PRELIMINARY NOTE [1978]

NOTA PRAEVIA

Origin and character of these norms

De origine necnon charactere harum normarum

During the annual Plenary Session in November 1974, the Fathers of this Sacred Congregation examined the problems relative to presumed apparitions and to the revelations often connected with them and reached the following conclusions:

In Congregatione Plenaria Annuali mense Novembri 1974 habita, Patres huius S. Congregationis examinaverunt problemata e praesumptis apparitionibus necnon revelationibus cum eis frequenter connexis provenientia, et ad sequentes devenerunt conclusiones:

1. Today, more than in the past, news of these apparitions is diffused rapidly among the faithful thanks to the means of information (mass media). Moreover, the ease of going from one place to another fosters frequent pilgrimages, so that Ecclesiastical Authority should discern quickly about the merits of such matters.

1. Hodie magis quam tempore praeterito ope mediorum informationis («mass media») notitiae de his apparitionibus celeriter diffunduntur inter fideles; praeterea facilitas mutationis locorum frequentiores peregrinationes fovet, ita ut Auctoritas ecclesiastica de hac re cito decernere debeat.

2. On the other hand, modern mentality and the requirements of critical scientific investigation render it more difficult, if not almost impossible, to achieve with the required speed the judgments that in the past concluded the investigation of such matters (constat de supernaturalitate, non constat de supernaturalitate) and that offered to the Ordinaries the possibility of authorizing or prohibiting public cult or other forms of devotion among the faithful.

2. Altera ex parte, ob modum cogitandi tempori hodierno proprium necnon ob exigentias scientiae et indaginis criticae, difficilius ac fere impossibile evadit ut cum debita celeritate feratur id iudicium, quo in praeterito concludebantur inquisitiones hac in re («constat de supernaturalitate, non constat de supernaturalitate») et Ordinariis possibilitas praebebatur permittendi vel prohibendi cultum publicum aliasve formas devotionis fidelium.

For these reasons, in order that the devotion stirred among the faithful as a result of facts of this sort might manifest itself in full communion with the Church, and bear fruits by which the Church herself might later discern the true nature of the facts, the Fathers judged that in this matter the following procedure should be promoted.

Quibus de causis, ut devotio fidelium, occasione factorum huius generis, plena servata communione cum Ecclesia sese manifestare possit, atque fructus ferre, e quibus ipsa Ecclesia in futuro veram naturam factorum dignoscere queat, Patres existimaverunt sequentem praxim hac in materia promovendam esse.

When Ecclesiastical Authority is informed of a presumed apparition or revelation, it will be its responsibility:

Cum certior facta fuerit Auctoritas ecclesiastica de aliqua praesumpta apparitione vel revelatione, erit ipsius munus:

a) first, to judge the fact according to positive and negative criteria (cf. infra, no. I);

a) in primis iudicare de facto iuxta Criteria positiva et negativa (cf. infra, n. I);

b) then, if this examination results in a favorable conclusion, to permit some public manifestation of cult or of devotion, overseeing this with great prudence (equivalent to the formula, “for now, nothing stands in the way”) (pro nunc nihil obstare).

b) deinde, si hoc examen favorabilem exitum habuerit, permittere aliquas manifestationes publicas cultus vel devotionis simulque super eas magna cum prudentia invigilare (quod aequivalet formulae «pro nunc nihil obstare»);

c) finally, in light of time passed and of experience, with special regard to the fecundity of spiritual fruit generated from this new devotion, to express a judgment regarding the authenticity and supernatural character if the case so merits.

c) denique sub luce temporis elapsi et experientiae (speciatim ubertatis fructuum spiritualium e nova devotione provenientium), si casus ferat, iudicium de veritate et supernaturalitate ferre.

I. CRITERIA FOR JUDGING, AT LEAST WITH PROBABILITY, THE CHARACTER OF THE PRESUMED APPARITIONS OR REVELATIONS

I - Criteria ad iudicandum, saltem cum probabilitate, de charactere praesumptarum apparitionum vel revelationum

A) Positive Criteria:

A) Criteria positiva:

a) Moral certitude, or at least great probability of the existence of the fact, acquired by means of a serious investigation;

a) Certitudo moralis vel saltem magna probabilitas de existentia facti, ope gravis indagationis acquisita,

b) Particular circumstances relative to the existence and to the nature of the fact, that is to say:

b) Circumstantiae particulares existentiam et naturam facti respicientes, id est:

1. Personal qualities of the subject or of the subjects (in particular, psychological equilibrium, honesty and rectitude of moral life, sincerity and habitual docility towards Ecclesiastical Authority, the capacity to return to a normal regimen of a life of faith, etc.);

1. qualitates personales subiecti vel subiectorum (praesertim aequilibrium psychicum, honestas et rectitudo vitae moralis, sinceritas et docilitas habitualis erga auctoritatem ecclesiasticam, capacitas ad regimen normale vitae fidei redeundi, etc.);

2. As regards revelation: true theological and spiritual doctrine and immune from error;

2. ad revelationem quod attinet, doctrina theologica et spiritualis vera et ab errore immunis;

3. Healthy devotion and abundant and constant spiritual fruit (for example, spirit of prayer, conversion, testimonies of charity, etc.).

3. sana devotio et fructus spirituales uberes et constantes (v. g. spiritus orationis, conversiones, testimonia caritatis, etc.).

B) Negative Criteria:

B) Criteria negativa:

a) Manifest error concerning the fact.

a) Error manifestus circa factum.

b) Doctrinal errors attributed to God himself, or to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or to some saint in their manifestations, taking into account however the possibility that the subject might have added, even unconsciously, purely human elements or some error of the natural order to an authentic supernatural revelation (cf. Saint Ignatius, Exercises, no. 336).

b) Errores doctrinales qui Ipsi Deo vel B. M. V. vel alicui Sancto sese manifestanti attribuuntur habita tamen ratione possibilitatis pro subiecto addendi – etiam inconscio modo – revelationi vere supernaturali elementa mere humana, immo aliquem errorem in ordine naturali (cf. S. Ignatius, Exercit. n. 336).

c) Evidence of a search for profit or gain strictly connected to the fact.

c) Evidens quaestus lucri cum ipso facto arcte connexus.

d) Gravely immoral acts committed by the subject or his or her followers when the fact occurred or in connection with it.

d) Actus graviter immorales tempore vel occasione ipsius facti a subiecto necnon ab eius asseclis commissi.

e) Psychological disorder or psychopathic tendencies in the subject, that with certainty influenced on the presumed supernatural fact, or psychosis, collective hysteria or other things of this kind.

e) Morbi psychici vel tendentiae psychopaticae in subiecto, quae in ipsum factum praesumptum supernaturale influxum certo exercuerunt, vel psychosis aut hysterismus collectivus, aliave eiusdem generis.

It is to be noted that these criteria, be they positive or negative, are not peremptory but rather indicative, and they should be applied cumulatively or with some mutual convergence.

Animadvertendum est haec Criteria, sive positiva sive negativa, indicativa non autem taxativa esse, et cumulative seu cum aliqua ad invicem convergentia adhibenda esse.

II. INTERVENTION OF THE COMPETENT ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY

II – De modo sese gerendi competentis Auctoritatis ecclesiasticae

1. If, on the occasion of a presumed supernatural fact, there arises in a spontaneous way among the faithful a certain cult or some devotion, the competent Ecclesiastical Authority has the serious duty of looking into it without delay and of diligently watching over it.

1. Cum occasione facti praesumpti supernaturalis, cultus vel aliquadevotio ex parte fidelium quasi sponte incipiat, ecclesiasticae Auctoritati competenti grave munus incumbit sine mora sese informandi atque diligenter invigilandi.

2. If the faithful request it legitimately (that is, in communion with the Pastors, and not prompted by a sectarian spirit), the competent Ecclesiastical Authority can intervene to permit or promote some form of cult or devotion, if, after the application of the above criteria, nothing stands in the way. They must be careful that the faithful not interpret this practice as approval of the supernatural nature of the fact on the part of the Church (cf. Preliminary note c).

2. Fidelibus legitime petentibus (id est in communione cum Pastoribus atque spiritu sectario non impulsis), intervenire potest Auctoritas ecclesiastica competens ad permittendas et promovendas aliquas formas cultus et devotionis, si iuxta Criteria, de quibus supra, nihil eas impediat. Cavendum tamen est ne fideles hanc agendi rationem ut approbationem supernaturalitatis facti ex parte Ecclesiae habeant (cf. Nota praevia, sub c).

3. By reason of its doctrinal and pastoral task, the competent Authority can intervene motu proprio and indeed must do so in grave circumstances, for example in order to correct or prevent abuses in the exercise of cult and devotion, to condemn erroneous doctrine, to avoid the dangers of a false or unseemly mysticism, etc.

3. Ratione sui muneris doctrinalis et pastoralis, Auctoritas competens motu proprio intervenire potest immo et debet in gravibus circumstantiis, exempli gratia ad abusus in exercitio cultus et devotionis corrigendos vel praecavendos, ad doctrinas erroneas damnandas, ad pericula falsi vel indecori mysticismi vitanda, etc.

4. In doubtful cases that clearly do not put the good of the Church at risk, the competent Ecclesiastical Authority is to refrain from any judgment and from any direct action (because it can also happen that, after a certain period of time, the presumed supernatural fact falls into oblivion); it must not however cease from being vigilant by intervening if necessary, with promptness and prudence.

4. In casibus dubiis, qui bonum Ecclesiae in discrimen minime ponunt, Auctoritas ecclesiastica competens ab omni iudicio et actione directa sese abstineat (etenim evenire etiam potest ut, lapsu temporis, factum sic dictum supernaturale in oblivionem veniat); attamen invigilare ne desinat, ita ut, si necesse fuerit, prompte ac prudenter intervenire possit.

III. AUTHORITIES COMPETENT TO INTERVENE

III - De Auctoritate ad interveniendum competenti

1. Above all, the duty of vigilance and intervention falls to the Ordinary of the place.

1. Officium invigilandi vel interveniendi praeprimis competit Ordinario loci.

2. The regional or national Conference of Bishops can intervene:

2. Conferentia Episcopalis regionalis vel nationalis intervenire potest:

a) If the Ordinary of the place, having done his part, turns to it to judge the matter with greater certainty;

a) si Ordinarius loci, postquam suam egerit partem, ad ipsam recurrat ad tutius rem diiudicandam;

b) If the matter pertains to the national or regional level; always, however, with the prior consent of the Ordinary of the place.

b) si res ad ambitum nationalem aut regionalem iam pertineat, semper tamen praevio consensu Ordinarii loci.

3. The Apostolic See can intervene if asked either by the Ordinary himself, by a qualified group of the faithful, or even directly by reason of the universal jurisdiction of the Supreme Pontiff (cf. infra, no. IV).

3. Sedes Apostolica intervenire potest, petente sive ipso Ordinario, sive coetu qualificato fidelium, aut etiam directe ratione iurisdictionis universalis Summi Pontificis (cf. infra, n. IV).

IV. ON THE INTERVENTION OF THE SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

IV - De interventu S. Congregationis pro Doctrina Fidei

1. a) The intervention of the Sacred Congregation can be requested either by the Ordinary, after he has done his part, or by a qualified group of the faithful. In this second case, care must be taken that recourse to the Sacred Congregation not be motivated by suspect reasons (for example, in order to compel the Ordinary to modify his own legitimate decisions, to support some sectarian group, etc.).

1. a) Interventum S. Congregationis petere potest vel Ordinarius, postquam tamen ipse suam egerit partem, vel coetus qualificatus fidelium. In hoc altero casu cavendum est ne recursus ad S. Congregationem ob suspectas rationes fiat (cuiusmodi est v. g. cogere Ordinarium ad suas legitimas decisiones mutandas, confirmare aliquem coetum sectarium, etc.).

b) It is up to the Sacred Congregation to intervene motu proprio in graver cases, especially if the matter affects the larger part of the Church, always after having consulted the Ordinary and even, if the situation requires, the Conference of Bishops.

b) S. Congregationi proprium est motu proprio intervenire in casibus gravioribus, praesertim si res largiorem partem Ecclesiae afficiat, consulto semper Ordinario et, si casus ferat, etiam Conferentia episcopali.

2. It is up to the Sacred Congregation to judge and approve the Ordinary’s way of proceeding or, in so far as it be possible and fitting, to initiate a new examination of the matter, distinct from that undertaken by the Ordinary and carried out either by the Sacred Congregation itself or by a special Commission.

2. S. Congregationis erit vel de agendi ratione Ordinarii decernere eamque approbare vel, quatenus possibile erit et conveniet, de re novum examen a studio per Ordinarium peracto distinctum instituere, sive per se ipsam sive per Commissionem specialem.

The Present Norms, deliberated in the Plenary Session of this Sacred Congregation, were approved by the Supreme Pontiff, Paul VI on 24 February 1978.

Praesentes Normae in Congregatione Plenaria huius S. Congregationis deliberatae, a Summo Pontifice P.P. Paulo VI, f.r., die 24 februarii 1978, approbatae sunt.

In Rome, from the palace of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 25 February 1978.

Romae, ex aedibus S. Congregationis pro Doctrina Fidei, die 25 februarii 1978.

Francis Cardinal Šeper
Prefect

Jérôme Hamer, O.P.
Secretary