Immensa Aeterni Dei
Encyclopedia
Immensa Aeterni Dei is an apostolic constitution
in the form of a papal bull
issued by Pope Sixtus V
on February, 1588. The constitution reorganized the Roman Curia
, establishing permanent congregation
s of cardinal
s to advise the pope on various subjects. The primary role of the document was to provide instruction in condemning or correcting literature which were against Catholic doctrine. The document also had the authority to give permission for selected individuals to read books which were forbidden. It has since been superseded, most recently by Pope John Paul II
's constitution Pastor Bonus
.
Apostolic constitution
An apostolic constitution 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...
in the form of a papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
issued by Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V , born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590.-Early life:The chronicler Andrija Zmajević states that Felice's family originated from modern-day Montenegro...
on February, 1588. The constitution reorganized the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
, establishing permanent congregation
Congregation (Roman Curia)
A congregation is a type of dicastery of the Roman Curia, the central administrative organism of the Catholic Church....
s of cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
s to advise the pope on various subjects. The primary role of the document was to provide instruction in condemning or correcting literature which were against Catholic doctrine. The document also had the authority to give permission for selected individuals to read books which were forbidden. It has since been superseded, most recently by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
's constitution Pastor Bonus
Pastor Bonus
Pastor Bonus is an Apostolic Constitution promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 28 June 1988. It instituted a number of reforms in the process of running the central government of the Roman Catholic Church, as article 1 states "The Roman Curia is the complex of dicasteries and institutes which help...
.
The formation of congregations
The immense Immensa Aeterni Dei called for the formation of 15 permanent congregations:- Congregation of the Inquisition
- Congregation of the Segnatura
- Congregation for the Establishment of Churches
- Congregation of Rites and Ceremonies
- Congregation of the Index of Forbidden Books
- Congregation of the Council of Trent
- Congregation of the Regulars
- Congregation of the Bishops
- Congregation of the Vatican Press
- Congregation of the Annona, for the provisioning of Rome and the provinces
- Congregation of the Navy
- Congregation of the Public Welfare
- Congregation of the Sapienza
- Congregation of Roads, Bridges, and Waters
- Congregation of State Consultations