Ceremonial of Bishops is the Roman liturgical book governing celebrations at which a bishop presides, especially in the cathedral and local church.[1]
Episcopal liturgy
The Caeremoniale Episcoporum was revised after Vatican II and published in a typical edition in 1984. It treats episcopal insignia, ministers, the cathedral, stational Masses, the Liturgy of the Hours, sacraments, sacramentals, the liturgical year, and other solemn celebrations.[2]
Its purpose is ecclesiological as well as ceremonial: liturgy around the diocesan bishop with presbyters, deacons, ministers, and faithful manifests the local church gathered in communion.
Relationship to other books
The Ceremonial coordinates and supplements the Missal, Pontifical, Lectionary, and other rites; it does not replace their proper texts or authorize arbitrary elaboration. Many of its principles guide solemn parish liturgy by analogy, but norms explicitly tied to the bishop or cathedral should not be imitated as though every priest were a bishop.
References
- 1.General Instruction of the Roman Missal, chapter IV — Official norms referring episcopal celebrations to the Ceremonial of Bishops
- 2.Year of the Eucharist: Liturgical Books — Holy See directory identifying the 1984 typical edition among the Roman liturgical books