WHAT IS A BASILICA?

ba·sil·i·ca /bə s̍ilikə/

A large oblong hall or building with double colonnades and a semicircular

apse, used in ancient Rome as a court of law

A similar building used as a Christian church – usually built at the center

of a town

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A

BASILICA & A CATHEDRAL

Unlike regular churches, basilicas have special trappings as

traditional emblems of their basilica-ness. One is the

conopaeum, an umbrella-like fixture with silk panels of red and

yellow, symbolically used to shelter His Holiness in the event of

a visit. More important, each Catholic basilica has a door

designated as its “holy door.” This door, being holy and all, is

opened only on special occasions. Hence, it was a pretty big

deal when Pope John Paul II ordered all the holy doors open for

the entire year 2000. (We can only imagine the ungodly heating

bills.)

To add a pinch more confusion: Some basilicas are also

cathedrals. A cathedral is the home church of a bishop or

archbishop.

Read the full text here: http://www.mentalfloss.com/difference/cathedral-vs-basilica-vs-shrine/#ixzz1pmdpZORh

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LET’S EXPLORE THE BALTIMORE BASILICA

The Baltimore Basilica | 409 Cathedral Street |

Baltimore, MD 21201

Phone: 410-727-3565 | Fax: 410-539-0407

Contact Us | Site Map

|webmaster@baltimorebasilica.org

LET’S REVIEW THE SCHEDULE FOR TOMORROW

• NO ELECTRONICS WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE FIELD TRIP!!!

• We will be leaving school at 9:00 a.m. and returning to school no later

than 2:30 p.m. (God Willing)

• You should wear your school uniform

• Please feel free to bring money for a small gift in the gift shop. – If you

don’t have your own rosary, crucifix, or other religious item that you’ve

always wanted, now would be a good time to purchase one. Talk to

your parents about this!

• You should pack a bag lunch!

• Any Questions?