Editing Consecration in Christianity (section)

=== Catholic Church ===
[[File:Consécration-de-Déodat.jpg|thumb|''The Consecration of [[Deodatus of Nevers|Deodat]]'' (1620, Claude Bassot)]]

"Consecration" is used in the [[Catholic Church]] as the setting apart for the service of God, of both persons and objects.

==== Ordination of bishops ====
The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council ''[[Sacrosanctum Concilium]]'' n. 76 states,

{{quote|Both the ceremonies and texts of the ordination rites are to be revised. The address given by the bishop at the beginning of each ordination or consecration may be in the mother tongue.}}

{{quote|When a bishop is consecrated, the laying of hands may be done by all the bishops present.}}

The English text of [[Catechism of the Catholic Church]], Second Edition, 1997, under the heading "Episcopal ordination—fullness of the sacrament of [[holy orders|Holy Orders]]", uses "episcopal consecration" and "episcopal ordination" interchangeably (CCC, 1556–1558).

The [[1983 Code of Canon Law]] of the [[Latin Church]] states in §§ 1012, 1014: ''"sacrae ordinationis minister est Episcopus consecratus"'' and uses the term ''consecratione episcopali'' ("episcopal consecration").

==== Consecrated life ====
[[Image:Painting of Ste Genevieve in the Church of Ste Genevieve in Ste Genevieve MO.jpg|thumb|250px|The consecration of [[Saint Genevieve]], 1821, by M. Basterot ([[Ste. Genevieve, Missouri]])]]
[[Consecrated virgins]] are consecrated by the diocesan bishop according to the approved liturgical rite and spend their time in works of penance and mercy, in apostolic activity and in prayer.

Those who enter [[religious institute]]s, societies of apostolic life, [[secular institute]]s or are recognised as a [[Hermit#Contemporary Christian life|diocesan hermit]] are also members of the [[Consecrated life (Catholic Church)|consecrated life]].

==== Churches, altars, and other ritual objects ====
[[Chrism]], an [[anointing]] oil, is (usually scented) olive oil consecrated by a bishop.

Objects such as [[paten]]s and [[chalice (cup)|chalices]], used for the sacrament of the Eucharist, are consecrated by a bishop, using chrism. The day before a new priest is ordained, there may be a vigil and a service or Mass at which the ordaining Bishop consecrates the paten(s) and chalice(s) of the ordinands (the men who are transitional deacons, about to be ordained priests).

A more solemn rite exists for what used to be called the "consecration of an altar", either of the altar alone or as the central part of the rite for a church. The rite is now called the [[Dedication (ritual)|dedication]].<ref>''[[Caeremoniale Episcoporum]]''. chapters IX–XI</ref><ref>''[[Roman Missal]]'', Ritual Masses for the Dedication of a Church and an Altar</ref>  Since it would be contradictory to dedicate to the service of God a mortgage-burdened building, the rite of solemn dedication of a church is carried out only if the building is debt-free.

==== Eucharist ====
{{See also|Anaphora (liturgy)}}
A very special act of consecration is that of the Eucharistic gifts bread and wine in the [[Holy Mass]], which according to [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] belief involves their change into the [[Body of Christ|Body]] and [[Blood of Christ]], a change referred to as [[transubstantiation]].