Octave.—The eighth day after a Festival. The intervening days are said to be "of" or within its Octave and partake of the character of the Festival. The only Feasts mentioned in the Prayer Book, having an Octave as of obligation are Christmas, Easter, Ascension and Whitsun Day, each being honored with a Proper Preface in the Communion Office which is to be used each day during the week. Trinity Sunday was formerly the Octave of Whitsun Day, and probably for this reason its Proper Preface is not repeated during the week.
Offertory, The.—That portion of the Communion service during which the alms of the people, and the Bread and the Wine are received and solemnly presented on the Altar. The word "offertory" is often {200} wrongly applied to the offerings, a mistake which should be carefully avoided. It is to be noted that The Offertory is an important part of worship. It is not an impertinence, but stands in the line of duties along side of prayer and singing. To give money each time you go to church, and in the appointed way will bring blessings from God. Pew rent is not "giving" in this sense, any more than paying the butter bill or for a seat at the opera house. We refer to the offering to God for religious or charitable purposes, regularly through the Offertory in church. So your alms will go up with your prayers as a memorial before God.
Offertory Sentences.—In the old Liturgies there was formerly a short anthem after the Gospel, called Offertorium; for this in our Liturgy has been substituted the "Offertory Sentences," being short selections from Holy Scripture setting forth "instructions, injunctions and exhortations to the great duty of giving; setting before us the necessity of performing it and the manner of doing it."
Office.—The term "office," in ecclesiastical usage, means a formulary of devotions; a form of service appointed for a particular occasion; a prescribed form or act of worship; thus the Daily Morning and Evening Prayer are called the "Daily Offices." The word is commonly used of the various services set forth in the Prayer Book, as "Baptismal Office," "Communion Office," etc.
Open Churches.—(See FREE AND OPEN CHURCHES.)
Ordain, Ordination.—The act of setting apart to the Sacred Ministry and whereby {201} the grace of Orders is conferred. The right or power to ordain belongs solely to the Bishop and this he does with prayer and Laying on of Hands. (See IMPOSITION OF HANDS.) The times of Ordination prescribed by Canon Law are the Sundays after the EMBER DAYS (which see). These became the settled times of Ordination as early as the Fourth or Fifth Century. But the Bishops are privileged to ordain at other times if necessity require.
Order.—The word "Order" as used in the Prayer Book means regulation or ordinance, according to its derivation from the Latin word ordo. This is seen in the title of the Communion Office which reads, "The Order for the Administration of the Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion," i.e., the prescribed way in which the Holy Communion shall be celebrated. So, also, of all other services; the Prayer Book sets forth the order or manner in which they shall be ministered, and such they are called.
Orders, Holy.—(See HOLY ORDERS.)
Ordinal, The.—The name given to that portion of the Prayer Book containing the Offices for the consecration of Bishops and the ordination of Priests and Deacons. The Ordinal being what it is, is very properly prefaced with a statement of the witness of history to the fact "that from the Apostles' time there have been these Orders of Ministers in Christ's Church—Bishops, Priests and Deacons." It is interesting to note that "our Ordinal was not taken word for word from the Roman Pontifical, but was framed on the comprehensive and broad ground of all known forms and manners of Ordination used in all branches of the {202} Catholic Church." The Ordinal is also sometimes called "The Pontifical."
Ordinary.—The name given to the Bishop of the Diocese, or other ecclesiastical authority who has ordinary jurisdiction.