Papal Chapel

PAPAL CHAPEL. - This name designates those solemn sacred functions: vespers, matins, pontifical Masses and other sacred ceremonies that are performed by the Pope in person or with his assistance, or that, in his absence, are carried out with the same ceremonial as if he were participating in them.

For these functions the Sistine Chapel, so called because it was erected by Sixtus IV, is now destined in a particular and ordinary way; but on the greater solemnities they take place in the patriarchal basilicas, or in other churches in honor of some more venerated saint. Such c. [chapels] can be ordinary if they take place according to a pre-established calendar; extraordinary when they are convoked by disposition of the pope on some special occasion. In both cases the Curia suspends the transaction of business on those days. The c. p. is composed of the cardinals, the patriarchs, archbishops and bishops, assistants or not assistants to the Pontifical Throne, present in the Curia, of the prince assistant to the Throne, of the four prelates of the fiocchetto, of the assessors and secretaries of the Roman SS. Congregations, of the grand master of the Sacred Hospice, of the apostolic protonotaries, of the generals of the regular religious Orders, of the auditors of the S. R. Rota, of the clerics of the R. Apostolic Chamber, of the voters of the Segnatura, of the consistorial advocates, of the procurators of the regular Orders and of the S. Apostolic Palace, of the chamberlains and secret chaplains, etc. The members of the c. p. receive through the apostolic couriers the summons to attend it. In ancient times the divine service with singing was held in the papal palace every day, and on feasts bishops and cardinals celebrated the pontifical Mass according to the solemnity of the day, and the familiars of the palace, those of the cardinals, the ambassadors, foreigners, etc., attended it. In Advent, in Lent, on certain solemnities a sermon was also held in the c. p., entrusted to religious or to ecclesiastics, sometimes also (especially in the last centuries) to pupils of the various ecclesiastical colleges. During the 19th century the liturgical service in the chapel ceased to be daily and was limited to certain circumstances and special solemnities; the sermon is held on the Fridays of Advent and of Lent and on Good Friday.

Guglielmo Felici