Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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VESTIBULE

Originally an entrance courtyard, and later any entrance to a place. Now commonly applied to the anteroom of a church between the outer doors and the church edifice proper. In Catholic churches the vestibule is fairly spacious, depending on the size of the building, and provides room for book or pamphlet racks, bulletin boards, often the holy water fonts, and such notices as provide information to the worshippers either before or after they have attended divine services or engaged in private devotions before the Blessed Sacrament in the church proper.