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The list of Apostolic Constitutions, Encyclicals, and
Apostalic Exhortations, to the left are an excellent resource to better
understanding Catholic Doctrine. The various levels of Vatican
Decrees, in order, are:
- Apostolic Constitutions - Constitutions are the highest
level of document to be issued. Constitutions define major Church
rules, and rank up there with Cannon Law. Constitutions also
define dogma, such as the Immaculate Conception.
- Encyclical Letter - Encyclicals do not contain new
teachings or dogma. They are, however, authoritative teachings
from the Pope, typically re-itterating existing teachings..
- Apostolic Exhortations - Exhortations are written to encourage the faithfull to carry out some good action
- Apostolic Letter - Typically much lesser than
an Constitution, these letters generally are lesser organizational
types of letters approving religious congragations, making lesser
appointments, and the like.
- Letter - Typically something written by the Pope or the
Curia which further defines or clarifies an existing decree, or which
is deals with matters applicable to the recipient only.
Common usage of the word Encyclical will sometimes include all the above documents. For example, the title of this page Catholic Encyclicals does just that. Thus, the word Encyclical is sometimes used interchangably with the term Vatican Decree. |
