The congregation is the direct successor of the Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments . In 1975 it was given the title "Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship" and incorporated the functions of the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship which had been created in 1969 to take on responsibility for the liturgical affairs previously handled by the Sacred Congregation of Rites . Between 1984 and 1988 it was briefly redivided into the Congregation for the Sacraments and the Congregation for Divine Worship under a single Prefect.
Responsibilities
The apostolic constitution Pastor bonus, issued by Pope John Paul II on 28 June 1988, established the congregation's functions:
Regulation and promotion of the liturgy, primarily of the sacraments
Regulation of the administration of the sacraments, especially regarding their valid and licit celebration
Promoting liturgical pastoral activity, especially regarding the celebration of the Eucharist
Granting the recognitio to translations of liturgical books and their adaptations
Promoting the liturgical apostolate or sacred music, song or art
Ensuring that liturgical norms are accurately observed, and that abuses are avoided and eliminated where they are found to exist.
Examining the fact of non-consummation in a marriage and the existence of a just cause for granting a dispensation.
Examining cases concerning the nullity of ordination.
Regulating the cult of relics, the confirmation of heavenly patrons in diocese or locality
The authorisation of Canonical Coronations for venerated Catholic images
The elevation of sanctuaries to the title of Minor Basilica.
Giving assistance to bishops so that the prayers and pious exercises of the Christian people may be fostered and held in high esteem
On 30 August 2011, Pope Benedict XVI transferred jurisdiction over unconsummated marriages and the nullification of ordinations to the Roman Rota to relieve the Congregation of administrative burdens and allow it to focus on liturgy, its principal responsibility. In 2012, the Congregation added an office devoted to liturgical architecture and music. On 9 September 2017, Pope Francis weakened the congregation's authority with his motu proprio titled Magnum principium, ensuring that, starting 1 October 2017, the nation's Conference of Bishops will manage local liturgical translations. Since 2001, the Congregation had greater authority over a nation's liturgical translations. On October 22, 2017, the Vatican released a letter that Pope Francis had sent to the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament, Cardinal Robert Sarah, clarifying that the Vatican and its departments would have limited authority to confirm liturgical translations recognized by a local Conference of Bishops, thus retracting a commentary which Sarah had published on October 13, 2017.
In 2001 the Congregation established the Vox Clara Committee composed of senior bishops from episcopal conferences throughout the English-speaking world. It advises the Congregation on English-language liturgical texts and their distribution. It meets in Rome.
