Pontifical

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Pontifical. The liturgical book of the W. Church containing the prayers and ceremonies for rites used by a bishop, e.g. Confirmation and Ordinations; it does not, however, contain the Pontifical Mass. A Pontifical probably put together at Mainz in the 10th cent. gained acceptance throughout Europe and was received at Rome; the books based on this gave place in the 14th cent. to a clearly arranged private compilation made c.1293–5 by William Durandus, Bp. of Mende. His work was the basis of the authoritative edition issued by Clement VIII in 1596. A new Pontifical (less complete in its coverage) was issued in 1978; some additional texts for the revised rites have appeared since.

pon·tif·i·cal / pänˈtifikəl/ • adj. 1. (in the Roman Catholic Church) of or relating to the pope: a pontifical commission. 2. characterized by a pompous and superior air of infallibility: such explanations were greeted with pontifical disdain. • n. rare (in the Roman Catholic Church) an office book of the Western Church containing rites to be performed by the pope or bishops. ∎  (pontificals) the vestments and insignia of a bishop, cardinal, or abbot: a bishop in full pontificals. DERIVATIVES: pon·tif·i·cal·ly / -ik(ə)lē/ adv.

Pontifical. The liturgical book in the Roman Catholic Church which contains the prayers and ceremonies for rites involving a bishop.

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