Apostolic constitution

Catholic legislation

For the 4th-century text, see Apostolic Constitutions.

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Part of a series on the
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
* Praedicate evangelium
* 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
* Gelasian Decree
* 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
* 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

Eastern law

* Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches
* Eastern Canonical Reforms of Pius XII
* Nomocanon
* Eparchy
* Exarchate
* Ordinariate for Eastern Catholic faithful
* Protosyncellus

Liturgical law

Latin Church

* General Roman Calendar
* Ranking of liturgical days in the Roman Rite
* General Instruction of the Roman Missal
* Code of Rubrics
* Sacrosanctum Concilium
* Mysterii Paschalis
* Musicam sacram
* Scripturarum thesaurus
* Liturgiam authenticam
* Quattuor abhinc annos
* Ecclesia Dei
* Summorum Pontificum
* Magnum principium
* Traditionis custodes
* Red Mass
* Holy day of obligation

Sacramental law

* Communicatio in sacris
* Ex opere operato
* Omnium in mentem
* Validity and liceity

Sacraments

* Holy Orders
* Impediment (Catholic canon law)
* Abstemius
* Defect of birth
* Obligation of celibacy
* Nullity of Sacred Ordination
* Apostolicae curae
* Dimissorial letters
* Episcopal consecrators
* Approbation (Catholic canon law)
* Confession
* Penitential canons
* Paenitentiale Theodori
* Seal of the Confessional
* Internal and external 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
* 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, and canonical structures

Supreme authority of the Church

* Roman Pontiff
* Papal conclave
* 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
* Eparchy
* Eparchal curia
* Military ordinariate
* Mission sui juris
* Personal ordinariate
* Anglicanorum Coetibus

Juridic persons

* Parish
* Team of priests in solidum
* Collegiate church
* Parish 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
* Donation
* Interpretation
* Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
* Jurisdiction
* Peritus
* Obreption & subreption
* Obrogation
* Promulgation
* Resignation of the Roman Pontiff
* Sede vacante
* Simony
* Vacatio legis
* Validity and liceity
* Visitation
* Apostolic visitor

Philosophy, theology, and fundamental theory of Catholic canon law

* Theology
* Ecclesiology
* Treatise on Law
* Determinatio

Temporal goods (property)

* Benefice
* Cathedraticum
* Contract law
* Mass stipend
* Stole fee
* Temporalities

Law of persons

* Person (Catholic canon law)
* Formal act of defection from the Catholic Church
* Canonical age
* Emancipation
* Exemption
* Heresy

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
* 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 1397 §2
* Censure (Catholic 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 cardinals excommunicated by the Catholic Church
* Interdict
* Laicization (penal)
* Latae sententiae and ferendae 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

* Catholic University of America 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

Catholicism portal

* v
* t
* e

An apostolic constitution (Latin: constitutio apostolica) is the most solemn form of legislation issued by the Pope.[1][2]

By their nature, apostolic constitutions are addressed to the public. Generic constitutions use the title apostolic constitution and treat solemn matters of the church, such as the promulgation of laws or definitive teachings. The forms dogmatic constitution and pastoral constitution are titles sometimes used to be more descriptive as to the document's purpose.[3]

Apostolic constitutions are issued as papal bulls because of their solemn, public form. Among types of papal legislation, apostolic letters issued motu proprio are next in solemnity.[1]

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ a b New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, pg. 57, footnote 36.
2. ^ "Mann, Stephanie A., "What Is a Papal Bull?", Our Sunday Visitor, September 1, 2016". Archived from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
3. ^ Smith, Randall (July 19, 2014). "A Pastoral and Dogmatic Council". The Catholic Thing. Retrieved April 19, 2023.

### Sources

[edit]

* Huels, John M. "A theory of juridical documents based on canons 29-34", Studia Canonica, 1998, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 337–370.
* Beal, John P., James A. Coriden, Thomas J. Green. New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law: Commissioned by the Canon Law Society of America (New York: Paulist Press, 2000).

* v
* t
* e

Papacy

Episcopate of the bishop of Rome

Jurisdiction|

| Holy See
(full communion)|

* Pope Leo XIV as bishop of the Diocese of Rome
* primacy
* history

| Vatican City
(index, outline)|

* Enclaved in Rome, Italy
* Lateran Treaty, 1929
* along with extraterritorial properties of the Holy See

|

Headquarters|

* Vatican City:
* Apostolic Palace
* papal apartments
* Sistine Chapel
* Italy:
* Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (cathedra)

Major basilicas|

* Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran
* St. Peter's Basilica
* Basilica of Saint Mary Major
* Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

Titles
Papal names|

* His Holiness
* Bishop of Rome
* Vicar of Jesus Christ
* Successor of the Prince of the Apostles
* Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church
* Patriarch of the West
* Primate of Italy
* Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province
* Sovereign of the Vatican City State
* Servant of the servants of God

Symbols|

* Coats of arms
* Coat of arms of the Holy See
* Cross
* Keys of Heaven
* Regalia and insignia
* Rota
* Umbraculum

Proclamations|

* Infallibility
* Apostolic constitution
* Bull
* list
* Encyclical
* Apostolic exhortation
* Ecclesiastical letter
* Interdict

Activities|

* Arbitration
* deposition
* Blessing
* "pontifical"
* Urbi et Orbi
* Conclave
* list
* Coronation
* Consistory
* Diplomacy
* Inauguration
* Mass
* High Mass
* Travel

Vestments|

* Camauro
* Falda
* Fanon
* Ferula
* Flabellum
* Mantle
* Mitre
* Mozzetta
* Pallium
* Ring of the Fisherman
* Shoes
* slippers
* Subcinctorium
* Tiara
* list
* Zucchetto

Transportation|

* Popemobile
* Sedia gestatoria
* Shepherd One

Household|

* Camerlengo
* Commander of the Swiss Guard
* Chaplain
* Palatinus
* papal majordomo
* Gentlemen
* Preacher
* Prefect
* Prelate of Honour
* Prince assistant
* Theologian

Staff|

* College of Cardinals
* cardinals
* list
* Roman Curia
* Apostolic Camera
* commissions
* for Vatican City State
* councils
* congregations
* dicasteries
* Synods
* Cappella Giulia
* Sistine Chapel Choir

Related|

* Antipope
* Western Schism
* Canonised popes
* Fat pope, thin pope
* Gammarelli
* Legends
* Orders, decorations, and medals
* Papabile
* Papal nobility
* "Black"
* Pontifical academy
* Pontifical colleges in Rome
* Major Seminary
* Pontifical university
* in Rome
* Popes by country
* Sexually active popes
* St. Peter's Square
* Swiss Guard

* Vatican City portal
* Catholic Church portal

*[c.]: circa
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