50 Code of Canon Law

Code of Canon Law 

Every organisation requires its own laws and customs to maintain order. The Code of Canon Law is the ordered set of laws which governs the Catholic Church. It was first issued in 1917 and revised in 1983.  The need to revise the 1917 Code was identified by Pope John XXIII, but it was not actually revised until 1983 by John Paul II.  

There are 1,572 Canons or laws. These are divided into 7 Books: 

• BOOK I. - GENERAL NORMS 
• BOOK II. THE PEOPLE OF GOD - Christian Faithful, Hierarchy of the Church, Consecrated life
• BOOK III. THE TEACHING FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH - Preaching, Catechesis and Catholic Education
• BOOK IV. FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH - Sacraments and other Divine Acts
• BOOK V. THE TEMPORAL GOODS OF THE CHURCH 
• BOOK VI. SANCTIONS IN THE CHURCH 
• BOOK VII PROCESSES

To read more see online version of Canon Law

Website of Canon Law

There are a number of differences between the two versions.  For instance, the 1983 version deals with the laity first, whereas the 1917 Code dealt with them at the end.  

Can.  1752 In cases of transfer the prescripts of ⇒ can. 1747 are to be applied, canonical equity is to be observed, and the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one’s eyes.

For some other facts about the Code of Cannon Law 

49 CTS leaflets

Catholic Truth Society CTS  leaflets 

CTS stands for 'Catholic Truth Society' and the key aim of the CTS is to help people to understand and practise the Catholic faith. The CTS publishes many leaflets which explain different aspects of Catholic faith. They are designed to help Catholics to understand more about the faith they practise – we call this catechesis.

CCC 4 Quite early on, the name catechesis was given to the totality of the Church's efforts to make disciples, to help men believe that Jesus is the Son of God so that believing they might have life in his name, and to educate and instruct them in this life, thus building up the body of Christ.⁷

48 Mass Cards

A Mass Card is a card that is given to someone to let them know that they, or a deceased loved-one, will be remembered and prayed for in the intentions at a Mass. Every Mass has an intention. This means that everyone who is celebrating the Mass is praying for the person for whom the Mass is being offered. Of course, everyone may also come to Mass with their own personal intentions too. 

Cards from Cathedral Bookshop
Open after Sunday 10.30 Mass 

CCC 1325 "The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God's action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit."

Mass Card 

Details of Mass intentions are sometimes announced by the priest or appear in a parish newsletter this reminds other members of the community who the Mass intention.

47 Incense - Liturgy of the Word

Thurible used at 
Lancaster Cathedral

Incense is used during Mass and as the smoke from the burning incense rises, it symbolises our prayers rising to God. The incense is carried in a container called a boat. It is blessed and then spooned into the thurible which is used to hold incense as it burns. The thurible is held on a chain which is swung by the priest, deacon or server towards what or who is being incensed. This could be the altar, the Gospel, the bread and wine offered for the Eucharist, the consecrated Eucharist, the priest or bishop celebrating Mass, the congregation, the Paschal candle, the crucifix or the Blessed Sacrament during Benediction.

CCC 1154 The liturgy of the Word is an integral part of sacramental celebrations. To nourish the faith of believers, the signs which accompany the Word of God should be emphasized: the book of the Word (a lectionary or a book of the Gospels), its veneration (procession, incense, candles), the place of its proclamation (lectern or ambo), its audible and intelligible reading, the minister's homily which extends its proclamation, and the responses of the assembly (acclamations, meditation psalms, litanies, and profession of faith).


The icons  have been travelling around the secondary schools in the Diocese 

Bishop Michael Campbell incensing
Year of Faith Icons at Education Mass 2012

47 Incense Thurifer

Thurifer leading procession
Altar Servers Mass 2008

 The Thurifer is the server who carries the thurible and will incense the priest and people.  Below the thurifer is seen swinging the thurible during the Gospel after the Deacon has incensed the Gospel. 

Thurifer standing behind Deacon
during 150th Anniversary Mass October 2010

CCC 1154 The liturgy of the Word is an integral part of sacramental celebrations. To nourish the faith of believers, the signs which accompany the Word of God should be emphasized: the book of the Word (a lectionary or a book of the Gospels), its veneration (procession, incense, candles), the place of its proclamation (lectern or ambo), its audible and intelligible reading, the minister's homily which extends its proclamation, and the responses of the assembly (acclamations, meditation psalms, litanies, and profession of faith).

Giant Thurible
One of the largest thurible needs a team of servers to swing it to incense the altar.  See video below of the thurible in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela or open video in separate page

47 Incense - Thurible

Thurible

Incense is used during Mass and as the smoke from the burning incense rises, it symbolises our prayers rising to God. The incense is carried in a container called a boat. It is blessed and then spooned into the thurible which is used to hold incense as it burns. The thurible is held on a chain which is swung by the priest, deacon or server towards what or who is being incensed. This could be the altar, the Gospel, the bread and wine offered for the Eucharist, the consecrated Eucharist, the priest or bishop celebrating Mass, the congregation, the Paschal candle, the crucifix or the Blessed Sacrament during Benediction.

This is one of the thuribles used at the Cathedral.

Bishop Michael Campbell incensing
Year of Faith Icons at Education Mass 2012
The icons  have been travelling around the secondary
schools in the Diocese 

46 Book of the Gospels

The Book of the Gospels contains the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and is used during Mass when the priest or deacon proclaims the Gospel. There may be a procession with the Book ofGospels from the altar to the ambo (the place of reading) and incense may be used to honour the Gospel. This reminds us of the importance of listening to God's Word, spoken to us through the Gospel. As we listen with open hearts, we learn more about Jesus, his teachings and example. Jesus shows us the way to God our Father and this is why it is so important to listen to the Gospel and reflect on what God may be saying to us.

CCC 125 The Gospels are the heart of all the Scriptures "because they are our principal source for the life and teaching of the Incarnate Word, our Saviour".

The Book of Gospels held over Bishop Michael's head during his ordination
This symbolises the centrality of the Gospel in the life of a bishop. A bishop's calling
as a successor of the Apostles is rooted in the Gospel; his duty is to preach the Gospel
faithfully and fearlessly; his own life of faith must always be founded on what God
 has revealed to us in Christ.  To read more of ordination