Word of the Day: Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship

CONGREGATION FOR THE SACRAMENTS AND DIVINE WORSHIP. Established in 1975, it has two sections: one to deal with the sacraments and the other with divine worship. It also has two special commissions. One of these handles dispensations from nonconsummated marriages, and the other decides on claims of doubtful holy orders.

CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP. Established in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, it became an autonomous part of the Roman Curia, with authority over all questions of divine worship, both liturgical and extraliturgical. Its three offices were as follows: 1. approval of calendars, interpretation of liturgical norms, and the care of doctrinal, pastoral, and ritual aspects of liturgical worship; 2. communication with episcopal conferences on all questions of worship; 3. promotion of the liturgical apostolate, of sacred music and art, and maintaining contact with liturgical and pastoral institutes. In 1975 it became part of the new Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is the congregation 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. Its functions were originally exercised by the Sacred Congregation of Rites, set up in January 1588 by Pope Sixtus V.