Ad Universalis Ecclesiae
Encyclopedia
Ad Universalis Ecclesiae is a papal constitution
dealing with the conditions for admission to religious orders
of men in which solemn vows
are prescribed. It was issued by Pope Pius IX
on 7 February 1862.
. It differs both as to the necessary age and other requirements for admission of men to solemn vows in orders, congregations, and institutes in which solemn vows are prescribed. The immediate occasion of its promulgation
was the settlement, once and forever, of doubts which had arisen and been presented to the Holy See
about the validity of solemn vows made without due observance of the decree, Neminem Latet, i.e. without the three years' profession of simple vows.
It gives the reason of the Neminem Latet regulation, which was to safeguard the religious orders, congregations, and institutes from losing their genuine spirit and former excellence by hastily and imprudently admitting youths having no true vocation. It also prevented youths whose lives, morals, and bodily and mental endowments had not been properly investigation and no testimonial had been requested of, or received from, the bishop
of their native place, or of the places where they had sojourned for the year immediately preceding their admission to the house of postulants.
The Neminem Latet accomplished this by decreeing that novices, after the completion of their probation and novitiate
, should make profession of simple vow
s for the term of three full years. This also included clerics after reaching sixteen years old or older (prescribed by the Council of Trent
), and lay brothers, the age fixed by Pope Clement VIII
(in Suprema). After the completion of their term, to be computed from day of profession to the last hour of the third year, and if found worthy, they were to be admitted to solemn profession. Their superiors, for just and reasonable cause, could postpone the solemn profession. Such postponement was prohibited beyond the twenty-fifth year of age, except in the orders and countries where a longer term of simple profession was conceded by special indult of the Holy See.
Pius IX said that, nevertheless, novices had been admitted to solemn profession without the three years of simple vows. This gave great cause for doubt concerning the validity of the solemn profession. A decision upon that matter was requested from the Holy See. As the Neminem Latet did not say anything about the nullity of solemn profession made in opposition to its regulation, the solemn profession made without the prescribed three years of simple vows was valid, though illicit.
In this papal constitution, Pius IX declares the following:
Women were not included in this law. They, unless special indults were granted, followed the Tridentine regulation until Pope Leo XIII
(3 May 1902, Decretum Perpensis) enjoined on them the same profession of simple vows for three years prior to the solemn profession, under penalty of nullity.
Apostolic constitution
An apostolic constitution is the highest level of decree issued by the Pope. The use of the term constitution comes from Latin constitutio, which referred to any important law issued by the Roman emperor, and is retained in church documents because of the inheritance that the canon law of the...
dealing with the conditions for admission to religious orders
Christian monasticism
Christian monasticism is a practice which began to develop early in the history of the Christian Church, modeled upon scriptural examples and ideals, including those in the Old Testament, but not mandated as an institution in the scriptures. It has come to be regulated by religious rules Christian...
of men in which solemn vows
Simple vow
In Roman Catholic canon law, a simple vow is any vow, public or private, individual or collective, concerned with an action or with abstaining from an action, if that vow has not been recognized by the Church as a solemn vow....
are prescribed. It was issued by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
on 7 February 1862.
History
Pius IX had issued, from time to time, various decrees. These included Romani Pontifices (25 January 1848), Regulari Disciplinae (for Italy and adjacent isles, 25 January 1848), and Neminem Latet (19 March 1857). These three decrees found their completion and perfection in the constitution, Ad Universalis Ecclesiae.Description
This constitution marks a distinct departure from the Tridentine lawTridentine Mass
The Tridentine Mass is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published from 1570 to 1962. It was the most widely celebrated Mass liturgy in the world until the introduction of the Mass of Paul VI in December 1969...
. It differs both as to the necessary age and other requirements for admission of men to solemn vows in orders, congregations, and institutes in which solemn vows are prescribed. The immediate occasion of its promulgation
Promulgation
Promulgation is the act of formally proclaiming or declaring a new statutory or administrative law after its enactment. In some jurisdictions this additional step is necessary before the law can take effect....
was the settlement, once and forever, of doubts which had arisen and been presented to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
about the validity of solemn vows made without due observance of the decree, Neminem Latet, i.e. without the three years' profession of simple vows.
It gives the reason of the Neminem Latet regulation, which was to safeguard the religious orders, congregations, and institutes from losing their genuine spirit and former excellence by hastily and imprudently admitting youths having no true vocation. It also prevented youths whose lives, morals, and bodily and mental endowments had not been properly investigation and no testimonial had been requested of, or received from, the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of their native place, or of the places where they had sojourned for the year immediately preceding their admission to the house of postulants.
The Neminem Latet accomplished this by decreeing that novices, after the completion of their probation and novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
, should make profession of simple vow
Simple vow
In Roman Catholic canon law, a simple vow is any vow, public or private, individual or collective, concerned with an action or with abstaining from an action, if that vow has not been recognized by the Church as a solemn vow....
s for the term of three full years. This also included clerics after reaching sixteen years old or older (prescribed by the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
), and lay brothers, the age fixed by Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...
(in Suprema). After the completion of their term, to be computed from day of profession to the last hour of the third year, and if found worthy, they were to be admitted to solemn profession. Their superiors, for just and reasonable cause, could postpone the solemn profession. Such postponement was prohibited beyond the twenty-fifth year of age, except in the orders and countries where a longer term of simple profession was conceded by special indult of the Holy See.
Pius IX said that, nevertheless, novices had been admitted to solemn profession without the three years of simple vows. This gave great cause for doubt concerning the validity of the solemn profession. A decision upon that matter was requested from the Holy See. As the Neminem Latet did not say anything about the nullity of solemn profession made in opposition to its regulation, the solemn profession made without the prescribed three years of simple vows was valid, though illicit.
In this papal constitution, Pius IX declares the following:
We, therefore, in a matter of such great importance, desiring to remove all occasion of future doubt, of Our own motion and certain knowledge, and in the plenitude of Our Apostolic power as regards the religious communities of men of whatever order, congregation, or institution in which solemn vows are made, do determine and decree to be null and void and of no value the profession of solemn vows, knowingly or ignorantly, in any manner, colour or pretext, made by novices or lay brothers, who, although they had completed the Tridentine probation and novitiate, had not previously made profession of simple vows and remained in that profession for the entire three years, even though the superiors, or they, or both respectively, had the intention of admitting to, or making, solemn vows, and had used all the ceremonies prescribed for solemn profession.
Women were not included in this law. They, unless special indults were granted, followed the Tridentine regulation until Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
(3 May 1902, Decretum Perpensis) enjoined on them the same profession of simple vows for three years prior to the solemn profession, under penalty of nullity.
Source
- Ad Universalis Ecclesiae at Catholic Encyclopedia