DIMISSORIAL LETTERS. – Authorization that an Ordinary grants, normally in writing, to a bishop (even if unspecified, who as a rule must be of the same rite as the person to be ordained and in any case in communion with the Holy See) so that he may lawfully proceed to ordain a subject of the grantor. They are always necessary in order to proceed lawfully to the ordination of one who is not a subject of the ordaining bishop (can. 955).
They may not lawfully be granted before the qualities of the person to be ordained have been ascertained and before he has obtained the documents, with the requisite testimonies, prescribed by the CIC (can. 993).
The religious superior, in exempt religious institutes, must attest in the dismissorial letters that the person to be ordained has already made solemn profession, belongs to a religious house subject to him, has completed the necessary studies and, in general, possesses the qualifications required by the CIC (can. 995); such letters must be addressed to the bishop of the diocese in which the religious house of the person to be ordained is located (can. 965), except for certain strictly prescribed exceptions (can. 966).
In addition to the bishop, after taking possession of the diocese, the following may grant dismissorial letters: the vicar general, provided he has a special mandate from the bishop; the capitular vicar, always with the consent of the Chapter (and, moreover, if a year has not elapsed since the vacancy of the episcopal see, there must be a specific necessity to provide for a particular office or benefice); the apostolic vicar and prefect, as well as the abbot or prelate nullius, even if they are not bishops (can. 958). Once granted, they confer upon the person to be ordained a right to ordination, which is not lost if the grantor should, for any reason, cease to hold office before the conferral of Orders, but which may lapse through revocation (can. 963).