PAPAL APPROBATION: RECOGNIZING THAT THE CHURCH HAS SPOKEN

In legal language, the Pope states that because the Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate has been approved by the Church, this approval is valid throughout the world and no local ecclesiastical authority can go against it.

It was for this recognition that Eugene had worked so hard to achieve: to be universally recognized as missionaries for the most abandoned and have the backing and support of the Church to facilitate this ministry in the most difficult conditions. The Oblate dream was blessed and assured of ongoing support.

POPE LEO XII
FOR FUTURE REMEMBRANCE OF THE MATTER

 In what has been stated above the same judgement and decision must be given by all judges whether ordinary, or delegated, and also by the Auditors for the causes of the Apostolic Palace, by the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, even those who are Legates A Latere, by Vice-Legates and Nuncios of the Holy See. And We withhold from all without exception the faculty and authority to interpret or judge in a different manner. Moreover, We render null and void beforehand any attempt to decree otherwise, knowingly or unknowingly, by any person or by any other authority, the Apostolic Constitutions, ordinances and other decrees to the contrary not-withstanding.

…Given at Rome, at St. Peter’s, under the Fisherman’s Ring, on the twenty first day of March, 1826, in the third year of Our Pontificate.

Pope Leo XII

Apostolic Letter of Approbation, 21 March 1826, Missions O.M.I., n° 280 (1952), pp. 568 ff.

As a result, today we confidently assert:

Our love for the Church inspires us to fulfil our mission in communion with the pastors whom the Lord has given to his people; we accept loyally, with an enlightened faith, the guidance and teachings of the successors of Peter and the Apostles. (Constitution 6)