consecration
/ˌkɒnsɪˈkɹeɪʃən/
consecration means the act or ceremony of consecrating; the state of being consecrated; dedication.
consecration is pronounced /ˌkɒnsɪˈkɹeɪʃən/.
Why “consecration” is a great word
The formal ritual act of making a thing or person sacred, or the resulting state of being dedicated to a divine purpose. From the Latin cōnsecrātiō, cōnsecrātiōnem, from cōnsecrāre (to make sacred), from con- (together, thoroughly) + sacrāre (to make sacred), from sacer (sacred, holy). Unlike "dedication" (a broad commitment of purpose, often secular) or "sanctification" (a process of spiritual purification), consecration is the precise, ceremonial moment of transformation. It is the bishop’s anointing oil on cold stone, the silent bell before its first sacred toll, the plain vessel set apart from the common shelf to hold only wine and mystery—a human attempt to draw a permanent circle in the dust of the world.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin cōnsecrātiō, cōnsecrātiōnem.
noun
- The act or ceremony of consecrating; the state of being consecrated; dedication.e.g.“Inthronization, in ancient times, immediately succeeded the rite of consecration; the new bishop being honourably placed in his episcopal chair by the prelates assembled for his consecration.” — 1845, William Palmer, Origines Liturgicae, or, Antiquities of the English Ritual: And a Dissertation on Primitive Liturgies, 4th edition, volume 2, London: Francis & John Rivington, →OCLC, page 310:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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