php"]Basilica of St. Mary[/url]. (Caveat: This is an incredibly liberal parish, I don't take responsiblity for the contents of the website, but the church herself is beautiful. I used to wander around it for hours when I lived in St. Paul)

As you have probably surmised, a cathderal can obtain the rank of basilica, although it is rare.

Cam