Church Documents PDF

CHURCH DOCUMENTS  OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAVE EVOLVED AND DIFFERENTIATED OVER TIME, BUT COMMONLY COMES FROM THE FOUR BASIC SOURCES   PAPAL DOCUMENTS  CHURCH COUNCIL DOCUMENTS  CURIAL DOCUMENTS  BISHOP’S DOCUMENTS PAPAL DOCUMENTS Issued directly...

CHURCH DOCUMENTS  OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAVE EVOLVED AND DIFFERENTIATED OVER TIME, BUT COMMONLY COMES FROM THE FOUR BASIC SOURCES   PAPAL DOCUMENTS  CHURCH COUNCIL DOCUMENTS  CURIAL DOCUMENTS  BISHOP’S DOCUMENTS PAPAL DOCUMENTS Issued directly by the pope under his own name.  PAPAL DOCUMENTS  At the top of the hierarchy of authoritative documents are apostolic constitutions and decrees issued by popes, such as the Second Vatican Council documents. The Catechism of the Catholic Church was presented by the apostolic constitution Fidei Depositum in 1992.  PAPAL DOCUMENTS  These documents, along with the Code of Canon Law (1983) have binding authority on the entire Church. These are legislative documents, containing dogmatic or doctrinal elements.  Papal teaching documents, encyclicals, apostolic letters, apostolic exhortations, and “motu proprio” documents expound or explain existing law.  PAPAL DOCUMENTS  Instructions, issued by Congregations, with the approval of the pope, likewise explain Council documents or decrees. Examples are the Instructions on the implementation of the Council’s Constitution on the Liturgy, “Sacrosanctum Concilium”.  PAPAL DOCUMENTS  A diocesan bishop has considerable freedom to adopt or adapt such guidelines as policies for his own diocese, however, which may give them an authority they do not otherwise possess.  PAPAL DOCUMENTS  Papal addresses and documents fall into certain recognized categories with levels of authority relative to each other. Below is a description of the major types of Papal documents, with those of higher weight near the top of the list. CHURCH COUNCIL DOCUMENTS Issued by ecumenical councils of the Church and now promulgated under the popes name, taking the same form as common types of papal documents.  Ecumenical council - The word "ecumenical" derives from the Late Latin oecumenicus “ general, universal", from Greek oikoumenikos “ from the whole world“  An ecumenical council (or oecumenical council; also general council)] is a conference of ecclesiastical dignitaries and theological experts convened to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice in which those entitled to vote are convoked from the whole world (oikoumene) and which secures the approbation of the whole Church Examples of ecumenical councils:  First Council of Nicaea (325)  First Council of Constantinople (381)  First Council of Ephesus (431)  Council of Chalcedon (451)  Second Council of Constantinople (553)  Third Council of Constantinople (680– 681)  Second Council of Nicaea (787) CURIAL DOCUMENTS Issued by offices of the Holy See but authorized by the pope BISHOPS DOCUMENTS Issued either by individual bishops or by national conferences of bishops. PAPAL DOCUMENTS DECRETAL LETTER Once a common papal document, decretals are now restricted to dogmatic definitions and more commonly proclamation of canonizations and beatifications. APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION Apostolic constitutions are considered the most solemn kind of documents issued by a pope in his own name. constitutions can define dogmas but also alter cannon law or erect new ecclesiastical structures.  Since 1911 they have also been used for the establishment of dioceses and provinces. Many important documents have been promulgated as constitutions, including The Code of Canon Law. ENCYCLICAL LETTER Encyclicals are the second most important papal documents, exhorting the faithful on a doctrinal issue. Its title taken from its first few words in Latin, an encyclical is typically addressed to the bishops but intended for instruction of Catholic at large. APOSTOLIC LETTER Apostolic letters are issued by popes to address Administrative questions, such as approving religious institutes, but have also been used exhort the faithful on doctrinal issues. MOTU PROPRIO A Motu Propopio is a degree issued by the pope on his own initiative. A motu proprio can enact administrative decisions, or alter Church law (but not doctrine).  PAPAL BULL  A bull is a formal papal document authenticated with a bulla or seal. Originally, metal was used for the seal, but today metal is used only for the most solemn bulls.  Bulls typically begin with the issuing pope's name and the phrase, "episcopus servus servorum Dei", and conclude with the date. The content may cover any topic. Many important papal documents are issued as bulls. Bulls are generally cited using the first words of their text. BISHOPS’ DOCUMENTS BISHOPS DOCUMENTS Issued either by individual bishops or by national conferences of bishops.  National bishops’ conferences were formally established by the Vatican II. Bishops conferences issue pastoral letters, explaining how Church teaching is to be put into effect in the relevant country. To have authority, however, such letters must be consistent with the teaching of the universal church; they must also receive official confirmation from the Holy See by means of a recognito from the relevant curial office.  Statements issued by an individual bishop only have authority within that bishop’s diocese, and only provided that such statements do not conflict with the Church’s universal law and teaching. PASTORAL LETTER  A letter made by the bishop concerning the current issues and pressing needs of the local church.  A pastoral letter, often called simply a pastoral, is an open letter addressed by a bishop to the clergy or laity of a diocese or to both, containing general admonition, instruction or consolation, or directions for behaviour in particular circumstances. In the Catholic Church, such letters are also sent out regularly at particular ecclesiastical seasons, particularly at the beginning of fasts In most episcopal church bodies, clerics are often required to read out pastoral letters of superior bishops to their congregations. CIRCULAR LETTER  It is a written document of a particular bishop in a diocese which concerns with the laws and guidelines of the local church or diocese.