Churches and other places of worship should therefore be suited to celebrating the liturgy and th ensuring the active participation of the faithful. Further, the places and requisites for worship should be truly worthy and beautiful, signs and symbols of heavenly realities. At all times, therefore, the Church seeks out the service of the arts and welcomes the artistic expressions of all peoples and regions. It strives as well to promote new works of art that appeal to a contemporary mentality. In commissioning artists and choosing works of art that are to become part of a church, the highest artistic standard is therefore to be set, in order that art may aid faith and devotion and be true to the reality it is to symbolize and the purpose it is to serve.
All churches are to be solemnly dedicated or at least blessed.
But cathedral and parish churches are always to be dedicated. The faithful should give due honor to the cathedral of their diocese and to their own church as symbols of the spiritual Church that their Christian vocation commits them to build up and extend. All who are involved in the construction, restoration, and remodeling of churches are to consult the diocesan commission on liturgy and art. The local Ordinary is to use the council and help of this commission whenever it comes to laying down norms on this matter, approving plans for new buildings, and making decisions on the more important issues. Back one page.