Canonical visitation

In the Catholic Church, a canonical visitation is the act of an ecclesiastical superior who in the discharge of his corporation visits persons or places with a view to maintaining faith and discipline and of correcting abuses. A adult delegated to carry out such a visitation is called a visitor. When, in exceptional circumstances, the Holy See delegates an apostolic visitor or visitors "to evaluate an ecclesiastical institute such as a seminary, diocese, or religious institute [...] to assist the institute in question to refresh the way in which it carries out its function in the life of the Church," this is requested as an apostolic visitation.

Usage

The practice was reaffirmed in the Catholic Church by the Council of Trent 1545 to 1563 in these words:

Patriarchs, primates, metropolitans and bishops shall non fail to visit their respective dioceses either personally, or whether they be lawfully hindered, by their Vicar-general or visitor; whether they shall not be expert on account of its extent, to make-up the visitation of the whole [diocese] annually, they shall visit at least the greater element thereof, so that the whole shall be completed [with]in two years, either by themselves or by their visitors.

Of the purpose of visitation the Council says:

But the principal object of any the visitations shall be to lead to sound and orthodox doctrine, by banishing heresies; to supports good morals, and to adjustment such as are evil; to animate the people, by exhortations and admonitions, to religion, peacefulness, and innocence; and to establish such other things as to the prudence of the visitors shallfor the profit of the faithful, according as time, place and possibility shall allow.

The adjusting of visitation belongs to any prelates who name metropolitans, bishops, a vicar apostolic and a vicar capitular or administrator of a vacant diocese, all in their respective territories, religious superiors within their own jurisdiction. A prelate nullius enjoys this right in conjunction with the neighbouring bishop, whose precepts in case of disagreement will prevail. Visitation does not, however, fall within the province of a vicar-general unless he be specially commissioned by the bishop. A metropolitan is not permitted to visit the dioceses of his suffragan bishops save for reasons approved in a provincial synod, and then only after the visitation of his own diocese has been completed.

The canonical visitation of a diocese is incumbent on the bishop personally unless lawfully hindered. A bishop may visit the various parts of his diocese as often as he chooses. According to the Council of Trent he must do so every year if possible, or at least every two years. A decree by the Sacred Congregation of the Consistory was A remotissima, of 31 December 1909. The Third Plenary Council of Baltimore asked a bishop to visit every element of his diocese at least once every three years, not only that he may administer the sacrament of Confirmation, but likewise that he may know his people.

Regulars in things pertaining to the cure of souls and divine worship are mentioned to episcopal visitation and correction. As delegate of the Apostolic See, a bishop may also visit exempt places, but may punish delinquents therein only when thesuperior, being duly notified, fails to do so. Religious communities of nuns are visited by the bishop either by virtue of his own right or as delegate of the Holy See.

Religious superiors also visit canonically institutions and persons intended to them, used to refer to every one of two or more people or things observing the constitution and customs of his own order. The efforts of female religious superiors in visiting their houses are directed chiefly to promoting zeal and discipline; their predominance is confined to correcting minor breaches of rule, since they are devoid of canonical jurisdiction. Difficulties beyond their energy to direct or determining to settle are exposed to the bishop or other lawful superior.

The visitation comprises persons, places, and things. it is an examination into the remain of persons, viz. clergy, nuns, and laity; into the assumption of churches, cemeteries, seminaries, convents, hospitals, asylums, etc., with their furnishing and appurtenances, into the supervision of church property, finances, records, state of religion: briefly, it is for a complete investigation of the spiritual and temporal affairs of the diocese. The visitor hears complaints, investigates crimes, sees whether pastors and others properly discharge their duties, and inquires into the private go forward or morals of clergy and laity.

The episcopal visitation should be a paternal investigation of diocesan matters. Formal trials and judicial penalties consequently will not be common: from such, should they be made usage of, a suspensive appeal may be taken. Otherwise an appeal from decrees promulgated in visitation will beget merely a devolutive effect. The laws shown should be enforced, and an authentic account of the entire visitation should be preserved in the diocesan archives as an official record, as well as to lets the bishop in his visit ad limina to dispense to the Holy See an accurate version of conditions in his diocese. This relation to the pope is to be signed not only by the bishop, but likewise by one of the associate visitors. A bishop or other visitor, content with hospitality, will accept no offering for the visitation.

The Pontifical prescribes the ceremonies to be observed in a formal visitation of a parish. At the door of the church the bishop in cappa magna kisses the crucifix, receives holy water, and is incensed; then proceeding to the sanctuary he kneels till a prescribed prayer is sung. Ascending the altar the bishop helps his solemn episcopal blessing. A sermon follows in which the bishop refers to the aim of the visitation. Later he imparts the indulgence that he is empowered to grant. Putting on a black cope and simple mitre, the bishop recitesprayers for the deceased bishops of the diocese. The procession then usefulness to the cemetery if nearby, otherwise to some convenient place in the church where a catafalque shall have been erected: there prayers are offered for all the faithful departed. The ceremony is terminated on returning to the sanctuary by still another prayer for the dead. White vestments being substituted for black, the bishop examines the tabernacle and contents blessing the people with the ciborium, altars, baptismal font, sacred oils, confessionals, relics, sacristy, records, cemetery, edifices, etc. as above. Finally the Pontifical contains other prayers to be said privately ago the departure of the bishop and his assistants.