Sacrae Disciplinae Leges
The Apostolic Constitution Sacrae Disciplinae Leges of Pope John Paul II was signed on January 25, 1983 and served the promulgation of the new ecclesiastical code ( Codex Iuris Canonici (CIC)).
“In the course of time, the Catholic Church used to revise and renew the laws of the Church's order of life so that they correspond to the salvific mission entrusted to it in a suitable manner while constantly maintaining loyalty to their divine founder. Guided by this very resolution, I am finally fulfilling the expectations of the whole Catholic world and today, January 25, 1983, I have the publication of the revised Code of Canon Law. As I do this, I think back to that January 25th, 1959, on which my predecessor of blessed memory, John XXIII, first publicly announced his decision to reform the current ecclesiastical code, which was promulgated at Pentecost in 1917 had been."
With these words John Paul II introduced this Apostolic Constitution and stipulated that the new canon law would come into force on the first Sunday of Advent in 1983 for the Latin Church. Thus, after exactly 24 years, a long and intensive reform process could be brought to a visible end. In continuity with the ecclesiastical legal tradition, the new ecclesiastical code also follows the theological and ecclesiological requirements of the Second Vatican Council and is divided into seven books. The Pope described the new ecclesiastical code as "a great fruit of the Council" and referred to its explanations and groundbreaking words. Furthermore, the Pope expressed that this legislative document of the Church was an indispensable instrument with the help of which the necessary order in personal and social life, as well as in the governance of the Church itself, would be ensured.
Omnium in mentem
With the apostolic letter Omnium in mentem ( dt .: To recall) of October 26, 2009, which was written in the form of a motu proprio , Pope Benedict XVI. some norms of the Codex of Canon Law changed. In the introductory justification it says:
“The Apostolic Constitution Sacrae disciplinae leges, which was promulgated on January 25, 1983, reminded everyone [omnium in mentem] that the Church, as a community that is both spiritual and visible, as well as hierarchically ordered, needs legal norms» so that the exercise of the ministries entrusted to her by God, especially the spiritual authority and the administration of the sacraments, is properly regulated «. In these norms, on the one hand, the unity of theological doctrine and canonical legislation and, on the other hand, the pastoral use of the prescriptions by which the Church's directives are directed to the welfare of souls should emerge.
However, in order to ensure both this necessary unity of doctrine and the alignment with the pastoral goal more effectively, the highest authority of the Church sometimes decides, after careful consideration of the reasons, on suitable changes to the canonical norms or adds additions to the same. So that is the reason that moves us to promulgate this letter ... "
