INTRODUCTION

SANCTA SEDES

omnia sibi vindicat iura. Nemini liceat, sine venia Sanctae Sedis, hunc codicem denuo imprimere aut in aliam linguam vertere.

The Holy See reserves all rights to itself. No one is permitted without the knowledge of the Holy See to reprint this code or to translate it into another language.

In keeping with n. 3 of the Norms issued by the Cardinal Secretary of State on January 28, 1983, this translation has been approved by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Latin text is printed with permission of the Holy See and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Nihil obstat Most Rev. Anthony M. Pilla, President

National Conference of Catholic Bishops

Imprimatur Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D., V.G.

Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington

This translation, foreword, and index © copyright 1998 by Canon Law Society of America.

All rights reserved. No part of this book maybe reproduced in any manner without permission in writing from the respective copyright holders, except for brief quotations in critical reviews and articles.

Case binding: isbn 0-943616-79-4

LC number 99-093240

Canon Law Society of America

Washington, DC 20064

san 237-6296

1999 First Printing

The Canon Law Society of America graciously gave permission to include this translation of the Code of Canon Law on this CD.

ABBREVIATIONS AND SIGLA

AA Decr. Apostolicam actuositatem, 18 nov. 1965 (AAS 59 [1966] 837-864)

AAS Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Commentarium officiale

Adh. Adhortatio

AG Decr. Ad gentes, 7 dec. 1965 (AAS 58 [1966] 947-990)

AIE SCRIS Decr. Ad instituenda experimenta, 4 iun. 1970 (AAS 62 [1970] 549-550)

All. Allocutio

AP Paulus PP. VI, m.p. Ad pascendum, 15 aug. 1972 (AAS 64 [1972] 534-540)

Ap. Apostolica

art. Articulus

AS Paulus PP. VI, m.p. Apostolica sollicitudo, 15 sept. 1965 (AAS 57 [1965] 775-780)

c./cc. Canon / canones, Codex Iuris Canonici, 1917

CA Sec Rescr. Cum admotae, 6 nov. 1964 (AAS 59 [1967] 374-378)

CAl Pius PP. XII, m.p. Crebrae allatae, 22 febr. 1949 (AAS 31 [1949] 89-117)

can. / cann. Canon / canones, Codex Iuris Canonici Orientalis

cap. Caput

CC Pius PP. XI, Enc. Casti connubii, 31 dec. 1930 (AAS 22 [1930] 539-592)

CD Decr. Christus Dominus, 28 oct. 1965 (AAS 58 [1966] 673-696)

CE Paulus PP. VI, m.p. Catholica Ecclesia, 23 oct. 1976 (AAS 68 [1976] 694-696)

CEM De Sacra Communione et de Cultu Mysterii Eucharistici extra Missam, 1973

circ. Circulares

CI Pontificia Commissio ad Codicis Canones Authentice Interpretandos

CICS Pontificium Consilium Instrumentis Communicationis Socialis Praepositum

CIP Pontificia Commissio a Iustitia et Pace

CIV Pontificia Commissio Decretis Concilii Vaticani II interpretandis

CM Paulus PP. VI, m.p. Causas matrimoniales, 28 mar. 1971 (AAS 63 [1971] 441-446)

CMat Paulus PP. VI, m.p. Cum matrimonialium, 8 sep. 1973 (AAS 65 [1973] 577-581)

Const. Constitutio

CPEN Consilium a Publicis Ecclesiae Negotiis (a 1-I-1968)

CS Pius PP. XII, m.p. Cleri sanctitati, 2 iun. 1957 (AAS 49 [1957] 433-600)

CSan SCR Instr. Cum Sanctissimus, 19 mar. 1948 (AAS 40 [1948] 293-297)

CT Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Litt. Catechesi Tradendae, 16 oct. 1979 (AAS 71 [1979] 1277-1340)

DCG SCpC Directorium catechisticum generale, 11 apr. 1971 (AAS 64 [1972] 97-176)

Decl. Declaratio

Decr. Decretum

DH Decl. Dignitatis humanae, 7 dec. 1965 (AAS 58 [1966] 929-946)

DO SCUF Directorium Oecumenicum, I: 14 maii 1967 (AAS 59 [1967] 574-592); II: 16 apr. 1970 (AAS 62 [1970] 705-724)

DPME SCE Directorium de pastorali ministerio Episcoporum, 22 feb. 1973

DS Denzinger-Schˆnmetzer, Enchiridion Symbolorum Definitionum et Declarationum de rebus fidei et morum, ed. 33, 1965

DSD Pius PP. XI, Const. Ap. Deus scientiarum Dominus, 24 maii 1931 (AAS 23 [1931] 241-262)

DV Const. Dogmatica Dei Verbum, 18 nov. 1965 (AAS 58 [1966] 817-835)

EcS Paulus PP. VI, Enc. Ecclesiam Suam, 6 aug. 1964 (AAS 56 [1964] 609-659)

EM Paulus PP. VI, m.p. De Episcoporum muneribus, 15 iun. 1966 (AAS 58 [1966] 467-472)

Emys SRC Instr. Eucharisticum mysterium, 25 maii 1967 (AAS 59 [1967] 539-573)

EN Paulus PP. VI, Adh. Ap. Evangelii nuntiandi, 8 dec. 1975 (AAS 68 [1976] 5-76)

Enc. Encyclica

Ep. Epistula

EP SCDF Decr. Ecclesiae Pastorum, 19 mar. 1975 (AAS 67 [1975] 281-284)

ES Paulus PP. VI, m.p. Ecclesiae Sanctae, 6 aug. 1966 (AAS 58 [1966] 757-787)

ET Paulus PP. VI, Adh. Ap. Evangelica testificatio, 29 iun. 1971 (AAS 63 [1971] 497-526)

facul. Facultas, facultates

FC Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Adh. Ap. Familiaris Consortio, 22 nov. 1981 (AAS 74 [1982] 81-191)

GE Decl. Gravissimum Educationis, 28 oct. 1965 (AAS 58 [1966] 728-739)

gen. Generalis

GS Const. pastoralis Gaudium et Spes, 7 dec. 1966 (AAS 58 [1966] 1025-1115)

Hom. Homilia

HV Paulus PP. VI, Enc. Humanae vitae, 25 iul. 1968 (AAS 60 [1968] 481-503)

IC SCDS Instr. Immensae caritatis, 29 ian. 1973 (AAS 65 [1973] 264-271)

ID SCSCD Instr. Inaestimabile donum, 3 apr. 1980 (AAS 72 [1980] 331-343)

IOe SRC Instr. Inter Oecumenici, 26 sept. 1964 (AAS 56 [1964] 877-900)

IGLH Institutio Generalis de Liturgia Horarum, 11 apr. 1971

IGMR Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, 26 mar. 1970

IM Decr. Inter mirifica, 4 dec. 1963 (AAS 56 [1964] 145-157)

Ind. Indultum

Instr. Instructio

LG Const. dogmatica Lumen gentium, 21 nov. 1964 (AAS 57 [1965] 5-75)

Litt. Litterae

LMR SCRIS Life and Mission of Religious in the Church (Plenaria of SCRIS) 20 aug.1980

l.s. Latae sententiae

MC Pius PP. XII, Enc. Mystici Corporis, 29 iun. 1943 (AAS 35 [1943] 193-248)

MD Pius PP. XII, Enc. Mediator Dei, 20 nov. 1947 (AAS 39 [1947] 521-600)

MF Paulus PP. VI, Enc. Mysterium fidei, 3 sep. 1965 (AAS 57 [1965] 753-774)

MG Paulus PP. VI, All. Magno gaudio, 23 maii 1964 (AAS 56 [1964] 565-571)

MM Paulus PP. VI, m.p. Matrimonia mixta, 31 mar. 1970 (AAS 62 [1970] 257-263)

m.p. Litt. Ap. Motu proprio datae

MQ Paulus PP. VI, m.p. Ministeria quaedam, 15 aug. 1972 (AAS 64 [1972] 529-534)

MR SCRIS et SCE, Normae Mutuae Relationes, 14 maii 1978 (AAS 70 [1978] 473-506)

MS SCDF Instr. Matrimonii sacramentum, 18 mar. 1966 (AAS 58 [1966] 235-239)

nep LG nota explicativa praevia

Notif. Notificatio

NPEM CPEN Normae de promovendis ad Episcopale ministerium in Ecclesia Latina, 25 mar. 1972 (AAS 64 [1972] 386-391)

NSRR Pius PP. XI, Normae Sacrae Romanae Rotae Tribunalis, 29 iun. 1934 (AAS 26 [1934] 449-491)

NSSA Normae speciales in Supremo Tribunali Signaturae Apsotolicae ad experimentum servandae, 23 mar. 1968

OBP Ordo Baptismi parvulorum, 10 iun 1969

OC Ordo Confirmationis, 22 aug. 1971

OChr SCpC Litt. circ. Omnes christifideles, 25 ian. 1973

OCM Ordo Celebrandi Matrimonium, 19 mar. 1969

ODE Ordo Dedicationis Ecclesiae et Altaris, 29 maii 1977

OE Decr. Orientalium Ecclesiarum, 21 nov. 1964 (AAS 57 [1965] 76-89)

OEx Ordo Exequiarum, 15 aug. 1969

OICA Ordo Initiationis Christianae Adultorum, 1 iun. 1974

OP Ordo Paenitentiae, 2 dec. 1973

Ord. Ordinarius

OS (1966) Sec. Ordo Synodi Episcoporum celebrandae promulgatur a Summo Pontifice approbatus, 8 dec. 1966 (AAS 59 [1967] 91-103)

OS (1969) CPEN Ordo Synodi Episcoporum celebrandae recognitus et auctus, 24 iun. 1969 (AAS 61 [1969] 525-539)

OS (1971) CPEN Ordo Synodi Episcoporum celebrandae recognitus et auctus nonnullis additamentis perficitur, 20 aug. 1971 (AAS 63 [1971] 702-704)

OT Decr. Optatam totius, 28 oct. 1965 (AAS 58 [1966] 713-727)

OUI Ordo Unctionis infirmorum eorumque Pastoralis Curae, 7 dec. 1972

PA SCpC Notae directivae Postquam Apostoli, 25 mar. 1980 (AAS 72 [1980] 343-364)

Paen. Paulus PP. VI, Const. Ap. Paenitemini, 17 feb. 1966 (AAS 58 [1966] 177-185)

part. Particularis

PC Decr. Perfectae caritatis, 28 oct. 1965 (AAS 58 [1966] 702-712)

PCCICOR Pontificia Commissio Codici Iuris Canonici Orientalis Recognoscendo

PCCICR Pontificia Commissio Codici Iuris Canonici Recognoscendo

PF Pius PP. XII, m.p. Primo feliciter, 12 mar. 1948 (AAS 450 [1948] 283-286)

PL Migne, Patrologia latina

PM Paulus PP. VI, m.p. Pastorale Munus, 30 nov. 1963 (AAS 56 [1964] 5-12)

PME Pius PP. XII, Const. Ap. Provida Mater Ecclesia, 2 feb. 1947 (AAS 39 [1947]

114-124)

PO Decr. Presbyterorum Ordinis, 7 dec. 1965 (AAS 58 [1966] 991-1024)

p. / pp. Pagella / pagellae

PR Pontificale Romanum

Prae. Praenotanda

Principia SE Normae, Principia quae Codicis Iuris Canonici recognitionem dirigant (Communicationes 1

[1969] 77-86)

PrM SCDS Instr. Provida Mater, 15 aug. 1936 (AAS 28 [1936] 313-361)

PS SCpC Litt. circ. Presbyteri sacra, 11 apr. 1970 (AAS 62 [1970] 459-465)

RC SCRIS Instr. Renovationis causam, 6 ian. 1969 (AAS 61 [1969] 103-120)

Rescr. Rescriptum

Resol. Resolutio

Resp. Responsum

REU Paulus PP. VI, Const. Ap. Regimini Ecclesiae Universae, 15 aug. 1967 (AAS 59 [1967] 885-928)

RFS SCIC Ratio fundamentalis institutionis sacerdotalis, 6 ian. 1970 (AAS 62 [1970] 321-384)

RH Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Enc. Redemptor hominis, 4 mar. 1979 (AAS 71 [1979] 257-324)

RPE Paulus PP. VI, Const. Ap. Romano Pontifici eligendo, 1 oct. 1975 (AAS 67 [1975] 609-645)

SA Supremum Tribunal Signaturae Apostolicae

SAr SCSO Instr. Sacrae artis, 30 iun. 1952 (AAS 44 [1952] 542-546)

SC Const. Sacrosanctum Concilium, 4 dec. 1963 (AAS 56 [1964] 97-138)

SCC Sacra Congregatio Concistorialis (usque ad 31-xii-1967)

SCConc Sacra Congregatio Concilii (usque ad 31-xii-1967)

SCCD Sacra Congregatio pro Cultu Divino (a 8-v-1969 usque ad 11-vii-1975)

SCDF Sacra Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei (a 7-xii-1965)

SCDS Sacra Congregatio de Disciplina Sacramentorum (usque ad 11-vii-1975)

SCE Sacra Congregatio pro Episcopis (a 1-i-1968)

SCEO Sacra Congregatio pro Ecclesia Orientali (usque ad 31-xii-1967) / pro Ecclesiis

Orientalibus (a 1-i-1968)

SCGE Sacra Congregatio pro Gentium Evangelizatione seu de Propraganda Fide (a 1-i-1968)

SCh Ioannes Paulus PP. II. Const. Ap. Sapientia christiana, 15 apr. 1979 (AAS 71 [1979] 469-499)

SCIC Sacra Congregatio pro Institutione Catholica (a 1-i-1968)

SCNE Sacra Congregatio pro Negotiis Ecclesiasticis Extraordinariis (usque ad 31-xii-1967)

SCong SCR Normae Sacra Congregatio, 7 iul. 1956

SCpC Sacra Congregatio pro Clericis (a 1-i-1968)

SCPF Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide (usque ad 31-xii-1967)

SCR Sacra Congregatio de Religiosis (usque ad 31-xii-1967)

SCRIS Sacra Congregatio pro Religiosis et Institutis Saecularibus (a 1-i-1968)

SCSCD Sacra Congregatio pro Sacramentis et Cultu Divino (a 11-vii-1975)

SCSO Sacra Congregatio Sancti Officii (usque ad 7-xii-1965)

SCSSU Sacra Congregatio de Seminariis et de Studiorum Universitatibus (usque ad 31-xii-1967)

SCUF Secretariatus ad Christianorum Unitatem Fovendam

SDO Paulus PP. VI, m.p. Sacrum diaconatus ordinem, 18 iun. 1967 (AAS 59 [1967] 697-704)

SFS SCIC Litt. circ. Spiritual formation in seminaries, 6 ian. 1980

SE Synodus Episcoporum

Sec Secretaria Status

SN Pius PP. XII, m.p. Sollicitudinem nostram, 6 ian. 1950 (AAS 42 [1950] 5-120)

SOE Paulus PP. VI, m.p. Sollicitudo omnium Ecclesiarum, 24 iun. 1969 (AAS 61 [1969] 473-484)

SPA Sacra Paenitentiaria Apostolica

SpC Pius PP. XII, Const. Ap. Sponsa Christi, 21 nov. 1950 (AAS 43 [1951] 5-24)

SPNC Secretariatus pro non credentibus

SRC Sacra Congregatio Rituum (usque ad 8-v-1969)

SRR Sacra Romana Rota

SRRD Sacrae Romanae Rotae Decisiones seu Sententiae

Ssap PIUS PP. XII, Const. Ap. Sedes sapientiae, 31 maii 1956 (AAS 48 [1956] 334-345)

tit. Titulus

UR Decr. Unitatis redintegratio, 21 nov. 1964 (AAS 57 [1965] 90-112)

UT SE Ultimis temporibus, 30 nov. 1971 (AAS 63 [1971] 898-922)

VS SCRIS Instr. Venite seorsum, 15 aug. 1969 (AAS 61 [1969] 674-690)

APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION SACRAE DISCIPLINAE LEGES

To our venerable brothers, cardinals, archbishops,

bishops, priests, deacons and to the other members of the people of God,

John Paul, bishop, servant of the servants of God as a perpetual record.

During the course of the centuries the Catholic Church has been accustomed to reform and renew the laws of canonical discipline so that in constant fidelity to its divine founder, they may be better adapted to the saving mission entrusted to it. Prompted by this same purpose and fulfilling at last the expectations of the whole Catholic world, I order today, January 25, 1983, the promulgation of the revised Code of Canon Law. In so doing, my thoughts go back to the same day of the year 1959 when my predecessor of happy memory, John XXIII, announced for the first time his decision to reform the existing corpus of canonical legislation which had been promulgated on the feast of Pentecost in the year 1917.

Such a decision to reform the Code was taken together with two other decisions of which the Pontiff spoke on that same day: the intention to hold a synod of the Diocese of Rome and to convoke an ecumenical council. Of these two events, the first was not closely connected with the reform of the Code; but the second, the council, is of supreme importance in regard to the present matter and is closely connected with it.

If we ask why John XXIII considered it necessary to reform the existing Code, the answer can perhaps be found in the Code itself which was promulgated in the year 1917. But there exists also another answer and it is the decisive one: namely, that the reform of the Code of Canon Law appeared to be definitely desired and requested by the same council which devoted such great attention to the Church.

As is obvious, when the revision of the Code was first announced the council was an event of the future. Moreover, the acts of its magisterium and especially its doctrine on the Church would be decided in the years 1962-1965; however, it is clear to everyone that John XXIIIπs intuition was very true, and with good reason it must be said that his decision was for the long-term good of the Church.

Therefore the new Code which is promulgated today necessarily required the previous work of the council. Although it was announced together with the ecumenical council, nevertheless it follows it chronologically because the work undertaken in its preparation, which had to be based upon the council, could not begin until after the latterπs completion.

Turning our minds today to the beginning of this long journey, to that January 25, 1959 and to John XXIII himself who initiated the revision of the Code, I must recognize that this Code derives from one and the same intention, the renewal of Christian living. From such an intention, in fact, the entire work of the council drew its norms and its direction.