Non possumus
Encyclopedia
Non possumus meaning: we cannot, is a Latin religious phrase originating from the story of the martyrs of Abitina
, when emperor Diocletian
prohibited Christian
s, under pain of death, to possess the Scriptures, to meet on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist
and to build premises for their assemblies.
The full context of the phrase is "Sine dominico non possumus," we cannot live without Sunday. It stresses the importance of sabbath in Christianity and the eucharistic celebration in the Christian religion.
Another ecclesiastic usage of the term has been attributed to pope Leo the Great, who wrote in 448
"quibus viventibus non communicavimus mortuis communicare non possumus' (i.e., we cannot hold communion in death with those who in life were not in communion with us)." This principle has been used to justify various Church policies, from refusal to hold funeral liturgies, to the lifting of excommunication
s on deceased individuals, and to objections to ecumenism
and general relations with the non-Christian world.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Non possumus was the name given to the diplomatic policy of popes Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius X, Benedict XV, Pius XI and Pius XII in their relations with foreign powers, especially after the capture of Rome
, where the pontiff became the prisoner in the Vatican
and deliberately chose to limit his contacts with the outside world. It is generally thought that the Second Vatican Council
downplayed this earlier Church policy.
Non possumus is also an album of Szwadron 97
and a book by Julien Benda
. The phrase is also found in the motto of Bodens ingenjörregemente
.
Martyrs of Abitina
The Martyrs of Abitina were a group of 49 Christians found guilty, in 304, during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian, of having illegally celebrated Sunday worship at Abitina, a town in the Roman province of Africa....
, when emperor Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
prohibited Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s, under pain of death, to possess the Scriptures, to meet on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
and to build premises for their assemblies.
The full context of the phrase is "Sine dominico non possumus," we cannot live without Sunday. It stresses the importance of sabbath in Christianity and the eucharistic celebration in the Christian religion.
Another ecclesiastic usage of the term has been attributed to pope Leo the Great, who wrote in 448
448
Year 448 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Praetextatus and Zeno...
"quibus viventibus non communicavimus mortuis communicare non possumus' (i.e., we cannot hold communion in death with those who in life were not in communion with us)." This principle has been used to justify various Church policies, from refusal to hold funeral liturgies, to the lifting of excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
s on deceased individuals, and to objections to ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
and general relations with the non-Christian world.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Non possumus was the name given to the diplomatic policy of popes Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius X, Benedict XV, Pius XI and Pius XII in their relations with foreign powers, especially after the capture of Rome
Capture of Rome
The Capture of Rome was the final event of the long process of Italian unification known as the Risorgimento, which finally unified the Italian peninsula under King Victor Emmanuel II of the House of Savoy...
, where the pontiff became the prisoner in the Vatican
Prisoner in the Vatican
A prisoner in the Vatican or prisoner of the Vatican is how Pope Pius IX described himself following the capture of Rome by the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy on 20 September 1870. Part of the process of Italian unification, the city's capture ended the millennial temporal rule of the popes...
and deliberately chose to limit his contacts with the outside world. It is generally thought that the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
downplayed this earlier Church policy.
Non possumus is also an album of Szwadron 97
Szwadron 97
Szwadron 97 is a Polish band. All of their lyrics feature nationalist and some even anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist themes.- Albums :...
and a book by Julien Benda
Julien Benda
Julien Benda was a French philosopher and novelist. He remains famous for his essay The Betrayal of the Intellectuals.- Life :...
. The phrase is also found in the motto of Bodens ingenjörregemente
Bodens ingenjörregemente
Bodens ingenjörregemente , designations Ing 4, Ing 3 and Ingbat/I 19, was a Swedish Army engineer regiment, one of the few new formations raised in the 20th century. It was disbanded in 2005. The regiment was garrisoned in Boden, Sweden.- History :The regiment has its origins in the engineer...
.