British Empire - Master of the Ceremonies.Historically certain European royal courts maintained senior offices known as Masters of Ceremonies (or some variants thereof), responsible for conducting stately ceremonies such as coronations and receptions of foreign ambassadors. The current papal Master of Ceremonies is Monsignor Guido Marini who succeeded Archbishop Piero Marini to whom he is not related. At major festivities such as Christmas and Easter, when the liturgies are long and complex, the Master of Ceremonies plays a vital role in ensuring that everything runs smoothly. He may also have responsibility for the physical security of the place of worship during the liturgy. the court, the rituals and norms) were simplified or completely eliminated by Pope Paul VI in the 1970s after Vatican II much of the Renaissance pomp and ceremony has been completely abandoned by the popes of the modern era.ДЄt a large Catholic church or cathedral, the Master of Ceremonies organises and rehearses the proceedings and ritual of each mass. The accumulation of elaboration and complication since the Renaissance and Baroque eras were carried well into the 20th century until some of the ceremonies (i.e. The ceremonies and practices of the Byzantine emperors are also known to have influenced the papal court. However, documentary evidence from the late Roman period are scarce or lost. It is reasonable to assume that the ceremonials themselves pre-date Gelasius I and the origins of the Master of Ceremonies may have developed from the time Emperor Constantine the Great gave the Lateran Palace to the popes (324) or from the time Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire (380), and was influenced no doubt by imperial practices, customs and norms. The rules and rituals themselves are known to have been compiled or written by the pontifical masters of ceremonies whose contents date back to the time of Pope Gelasius I (492-496) with modifications and additions made by Pope Gregory the Great (590-604). However, copies of books prescribing the forms of rituals, rites and customs of pontifical ceremonies are known to have been given to Charles Martel in the 8th century. Names of Masters of Ceremonies are known since the late Middle Ages (15th century) and the Renaissance (16th century).

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the most ancient ceremonials and rituals of the Catholic Church are the so-called Ordines Romani. The office of the Master of Ceremonies itself is very old.

Examples of official liturgical books prescribing the rules and regulations of liturgical celebrations are CГ¦remoniale Romanum and CГ¦remoniale Episcoporum. He may also be an official involved in the properr conduct of protocols and ceremonials involving the Roman Pontiff, the Papal Court, and other dignitaries and potentates. The Master of Ceremonies is an official of the Papal Court responsible for the proper and smooth conduct of the elegant and elaborate rituals involving the Pope and the Sacred Liturgy. The term originates from the Catholic Church. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. This section needs additional citations for verification.

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