What interdict is and its effects

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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

INTERDICT is a censure which prohibits the use of liturgical offices, some sacraments, and ecclesiastical burial. It differs from excommunication and suspension, even when the effects are similar, in that excommunication deprives the delinquent of the use of the sacraments, for example, inasmuch as that use is a communication with the faithful, and suspension deprives the delinquent of the exercise of ecclesiastical power in the administration of the sacraments, while interdict forbids their use inasmuch as they are sacred actions and objects of which for just reasons the delinquent is deprived.

An interdict is local, personal, or mixed, as the prohibition immediately affects the place, certain persons, or both.

It is general or special as it affects the whole of some country or body; or only some particular place or person, physical or moral.

A local interdict, whether general or special, does not forbid the administration of the sacraments and sacramentals to the dying under proper conditions, but it forbids in the place any divine office or sacred rite with the following exceptions: On the feasts of Christmas, Easter, Whit Sunday, Corpus Christi and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, a local interdict is suspended, and the conferring of orders and the solemn nuptial blessing are alone forbidden.

If the interdict was local and general and the decree of interdict did not expressly state otherwise:

(r) Provided that they are not personally interdicted, clerics are allowed in private to exercise all divine offices and sacred rites in any church or oratory, with closed doors, in a low voice and without the ringing of bells.

(2) Moreover, in the cathedral, in parish churches, and in the only church in the place, and in these places alone, the celebration of one Mass, the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament, the administration of Baptism, the Eucharist, Penance, assisting at marriage, with the exclusion of the nuptial blessing, funerals excluding all pomp, the blessing of baptismal water, and of the holy oils, and preaching the word of God are permitted.

Moreover, in these sacred functions singing is forbidden and pomp in the sacred furniture, the ringing of bells, the playing of the organ and of other musical instruments; and Holy Viaticum should be carried to the sick privately.

Even if a cemetery is specially interdicted the bodies of the faithful may be buried there, but without any ecclesiastical rite (Can. 2270-2272).

The violation of an interdict by doing what it forbids is a grave sin, and a cleric who violates a personal interdict by the exercise of an action belonging to sacred orders or who performs such an action in a place which is interdicted by name incurs irregularity (Can. 985, vii).

I. Notion. Interdict is a censure by which the faithful, remaining in the communion of the Church, are prohibited from the sacred things which are enumerated in the canons which follow (canon 2268, § 1). It is said censure, but it can besides be inflicted as a vindicative penalty (n. 890). It is said sacred things; these are divine offices, Sacraments and Sacramentals, or ecclesiastical burial. Furthermore, those personally interdicted sometimes cannot exercise certain rights. The effects of interdict can be separated, so that it is left to the judgment of the Superior which privations he commands, unless it is an interdict established by common law.

II. Division. Interdict is: 1° personal or local;¹ 2° general or particular, according as the subjects of the penalty differ.

1. Interdict is personal when the use of sacred things is directly interdicted to the persons themselves; local, when the use of sacred things is indirectly interdicted to persons, because in certain places the dispensation or reception of sacred things is forbidden (cf. canon 2268, § 2).

2. It is general when it is issued against a group of persons, and is a general personal interdict; or against some territory, whose sacred and profane places it affects, and is a general local interdict. It is particular when it is issued against particular persons expressly designated, and is a particular personal interdict; or against particular sacred places, namely churches, altars, cemeteries, and is a particular local interdict.

Finally, a personal interdict can be issued at the same time both against a community as such and against the individual delinquent persons of some community, so that the interdict is at once general and particular.

¹ Formerly there existed a mixed or ambulatory interdict, which held any place during the presence of the interdicted person; now it has been abolished.

III. Author. 1. A general interdict against a diocese, whether against the territory or against the people, can be issued only by the Apostolic See or at its mandate (canon 2269, § 1).

2. A general interdict against a parish, and also any particular interdict against subject persons or places, can be issued by a Bishop (cited canon). A religious Superior cannot issue a local interdict, because his jurisdiction is only personal.

IV. Interpretation. 1. When a city is interdicted, accessory places, even exempt ones, and the cathedral church itself also remain interdicted; when a church is interdicted, contiguous chapels are interdicted, but not the cemetery; when a chapel is interdicted, the whole church is not interdicted, nor, when a cemetery is interdicted, is the church contiguous to it interdicted, but all oratories erected in the cemetery are interdicted (canon 2273).

2. A personal interdict follows the persons who are held by the interdict everywhere, so that in whatever place they suffer the effects of the penalty (canon 2269, § 2); but a general personal interdict does not hold infants and others not liable to penal law, nor arriving persons, travelers, and vagrants; but it does hold the innocent, and even the absent, who, for example by domicile, are members of the community. Furthermore, from the common and more benign interpretation, when the people are interdicted, the clergy are not of themselves judged interdicted; and also conversely, so that when the clergy are interdicted, the non-interdicted people can call other clerics. Likewise, when the clergy are interdicted, religious are not judged interdicted unless they have a secular benefice (St. Alphonsus VII, 331).

3. A local interdict does not press outside the interdicted place; but in the interdicted place all, even outsiders or exempt persons, a special privilege excluded, must observe it (cited canon). The reason is that it directly affects the territory, but indirectly the persons; nevertheless for the innocent and travelers, or even for infants, such an interdict does not have the character of a penalty, but of a disciplinary privation. The same is valid concerning the innocent in a personal interdict.

V. Effects of a local interdict. A local interdict, whether general or particular, prohibits in the place any divine office or sacred rite, with the following exceptions (canon 2270, § 1):

1. In every local interdict: 1° All sacraments and sacramentals can be ministered to the dying, with the things to be observed being observed; the chief of these are that the ministers not be impeded and solemnities be omitted (canon 2270, § 1, compared with canon 2271, 2°). 2° A local interdict is suspended on the day of the Nativity of the Lord, Easter, Pentecost, the Most Holy Body of Christ, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven,¹ and only the conferral of orders and the solemn nuptial blessing are prohibited (canon 2270, § 2). It is said on the day, so that the octave is excluded.

2. In a general local interdict, unless the decree expressly provides something else:

a) Clerics, provided they themselves are not personally interdicted, are permitted to perform privately all divine offices and sacred rites in any church or oratory, with closed doors, in a subdued voice, and without bells being rung (canon 2271, 1°).

b) But in the cathedral church, parochial churches, or in the church which is the only one in the town, and in those alone, there are permitted: the celebration of one Mass, reservation of the Most Holy Sacrament, administration of baptism, Eucharist, and penance, assistance at marriages, with the nuptial blessing excluded, funeral obsequies of the dead, any solemnity nevertheless being forbidden, the blessing of baptismal water and of sacred oils, and the preaching of the word of God. In these sacred functions, however, chant and pomp in sacred furnishings and the sound of bells, organs, or other musical instruments are prohibited; and sacred Viaticum is to be carried privately to the sick (canon 2271, 2°).

3. In a particular local interdict:

a) If the altar or chapel of some church has been interdicted, no sacred office or sacred rite is to be celebrated in them (canon 2272, § 1).

b) If the cemetery has been interdicted, the bodies of the faithful can indeed be buried there, but without any ecclesiastical rite (canon 2272, § 2).

c) If the church or oratory of some Chapter has been interdicted, and the Chapter has not been interdicted, because then nothing is permitted to it, the Chapter is permitted to perform all divine offices and sacred rites of its function privately, according to canon 2271, 1°, in any church or oratory, even in its own interdicted church or oratory, unless the decree of interdict commands that in another church or oratory the conventual Mass be celebrated and the canonical hours be publicly recited (canon 2272, § 3, 1°).

d) If the parochial church has been interdicted, it is permitted to perform in it all the things which above, canon 2271, 2°, were said concerning the cathedral church and other parochial churches under a general interdict, unless the decree of interdict substitutes another church for it during the time of the interdict (canon 2272, § 3, 2°).

¹ Furthermore in Spain on the day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary by privilege of Leo X.

VI. Effects of personal interdict. Those personally interdicted by force of canon 2275:

a) Cannot celebrate divine offices or assist at them, except the preaching of the word of God; those passively assisting need not be expelled; but interdicted persons after a condemnatory or declaratory sentence has been issued, or otherwise notoriously interdicted, are to be repelled from active assistance which carries with it some participation in celebrating divine offices (cited canon, 1°).

b) They are prohibited from ministering and confecting Sacraments and Sacramentals, unless the interdicted person before sentence has been requested by the faithful, who may seek this for a just cause, especially if other ministers are lacking; or unless after sentence he has been requested in danger of death, either to absolve the faithful sacramentally, although another priest is present, or to give the other Sacraments and Sacramentals if other ministers are lacking.

c) They are prohibited from receiving the Sacraments; and after sentence they also receive Sacramentals illicitly, except exorcism (canon 1152); but an interdicted person also receives Sacramentals validly, because he communicates with the prayer of the Church.

d) They are also held by the prescription of canon 2265; therefore the things said on p. 735, 8, a) and b), alpha-delta, are to be applied to them.

e) After sentence they are deprived of ecclesiastical burial (cf. canon 1204), unless before death they have given some signs of penitence; and under the same restriction there must be denied to them both any funeral Mass, even an anniversary one, and other public funeral offices.

f) Finally, after sentence, a pastor or local Ordinary assists at marriage invalidly, whether by himself or through another (canon 1095). Before sentence he assists even licitly.

VII. Effects of an interdict issued because a community or college has perpetrated a delict. An interdict of this kind can be issued either against the individual delinquent persons, or against the community as such, or against the delinquent persons and the community (canon 2274, § 1). Now:

1. If the interdict has been issued against the individual delinquent persons, those persons, but not the innocent, are personally interdicted, and therefore are held by the things set forth under VI (canon 2274, § 2).

2. If the interdict has been issued against the community as such, the community or college cannot exercise any spiritual right which belongs to it (canon 2274, § 3). Spiritual rights are judged to be: the right of electing, presenting, conferring benefices, celebrating the divine office by office,¹ etc.; but not the right of administering goods and similar things.

3. If the interdict has been issued against the delinquents and against the community, the effects assigned under 1 and 2 are cumulated (canon 2274, § 4).

¹ For example, celebrating the conventual Mass and reciting the canonical hours in common, if there is question of a Chapter interdicted as such (canon 2272, § 3, 1°).

Question 1. To what extent does interdict redound upon the innocent?

Response 1. One who is subject to a local interdict, without having given cause for it and without being prohibited by another censure, can, if he is duly disposed, receive the Sacraments without absolution from the interdict or any other satisfaction; and indeed, in the interdicted place itself, those sacraments which are licitly administered there (canon 2276; cf. canon 2271, n. 878), or in another non-interdicted place, the other sacraments. Likewise he can freely go to other places so that he may assist at divine offices and be freed from the other privations of the local interdict.

Response 2. An innocent person, if an interdict is issued against the individual delinquents of the community of which he is a member, undergoes the effects of those personally interdicted only indirectly, because he cannot receive sacraments or other things from them. He himself is free in all things, and not even for the external forum does he need absolution in order to receive the Sacraments (canon 2276).

Response 3. An innocent person, being subject to an interdict against a community as such, cannot exercise the common rights of the community; but because he is not held by the censure, since it supposes a delict, he does not need absolution in order to receive the Sacraments (canon 2276).

Response 4. If the things placed under responses 2 and 3 are cumulated, the things said there are to be observed (cited canon).

Note. Those who have given cause for a local interdict or for an interdict against a community or college are by the fact itself personally interdicted (canon 2338, § 4).

Question 2. What does interdict from entrance into the church import?

Response. Interdict from entrance into the church, which is a certain part of a special personal interdict, does not deprive one of those goods which we indicated under VI, but from canon 2277 it carries with it the prohibition that one celebrate divine offices in church or assist at them, except preaching, or have ecclesiastical burial. Therefore he can, provided he is duly disposed, receive the Sacraments, even in church, when divine offices are not being celebrated; or celebrate divine offices or assist at them outside the church, taken in the strict sense according to canon 1161. But if he assists, actively or passively, in church, he need not be expelled; nor if he is buried in a sacred place is it necessary that the body be removed.

In present Law it is established in only three cases (canon 2329; canon 2338, § 3; canon 2339); it can be issued as a vindicative penalty.

VIII. Cessation of interdict. It is proper to interdict that, besides the modes common to all penalties, it also ceases when the interdicted place has been destroyed or the interdicted community extinguished. But it is clear of itself that absolution given in the internal forum never touches the local interdict itself, or a general personal interdict as such. One who without fault is subject to an interdict against a community is freed by the fact itself from this interdict when he ceases to be a member of the community; nor does he need absolution.

IX. Violation of interdict is a grave or light sin according as the act excluded by interdict is of grave or light importance (cf. St. Alphonsus VII, 336).

1004. Questions. - QUESTION 1. What are the effects of an interdict?

Reply. There are three, as is clear from the definition given above, namely:

1. Prohibition from divine Offices, namely, from Mass, public and solemn prayer, public recitation of the Hours in choir, public blessing of water, oil, a church, candles, etc. Clerics who do not fall under the interdict can celebrate, but with the doors closed and without the sound of bells. St. Alphonsus, no. 333.

2. Prohibition from administering and receiving certain Sacraments, namely, the Eucharist, Order, and Extreme Unction. Viaticum can be administered to the dying, and according to some, Extreme Unction also. Baptism, even solemn, Confirmation, and Penance are permitted to all except those who gave cause for the interdict, even by aid or favor. Matrimony also is more probably permitted, but without the blessing. See St. Alphonsus, no. 334.

3. Prohibition from ecclesiastical burial. In a local interdict it extends even to infants and the insane. Nevertheless, Clerics not interdicted by name can be buried in a Church, with Mass; indeed, even if the Church were specially interdicted, but without Mass. St. Alphonsus, no. 335.

Concerning these it is treated in the Code in can. 2255-2285. Three species are had in can. 2255 § 1. - 1290 The definition of excommunication is had in can. 2237 § 1. The effects cannot be separated; therefore the distinction between greater and lesser excommunication is altogether taken away; 2º is confirmed by can. 2258 § 1. Today from § 2 of the same canon only those are to be avoided who are excommunicated by name by the Holy See; besides, the excommunication must be publicly denounced, and in the decree or sentence it must be expressly said that he must be avoided. - 1291 1º is confirmed by can. 985 n. 7; 2º can. 2340 § 1. - 1292 1º can. 2260 § 1. Note can. 2250 § 1; 2º can. 2261 §§ 1, 2, 3. The Note which pertains to 1º, can. 2260 § 1; 3º can. 2259 §§ 1 and 2, cf. also can. 2256 n. 1; 4º can. 2262 § 1, but it is extended to all excommunicates. As regards private suffrages, it is confirmed by the same canon § 2; 5º can. 2264. As regards assistance at marriage, can. 1095 § 1, 1º (it is extended to the interdicted); 6º can. 2265 § 1 nn. 1 and 2; in § 2 of the same canon the nullity of acts is restricted to the case in which there is had a declaratory sentence of excommunication. As regards rescripts, cf. there and can. 36 § 2. As regards privation of benefice, it is confirmed by can. 2340 § 1, 2315, 2314 § 1 n. 2 taken together. As regards fruits, can. 2266; 7º can. 2263, 2256 n. 2, 1654; 8º can. 2267; 9º can. 2260 § 2 and 2240 § 1 n. 2, where it is limited only to excommunicates after a condemnatory or declaratory sentence. As regards extracting corpses, the obligation from can. 1242 is limited to those alone who are to be avoided, and if indeed it can be done without grave inconvenience. An excommunicate, although he has not been condemned or declared, sometimes must be deprived of ecclesiastical burial from another head, can. 1241 § 1, e.g., from n. 6. - 1294 and 1295 are confirmed by can. 2267. Private prayer is licit from can. 2262 § 2 n. 1; 4º one communicating in a criminal crime is confirmed by can. 2338 § 2. - 1298. A doubt concerning one to be avoided, after can. 2258 § 2, can scarcely be had any longer.

1299. The definition of suspension is had in can. 2278 § 1. The division is somewhat other: suspension is total or partial, and this is either from office or from benefice from can. 2278 § 2; partial suspension from office is again total or partial from can. 2279 § 1; from benefice it is had in can. 2280 § 1. - 1300 1º is confirmed by can. 2298 n. 2; 2º can. 2222 § 2 and by the last words of the same: "they do not have the nature of a penalty." - 1301 is confirmed by can. 2186-2194 and can. 2222 § 1. - 1302 can. 2278 § 2. - 1303 can. 2279 § 2. In this canon the species of partial suspension from office are clearly indicated with their effects; 4º is confirmed from can. 2280 §§ 1, 2; 5º from can. 2285. - 1304 I is confirmed by can. 986; II can. 985 n. 7. The question concerning violation of suspension as a vindictive penalty is solved through this canon, so that then an irregularity is also incurred; III is confirmed by can. 2284. - 1305 1º and 2º can. 2236 § 1, 2248 § 1 and 2289.

1306. The definition of interdict is in can. 2268 § 1. As regards the division, 1º mixed is to be omitted, can. 2268 § 2. The rest is confirmed by can. 2269 § 1. Concerning interdict from entrance of the church, it is treated in can. 2277. - 1307 I is confirmed by can. 2273, but as regards the note, the cemetery is not interdicted when the church has been interdicted. Those who did not give the cause from can. 2276 can receive the sacraments. Concerning the faculty of the Bishop, confer can. 2269 § 1; II is confirmed in some measure by can. 2269 § 2; III Bishops are exempt from can. 2227 § 2; innocents from can. 2276; externs from can. 2269 § 2; infants from can. 2230 and the insane from can. 2201 § 1 and 2218 § 2, who are not even

deprived of ecclesiastical burial from can. 1240 § 1 n. 2. - 1308 must be changed in some measure, although it is substantially confirmed. 1º The effect of a local interdict (whether general or partial) is the prohibition of any divine office or sacred rite in the interdicted place from can. 2269 § 1. What is understood by divine offices, see can. 2256 n. 1. The limits as regards the dying are in can. 2270 § 1; as regards clerics they are confirmed by can. 2271, 1º; as regards days, can. 2270 § 2; as regards sacraments, if the church is the only one or is parochial, can. 2271 n. 2. Ecclesiastical burial is prohibited only for those who are personally interdicted from can. 1240 § 1 n. 2, and only after sentence. For the rest in a local interdict only solemnities in funerals are prohibited from can. 2271 n. 2; b) if it is a particular local one; cf. besides can. 2272. - 1309. 1º a) is confirmed by can. 985, 7º; b) can. 2372; c) can. 2338 § 3; 2º is confirmed by can. 2338 § 3 and can. 2275. - 1310. 1º is confirmed by can. 2353 n. 1; as regards reserved ones confer can. 2237 § 1; 2º is confirmed by can. 2253 n. 2 and can. 2247 § 2; 3º can. 2253 n. 1.

527. Notion. An interdict is a censure by which the faithful, remaining in the communion of the Church, are prohibited from certain sacraments and other sacred things.

Explanation. It is said: An interdict is a censure, or a medicinal penalty. Not rarely, however, an interdict (especially a local and general one) is a vindicatory penalty or a mere prohibition, since even the innocent must suffer from it.

It is said: by which the faithful, remaining in the communion of the Church, are prohibited from certain sacraments and other sacred things. For an interdict does not take away communion with the Church and therefore differs: a) from excommunication, which is a graver penalty and deprives one of the communion of the faithful, but nevertheless is never local; b) from suspension, which affects clerics alone, whereas an interdict is imposed both upon clerics and upon laymen. What sacraments and sacred things are prohibited will be said below, where the effects of an interdict are enumerated.

Divisions. 1. An interdict is either local, which immediately affects a place and mediately all persons residing there, even outsiders and exempt persons; or personal, which affects only the person and follows and binds him everywhere.²⁰²

A local interdict is either general, which affects the entire territory or the whole people of such a place, for example, an entire city; or particular, which affects a determined part of some place or people, for example, a convent or church. A general interdict upon an entire state, or even upon a diocese or its people, can be imposed only by the Apostolic See or by its mandate; a bishop can also impose other interdicts.²⁰³

2. One interdict is total, which prohibits the use of all sacred things, or which causes all the effects proper to an interdict; another is partial, which prohibits only certain sacred things.

²⁰² Code of Canon Law, c. 2269, § 2.

²⁰³ Ibid., § 1.

528. Effects of an interdict. In practice it is customary for the legitimate superior to determine particularly what precisely is prohibited or permitted during an interdict,²⁰⁴ especially if a particular or partial interdict is inflicted. Generally it can be said:

a) A local interdict personally affects those who gave cause for it; the others who are present in the interdicted place must indeed observe it, but can receive the sacraments and are altogether free outside this place.²⁰⁵

b) A general local interdict prohibits in the interdicted place every divine office or sacred rite; and even if divine offices are permitted in certain cases (concerning which below), singing and pomp in sacred furnishings, the sound of bells, organs, or other musical instruments are prohibited.²⁰⁶

c) A personal interdict prohibits the interdicted person from: a) celebrating divine offices or actively assisting at them, with the preaching of the word of God excepted; passive assistance, however, does not appear to be gravely prohibited; b) administering, confecting, and receiving sacraments and sacramentals; on this point, however, the same exceptions hold which were indicated above in n. 500 for excommunicated persons; c) being given ecclesiastical burial. As regards the right of electing, presenting, and nominating; the acquisition of dignities, offices, benefices, pensions, functions in the Church, and graces of the Apostolic See; and the reception of orders, interdicted persons are treated in the same manner as excommunicated persons.²⁰⁷

d) Those who violate an interdict sin gravely; clerics who illicitly exercise sacred order become irregular.

Exceptions. 1. On five feasts (namely, the Nativity of the Lord, Easter, Pentecost, Corpus Christi, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven) a local interdict is suspended, so that all divine offices and rites are permitted, with the conferral of orders and the solemn nuptial blessing excepted.²⁰⁸

2. Clerics not personally interdicted can privately (that is, with doors closed, voice subdued, and bells not rung) perform all offices and sacred rites in any church or oratory.²⁰⁹

3. In the cathedral church, in all parish churches, and in a church which is the only one in a town, the following are permitted: a) the celebration of one Mass; b) the reservation of the Most Holy Sacrament; c) the administration of baptism, the Eucharist, and penance; d) assistance at marriages, with the nuptial blessing excluded; e) funeral rites for the dead, but with every solemnity forbidden; f) the blessing of baptismal water and the sacred oils; g) the preaching of the word of God.

Holy Viaticum is to be carried privately to the sick.²¹⁰

Cessation of an interdict. An interdict imposed in vindication ceases at the discretion of the prelate imposing it, that is, either by dispensation or by the lapse of a determined time.

An interdict imposed after the manner of a censure does not cease except through absolution given by competent authority. Therefore all that was said above concerning absolution from a censure in n. 490 ff. holds.

²⁰⁴ Cf. the interdicts inflicted upon the city of Adria on September 30, 1909, and Galatina on December 10, 1913.

²⁰⁵ Cf. Code of Canon Law, c. 2269, § 2, and c. 2276.

²⁰⁶ Ibid., c. 2271.

²⁰⁷ Ibid., cc. 2275 and 2265.

²⁰⁸ Ibid., c. 2270, § 2.

²⁰⁹ Ibid., c. 2271, n. 1.

²¹⁰ Ibid., n. 2.

529. Scholion. On interdict from entrance into a church and on cessation from divine services. An interdict from entrance into a church is a particular and partial personal interdict. It is defined: a penalty by which someone is prohibited from participation in divine offices in a church and from ecclesiastical burial. One thus interdicted can therefore hear and celebrate Mass outside a church, for example, in an oratory, receive other sacraments, and so forth. Likewise he can pray privately even in a church. If one thus interdicted assists at divine offices in a church, it is not necessary that he be expelled; nor, if he is buried, is it necessary that the corpse be removed (c. 2277).

Cessation from divine services²¹¹ is a prohibition (imposed especially upon clerics) against performing divine offices in a sacred place and administering the sacraments of the Eucharist, Extreme Unction, and Orders. This cessation is not a censure properly so called, but is inflicted ab homine (never by the law) on account of a most grave crime, as a sign of the Church's grief over an injury inflicted upon her. Those who violate a cessation from divine services indeed sin gravely, but do not become irregular.²¹²

²¹¹ German: cessation of divine services.

²¹² Cf. Wernz, Ius Decretal. VI, n. 235 ff. The Code of Canon Law is silent concerning cessation from divine services.

§ 1. Interdict is a censure by which the faithful, remaining in the communion of the Church, are prohibited from sacred things which are enumerated in the canons which follow.

§ 2. The prohibition is made either directly through personal interdict, when the use of those goods is interdicted to the persons themselves; or indirectly through local interdict, when in certain places the dispensation or reception of the same is forbidden (Can. 2268).

Interdict strikes the faithful remaining in communion with the Church, directly and indirectly: directly, by interdicting to them, through personal interdict, the use of certain goods; indirectly, by forbidding the dispensation of them in certain places, according as the interdict is personal or local.

I say 1°. § 1. A general interdict, whether local against the territory of a diocese or republic, or personal against the people of a diocese or republic, can be brought only by the Apostolic See or by its mandate; but a general interdict against a parish or the people of a parish, and a particular interdict whether local or personal, can also be brought by the Bishop.

§ 2. A personal interdict follows the persons everywhere; a local one does not press outside the interdicted place, but in the interdicted place all, even outsiders or exempt persons, with a special privilege excluded, must observe it (Can. 2269).

A general local interdict against the general territory of a diocese or republic can be distinguished from a general personal interdict against the people of a diocese or republic. Each is brought only by the Supreme Pontiff or another from his authority. The Bishop brings a general interdict against a parish or the people of a parish. By a personal interdict persons are held everywhere; by a local one they are not held outside the place; but in the place all are held, even outsiders or exempt persons, with privilege excluded.

I say 2°. § 1. A local interdict, whether general or particular, does not forbid ministering the Sacraments and Sacramentals, with the things to be observed being observed, to the dying, but it prohibits in the place any divine office or sacred rite, with the exceptions remaining safe of which in § 2 of this canon and in can. 2271, 2272.

§ 2. On the day of the Nativity of the Lord, Easter, Pentecost, the Most Holy Body of Christ, and the Blessed Virgin Mary assumed into heaven, the local interdict is suspended, and only the conferral of orders and the solemn blessing of nuptials are prohibited (Can. 2270).

Therefore the dying can receive, while a local interdict lasts, not only sacraments but also sacramentals.

On those solemn feast days the local interdict is suspended, so that the people may fully enjoy the spiritual joy proper to these days; two things are forbidden: the conferral of orders and solemn nuptials.

I say 3°. If the interdict was general local and in the decree of interdict something else is not expressly provided:

1°. Clerics are permitted, provided they are not themselves personally interdicted, to perform all divine offices and sacred rites privately in any church or oratory, with doors closed, voice lowered, and bells not rung;

2°. But in the cathedral church, parish churches, or in the church which is the only one in the town, and in those alone, there are permitted the celebration of one Mass, reservation of the Most Holy Sacrament, administration of baptism, the Eucharist, penance, assistance at marriages, with the nuptial blessing excluded, funerals of the dead, yet with any solemnity forbidden, blessing of baptismal water and of the sacred oils, preaching of the word of God. Nevertheless in these sacred functions there is prohibited chant and pomp in sacred furnishings and the sound of bells, organs, or other musical instruments; but sacred Viaticum is to be carried privately to the sick (Can. 2271).

I say 4°. § 1. In a particular local interdict, if an altar or chapel of some church has been interdicted, no sacred office or sacred rite is to be celebrated in them.

§ 2. If a cemetery has been interdicted, the bodies of the faithful indeed can be buried there, but without any ecclesiastical rite.

§ 3. If it has been brought against a certain church or oratory:

1°. If the church was capitular and the Chapter has not been interdicted, the prescription of can. 2271, n. 1, is valid, unless the decree of interdict prescribes that conventual Mass be celebrated and the canonical hours recited in another church or oratory;

2°. If it was parochial, let the prescription of the cited can. 2271, n. 2, be observed, unless the decree of interdict substitutes another church for it for the time of the interdict (Can. 2272).

I say 5°. When a city is interdicted, accessory places also remain interdicted, even exempt ones, and the cathedral church itself; when a church is interdicted, contiguous chapels are interdicted, but not the cemetery; when a chapel is interdicted, the whole church is not interdicted, nor, when a cemetery is interdicted, is the church contiguous to it interdicted, but all oratories erected in the cemetery are interdicted (Can. 2273).

I say 6°. § 1. If a community or college has perpetrated a delict, interdict can be brought either against the individual delinquent persons, or against the community as such, or against the delinquent persons and against the community.

§ 2. If the first, let the prescription of can. 2275 be observed.

§ 3. If the second, the community or college cannot exercise any spiritual right which belongs to it.

§ 4. If the third, the effects are cumulated (Can. 2274).

In the first case the things to be said concerning personally interdicted persons are valid; in the second, it loses the spiritual right of electing to certain offices; in the third, they both lose rights and are prohibited from all those things which it is forbidden for personally interdicted persons to do.

Question 1. What is prohibited to personally interdicted persons?

Resp. Personally interdicted persons:

1°. Cannot celebrate divine offices or assist at them, with the preaching of the word of God excepted; those assisting passively need not be expelled; but from active assistance, which carries with itself some participation in celebrating divine offices, interdicted persons are to be repelled after a condemnatory or declaratory sentence has been brought, or otherwise notoriously interdicted persons;

2°. They are prohibited from ministering, confecting, and receiving Sacraments and Sacramentals, according to the norm of can. 2260, § 1, 2261;

3°. They also are bound by the prescription of can. 2265;

4°. They lack ecclesiastical burial according to the norm of can. 1240, § 1, n. 2 (Can. 2275).

Therefore these sin gravely, 1°. by celebrating these offices or assisting at them, unless it is preaching at which the interdicted person assists; those assisting passively are not to be expelled; after sentence or notoriously interdicted persons are to be repelled from active assistance; 2°. by ministering or confecting sacraments or sacramentals, unless according to the norm for excommunicated persons, they sin gravely.

Question 2. Is it licit for him who is subject to interdict and has not given cause for it to receive the sacraments?

Resp. He who is subject to a local interdict or to an interdict against a community or college, without having given cause for the same, and is prohibited by no other censure, can, if he is rightly disposed, receive the Sacraments, according to the norm of the preceding canons, without absolution from the interdict or any other satisfaction (Can. 2276).

Question 3. What prohibition does interdict from entering a church carry with it?

Resp. Interdict from entering a church carries with it the prohibition lest someone celebrate divine offices in a church or assist at the same or have ecclesiastical burial; but if he assists, it is not necessary that he be expelled, nor, if he is buried, is it necessary that the corpse be removed (Can. 2277).

The celebration of offices in a church, assistance at the same, and ecclesiastical burial are prohibited by this interdict.

IV. QUESTION IV. What are the effects of an interdict? ANSWER. Three: 1. Prohibition of the celebration and hearing of the divine offices; 2. Privation of certain sacraments; 3. Privation of ecclesiastical burial. By the name of divine offices are understood Mass, the canonical hours, and other prayers solemnly celebrated, the blessings of nuptials, of water, of oil, of chrism, and every function ordained by the Church to the worship of God. All these things are forbidden in a common place deputed thereto; otherwise privately, and in a place not deputed to celebrating the divine offices. Similarly it is lawful to hold sermons. Nay by the new law of Boniface VIII in chapter Alma Mater on sentences of excommunication in the Sixth, all clerics and Regulars in the time of a general local interdict can daily celebrate Masses and perform the divine offices in any churches and monasteries whatsoever, four conditions being added: 1. That it be with lowered voice, that is, without chant; 2. With the doors closed, yet so that an exit lie open for those willing to go out: wherefore an officer will have to be set over it, who may forbid the interdicted to enter and permit the privileged to go out; 3. The bells not being rung; 4. The interdicted and excommunicated being excluded. On four solemnities nevertheless — of the Lord's Nativity, of Easter, of Pentecost, and of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin — the divine offices can be solemnly celebrated with open doors, with loud voice, and with the bells rung. The interdicted nevertheless ought not to approach the altar, who gave the cause of the same. Which privilege Martin V extended to the feast of the Body of Christ, and Eugenius IV to its octave. Regulars enjoy a privilege, as very many report (whether truly or falsely I know not), of admitting to the divine offices the servants, procurators, and workmen of the monastery.

Caius, a missionary priest in a certain diocese of England, wishes to know whether he could absolve a man recently inhibited from the sacraments by the Bishop of another diocese, whose subject he was, provided that he was rightly disposed, whether he was prevented from going to his own bishop or not. For after a threefold admonition the bishop declared: “I hereby inhibit him from approaching the sacraments, and forbid my priests to administer them to him, until he shall have proved his orthodoxy to the satisfaction of his ordinary.” Hence it is asked:

1. What is an interdict, and what are its different kinds?

2. What is a censure by a man, and who can absolve from it?

3. Would the penalty inflicted be suspended if the delinquent appealed to the Holy See, which he seems to have done?

4. What is to be said of the case?

1. What is an interdict, and what are its different species?

An interdict is a censure which prohibits the use of liturgical offices, some sacraments, and ecclesiastical burial. It is local, personal, or mixed, as it immediately affects the place, certain persons, or both. It is general or special, total or partial.¹

1 Manual of Moral Theology, vol. ii, 382.

2. What is a censure ab homine, and who can absolve from it?

A censure ab homine is imposed not by a permanent law, but by a particular precept or sentence of an ecclesiastical superior. Absolution from such a censure can only be had from him who inflicted it, from his Superior or successor in office, or from one delegated by one of these.²

2 Ibid., 373.

3. Would the penalty inflicted be suspended by an appeal to the Holy See?

No, not when the penalty has been inflicted already. In that case there is only an appeal in devolutivo, or a simple recourse to the Holy See.³

3 Bucceroni, Theol. Moral., vol. ii, n. 1096.

4. The case. The question is whether a priest of another diocese may absolve the subject of a bishop who had interdicted the latter the sacraments until he had given satisfaction to his ordinary, and who had forbidden his priests to administer the sacraments to him. The answer is No. Such a special and personal interdict is a censure ab homine, and it can only be absolved by the person who imposed it, by his Superior or successor in office, or by some one delegated by one of these. The delinquent therefore must comply with the condition imposed, satisfy his ordinary as to his orthodoxy, and then he will be able to receive the sacraments like the rest of the faithful.