Chapter — Marc, Institutiones Morales
Appendix II: Explanation Of The Sense Of Some Words Which Often Occur In The Responses Of The Holy Roman Congregations
¶1.
- Dilata, that is, the response is deferred, so that the matter may be subjected to more mature examination, as being of difficult solution.
¶2.
- Affirmative et amplius, - Negative et amplius, i.e. when the matter has been discussed sufficiently and more than sufficiently in the Sacred Congregation, and decided by full votes as it lies, such a question is no longer admitted.
¶3.
- Nihil, i.e. the petition is not admitted, as incongruous.
¶4.
- Relatum or Lectum, i.e. when the request had been reported or read in the Sacred Congregation, it was not admitted.
¶5.
- Reponatur, or no response is given, but the petition is deposited in the Archives of the Sacred Congregation.
¶6.
- Detur decretum generale. It obtains when there is question of a grave matter which is neglected by many.
¶7.
- Non congruere, - Non expedire, i.e. the Sacred Congregation does not think it fitting that what is asked be conceded; therefore it does not will to bestow the grace petitioned, nor does it bestow it.
¶8.
- Orator rem deferat ad Ordinarium et ejus judicio se dirigat, or that the thing requested is not conceded by the Sacred Penitentiary, but is remitted to the Ordinary, that, if he has the faculty, he may provide for the matter according to his prudence; otherwise either he may obtain the faculty, or, if he shall have judged that this is not expedient, he may enjoin what is to be enjoined.
¶9.
- In decretis, - In decisis, or that prayers not heard and repeated by the petitioner are not to be heard.
¶10.
- Ad mentem, or that besides the solution of the doubt something else is noted or declared by the Sacred Congregation, which, if it has been secret, is manifested only to those to whom the response will be directed; otherwise it is added to publicly drawn-up writings with these words: the mind is, etc.
¶11.
- Facto verbo cum Sanctissimo, or: Ad Dominum Secretarium cum Sanctissimo, or that the Congregation does not have the faculty of conceding the grace, and therefore the Secretary is enjoined to refer the Rescript of the Sacred Congregation to the Supreme Pontiff, who is accustomed to approve the judgment of the Congregation and to concede the grace.
¶12.
- Providebitur in casibus particularibus, or that the case which was proposed generically and indeterminately must be proposed determinately.
¶13.
- Gaudeat impetratis, or that the petitioner ought to be content with the grace obtained, and that its extension, or another which is newly requested, is not conceded.
¶14.
- Sanctissimus annuit pro gratia, arbitrio et conscientiae Episcopi, or that the grace has been conceded and nothing is lacking that it may have full effect, except execution, which the delegate cannot deny, unless perhaps there underlies some canonical cause, not exposed to the Holy See, which impedes it by law.1
(1) Cf. Konings, n. 174.