Magnae nobis

Magnae nobis is the name of an apostolic letter from Pope Benedict XIV. In the encyclical of June 29, 1748 to the Primate and the Bishops of the Kingdom of Poland , the Pope deals with marital barriers and dispensations in the Roman Catholic Churches of Poland and thus according to the encyclical Nimiam licentiam of May 18, 1743 again with the regulations on ecclesiastical marriage in the Polish dioceses.

Initially, Benedict XIV complains about excessive permissions and derogations from the Polish bishops with regard to marriages. He is particularly disappointed about the marriage of Catholics with heretics and heretics and refers to letters and documents from his predecessors who expressly forbid such marriages. The Pope stipulates the responsibilities and calls for the observance of canon law . He then refers to a document drawn up by the Holy See entitled Supplicationum ; this compilation of regulations signed by the Pope should be observed.

The Pope writes about the granting of dispensations that the reasons for this are sometimes inconclusive and are not in accordance with canon law or other decretals . He therefore calls for a better and more objective examination of applications for a dispensation. In particular, the confirmation that both bride and groom are Catholic is sometimes given recklessly, but this has to be checked and proven more thoroughly, because the use of mere assumptions is not justifiable.

Benedict clearly denounces consent to marrying young girls under the age of twelve. They are not able to marry . Here Benedict calls for a strict standard to be applied.

Web links

• Text of the encyclical (English)