|
Financial Assistance requested
VATICAN COUNCIL II - VATICAN COLLECTION, Volume 2 (1982) Paul VI, Paenitemini, 17 February, 1966 SECTION I: LITURGY PENANCE CHAPTER II The preeminently interior and religious character of penitence and the new wondrous aspects which it assumes "in Christ and in the Church" neither excludes nor lessens in any way the external practice of this virtue, but on the contrary reaffirms its necessity with particular urgency45 and prompts the Church -- always attentive to the signs of the times -- to seek, beyond fast and abstinence, new expressions more suitable for the realization, according to the character of various epochs, of the precise goal of penitence. True penitence, however, cannot ever prescind from physical asceticism as well. Our whole being, in fact, body and soul, (indeed the whole of nature, even animals without reason, as Holy Scripture often points out)46 must participate actively in this religious act whereby the creature recognizes divine holiness and majesty. The necessity of the mortification of the flesh also stands clearly revealed if we consider the fragility of our nature, in which, since Adam's sin, flesh and spirit have contrasting desires.47 This exercise of bodily mortification -- far removed from any form of stoicism -- does not imply a condemnation of the flesh which sons of God deign to assume.48 On the contrary, mortification aims at the "liberation"49 of man, who often finds himself, because of concupiscence, almost chained50 by his own senses. Through "corporal fasting"51 man regains strength and the "wound inflicted on the dignity of our nature by intemperance is cured by the medicine of a salutary abstinence."52 Nevertheless, in the New Testament and in the history of the Church -- although the duty of doing penance is motivated above all by participation in the sufferings of Christ -- the necessity of an asceticism which chastises the body and brings it into subjection is affirmed with special insistence by the example of Christ Himself.53 Against the real and ever recurring danger of formalism and pharisaism the Divine Master in the New Covenant openly condemned -- and so have the Apostles, Fathers and supreme pontiffs -- any form of penitence which is purely external. The intimate relationship which exists in penitence between the external act, inner conversion, prayer and works of charity is affirmed and widely developed in the liturgical texts and authors of every era.54 CHAPTER III Therefore the Church -- while it reaffirms the primacy of the religious and supernatural values of penitence (values extremely suitable for restoring to the world today a sense of the presence of God and of His sovereignty over man and a sense of Christ and His salvation)55 -- invites everyone to accompany the inner conversion of the spirit with the voluntary exercise of external acts of penitence: A. -- It insists first of all that the virtue of penitence be exercised in persevering faithfulness to the duties of one's state in life, in the acceptance of the difficulties arising from one's work and from human coexistence, in a patient bearing of the trials of earthly life and of the utter insecurity which pervades it.56 B. -- Those members of the Church who are stricken by infirmities, illnesses, poverty or misfortunes, or who are persecuted for the love of justice, are invited to unite their sorrows to the suffering of Christ in such a way that they not only satisfy more thoroughly the precept of penitence but also obtain for the brethren a life of grace and for themselves that beatitude which is promised in the Gospel to those who suffer.57 C. -- The precept of penitence must be satisfied in a more perfect way by priests, who are more closely linked to Christ through sacred character, as well as by those who in order to follow more closely the abnegation of the Lord and to find an easier and more efficacious path to the perfection of charity practice the evangelical counsels.58 The Church, however, invites all Christians without distinction to respond to the divine precept of penitence by some voluntary act, apart from the renunciation imposed by the burdens of everyday life.59 To recall and urge all the faithful to the observance of the divine precept of penitence, the Apostolic See intends to reorganize penitential discipline with practices more suited to our times. It is up to the bishops -- gathered in their episcopal conferences -- to establish the norms which, in their pastoral solicitude and prudence, and with the direct knowledge they have of local conditions, they consider the most opportune and efficacious. The following, however, is established: In the first place, Holy Mother Church, although it has always observed in a special way abstinence from meat and fasting, nevertheless wants to indicate in the traditional triad of "prayer -- fasting -- charity" the fundamental means of complying with the divine precepts of penitence. These means were the same throughout the centuries, but in our time there are special reasons whereby, according to the demands of various localities, it is necessary to inculcate some special form of penitence in preference to others.60 Therefore, where economic well-being is greater, so much more will the witness of asceticism have to be given in order that the sons of the Church may not be involved in the spirit of the "world,"61 and at the same time the witness of charity will have to be given to the brethren who suffer poverty and hunger beyond any barrier of nation or continent.62 On the other hand, in countries where the standard of living is lower, it will be more pleasing to God the Father and more useful to the members of the Body of Christ if Christians -- while they seek in every way to promote better social justice -- offer their suffering in prayer to the Lord in close union with the Cross of Christ. Therefore, the Church, while preserving -- where it can be more readily observed -- the custom (observed for many centuries with canonical norms) of practicing penitence also through abstinence from meat and fasting, intends to ratify with its prescriptions other forms of penitence as well, provided that it seems opportune to episcopal conferences to replace the observance of fast and abstinence with exercises of prayer and works of charity. In order that all the faithful, however, maybe united in a common celebration of penitence, the Apostolic See intends to establish certain penitential days and seasons63 chosen among those which in the course of the liturgical year are closer to the paschal mystery of Christ64 or might be required by the special needs of the ecclesial community.65 Therefore, the following is declared and established: I. 1. By divine law all the faithful are required to do penance. 2. The prescriptions of ecclesiastical law regarding penitence are totally reorganized according to the following norms: II. 1. The time of Lent preserves its penitential character. The days of penitence to be observed under obligation through out the Church are all Fridays and Ash Wednesday, that is to say the first days of "Grande Quaresima" (Great Lent), according to the diversity of the rites. Their substantial observance binds gravely. (See note at end.) 2. Apart from the faculties referred to in VI and VIII regarding the manner of fulfilling the precept of penitence on such days, abstinence is to be observed on every Friday which does not fall on a day of obligation, while abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday or, according to local practice, on the first day of `Great Lent' and on Good Friday (see note at end). III. 1. The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat. 2. The law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening, observing -- as far as quantity and quality are concerned -- approved local custom. IV. To the law of abstinence those are bound who have completed their 14th year of age. To the law of fast those of the faithful are bound who have completed their 21st year and up until the beginning of their 60th year. As regards those of a lesser age, pastors of souls and parents should see to it with particular care that they are educated to a true sense of penitence. V. All privileges and indults, whether general or particular, are abrogated with these norms, but nothing is changed either regarding the vows of any physical or moral person or regarding the constitutions and rules of any approved religious congregation or institute. VI. 1. In accordance with the conciliar decree Christus Dominus regarding the pastoral office of bishops, number 38,4, it is the task of episcopal conferences to: A. Transfer for just cause the days of penitence, always taking into account the Lenten season; B. Substitute abstinence and fast wholly or in part with other forms of penitence and especially works of charity and the exercises of piety. 2. By way of information, episcopal conferences should communicate to the Apostolic See what they have decided on the matter (See note at end.) VII. 1. While the faculties of individual bishops of dispensing, according to the decree Christus Dominus, number 8b, remain unchanged, pastors also for just cause and in accordance with the prescriptions of the Ordinary may grant to individual faithful as well as individual families dispensation or commutation of abstinence and fast into other pious practices. The superior of a religious house or clerical institute enjoys the same faculties for his subjects. VIII. In the Eastern rites it is the right of the patriarch, together with the synod or supreme authority of every rite, together with the council of hierarchs, to determine the days of fast and abstinence in accordance with the conciliar decree on the Eastern rites, number 23. IX. 1. It is strongly desired that bishops and all pastors of souls, in addition to the more frequent use of the sacrament of penance, promote with zeal, particularly during the Lenten season, extraordinary practices of penitence aimed at expiation and impetration. 2. It is strongly recommended to all the faithful that they keep deeply rooted in their hearts a genuine Christian spirit of penitence to spur them to accomplish works of charity and penitence. X. 1. These prescriptions which, by way of exception, are promulgated by means of L'Osservatore Romano, become effective on Ash Wednesday of this year, that is to say on the 23rd of the present month. 2. Where particular privileges and indults have been in force until now -- whether general or particular of any kind -- "vacatio legis" [suspension of the law] for six months from the day of promulgation is to be regarded as granted. We desire that these norms and prescriptions for the present and future be established and effective notwithstanding -- inasmuch as is necessary -- apostolic constitutions and regulations issued by our predecessors and all other prescriptions, even if worthy of particular mention and revocation. * Translation reproduced by kind permission of the Incorporated Catholic Truth Society, 3840 Eccleston Square, London SWIV IPD. 1. Mark 1:15. 2. Cf. Dogmatic Constitution on the Nature of the Church (Second Vatican Council), no. 2, and no. 8; and Decree on the Lay Apostolate, no. 1. 3. Cf. Eph. 5:27. 4. Cf. Constitution on the Nature of the Church, no. 8 and Decree on Ecumenism, nos. 4, 7 and 8. 5. Cf. Constitution on the Liturgy, no. 110. 6. Cf. Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, throughout, but especially no. 40. 7. Cf. 1 Cor. 7:31; Rom. 12:2; Decree on Ecumenism, no. 6; Constitudon on the Nature of the Church, nos. 8 and 9; Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, nos. 37, 39 and 93. 8. Acts 2:38. 9. Acts 14:14; Cf. Pope Paul VI's speech to United Nations of Oct. 4, 1965: AAS 57 (1965), p. 885. 10. Cf. Declaration on Church's Relations with Non-Christian Religions, nos. 2 and 3. Purpose and Observance of Penitential Days – Canon Law
Entry Page HOME Site Map E-MAIL:  EditorCopyright © 1993-2003 by Father David C. Trosch - All Rights Reserved Permissions granted for non-profit purposes. http://www.trosch.org This web site is produced and provided as a service by Life Enterprises Unlimited.
|
