Catholic Church. Abbreviatores apostolica de curia

Within the Apostolic Datary (ID VATV033-A) there existed a specialized office for the dispatch of certain bulls composed by the cardinal pro-datarius, by the abbreviatore di curia, by a substitute, or by a secret writer (per viam secretam). The dispatch of these bulls was called per viam de curia.

The term via de Curia refers to a method of expedition or handling of pontifical letters, which were prepared according to the form of bulls. The redaction or preparation of bulls (per viam de Curia) was entrusted to the abbreviator of the Curia, whose responsibilities were purely executive and who received his instructions from various departments at whose command the bull was to be sent. In the modern period, the abbreviator was under the authority of the pro datario. The term per viam de Curia generally indicates bulls issued in the interest of various departments of the Roman Curia, or of the pope. These bulls principally concerned issues of dogma, condemnation of doctrinal error, censorship of institutions, undertakings or sects; ratification of agreements, ratification of canonizations of saints, ratification of major excommunication, interdicts and absolutions. These bulls also deal with disciplinary rules, particularly pertaining to episcopacies, dioceses, and nations--dispositions or decisions regarding ecclesiastical discipline, suspension from office or benefice, general decisions or constitutions regarding important ecclesiastical affairs and also civil affairs.

Those bulls dispatched from this office of the abbreviatori di Curia pertained to papal laws and constitutions, concerned such actions as the canonizations of saints and other motu proprio matters of the pope (such as the bull promulgating a Holy Year).

Bulls regarding relatives of the pope or others receiving very special favors were also prepared in this office. In order to avoid drawing attention to the beneficiaries, these particular bulls were given to a scrittore, who was called a scrittore segreto. After the customary seal of the Apostolic Chancery was affixed, the bulls were subscribed by the abbreviatore di Curia, by the cardinal pro-datarius, and by the secretary of briefs, and then registered in the Secretariat.

The office of abbreviator originated some time during the Middle Ages, but gained great power and importance during the period of the popes' residence at Avignon (1309-1378), when the number of benefices conferred through the Curia greatly increased. With the development of the Datary in the early fifteenth century and the Secretariat of Briefs in 1502, the work of the abbreviators declined and their numbers were reduced.

The constitution Sapienti consilio (Jun. 29, 1908) of Pius X suppressed the abbreviatores. Their responsibility for signing apostolic bulls was transferred to the college of apostolic protonotaries.

To see a general agency history for the Curia Romana, enter "FIN ID VATV214-A"

From the description of Agency history record. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 145568906