Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

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Roman Curia

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (Latin: Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum) is the congregation of the Roman Curia that handles most affairs relating to liturgical practices of the Latin Catholic Church as distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches and also some technical matters relating to the Sacraments. Its functions were originally exercised by the Sacred Congregation of Rites, set up in January 1588 by Pope Sixtus V.

Current leadership

History

The congregation is the direct successor of the Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments (Sacra Congregatio de Disciplina Sacramentorum) (1908–1969).

In 1975 it was given the title Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship (Congregatio de Sacramentis et Cultu Divino) and incorporated the functions of the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (Sacra Congregatio pro Cultu Divino) which had been created in 1969 to take on responsibility for the liturgical affairs previously handled by the Sacred Congregation of Rites (Sacra Rituum Congregatio) (1588-1969).

For an interlude in 1984-1988 it was briefly redivided into the Congregation for the Sacraments (Congregatio de Sacramentis) and the Congregation for Divine Worship (Congregatio de Cultu Divino), under one and the same Prefect.

Functions

The Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, issued by Pope John Paul II on June 28, 1988 laid down the functions of the congregation, including:

On August 30, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI issued the Motu Proprio Quaerit Semper[1] which modifies the competency of the congregation by taking away responsibility for unconsummated marriages and nullity of ordination cases. According to the Motu Proprio, this was done because "In these circumstances, it appeared adequate that the work of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments be dedicated essentially [potissimum] to a resumption of the Sacred Liturgy in the Church, according to the renewal that the Second Vatican Council desired, beginning with the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium."[2]

Cardinal Prefects

Secretary

Vox Clara Committee

The "Vox Clara Committee" is a committee of senior bishops from episcopal conferences throughout the English-speaking world, formed by the Congregation itself, in 2001, to provide advice to the Holy See concerning English-language liturgical books, and to strengthen effective cooperation with the Conferences of Bishops in this regard.

The Vox Clara Committee is chaired by Cardinal George Pell (Prefect of the Holy See’s Secretariate for the Economy). The First Vice-Chairman is Bishop Thomas Olmsted (Phoenix, USA), its Second Vice-Chairman is Cardinal Oswald Gracias (Bombay, India), and its treasurer is Cardinal Justin Rigali (Philadelphia, USA, Emeritus). The Bishop Secretary is Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli (Paterson, USA).

The committee's other members are: Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I. (Chicago, USA), Cardinal John Tong Hon (Hong Kong), Archbishop Alfred Hughes (New Orleans, USA, Emeritus), Archbishop Michael Neary (Tuam, Ireland), Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J. (Ottawa, Canada), and Bishop David McGough (Birmingham, England, Auxiliary).

The Commitee's Executive Secretary is Monsignor James P. Moroney (USA)

The Committee is assisted by the following priests: Reverend Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B (expert, USA), Reverend Dennis McManus (expert, USA), Abbot Cuthbert Johnson, O.S.B. (advisor, England), Monsignor Gerard McKay (advisor, Rome), Reverend Joseph Briody (special assistant, USA) and Reverend Gerard Byrne (special assistant, Scotland).

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Quaerit Semper".
  2. ↑ "Motu Proprio "Quaerit semper", transferring competences on the discipline of the Sacraments from the CDW to the Rota. / Reform of the Reform: CDW now dedicated essentially to Sacred Liturgy". Rorate Caeli.

External links