Ritual

Ritual (Lat. rituale, 'book of rites'), the name of one of the service-books of the Roman Church, in which are contained the prayers and order of ceremonial employed in the administration of certain of the sacraments (communion out of Mass, baptism, penance, marriage, extreme unction) and other priestly offices of the church, forms for churchlings, burials, and blessing. In its present form it dates from the Council of Trent, which directed a revision of all the different rituals then in existence (also known as manuale, sacerdotale, &c.), which were numerous, and exhibited considerable variety of detail. Paul V., in 1614, published an authoritative edition, which has frequently been reprinted, and of which a further revision was issued by Benedict XIV. Besides the Roman Ritual there are many diocesan rituals, some of which are of much historical interest. In the Greek Church, as in the other eastern communions, the Ritual forms part of the general collection (which contains also the Eucharistic service) entitled Euchologion. In the Anglican Church the Book of Common Prayer may be said to contain the Ritual. The most approved commentary on the Roman Ritual is that of Barrufaldo (3d ed. 1763).