Interstitials

In Catholic canon law, interstitials denote the period between the reception of one and the next higher degree of ordination . During this time, the consecrated person should prove himself at the level of consecration he has reached. After the term no longer appears in the CIC , the term has largely become unusable. Canon law writes in can. 1031 CIC, however, still states that there must be a period of at least six months between receiving the deacon ordination and the priestly ordination .

Before the codification of canon law by the CIC in 1917, the duration of the interstitial space was often not determined. In this case, the responsible bishop was responsible for determining the duration. The Council of Trent made some time indications in this regard for the interstices, which were then partly integrated into the CIC of 1917 (cann. 974ff CIC / 1917). Between Akolythat and Diakonat should therefore at least a year, between the higher orders for at least three months.

Without papal permission it was forbidden to combine a minor ordination and that to the subdiaconate or the receipt of the tonsure with a minor ordination or to donate all minor ordinations one after the other.

literature

• Kasper, Walter (ed.): Lexicon for theology and church. Third edition 1993-2001