Sacral device
Sacred device (Latin: vasa sacra ) is a term from the field of silversmiths . It includes the utensils that are used in the liturgy . Vasa sacra are mainly made of precious metal or other precious materials, such as ivory . Sacred equipment is used primarily for the dispensing of the sacraments in the Roman Catholic , Anglican , Old Catholic , Protestant and Orthodox churches .
protection
The vasa sacra are often valuable objects. Because of their proximity to the acts of worship, sometimes also because of their origin and history, they are of particular ideal value for the faithful. The legal system in Germany takes this into account. For example, Section 243 of the Criminal Code knows the rule example of church theft , a particularly serious case of theft. The state also has increased protection for the so-called res sacrae . Sometimes it is a matter of public matters because religious communities can dedicate them as a public matter through a church administrative act .
Examples
The sacred devices include:
- Asterisk
- Aquamanile
- Aspergillus
- Altar cross
- Altar bells
- Dikirion
- Trikirion
- Fistula
- Vessels for the sacred oils
- Paten
- Chalice
- chandelier
- Goblet spoon
- Measuring jug
- paten
- Baptismal shell , baptismal font
- Lecture cross
- Censer
- Incense boat
- Wine can
literature
- Sigmund Benker: Liturgical implements, crosses and reliquaries of the Christian churches / Objets liturgiques, croix et reliquaires des eglises chretiennes. Systematic specialist dictionary (= Glossarium Artis . Volume 2 ). Walter de Gruyter, Berlin 1972, ISBN 3-11-150153-1 ( limited preview in the Google book search).
- Adolf Reinle : The equipment of German churches in the Middle Ages. Darmstadt 1988, ISBN 3-534-08803-4 .
- Christhard Mahrenholz : The liturgical objects and devices of the church interior (= liturgical guidelines for the Evangelical Lutheran regional church of Hanover. Volume 3). Hanover 1949.