Tradition: Vox Ecclesiae

This is the Magisterial portion of works formerly listed on Books of Reasonable Price. I have split the page in two, to help me keep track of the source of the literature and because Magisterial documents have more "attributes" to keep track of than normal literature. The documents listed here are in reverse chronological order -- the ones I've completed recently are at the top.

Although the International Theological Commission (ITC) is not an official dicastery of the Vatican, the Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (William Cardinal Levada) is its ex officio president (previously held by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger); thus, I am including their works on this page. The documents produced by the ITC receive the approval of the Pope before they are published. The ITC serves an advisory role to the Vatican, and its documents are not considered authoritative teaching.

The Giga-Catholic web site has been instrumental for me in finding some of these documents; it contains, among other things, information about hundreds of Vatican documents: titles in Latin, descriptions, topics, authors, etc. For example, I can use this page and this page to guide me in my quest of reading the Vatican's writings on the Eucharist in the past 100 or so years.

Printing Caveat: If you want to print one of the documents linked below (via the MS Word links) in booklet form, please note that the paper size of the document is either B4 (257mm x 364mm) or ledger size (11" x 17"). However your printer does booklet-printing, make sure you make it aware that the document size and the paper size are not the same. The image here shows how to make this adjustment on my printer.

Currently being read:

• Encyclical Verbum Domini (On the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church) - Pope Benedict XVI (2010)

Next in the queue:

• Apostolic Letter Apostolos Suos (On the Theological and Juridical Nature of Episcopal Conferences) [MS Word, 95 K, 10pp] - Pope John Paul II (1998)
• Apostolic Letter (motu proprio) Sacram Liturgiam (Putting into effect some prescriptions of Sacrosanctum Concilium) [MS Word, 44 K, 3pp] - Pope Paul VI (1964)
• Instruction Tres Abhinc Annos (Second Instruction on the orderly carrying out of Sacrosanctum Concilium) [MS Word, 60 K, 4pp] - Sacred Congregation of Rites (1967)
• Instruction Comme le prévoit (On the Translation of Liturgical Texts for Celebrations with a Congregation) [MS Word, 80 K, 6pp] - Consilium for Implementing Sacrosanctum Concilium (1969)
• Instruction Varietates Legitimae (Fourth Instruction on the orderly carrying out of Sacrosanctum Concilium) [MS Word, 158 K, 15pp] - Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (1994)
• Norms For the Translation of Biblical Texts for Use in the Liturgy [MS Word, 53 K, 1p] - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1997)
• Document Profile of the Synod of Bishops [MS Word, 212 K, 36pp] - Synod of Bishops, General Secretariat (2004)
• Document Propositiones [MS Word, 117 K, 16pp] - Synod of Bishops, XI Ordinary General Assembly (2005)
  
• Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici (On the Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World) [MS Word, 379 K, 54pp] - Pope John Paul II (1988)
• Also see this version (from CatholicCulture.org), which supplies the footnotes (missing from the Vatican's copy)
  
• Directory Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism [MS Word, 344 K, 45pp] - Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (1993)
• Also available in two parts: I-III [MS Word, 203 K, 23pp], IV-V [MS Word, 199 K, 23pp]
• The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptized [MS Word, 216 K, 32pp] - International Theological Commission (2007)
• The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, third typical edition - USCCB (2002) [purchased]
  
• Directory General Directory for Catechesis (9781574552256) - Congregation for the Clergy (1998) [purchased]
• Directory National Directory for Catechesis (9781574554433) - USCCB (2005) [purchased]
  
• Directory Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines (9780819818812) - Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2001) [purchased]
  

Finished:

1. Instruction De Musica Sacra (On Sacred Music and Sacred Liturgy) [MS Word, 138 K, 18pp] - Sacred Congregation of Rites (1958)
2. Declaration Gravissimum Educationis (On Christian Eduction) - Second Vatican Council (1965)
   
3. Decree Orientalium Ecclesiarum (On the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rites) - Second Vatican Council (1964)
   
4. Letter to English-Speaking Conferences of Bishops [MS Word, 70 K, 8pp] - Jorge A. Cardinal Medina Estevez (2002)
5. Apostolic Constitution Humanae Salutis (Convoking the Second Vatican Council) - Bl. Pope John XXIII (1961)
6. Address Opening the Second Vatican Council - Bl. Pope John XXIII (1962)
7. Instruction Liturgiam Authenticam (Fifth Instruction on the orderly carrying out of Sacrosanctum Concilium) [MS Word, 235 K, 22pp] - Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2001)
8. Decree Inter Mirifica (On the media of social communications) - Second Vatican Council (1963)
9. Encyclical Paenitentiam Agere (On the need for interior and exterior penance) - Bl. Pope John XXIII (1962)
10. Encyclical Redemptor Hominis (On the Redeemer of mankind) - Pope John Paul II (1979)
11. Document Considerations regarding proposals to give legal recognition to unions between homosexual persons - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (2003)
12. Message To the participants in the Plenary of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (Concerning evolution and the origin of man) - Pope John Paul II (1996)
13. Address To the International Congress on Pastoral Liturgy (On the liturgy) - Pope Pius XII (1956)
14. Instruction Instructio (on the Ecumenical Movement) - Holy Office (1849)
15. Encyclical Divinum Illud Munus (On the Holy Spirit) - Pope Leo XIII (1897)
16. Encyclical Satis Cognitum (On the Unity of the Church) - Pope Leo XIII (1896)
    
17. Instruction Pastoralis Actio (On Infant Baptism) - Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1980)
    
18. Two documents on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    • Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus (On the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) - Pope Pius XII (1950)
      
    • Encyclical Deiparae Virginis Mariae (On the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) - Pope Pius XII (1946)
19. Two documents on the Immaculate Conception
    • Apostolic Constitution Ineffabilis Deus (On the Immaculate Conception) - Pope Pius IX (1854)
      
    • Encyclical Ubi Primum (On the Immaculate Conception) - Pope Pius IX (1849)
20. Encyclical Quas Primas (On the Feast of Christ the King) - Pope Pius XI (1925)
    
21. Decree Apostolicam Actuositatem (On the Apostolate of the Laity) [MS Word, 130 K, 14pp] - Second Vatican Council (1965)
    
22. Encyclical Ecclesiam Suam (On the Church) [MS Word, 190 K, 24pp] - Pope Paul VI (1964)
    • Note: a better translation can be found here. I will soon replace my old Word document with a new one reflecting this more accurate translation.
      
23. Apostolic Letter Ministeria Quaedam (On First Tonsure, the Minor Orders, and the Subdiaconate) [MS Word, 57 K, 3pp] - Pope Paul VI (1972)
24. Constitution Auctorem Fidei (On the Errors of the Synod of Pistoia) [MS Word, 134 K, 16pp] - Pope Pius VI (1794)
25. Encyclical Nostis et Nobiscum (On the Church in the Pontifical States) [MS Word, 86 K, 7pp] - Pope Pius IX (1849)
    
26. Instruction Tra le Sollecitudini (On Sacred Music) [MS Word, 72 K, 7pp] - Pope St. Pius X (1903)
27. Encyclical Divini Cultus (On Divine Worship) [MS Word, 49 K, 3pp] - Pope Pius XI (1028)
28. Encyclical Musicae Sacrae (On Sacred Music) [MS Word, 88 K, 9pp] - Pope Pius XII (1955)
29. Document Music in Catholic Worship [MS Word, 91 K, 11pp] - USCCB (1972)
• Note: the online document is malformed, with paragraphs out of order, missing footnotes, and evidence of shoddy OCR (optical character recognition). My Word document fixes some of the errors, but I can't find any other online version of this document to get the missing footnotes from.
30. Chirograph for the Centenary of the Motu Proprio Tra le Sollecitudini [MS Word, 68 K, 5pp] - Pope John Paul II (2003)
31. Circular Letter Paschale Solemnitatis (Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts) [MS Word, 128 K, 14pp] - Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (1988)
32. Apostolic Constitution Paenitemini (On Penance) [MS Word, 74 K, 6pp] - Pope Paul VI (1966)
33. Christmas Address to the Roman Curia [MS Word, 80 K, 7pp] - Pope Benedict XVI (2005)
    
34. Encyclical Ut Unum Sint (On Commitment to Ecumenism) [MS Word, 253 K, 31pp] - Pope John Paul II (1995)
35. Apostolic Letter Spiritus et Sponsa (On the 40th Anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium) [MS Word, 65 K, 4pp] - Pope John Paul II (2003)
36. Decree Ad Gentes (On the Mission Activity of the Church) [MS Word, 171 K, 20pp] - Second Vatican Council (1965)
    
37. Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium (On the Church) [MS Word, 283 K, 32pp] - Second Vatican Council (1964)
38. Apostolic Letter Solemni Hac Liturgia (Credo of the People of God) [MS Word, 62 K, 8pp] - Pope Paul VI (1968)
    
39. Encyclical Humani Generis (On Some False Opinions Threatening to Undermine the Foundations of Catholic Doctrine) [MS Word, 76 K, 7pp] - Pope Pius XII (1950)
    
40. Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris (On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering) [MS Word, 172 K, 19pp] - Pope John Paul II (1984)
41. Encyclical Mortalium Animos (On Religious Unity) [MS Word, 63 K, 5pp] - Pope Pius XI (1928)
42. Declaration Dignitatis Humanae (On the Right of the Person and of Communities to Social and Civil Freedom in Matters Religious) [MS Word, 73 K, 7pp] - Second Vatican Council (1965)
43. Declaration Nostra Aetate (On the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions) [MS Word, 44 K, 3pp] - Second Vatican Council (1965)
44. Decree Unitatis Redintegratio (On Ecumenism) [MS Word, 89 K, 9pp] - Second Vatican Council (1964)
45. Encyclical Quanto Conficiamur Moerore (On False Doctrines) [MS Word, 52 K, 4pp] - Blessed Pope Pius IX (1863)
    
46. Encyclical Singulari Quidem (On the Church in Austria) [MS Word, 69 K, 6pp] - Blessed Pope Pius IX (1856)
47. Bull Unam Sanctam (On the Authority of the Papacy) [MS Word, 38 K, 2pp] - Pope Boniface VIII (1302)
    
48. Encyclical Mystici Corporis Christi (On the Mystical Body of Christ) [MS Word, 192 K, 23pp] - Pope Pius XII (1943)
    
49. Note on Some Aspects of Evangelization [MS Word, 127 K, 7pp] - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (2007)
    
50. Apostolic Constitution Veterum Sapientia (On the Promotion of the Study of Latin) [MS Word, 52 K, 4pp] - Pope John XXIII (1962)
    
51. Encyclical Spe Salvi (On Christian Hope) [MS Word, 157K, 19pp] - Pope Benedict XVI (2007)
52. Encyclical Supremi Apostolatus Officio (On Devotion of the Rosary) [MS Word, ? K, 4pp] - Pope Leo XII (1883)
    
53. Document Environment and Art in Catholic Worship [book] - USCCB (1978)
    
54. Curial Letter Sacerdotium ministeriale [MS Word, 50 K, 4pp] (On the Minister of the Eucharist) - Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1983)
• I thank Br. Rich, SFO, from Catholic Answers Forum, who translated this document from the Latin and the Italian.
55. Document The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church [MS Word, 295 K, 40pp] - Pontifical Biblical Commission (1993)
56. Four documents [MS Word, 92 K, 10pp] (On ordination of men only)
    • Declaration Inter Insigniores (On the Admission of Women to the Ministerial Priesthood) - Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1976)
    • Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (On Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone) - Pope John Paul II (1994)
    • Curial Letter In Response to dubium concerning the teaching contained in Ordinatio Sacerdotalis - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1995)
    • Letter Concerning the CDF Reply Regarding Ordinatio Sacerdotalis - Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (1995)
      
57. Lineamenta Historia Salutis (The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church) [MS Word, 271 K, 28pp] - Synod of Bishops, XII Ordinary General Assembly (2007)
58. Instruction Sancta Mater Ecclesia (On the Historicity of the Gospels) [MS Word, 79 K, 5pp] - Pontifical Commission for Biblical Studies (1964)
59. Encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu (On Promoting Biblical Studies, Commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of Providentissimus Deus) [MS Word, 103 K, 12pp] - Pope Pius XII (1943)
60. Encyclical Providentissimus Deus (On the Study of Holy Scripture) [MS Word, 105 K, 12pp] - Pope Leo XIII (1893)
61. Conciliar Constitution Dei Verbum (On Divine Revelation) [MS Word, 76 K, 7pp] - Pope Paul VI (1965)
62. Conciliar Constitution Dei Filius (On the Catholic Faith) [MS Word, 66 K, 7pp] - Vatican I (1870)
63. Apostolic Letter (motu proprio) Summorum Pontificum (On the Roman Liturgy Prior to the Reform of 1970) with the accompanying explanatory letter [MS Word, 84 K, 8pp] - Pope Benedict XVI (2007)
    • Also see the translation (with comparison) provided by Fr. Zuhlsdorf
      
64. Curial Letter Quattuor Abhinc Annos (Granting an indult for bishops to authorize celebration of Mass according to the 1962 Missal) - Congregation for Divine Worship (1984); with Apostolic Letter (motu proprio) Ecclesia Dei (Establishing the Ecclesia Dei Commission) [MS Word, 43 K, 3pp] - Pope John Paul II (1988)
65. Encyclical Mediator Dei (On the Sacred Liturgy) [MS Word, 232 K, 31pp] - Pope Pius XII (1947)
    
66. Document Responsa ad quaestiones (Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church) and Commentary on Responsa ad quaestiones [MS Word, 80 K, 8pp] - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (2007)
    • Also see An Examination of Subsistit in: A Profound Theological Perspective [MS Word, 111 K, 10pp] by Fr. Karl Josef Becker, S.J. (2005)
    • Also see Christ's Church Subsists in the Catholic Church [MS Word, 55 K, 4pp] by Fernando Ocáriz (2005)
    • Also see The Ecclesiology of the Constitution on the Church, Vatican II, 'Lumen Gentium' [MS Word, 87 K, 9pp] by Cardinal Ratzinger (2000)
67. Curial Letter Communionis Notio (On Some Aspects of the Church Understood as Communion) [MS Word, 82 K, 7pp] - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1992)
68. Document Notification (to Father Leonardo Boff) [MS Word, 51 K, 4pp] - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1985)
69. Declaration Mysterium Ecclesiae (In Defense of the Catholic Doctrine on the Church Against Certain Errors of the Present Day) [MS Word, 80 K, 8pp] - Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1973)
70. Document The Eucharist and the Priest [MS Word, 47 K, 4pp] (A commentary on Ecclesia de Eucharistia) - Congregation for the Clergy (2003)
71. Joint Statement On The Mystery of the Church and the Eucharist in the Light of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity (with the Orthodox Church) [MS Word, 60 K, 6pp] - Secretariat for Christian Unity (1982)
72. Instruction Ecclesia de mysterio [MS Word, 143 K, 16pp] (On certain questions regarding the collaboration of the non-ordained faithful in the sacred ministry of the Priest) - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (and seven other groups) (1997)
73. Declaration Dans ces derniers temps [MS Word, 39 K, 3pp] (On the Position of the Catholic Church on the Celebration of the Eucharist in Common by Christians of Different Confessions) - Secretariat for Christian Unity (1970)
74. Decree Sacra Tridentia [MS Word, 41 K, 3pp] (On the Frequent and Daily Reception of Holy Communion) - Sacred Congregation of the Council (1905)
75. Several Curial Letters [MS Word, 60 K, 7pp] (On the topic of Holy Communion)
    • Curial Letter On Communion in the hand - Congregation for Divine Worship (1985)
    • Curial Letter In Response to dubium on Communion in the hand - Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (1999)
    • Curial Letter In Response to dubium on the contempt for the Eucharist - Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts (1999)
    • Curial Letter On kneeling for Communion - Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2002)
    • Curial Letter In Response to dubium on kneeling to receive Holy Communion - Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2003)
76. Instruction In quibus rerum circumstantiis [MS Word, 58 K, 5pp] (On the admission of other Christians to the Eucharist) - Secretariat for Christian Unity (1972)
    • Note Dope le Publicazione (Interpreting In quibus rerum circumstantiis) - Secretariat for Christian Unity (1973) (appended to my version of In quibus rerum circumstantiis)
77. Encyclical Mirae Caritatis [MS Word, 72 K, 8pp] (On the Holy Eucharist) - Pope Leo XIII (1902)
78. Decree Eucharistiae Sacramentum [MS Word, 67 K, 6pp] (On the Rites of Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass), from the Liturgical Book De Sacra Communione et de Cultu Mysterii Eucharistici extra Missam - Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (1973)
    
79. Circular Letter Eucharistiae Participationem [MS Word, 56 K, 4pp] (On Eucharistic Prayers) - Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (1973)
80. Instruction Liturgicae Instaurationes [MS Word, 72 K, 7pp] (Third Instruction on the orderly carrying out of Sacrosanctum Concilium) - Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (1970)
81. Instruction Inaestimabile Donum [MS Word, 59 K, 5pp] (On Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery) - Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship (1980)
    
82. Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum [MS Word, 262 K, 36pp] (On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist) - Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Francis Cardinal Arinze (2004)
83. Apostolic Letter Mane nobiscum Domine [MS Word, 77 K, 8pp] (On the Year of the Eucharist) - Pope John Paul II (2004)
84. Instruction Immensae Caritatis [MS Word, 59 K, 4pp] (On Faciliatating Reception of Communion in Certain Circumstances) - Sacred Congregation of the Sacraments (1973)
85. Apostolic Constitution Indulgentarium Doctrina [MS Word, 84 K, 8pp] (On the promulgation of the Revision of Sacred Indulgences) - Pope Paul VI (1967)
    • See also Jimmy Akin's Primer on Indulgences at Catholic Answers
86. Encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia [MS Word, 250 K, 20pp] (On the Eucharist in its Relationship to the Church) - Pope John Paul II (2003)
87. Instruction Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds [MS Word, 90 K, 9pp] - Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2001)
    
88. Declaration Dominus Iesus [MS Word, 126 K, 12pp] (On the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church) - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (2000)
    • Also see Answers to Main Objections Against Dominus Iesus, an interview Cardinal Ratzinger had with a German newspaper on September 22, 2000
      
89. Instruction Memoriale Domini [MS Word, 44 K, 4pp] (On the Manner of Distributing Holy Communion) - Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (1969)
    • Norms En réponse à la demande (Letter granting to various Bishops' Conferences permission for Communion in the hand and laying down norms for its implementation) - Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (1969) (appended this to my version of Memoriale Domini)
90. Joint Declaration On the Doctrine of Justification [MS Word, 95 K, 14pp] (with the Lutheran World Federation) - Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (1999)
    
91. Decree On Justification [MS Word, 83 K, 11pp] - Council of Trent, Sixth Session (1547)
    
92. Instruction Eucharisticum Mysterium [MS Word, 147 K, 18pp] (On Eucharistic Worship) - Sacred Congregation of Rites (1967)
    
93. Instruction Musicam Sacram (On Music in the Liturgy) [MS Word, 91 K, 10pp] - Sacred Congregation of Rites (1967)
94. Conciliar Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium [MS Word, 128 K, 19pp] (On the Sacred Liturgy) - Pope Paul VI (1963)
95. Encyclical Mysterium Fidei [MS Word, 100 K, 12pp] (On the Holy Eucharist) - Pope Paul VI (1965)
96. Apostolic Letter Vicesimus Quintus Annus [MS Word, 92 K, 11pp] (On the 25th Anniversary of the Promulgation of Sacrosanctum Concilium) - Pope John Paul II (1988)
97. Apostolic Constitution Missale Romanum [MS Word, 38 K, 3pp] (On the New Roman Missal) - Pope Paul VI (1969)
98. Letter Dominicae Cenae [MS Word, 147 K, 14pp] (On the Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist) - Pope John Paul II (1980)
    • Note: the English version on the Vatican's web site has a typo in section 11, where two paragraphs have been merged together and a footnote reference disappears. The copy at Adoremus does not display this error, and I used it to correct the Word document.
      
99. Instruction Inter Oecumenici [MS Word, 133 K, 14pp] (First Instruction on the orderly carrying out of Sacrosanctum Concilium) - Consilium for Implementing the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (1964)
100. Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis [MS Word, 303 K, 39pp] (On the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Church's Life and Mission) - Pope Benedict XVI (2007)
     
101. Encyclical Deus Caritas Est [MS Word, 164 K, 18pp] (On Christian Love) - Pope Benedict XVI (2006)