CHAPTER II. Oratories and Private Chapels

Can. 1223 By the term oratory is understood a place for divine worship designated by permission of the ordinary for

the benefit of some community or group of the faithful who gather in it and to which other members of the faithful

can also come with the consent of the competent superior.

Can. 1224 §1. The ordinary is not to grant the permission required to establish an oratory unless he has first visited

the place destined for the oratory personally or through another and has found it properly prepared.

§2. After permission has been given, however, an oratory cannot be converted to profane use without the

authority of the same ordinary.

Can. 1225 All sacred celebrations can be performed in legitimately established oratories except those which the law

or a prescript of the local ordinary excludes or the liturgical norms prohibit.

Can. 1226 By the term private chapel is understood a place for divine worship designated by permission of the local

ordinary for the benefit of one or more physical persons.

Can. 1227 Bishops can establish a private chapel for themselves which possesses the same rights as an oratory.

Can. 1228 Without prejudice to the prescript of can. 1227, the permission of the local ordinary is required for Mass

or other sacred celebrations to take place in any private chapel.

Can. 1229 It is fitting for oratories and private chapels to be blessed according to the rite prescribed in the liturgical

books. They must, however, be reserved for divine worship alone and free from all domestic uses.