A canon (from the Latin canonicus, itself derived from the Greek κανωνικος 'relating to a rule') is a priest who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule (canon). Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. Canon law is internal ecclesiastical law governing the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox churches and the Anglican Communion of churches
Originally, a canon was a cleric living with others in a clergyhouse or, later, in one of the houses within the precinct or close of a cathedral and ordering his life according to the orders or rules of the church. This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral This way of life began to become common (and be referred to in manuscripts) in the eighth century. In the eleventh century, some churches required clergy thus living together to adopt the rule first proposed by Saint Augustine that they renounce private wealth. Those who embraced this change were known as Augustinian or regular canons, whilst those who did not were known as secular canons.
One of the functions of the cathedral canons in the Roman Catholic Church is to elect a Vicar Capitular (now named a Diocesan Administrator in English) to serve during a sede vacante period of the diocese. A vicar capitular is a provisional Ordinary of a Roman Catholic Particular church. Sede vacante is the vacancy of the Episcopal see of a Particular church in the Canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.
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Secular canons
In the Catholic Church the members of the chapter of a cathedral or of a collegiate church (so called after their chapter) are canons. Chapter ( Latin capitulum) designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the Daily office of worship is maintained by a College of canons; a non-monastic or Depending on the title of the church, several languages use specific titles, e. g. in German Domherr in a Dom (i. e. cathedral), Stiftsherr in a prelature that has the status of a Stift (notably under a Prince of the church). The term Prince of the Church is nowadays used nearly exclusively for Catholic Cardinals However the term is historically more important as a generic term for clergymen
All canons of the Church of England have been secular since the Reformation, although an individual canon may themself also be a member of a religious order. Mostly, however, they are ordained (that is, priests or members of the clergy). Today, the system of canons is retained almost exclusively in connection with cathedral churches. A canon is a member of the chapter of (for the most part) priests, headed by a Dean, which is responsible for administering a cathedral or certain other churches that are styled collegiate church. This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the Daily office of worship is maintained by a College of canons; a non-monastic or The Dean and Chapter are the formal body which has legal responsibility for the Cathedral and for electing the (arch)bishop.
Honorary canons
Canon is still given in many dioceses to senior parish priests as a largely honorary title. In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop. It is usually awarded in recognition of long and dedicated service to the diocese. Honorary canons are members of the Chapter in name but are non-residential and receive no emoluments, but are entitled to call themselves Canon and have a role in the administration of the cathedral. Remuneration is pay or salary typically Monetary payment for services rendered as in an Employment.
Generally speaking, the canons in the Anglican Church or the Episcopal Church are of this sort, and thus are equivalent to a monsignor in the Catholic Church, often wearing the violet or violet-trimmed cassock which is associated with that rank. See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches Monsignor, pl monsignori is the form of address for those members of the Clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain Ecclesiastical
Since the reign of Henri IV, the heads of state of France have been granted by the Pope the title of sole honorary canon of Saint John Lateran. Henry IV (Henri IV ( 13 December 1553 &ndash 14 May 1610) ruled as King of France from 1589 to 1610 and as Henry III This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and The Basilica of St John Lateran ( Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the Cathedral of the church of Rome and the official
Lay canons
In addition to canons who are Clerks in Holy Orders, cathedrals in the Anglican Communion may also appoint lay persons as canons. The rank of Lay Canon is especially conferred upon Diocesan Chancellors (the senior legal officer of the diocese, who is usually, though not exclusively, a lay person). See also Chancellor (disambiguation Two quite distinct officials of some Christian Churches have the title Chancellor.
Canon-Professors at Oxford
§2 of The Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1995[1] was passed for the express purpose of enabling Christ Church, Oxford to appoint not more than two Lay Canons. Not to be confused with Christchurch, a city in New Zealand. Christ Church (Ædes Christi the temple or house of Christ and thus sometimes known as One of the motivations for this provision was the fact that, under the Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840 (§6), the position of Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the University of Oxford was annexed to a Residentiary Canonry of the Cathedral, meaning that the Regius Professorship could be held only by an Anglican priest. The Regius Chair of Ecclesiastical History was founded by Queen Victoria in 1842. The University of Oxford (informally "Oxford University" or simply "Oxford" located in the city of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England is the Not to be confused with Christchurch, a city in New Zealand. Christ Church (Ædes Christi the temple or house of Christ and thus sometimes known as The Regius Chair of Ecclesiastical History was founded by Queen Victoria in 1842. Following the death of Peter Hinchliff in 1995 the Regius Professorship was held by Henry Mayr-Harting, a Roman Catholic layman, from 1997 until 2003, and was taken up by another lay person, Sarah Foot, in Michaelmas Term 2007. The Regius Chair of Ecclesiastical History was founded by Queen Victoria in 1842. Professor Henry Maria Robert Egmont Mayr-Harting was Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the University of Oxford and Lay Canon of Christ Sarah Foot (born 1961 is a British early medieval Historian and currently holds the Regius Chair of Ecclesiastical History at the University Michaelmas term is the first Academic term of the academic years of the following British and Irish Universities: University Three other Statutory Professorships, the Regius Professorship of Divinity, Lady Margaret Professorship of Divinity, and Regius Professorship of Moral and Pastoral Theology, are annexed to canonries of Christ Church and must be held by Anglican priests. The Faculty of Theology University of Oxford, coordinates the teaching of Theology at the University of Oxford, England. The Regius Professorship of Divinity is one of the oldest and most prestigious of the professorships at the University of Oxford and at the University of Cambridge Not to be confused with Christchurch, a city in New Zealand. Christ Church (Ædes Christi the temple or house of Christ and thus sometimes known as
Minor canons
Minor canons are those clergy who are members of the cathedral's establishment and take part in the daily services but are not part of the formal Chapter. These are generally more junior clergy, who in a parish church would be serving a curacy. From the Latin curatus (compare Curator) a curate is a person who is invested with the ''care'' or ''cure'' (''cura'' ''of souls'' of a
Canons regular
The members of certain religious orders in the Roman Catholic church (not to be confused with clerics regular), composed of priests and some choir canons who live in community, together in the past with lay brothers. Canons regular are members of certain bodies of Canons (priests living in community under the Augustinian Rule ("regula" in Latin and sharing their property There are a variety of Congregations of Canons some of whom are part of the Confederation of Canons Regular of St. Canons regular are members of certain bodies of Canons (priests living in community under the Augustinian Rule ("regula" in Latin and sharing their property Augustine.
- Canons Regular of the Lateran or St. Saviour, who seem to date back to Pope Alexander II (1063)
- Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception a congregation of Canons Regular founded in France in 1871
- Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross (The Crosiers) founded at Clair-lieu, near Huy, in Belgium, in 1211
- Order of the Canons Regular of Premontre; Norbertines founded by St. Alexander II (died April 21, 1073) born Anselmo da Baggio, was Pope from 1061 to 1073 The Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception are a Roman Catholic congregation which follows the Augustinian Rule, and part of the Canonical Order of the Canons Regular The Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross, commonly called Crosiers are a Roman Catholic religious order. The Norbertines, also known as the Premonstratensians (OPraem and in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons (from the colour of The Norbertines, also known as the Premonstratensians (OPraem and in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons (from the colour of Norbert (1120)
- Order of the Holy Cross (Canons Regular) founded in Portugal in 1131 and re-founded in 1977
- Swiss Congregation of Canons Regular of Saint Maurice of Agaune
- Gilbertine Order, a solely English order of Canons Regular, which became extinct under King Henry VIII
Many bishops endeavoured to imitate St. The Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Coimbra originated in Portugal. The Gilbertine Order of Canons Regular was founded around 1130 by St Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of Augustine and St. Eusebius, and to live a common life with the clergy of their Church. Rules taken from the sacred canons were even drawn up for their use, of which the most celebrated is that of St. Chrodegang, Bishop of Metz (766). Saint Chrodegang (died 6 March 766) was the Frankish Bishop of Metz from 742 or 748 until his death In the tenth century, this institution declined; the canons, as the clergy attached to a church and living a common life were called, began to live separately; some of them, however resisted this relaxation of discipline, and even added poverty to their common life. This is the origin of the canons regular. Pope Benedict XII by his Constitution "Ad decorem" (15 May, 1339) prescribed a general reform of the canons regular. Pope Benedict XII (died April 25, 1342) born Jacques Fournier, was Pope from 1334 to 1342 The Canons Regular ex professo united Holy orders with religious life, and being attached to a church, devoted themselves to promoting the dignity of Divine worship. Canons regular are members of certain bodies of Canons (priests living in community under the Augustinian Rule ("regula" in Latin and sharing their property With monks, Holy orders are accidental and secondary, and are superadded to the religious life; with canons as with the clerks regular, Holy orders are the principal thing, and the religious life is superadded to the Holy orders.
Notes and references
Sources and Further Information
- Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception
- Catholic-hierarchy
- Catholic Encyclopaedia
- Oxford English Dictionary