Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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IGNORANTIA JURIS

Ignorance of the law. In civil jurisprudence, ignorance of the law does not excuse a person from its observance. But in ecclesiastical law, with some exceptions, sincere ignorance may not oblige in conscience. But where the validity of an act or sacrament is involved, even sincere ignorance of prescribed essentials does not prevent the action or the sacrament from being invalid.