Canon 197. Prescription, as a means of acquiring or of losing a subjective right, or as a means of freeing oneself from obligations, is, apart from the exceptions prescribed in the canons of this Code, accepted by the Church in the manner in which it is adopted in the civil legislation of each country.

Praescriptionem, tamquam modum iuris subiectivi acquirendi vel amittendi necnon ab obligationibus sese liberandi, Ecclesia recipit prout est in legislatione civili respectivae nationis, salvis exceptionibus quae in canonibus huius Codicis statuuntur.

Canon 198. No prescription is valid unless it is based on good faith, not only in its beginning, but throughout the whole time required for the prescription, without prejudice to can. 1362.

Nulla valet praescriptio, nisi bona fide nitatur, non solum initio, sed toto decursu temporis ad praescriptionem requisiti, salvo praescripto can. 1362.

Canon 199. The following are not affected by prescription:

1° rights and obligations which are of divine law, whether natural or positive;

2° rights which can be obtained only by apostolic privilege;

3° rights and obligations which bear directly on the spiritual life of Christ’s faithful;

4° the certain and undisputed boundaries of ecclesiastical territories;

5° Mass offerings and obligations;

6° the provision of an ecclesiastical office which, in accordance with the law, requires the exercise of a sacred order;

7° the right of visitation and the obligation of obedience, so that Christ’s faithful could not be visited by an ecclesiastical authority and would no longer be subject to any authority.

Praescriptioni obnoxia non sunt:

1° iura et obligationes quae sunt legis divinae naturalis aut positivae;

2° iura quae obtineri possunt ex solo privilegio apostolico;

3° iura et obligationes quae spiritualem christifidelium vitam directe respiciunt;

4° fines certi et indubii circumscriptionum ecclesiasticarum;

5° stipes et onera Missarum;

6° provisio officii ecclesiastici quod ad normam iuris exercitium ordinis sacri requirit;

7° ius visitationis et obligatio oboedientiae, ita ut christifideles a nulla auctoritate ecclesiastica visitari possint et nulli auctoritati iam subsint.