Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity

Overview:

A. Profession of Faith
B. Oath of Fidelity of Bishops
C. Oath of Fidelity of Other Officials

A. Profession of Faith

According to c. 833 CIC, in certain occasions some Christian faithful are obliged to pronounce the profession of faith "by using the formula which is approved by the Apostolic See". The formula to be used at present was published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith in 1989. It can be found in: AAS 81 (1989) 104-106. The formula contains at first the Creed of Nicaia-Constantinople. It is followed by three additional paragraphs.

Ego N. firma fide credo et profiteor omnia et singula quae continentur in Symbolo fidei, videlicet:	I, N., with firm faith believe and profess each and everything that is contained in the Symbol of faith, namely:
Credo in unum Deum Patrem omnipotentem, ... et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.	I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, ... and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Firma fide quoque credo ea omnia quae in verho Dei scripto vel tradito continentur et ab Ecclesia sive sollemni iudicio sive ordinario et universali magisterio tamquam divinitus revelata credenda proponuntur.	With firm faith, I also believe everything contained in the word of God, whether written or handed down in Tradition, which the Church, either by a solemn judgement or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium, sets forth to be believed as divinely revealed.
Firmiter etiam amplector ac retineo omnia et singula quae circa doctrinam de fide vel moribus ab eadem definitive proponuntur.	I also firmly accept and hold each and everything definitively proposed by the Church regarding teaching on faith and morals.
Insuper religioso voluntatis et intellectus obsequio doctrinis adhaereo quas sive Romanus Pontifex sive Collegium episcoporum enuntiant cum magisterium authenticum exercent etsi non definitivo actu easdem proclamare intendant.	Moreover, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman Pontiff or the College of Bishops enunciate when they exercise their authentic Magisterium, even if they do not intend to proclaim these teachings by a definitive act.

B. Oath of Fidelity of Bishops

According to c. 380 CIC bishops are to pronounce an oath of fidelity before taking possession of their office. The formula to be used is from July 1, 1987. It is published in: Archiv für katholisches Kirchenrecht 157 (1988) 378s., note 93. The formula says:

Ego ... ad sedem ... promotus, catholicae Ecclesiae atque romano Pontifici, eius supremo pastori, Christi vicario beati Petri apostoli in primatu successori et collegii Episcoporum capiti, semper fidelis ero.
Libero exercitio primatialis summi Pontificis potestatis in universa Ecclesia obsequar, Ipsiusque iura et auctoritatem mihi curae erit provehere ac defendere. Praerogativas quoque atque munera romani Pontificis Legatorum, quippe qui personam gerant supremi pastoris, agnoscam atque observabo.
Apostolica munera Episcopis commissa, nempe populum Dei docendi, sanctificandi et regendi, in hierarchica communione cum collegii episcopalis capite atque membris, summa diligentia exsequenda curabo.
Universae Ecclesiae unitatem tuebor, ideoque studiose incumbam, ut depositum fidei inde ab Apostolis traditum purum et integrum servetur ac veritates tenendae et moribus applicandae, prouti ab Ecclesiae magisterio proponuntur, omnibus tradantur et illustrentur. Errantibus vero in fide paternum animum pandam atque omni ope adnitar, ut ad plenitudinem catholicae veritatis perveniant.
Ad imaginem Christi, summi et aeterni sacerdotis, respiciens, pie sancteque agam ac ministerium mihi commissum ita adimplebo, ut, forma factus gregis ex animo, fideles in christiana perfectione adipiscenda confirmare valeam.
Disciplinam cunctae Ecclesiae communem fovebo et observantiam omnium legum ecclesiasticarum, earum imprimis quae in Codice Iuris Canonici continentur, sollerter insistam, semper advigilans, ne mali usus irrepant praecipue circa ministerium verbi et sacramentorum celebrationem.
Diligentem curam in temporalibus Ecclesiae bonis administrandis ponam, iis potissimum quae ad divini cultus exercitium, ad cleri aliorumque ministrorum honestam sustentationem, necnon ad sacri apostolatus et caritatis opera collata sunt.
In explendo mandato mihi commisso omnes Presbyteros et Diaconos, ordinis episcopalis providos cooperatores, necnon Religiosos et Religiosas unius eiusdemque operis participes, peculiari dilectione prosequar. Itemque de sacris vocationibus provehendis maximam curam habebo, ut spiritualibus necessitatibus in tota Ecclesia convenienter consulatur.
Laicorum dignitatem propriamque ipsorum in Ecclesiae missione partem agnoscam et proveham. Opera vero missionalia ad gentium evangelizationem fovendam peculiari sollicitudine curabo.
Ad Concilia ceterasque legitimas actiones collegiales vocatus, nisi impediar, ipse adero vel opportune respondebo.
Statutis temporibus vel occasione data Apostolicae Sedi rationem de pastorali meo officio reddam, eiusdemque mandata atque consilia simul obsequenter accipiam ac maximo studio perficiam.
Sic me Deus adiuvet et haec santa Dei evangelia, quae manibus meis tango.

C. Oath of Fidelity of Other Officials

In 1989 the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith made a new law, which obliged the Christian faithful mentioned in c. 833 n. 5-8 to pronounce an oath of fidelity. Later in the same year the law was approved by the pope. The formula for the oath of fidelity was published along with the aforementioned additions to the profession of faith. The formula says:

Ego N. in suscipiendo officio ... promitto me cum catholica Ecclesia communionem semper servaturum, sive verbis a me prolatis, sive mea agendi ratione.	I, N., in assuming the office of ..., promise that in my words and in my actions I shall always preserve communion with the Catholic Church.
Magna cum diligentia et fidelitate onera explebo quibus teneor erga Ecclesiam, tum universam, tum particularem, in qua ad meum servitium, secundum iuris praescripta, exercendum vocatus sum.	With great care and fidelity I shall carry out the duties incumbent on me toward the Church, both universal and particular, in which, according to the provisions of the law, I have been called to exercise my service.
In munere meo adimplendo, quod Ecclesiae nomine mihi commissum est, fidei depositum integrum servabo, fideliter tradam et illustrabo; quascumque igitur doctrinas iisdem contrarias devitabo.	In fulfilling the charge entrusted to me in the name of the Church, I shall hold fast to the deposit of faith in its entirety; I shall faithfully hand it on and explain it, and I shall avoid any teachings contrary to lt.
Disciplinam cunctae Ecclesiae communem sequar et fovebo observantiamque cunctarum legum ecclesiasticarum, earum imprimis quae in Codice Iuris Canonici continentur, servabo.	I shall follow and foster the common discipline of the entire Church and I shall maintain the observance of all ecclesiastical laws, especially those contained in the Code of Canon Law.
Christiana oboedientia prosequar quae sacri Pastores, tamquam authentici fidei doctores er magistri daclarant aut tamqnam Ecclesiae rectores statuunt, atque Episcopis dioecesanis fideliter auxilium dabo, ut actio apostolica, nomine er mandato Ecclesiae exercenda, in eiusdem Ecclesiae communione peragatur.	With Christian obedience I shall follow what the Bishops, as authentic doctors and teachers of the faith, declare, or what they, as those who govern the Church, establish. I shall also faithfully assist the diocesan Bishops, so that the apostolic activity, exercised in the name and by mandate of the Church, may be carried out in communion with the Church.
Sic me Deus adiuvet et sancta Dei Evangelia quae manibus meis tango.	So help me God, and God's Holy Gospels on which I place my hand.

(Variations in the fourth and fifth paragraphs of the formula for use by those members of the Christian faithful indicated in can. 833, n. 8:)

Disciplinam cunctae Ecclesiae communem fovebo observantiamque cunctarum legum ecclesiasticarum urgebo, earum imprimis quae in Codice Iuris Canonici continentur.

I shall foster the common discipline of the entire Church and I shall insist on the observance of all ecclesiastical laws, especially those contained in the Code of Canon Law.

Christiana oboedientia prosequar quae sacri Pastores, tamquam authentici fidei doctores et magistri declarant, aut tamquam Ecclesiae rectores statuunt, atque cum Episcopis dioecesanis libenter operam dabo, ut actio apostolica, nomine et mandato Ecclesiae exercenda, salvis indole et fine mei Instituti, in eiusdem Ecclesiae communione peragatur.

With Christian obedience I shall follow what the Bishops, as authentic doctors and teachers of the faith, declare, or what they, as those who govern the Church, establish. I shall also - with due regard for the character and purpose of my institute - faithfully assist the diocesan Bishops, so that the apostolic activity, exercised in the name and by mandate of the Church, may be carried out in communion with the Church.