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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PONTIFICALS

The marks of dignity used by cardinals and bishops at Mass and other offices of the Church when celebrating with full solemnity. Abbots may also use pontificals, but only at the Eucharistic liturgy in their monasteries. The common pontificals have included buskins, sandals, gloves, dalmatic, tunicle, ring, pectoral cross, and miter. Among the specific pontificals for certain persons are the crosier, gremial, pallium, and archiepiscopal processional cross.