CRUZ, Ivy Beatrice M.

February 4, 2016
3BIO2
Encyclical
- was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in
the ancient Roman Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out
by any bishop. The word comes from Late Latin encyclios (from Latin encyclius, a
Latinization of Greek enkyklios meaning "circular", "in a circle", or "allround", also part of the origin of the word encyclopedia).
- Papal encyclical is a kind of letter concerning Catholic doctrine sent by
the Pope addressed to bishops, patriarchs, primates, and archbishops who are
in communion with the Holy See. The form of the address can vary widely, and may
concern bishops in a particular area, or designate a wider audience. Papal
encyclicals usually take the form of a papal brief due to their more personal nature
as opposed to the formal papal bull.
Although the term "encyclical" originally simply meant a circulating letter, it
acquired a more specific meaning within the context of the Catholic Church. In
1740, Pope Benedict XIV wrote a letter titled "Ubi Primum", which is generally
regarded as the first modern-sense encyclical. The term is now used almost
exclusively for a kind of letter sent out by the Pope. Encyclicals are usually written
in the Latin language, and the title of the encyclical is usually taken from its first few
words (its incipit).
- is generally used for significant issues, and is second in importance only to
the highest ranking document now issued by popes, anApostolic Constitution.
However, the designation encyclical does not always denote such a degree of
significance. The archives at the Vatican website currently classify certain
encyclicals as Apostolic Exhortations. This informal term generally indicates
documents with a broader audience than the bishops alone.
- Encyclicals indicate high Papal priority for an issue at a given time. Pontiffs
define when, and under which circumstances, encyclicals should be issued. They
may choose to issue an apostolic constitution, bull, encyclical, apostolic letter or
give a papal speech.

Apostolic letter
- (Litterae apostolicae in Latin) has two uses in Roman Catholicism:

The letters of the Apostles to Christian communities or those in authority, i.e.

the Pauline Epistles, the Letter to the Hebrews, together with the seven General
epistles of the other Apostles.
One of the major types of ecclesiastical document issued by the Pope or in his
name, the others being Papal Briefs, Papal Bulls, Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic
Exhortations and Papal Rescripts.

Apostolic exhortation
- is a type of communication from the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. It
encourages a community of people to undertake a particular activity but does not
define Church doctrine. It is considered lower in formal authority than a papal
encyclical, but higher than other ecclesiastical letters, Apostolic Letters and Other
Papal Writings.
Apostolic exhortations are commonly issued in response to a synod of bishops, in
which case they are known as post-synodal apostolic exhortations.
Apostolic constitution
- (Latin constitutio apostolica) is the highest level of decree issued by
the Pope. The use of the term constitution comes from Latin constitutio, which
referred to any important law issued by the Roman emperor, and is retained in
church documents because of the inheritance that the canon law of the Roman
Catholic Church received from Roman law.
By their nature, apostolic constitutions are addressed to the public. Generic
constitutions use the title apostolic constitution, and treat on solemn matters of the
church, such as the promulgation of laws or definitive teachings. The
forms dogmatic constitution andpastoral constitution are titles sometimes used to
be more descriptive as to the document's purpose.
Apostolic constitutions are issued as papal bulls because of their solemn, public
form. The second highest category of decree, below an apostolic constitution, is
an encyclical letter.

Motu proprio
- Latin for: "on his own impulse") is a document issued by the Pope (or by a
monarch) on his own initiative and personally signed by him.[1]
When issued by the Pope, a motu proprio may be addressed to the whole Church, to
part of it, or to some individuals.[1]

The first motu proprio was issued by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. It continues to be a
common form of Papal rescripts, especially when establishing institutions, making
minor changes to law or procedure, and when granting favours to persons or
institutions.
- An important effect of the issue of a document in this way is that a rescript
containing the clause "motu proprio" is valid and produces its effect even in cases
where fraud would ordinarily have vitiated the document, since the Pope does not
rely on the reasons alleged when he grants a favour.[2] Withholding of the truth in
what, according to canonical law, style and practice, must for validity be expressed,
normally renders a rescript invalid, but not if the rescript is issued "motu proprio".
[3] Consequently, canonists traditionally called the clause the "mother of repose".
[2]
However, a motu proprio has no effect in so far as it harms the acquired right of
another or is contrary to a law[4] or approved custom, unless it expressly states
that it is derogating from these matters.
- A motu proprio rescript begins by giving the reasons for issuing it, and then
indicates the law or regulation made or the favour granted. It is less formal than a
constitution and carries no papal seal. Its content may be instructional (e.g., on the
use of chant), administrative (e.g., concerning a church law or the establishment of
a commission), or merely to confer a special favour.

Papal Bull
- a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic
Church. It is named after the leadseal (bulla) that was appended to the end in order
to authenticate it.
- Modern scholars have retroactively used the term "bull" to describe any
elaborate papal document issued in the form of a decree orprivilege (solemn or
simple), and to some less elaborate ones issued in the form of a letter. Popularly,
the name is used for any papal document that contains a metal seal.
- Today, the bull is the only written communication in which the Pope will refer
to himself as episcopus servus servorum Dei, meaning "Bishop, Servant of the
Servants of God." For example, when Benedict XVI, issued a decree in bull form, he
began the document withBenedictus, Episcopus, Servus Servorum Dei. While it used
to always bear a metal seal, it now does so only on the most solemn occasions. It is
today the most formal type of letters patent issued by the Vatican Chancery in the
name of the Pope.