Rail.—(See ALTAR RAIL.)
Ratification, The.—The American Prayer-book having been set forth, it was duly ratified by the action of the General Convention on October 16th, 1789, and the certificate of such ratification appears in every copy of the Prayer-book, declaring "it to be the Liturgy of this Church," and requiring "that it be received as such by all the members of the same."
Real Presence.—The name given to the Church's doctrine concerning Christ's Presence in the Holy Eucharist. The term "Real Presence" is intended to signify that the Presence of our Lord in this Sacrament is a reality; that while His Presence is spiritual, it is none the less real, and not simply figurative. The sacrament is not a mere sign or token of an absent {225} Christ. It is a great deal more. As it is Christ who invites, bids and calls us to this Feast and provides the spiritual food for it, it would be strange indeed if we were uncertain whether He is there to receive us and to feed us; and if He is present, His Presence must be very real. Under the outward form of Bread and Wine we have the Scriptural warrant to believe that the Body and the Blood of Christ are given, taken and received verily and indeed by the faithful in the Lord's Supper, to the strengthening and refreshing of their souls,—as declared in the Church Catechism and the Twenty-eighth Article of Religion. Being assured of this fact, it is useless and only fruitful in doubt and perplexity, to speculate upon the manner of this Presence, which is a Mystery of the Gospel; as such the Church has received and taught it, but has never explained or defined. This being the attitude of the Church, it will be our wisdom to say of this Mystery:
"Christ was the Word that spake it;
He took the Bread and brake it,
And what that Word did make it,
That I believe and take it."
Reception into the Church.—(See BAPTISM, PRIVATE.)
Recessional.—The name given to the retiring of choir and clergy in due order after a church service. Some objection has been raised to this use of the word, but as nothing better has been substituted for it, the word continues in use. {226}
Rector.—The official title of the Priest who has charge of a Parish and as such is its ruler, guide and director. The word means "one who rules." Like other organizations, the Parish must have a head, and by the canons of the Church, the Rector is head of the Parish. As such he is ex officio head of all its organizations. He is the presiding officer at all Vestry meetings, superintendent of the Sunday-school, and President of all Guilds, Brotherhoods and other parochial societies. These offices he may delegate to others, but ex officio the Rector is head of all, and all that may be done in the parish is to be done with reference to his consent and approval.
Rectory.—The house owned by the parish, intended for the use of the
Rector as his home.
Red Letter Days.—Those Festivals of the Church for which Collect, Epistle and Gospel are provided in the Prayer-book. They are so called from having been printed in the Calendar in red letters. The words have passed into popular use to denote any notably auspicious or favorable day; a day to be remembered.
Refreshment Sunday.—The Fourth Sunday in Lent is so called from the Gospel for the day, which relates the feeding of the five thousand by our Lord in the wilderness. As the late Bishop Coxe pointed out in his "Thoughts on the Services," "having thus far (in the Lenten services) considered the havoc of sin, we come now to consider its repair; and because the sufficiency of Christ to refresh and satisfy our hunger and thirst after righteousness is exhibited in the Gospel for this day. It has little of the austere character of the other Sundays in Lent; and its design is the {227} encouragement of catechumens and penitents." (See FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT; also LENT, SUNDAYS IN.)