Article — Noldin, Summa of Moral Theology
Article One. On Interdict in General
114. Nature. Interdict is a censure by which the use of divine offices, of certain sacraments, and of ecclesiastical burial is prohibited.
a. In the definition are enumerated three effects which a total interdict can produce. Divine offices are understood to be all those things for the performance of which a consecrated minister is required, such as Mass, blessings, processions. The sacraments which are prohibited through interdict are the Eucharist, with viaticum excepted; extreme unction, except in the case in which the dying person could not confess; and order. Therefore baptism, confirmation, penance, and matrimony can be administered, with the nuptial blessing, however, omitted.
b. From interdict which is a censure, there must be distinguished interdict which is a mere vindicative penalty or a mere prohibition. Now only a particular personal interdict is a true censure; but a local interdict and a general personal interdict are not censures, but vindicative penalties, and with respect to the innocent mere prohibitions.
c. Interdict differs: a. from suspension, because the latter affects clerics alone, and because it prohibits not the use of sacred things, but the exercise of ecclesiastical power; b. from excommunication, both because excommunication deprives one of spiritual goods, and of many more of them, not immediately but consequently, namely insofar as it prohibits communion with the faithful, and because excommunication affects not places, but persons alone.
d. Similar to interdict, yet essentially diverse, is cessation a divinis, which is not a censure nor properly a penalty, but a mere prohibition made to clerics of celebrating Mass, administering sacraments, and performing divine offices in some determined sacred place. Cessation a divinis is enjoined on account of a most grave and public delict committed in that place, as a sign of mourning and for repairing the injury.
115. Division. 1. One interdict is local, which immediately affects a place; another personal, which immediately affects persons; another mixed, which immediately affects place and persons.
A local interdict can be general, if it affects an entire territory, e.g. a city, parish; or particular, if it affects a determined place, e.g. a parochial church.
A personal interdict in like manner can be general, if it is carried against an entire community, e.g. against a chapter, university; or particular, if it is carried against one or several determined persons.
One interdict is total, which prohibits all sacred things that are enumerated in the definition; another partial, which prohibits only some of those.
The interdict from entrance into a church deserves special mention. This interdict is particular personal, and indeed partial, which has the nature of true censure. He who is struck by this interdict: a. cannot perform divine offices in a church, nor be present at them in a church, nor be given ecclesiastical burial, unless he has died penitent; b. outside a church, however, he can licitly perform all things which were otherwise licit: therefore he can celebrate or receive sacraments in a private oratory; indeed probably he can also pray privately in a church, receive sacraments privately, hear a sermon.
116. As to the effects of interdict, these few things suffice:
a. A local interdict personally affects those who gave cause for the interdict; but it does not affect the rest except by reason of place. Therefore outside the interdicted place they can assist at all sacred functions or perform them.
b. A personal interdict subjects a certain person to the same effects by which a local interdict subjects a certain place. Therefore the interdicted person cannot perform or hear divine offices, nor administer or receive the above-mentioned sacraments, namely Eucharist, extreme unction, order, nuptial blessing, nor be given ecclesiastical burial.
c. If the interdicted person is to be avoided, it is not licit for the faithful to hear his Mass, since he must be avoided in acts prohibited to him. But if an interdicted person to be avoided assists at a divine office, the faithful are not bound to go out nor to expel him, since this pertains to the ministers of the Church, not to simple faithful.
117. How interdict can be loosed. 1. A reserved interdict, whether imposed by law or by man, can be loosed by the one carrying it, by a superior, by a successor, and by a delegate.
A particular personal interdict, inflicted by man for a determined time or expressly in perpetuity, is by its nature reserved.
Any local interdict and a general personal interdict, if they are not reserved, can be loosed by a superior having jurisdiction of the external forum over the place or over the persons. A confessor, although privileged, can do nothing concerning these interdicts, because a place and a community are not subject to the forum of penance.
A particular personal interdict simply carried and not reserved can be loosed by any confessor. For this, the ordinary form of absolution suffices, or the form which is contained in the Roman Ritual can be employed.1
Note. In the article of death a personal interdict can be loosed by any confessor; nevertheless, if it is reserved to the pope in a special mode, there remains the obligation, under penalty of reincidence, of recurring to the holy see when the illness has ceased.
1 Roman Ritual, tit. 3. c. 5.