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The cathedral is to the local diocese what the Vatican is to the universal Church. The cathedral is the official church of the diocese where the bishop’s chair resides, and his chair (cathedra in Latin) is a symbol of his authority as a successor to the apostles.

Ironically, St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where the pope celebrates most of his Masses, isn’t technically the pope’s cathedral church. The cathedral for the diocese of Rome is actually St. John Lateran, where the popes originally lived before moving to the Vatican in the 14th century.

Bishops celebrate most Masses at the cathedral church. In addition, it’s often the place where the Chrism Mass (also known as the Mass of the Oils) takes place — unless the bishop decides to have it elsewhere in the diocese. (Curious? See the sidebar “Nope, the Mass of the Oils has nothing to do with your car’s engine” for details about this special Mass.)

Cathedrals also have daily and weekly Mass like other parishes, as well as weddings, funerals, baptisms, and such. But the pride of the cathedral is in the ordinations to the episcopacy, priesthood, or diaconate, as well as the Chrism Mass. (For more on ordination and Holy Orders, see Chapter 9.)

Note: Only the bishop may sit in his cathedra, so any other priest celebrating Mass must use another chair.