A Practical Formulary in Accordance with the Code of Canon Law

Although the Catholic Church in our democratic times tends to avoid excessive formalities in displaying its activities, such as it was wont to do in the Middle Ages, and also being inclined to simplify many legal acts, nevertheless, the modern Code of Canon Law, one of the best, prescribes the use of determined forms in order that the life of this divine institution may properly function. Thus, the Code demands that some acts must be written under pain of invalidity, e. g., the erection of each moral person, the formal excardination (c. 112), various acts in the judicial procedure, etc. Many other acts are merely required to be written, such as the provision of an ecclesiastical office (c. 159), the consecration and blessing of a particular place (c. 1158), dimissorial letters (c. 960), dispensations (c. c. 1046-1047), etc. The Code also establishes the necessary elements for the drawing up of valid and licit documents. Concerning the language in which the acts should be written, the Code sometimes requires the Latin language, e. g., for petitions to be sent to the Holy See, or for the sentences in judicial procedure, etc. Sometimes the vernacular language (English) is permitted, according to the local customs. Since priests of many diocesan Curias, parishes, and religious orders exercising their essential duties do not always have sufficient time to consult the Code of Canon Law, I give in this book a quick and ready reference to the more important forms and elements which must be included in those forms concerning each occasion of the Church's activity according to the requirements prescribed by the Code of Canon Law and the approved consuetudes in the United States. Hence, the title of this book: "A Practical Formulary in Accordance With the Code of Canon Law." This formulary is the first. of its kind in the United States. Therefore, I hope this book will be of great help to every secular priest and religious, the officials of Curias, pastors and curates, and all persons who are aware of legal acts concerning themselves. The book is divided into seven parts: The first part contains profession of faith and different oaths; the second part gives forms concerning the diocesan administration; the third part regards the parish and parish organizations; the fourth part concerns the administering of all the Sacraments; the fifth part contains the forms. for the use of religious orders and congregations; the sixth part regards the judicial and administrative procedure of processes; and the last part contains the ecclesiastical penalties. Before each form, brief notes explain the purpose, conditions, and possible changes to be made in the formula, and these notes prescribe the proper use of the form. In a case where the common law or the local custom of the United States or of the diocese permits the form to be given in two languages, English and Latin, it is given here thus. The form in English, sometimes the outline of it, is sent to the priest or to the Bishop, and the Latin form is usually the one to be filed in the archives of the Chancery or of the parish. Since the Code of Canon Law does not prescribe the Latin language in many cases, the English form is given here for almost every case. The Latin form, however, may present the reader with the important material needed to draw up his own form, adjusted to conform with the particular case.