Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Department of the Roman Curia
Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Latin: Dicasterium de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum Italian: Dicastero per il Culto Divino e la Disciplina dei Sacramenti
Coat of arms of the Holy See
The twin Palazzi delle Congregazioni facing one another in Piazza Pio XII (in front of St. Peter's Square) house a number of departments of the Roman Curia
Dicastery overview
Formed
March 1, 1989; 35 years ago (1989-03-01) (as a Congregation with the same name)[1]
Preceding agencies
Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (formed May 8, 1969; 55 years ago (1969-05-08))
Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments (formed June 29, 1908; 116 years ago (1908-06-29))
Sacred Congregation for Rites (formed January 22, 1588; 436 years ago (1588-01-22))
The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (Latin: Dicasterium de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum) is the dicastery (from Greek: δικαστήριον, romanized: dikastērion, lit. 'law-court', from δικαστής, 'judge, juror')
of the Roman Curia that handles most affairs relating to liturgical practices of the Latin Church as distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches and also some technical matters relating to the sacraments.
Prior to June 2022, the dicastery was officially named the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (only the first word being different). This former name has often been shortened to Congregation for Divine Worship, further abbreviated as Divine Worship or CDW.[2][3]
Sacred Congregation for Sacraments and Divine Worship[6] (Sacra Congregatio pro Sacramentis Divinoque Cultu,[6] later Sacra Congregatio pro Sacramentis et Cultu Divino[8])
Examining cases concerning the nullity of ordination.
Regulating the cult of relics, the confirmation of heavenly patrons in a diocese or locality
The valid authorisation of canonical coronations for venerated Catholic images decreed from a Pope
The elevation of sanctuaries to the title of minor basilica.
Giving assistance to bishops so that the prayers and pious exercises of the Christian people may be fostered and held in high esteem.
On 30 August 2011, Pope Benedict XVI transferred jurisdiction over unconsummated marriages and the nullification of ordinations to the Roman Rota to relieve the congregation of administrative burdens and allow it to focus on liturgy, its principal responsibility.[10][11] In 2012, the congregation added an office devoted to liturgical architecture and music.[12]
From 2001 to 2017, the congregation had primary authority over a nation's liturgical translations.[13] On 9 September 2017, Pope Francis weakened the congregation's authority with his motu proprio titled Magnum principium,[14] ensuring that, starting 1 October 2017,[14] the nation's Conference of Bishops will manage local liturgical translations.[15][14] On 22 October 2017, the Vatican released a letter that Pope Francis had sent to the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament, Cardinal Robert Sarah, clarifying that the Vatican and its departments would have limited authority to confirm liturgical translations recognized by a local Conference of Bishops,[16] thus retracting a commentary which Sarah had published on 13 October 2017.[17]
In March 2021, following Sarah's retirement, Pope Francis charged Claudio Maniago, leader of the Italian Episcopal Conference's liturgy programs, with undertaking a canonical visitation of the Congregation of Divine Worship in anticipation of the appointment of a new prefect.[18][19] Francis then named Arthur Roche prefect on 27 May 2021.[20]
In 2001, the congregation established the Vox Clara Committee, composed of senior bishops from episcopal conferences throughout the English-speaking world. It advises the congregation on English-language liturgical texts and their distribution. It meets in Rome.[21]
^ abcdPope John Paul II (4 April 1984). "Quoniam in celeri" (in Latin). Holy See. [C]onstituimus ut Sacra Congregatio pro Sacramentis et Cultu Divino in duas Congregationes dividatur, quarum altera pro Sacramentis, altera pro Cultu Divino nominetur. [We decree that the Sacred Congregation for Sacraments and Divine Worship is to be divided into two Congregations, one of which is "for Sacraments," the other "for Divine Worship."]
