Oratory (worship)

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In the Roman Catholic Church, an oratory is a semi-public place of worship, other than a parish church, constructed for the benefit of a group of persons (Code of Canon law, canon 1223).^[1] Other faithful may attend the church under certain circumstances. An oratory is more private than a church, since in a church everyone has a right to attend. It is, however, more public than a chapel since only the owners of a chapel have the right of entrance.

The oldest extant oratory is the Archiepiscopal Chapel in Ravenna (ca. 500). Orantories seem to have found their origin in chapels built in the sanctuaries of martyrs, for the faithful to assemble and pray on the spot.Oratorians are responsible for the construction of many oratories in Great Britain.

Saint Joseph's Oratory is the name of a Roman Catholic basilica in Montreal.

The term "Oratorians" also refers to the congregation of priests founded by St Philip Neri in Rome, Italy in 1575.

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