List of canon law legal abbreviations

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Canon law of the Catholic Church
Ius vigens (current law) 1983 Code of Canon Law Omnium in mentem Magnum principium Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches Ad tuendam fidem Ex corde Ecclesiae Indulgentiarum Doctrina Pastor bonus Pontificalis Domus Veritatis gaudium Custom Matrimonial nullity trial reforms of Pope Francis Documents of the Second Vatican Council Christus Dominus Lumen gentium Optatam totius Orientalium ecclesiarum Presbyterorum ordinis Sacrosanctum concilium Precepts of the Church
Legal history Jus antiquum (c. 33-1140) Ancient Church Orders Didache The Apostolic Constitutions Canons of the Apostles Collections of ancient canons Collectiones canonum Dionysianae Collectio canonum quadripartita Collectio canonum Quesnelliana Collectio canonum Wigorniensis Decretum Gelasianum Symmachian forgeries Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals Donation of Constantine Gregorian Reform Lay investiture controversy Dictatus papae Libertas ecclesiae Plenitudo potestatis Jus novum (c. 1140-1563) Corpus Juris Canonici Decretum Gratiani Decretist Canon Episcopi Margaritae Jus commune Decretals of Gregory IX Decretalist Regulæ Juris Extravagantes Liber Septimus Jus novissimum (c. 1563-1918) Council of Trent Benedictus Deus (Pius IV) Tametsi Apostolicae Sedis moderationi Jus codicis (1918-present) 1917 Code of Canon Law Ecclesiae Sanctae 1983 Code of Canon Law Other Contractum trinius Papal judge-delegate Right of option
Oriental law Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches Eastern Canonical Reforms of Pius XII Nomocanon Archeparchy Eparchy Exarchate Ordinariate for Eastern Catholic faithful Protosyncellus Territory dependent on the Patriarch
Liturgical law Latin Church General Roman Calendar Ranking of liturgical days in the Roman Rite General Instruction of the Roman Missal Code of Rubrics Magnum principium Liturgiam authenticam Mysterii Paschalis Sacrosanctum concilium Tra le sollecitudini Musicam sacram Summorum Pontificum Quattuor abhinc annos Ecclesia Dei Red Mass Holy Day of Obligation
Sacramental law Communicatio in sacris Ex opere operato Omnium in mentem Valid but illicit Sacraments Holy Orders Impediment (canon law) Abstemius Defect of birth Obligation of celibacy Nullity of Sacred Ordination Apostolicae curae Dimissorial letters Episcopal Co-Consecrators Approbation Confession Penitential canons Paenitentiale Theodori Seal of the Confessional Internal forum Note on the importance of the internal forum and the inviolability of the Sacramental Seal Apostolic Penitentiary Canon penitentiary Complicit absolution Sacramentum Poenitentiae Eucharist Eucharistic discipline Canon 915 Celebret Mass stipend Sacramentals Indulgence Indulgentiarum doctrina Sacred places Altars Major basilica Minor basilica Oratory (chapel) Sacred times Feast days Fast days and abstinence Paenitemini Holy day of obligation
Matrimonial law Canonical form (Latin Church) Tametsi Ne Temere Banns of Marriage Declaration of Nullity Dignitas connubii Matrimonial Nullity Trial Reforms of Pope Francis Vetitum Defender of the Bond Impediments to Marriage Affinity Bigamy Clandestinity Impediment of crime Disparity of Cult Ligamen Public propriety Matrimonial Dispensation Ratum sed non consummatum Sanatio in radice Natural marriage Pauline privilege Petrine privilege
Supreme authority, particular churches, & canonical structures Supreme authority of the Church Roman Pontiff College of Bishops Supra-diocesan/eparchal structures College of Cardinals Conference of bishops Synod of Bishops Particular churches Churches sui juris Latin Church Eastern Catholic Churches Local particular churches Appointment of bishops Abbacy nullius Apostolic vicariate Apostolic vicar Apostolic administration Apostolic administrator Diocese/Archdiocese Aeque principaliter Cathedraticum In persona episcopi Diocesan Curia Moderator of the Curia Chancery Deanery Vicar forane Archeparchy Eparchy Eparchal curia Territory dependent on the Patriarch Military ordinariate Mission sui juris Personal ordinariate Anglicanorum Coetibus Juridic persons Parish Team of priests in solidum Collegiate church Register Lay trusteeism Roman Curia Dicastery Congregation Pontifical council Personal Prelature Types of membership of Opus Dei Association of the Christian faithful Vicar general Quinquennial visit ad limina
Jurisprudence Canonical coronation Canonically crowned images Computation of time Custom Delegata potestas non potest delegari Derogation Dispensation Taxa Innocentiana Faculty Indult Impediment Interpretation Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts Jurisdiction Peritus Obreption & subreption Obrogation Promulgation Resignation of the Roman Pontiff Sede vacante Simony Vacatio legis Valid but illicit Visitation Apostolic visitor Philosophy, theology, and fundamental theory of canon law Theology Ecclesiology Treatise on Law Determinatio
Temporal goods (property) Benefice Cathedraticum Contract law Mass stipend Stole fee Temporalities
Law of persons Person (canon law) Formal act of defection from the Catholic Church Canonical age Emancipation Exemption Clerics Secular clergy Regular clergy Obligation of celibacy Clerics and public office Incardination and excardination Laicization (dispensation) Canonical faculties Office Canonical provision Canonical election Juridic and physical persons Jus patronatus Associations of the faithful Consecrated life
Canonical documents Acta Apostolicae Sedis Acta Sanctae Sedis Censor librorum Imprimatur Imprimi potest Notary (canon law) Protonotary apostolic Apostolic constitution Canon Concordat Decree Decretal Encyclical Motu proprio Ordinance Papal brief Papal bull Penitential Positive law Rescript Parish register Ecclesiastical Latin
Penal law Canon 1324 Canon 1398 Censure (canon law) De delictis gravioribus Complicit absolution Crimen sollicitationis Excommunication List of excommunicable offences in the Catholic Church List of people excommunicated by the Catholic Church List of excommunicated cardinals Interdict Internal forum Laicization (penal) Latae sententiae Lifetime of prayer and penance Canonical admonitions Ecclesiastical prison
Procedural law Pars statica (tribunals & ministers/parties) Tribunals Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura Tribunal of the Roman Rota Apostolic Penitentiary Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Ministers of Justice Judicial Vicar/Officialis Auditor Parties Defender of the Bond Procurator Pars dynamica (trial procedure) Dignitas connubii (matrimonial causes) Appeal as from an abuse Presumption Penal procedure Vos estis lux mundi Canonization Congregation for the Causes of Saints Maiorem hac dilectionem Advocatus Diaboli Oblatio vitae Positio Beatification and canonization process in 1914 Election of the Roman Pontiff Current law Universi Dominici gregis Papal renunciation Reforms of Pope Benedict XVI Historical Cum proxime Jus exclusivae Papal appointment Aeterni Patris Filius Romano Pontifici eligendo Ingravescentem aetatem Ubi periculum Quia propter
Legal practice and scholarship List of legal abbreviations Academic degrees Licentiate of Canon Law Doctor of Canon Law Doctor of both laws Journals and Professional Societies Canon Law Society of America The Jurist Faculties of canon law School of Canon Law Canonists Medieval Gratian Hostiensis Jean Lemoine Raymond of Penyafort Rufinus Johannes Teutonicus Geoffrey of Trani Burchard of Worms Brocard Modern & Contemporary Eugenio Corecco John D. Faris Pietro Gasparri Ladislas Orsy Edward N. Peters
Law of consecrated life Solemn vow Exclaustration Manifestation of Conscience Canonical erection of a house of religious Pontifical right Diocesan right Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Institute of consecrated life Religious institute Congregation Order Monasticism Canons regular Mendicant orders Clerics regular Secular institute Cum Sanctissimus Primo Feliciter Provida Mater Ecclesia Society of apostolic life Decretum laudis
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There are many legal abbreviations commonly used by canonists in the canon law of the Catholic Church. However, there is no single system of uniform citation, and so individual publishers and even the standard authors sometimes diverge on usage. This page includes citations, even if duplicative, commonly used in canonical scholarship and doctrine. Latin incipits and document titles have been italicized, while Latin words, phrases, official titles, and dicasterial names have not been so italicized.

For legal abbreviations not found online, try searching one of these print resources:

• Coriden, James et al., eds. The Code of Canon Law: A Text and Commentary (New York/Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1985) ISBN 0809103451 xviii-xxiii.
• Faris & Abbass, eds. A Practical Commentary to the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (Montréal: Librairie Wilson & Lafleur, 2019) ISBN 9782924974032 xix-xxxiv.

• §—paragraph
• §§—paragraphs
• °—number

• 17/CIC—1917 Codex Iuris Canonici
• 1917 CIC—1917 Codex Iuris Canonici
• 1983 CIC—1983 Codex Iuris Canonici

• AAS—Acta Apostolicae Sedis
• ADCOV—Acta et Documenta Concilio Oecumenico Vaticano II apparando
• AL—Amoris Laetitia
• Ap.—apostolic
• Ap. const—apostolic constitution
• Art.—article or articulus
• Arts.—articles or articuli
• Artt.—articles or articuli
• ASS—Acta Sanctae Sedis

• c.—canon/canonum, or coram (see "cor." below)
• cc.—canons/canones
• CCEO—Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium
• CDF—Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith or Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei
• CDWDS—Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
• ch.—chapter/caput
• chh.—chapters/capites
• CIC—Codex Iuris Canonici (may refer to 1917 code or 1983 code depending upon context)
• CIC/1917—Codex Iuris Canonici of 1917
• CIC/1983—Codex Iuris Canonici of 1983
• CICLSAL—Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
• CLSA—Canon Law Society of America
• congr.—congregation (Roman Curia)
• cor.—coram, a (usually appellate) cause heard "in the presence of" an auditor of the Roman Rota

• Decr.—decretum
• DPM—ap. const. Divinus perfectionis Magister on the causes of saints
• DV—Defensor Vinculi or Dei verbum

• EP—Episcopal vicar

• GS—Gaudium et spes

• ICEL—International Commission on English in the Liturgy^[1]
• ID—Indulgentiarum doctrina^[1]
• IM—Inter mirifica^[2]

• J—The Jurist,^[2] published by the CUA School of Canon Law, 1940-
• JCB— Juris Canonici Baccalaureus
• JCD—Juris Canonici Doctor
• JCL—Juris Canonici Licentiatus
• JPE—Jus Publicum Ecclesiasticum
• JV—Judicial vicar

• LEF—Lex Ecclesiæ Fundamentalis^[2]
• LG—Lumen gentium

• MP—motu proprio^[2]

• NCCB—National Conference of Catholic Bishops (previous name of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
• NEP—Nota explicativa praevia to ch. 3 of Lumen Gentium

• PB—ap. const. Pastor Bonus
• PCLT—Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
• PCILT—Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts
• Pont. Max—Pontifex Maximus
• PP.—Papa, Latin for pope.

• RI—Regulæ Iuris (cf. RJ)
• RJ—Regulæ Juris (cf. RI)
• RR—Roman Replies and CLSA Advisory Opinions, published by the Canon Law Society of America (1981-1983 Roman Replies alone, combined with CLSA Advisory Opinions 1984-)^[3]

• S. Congr.—Sacred Congregation (the former name of Roman curial congregations before "sacred" was dropped in 1984 by the ap. const. Pastor Bonus)
• SCR—Sacred Congregation of Rites
• SRE—Sancta Romana Ecclesia
• SRR—Sacræ Rotæ Romanæ

• TRR—Tribunal of the Roman Rota

• UDG—Universi Dominici gregis
• USCCB—United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

• VDQ—Vultum Dei quaerere
• VG—Vicar general

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