Originally, a canon was a cleric living with others in a clergy house or, later, in one of the houses within the precinct of or close to a cathedral and conducting his life according to the orders or rules of the church. This way of life grew common (and is first documented) 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 Augustinians or Canons Regular, whilst those who did not were known as secular canons.
In the Catholic Church, the members of the chapter of a cathedral (cathedral chapter) or of a collegiate church (so called after their chapter) are canons. Depending on the title of the church, several languages use specific titles, e.g., in German Domherr or Domkapitular in a Dom (i.e., cathedral), Stiftsherr in a prelature that has the status of a Stift (notably under a prince of the Church).
One of the functions of the cathedral chapter in the Catholic Church was to elect a Vicar Capitular (now named a Diocesan Administrator) to serve during a sede vacante period of the diocese. Since the 1983 revision of the Code of Canon Law, this responsibility belongs to the college of consultors, unless the national Bishops Conference decides that the functions that canon law ascribes to the college of consultors, including this one, are to be entrusted to the cathedral chapter.
All canons of the Church of England have been secular since the Reformation, although an individual canon may himself 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 churches. The dean and chapter are the formal body which has legal responsibility for the cathedral and for electing the (arch)bishop.
The title of Canon is still given in many dioceses to senior parish priests (including but not limited to some Rural Deans, those who have played a role in the wider life of the diocese, those who have served in the diocese for a long time, or similar) as a largely honorary title. 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. They are entitled to call themselves canon and may have a role in the administration of the cathedral.
Generally speaking, canons in the Anglican Communion 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. In some Church of England dioceses, the title Prebendary is used instead of canon.
Honorary canons within the Catholic Church may still be nominated after the Second Vatican Council. Also, priests (and honorary chaplains) of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre are, in fact, titular or honorary canons of these respective Orders and have the right to the honorific title of "Canon" and "Monsignor" in addition to the choir dress of a canon, which includes the mozetta (black with purple piping for Malta and white with a red Jerusalem cross for Holy Sepulchre.)
Since the reign of King Henry IV, the heads of state of France have been granted by the pope the title of sole honorary canon of Saint John Lateran and Saint Peter's. On the demise of the Kingdom of France this honour became transferred to the Presidents of the Republic, and hence is currently held by François Hollande. The proto-canon of the papal basilica of Saint Mary Major is the King of Spain. Before the break with the Holy See the King of England was a canon of Saint Paul's Outside the Walls
In addition to canons who are clerics 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).
It has traditionally been said that the King of England (now of the United Kingdom) is a canon or prebendary of St David’s Cathedral, Wales. However, this is based on a misconception. The canonry of St Mary’s College, St David’s became the property of the Crown on the dissolution of the monasteries. The King was never a canon of St David’s, even as a layman, though they may occupy the first prebendal stall. See The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1562) Article 37.
Canon-Professors at Oxford
Section 2 of the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1995 was passed for the express purpose of enabling Christ Church, Oxford, to appoint not more than two lay canons. One of the motivations for this provision was the fact that, under section 6 of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840, 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. Following the death of Peter Hinchliff in 1995 the Regius professorship was held by Henry Mayr-Harting, a Catholic layman, from 1997 until 2003, and was taken up by another lay person, Sarah Foot, in Michaelmas Term 2007. Three other Statutory Professorships, the Regius Professorship of Divinity, Lady Margaret Professorship of Divinity, recently held by the famous Anglican theologian, John Macquarrie, and Regius Professorship of Moral and Pastoral Theology, are annexed to canonries of Christ Church and must be held by Anglican priests.
Minor Canons are those clergy who are members of the foundation of a cathedral or collegiate establishment. They take part in the daily services. They have sometimes formed a distinct corporation as at St Paul's, London. In St Patrick's Dublin they are distinct from, and rank before, the Vicars Choral. The two groups overlap however; the two senior vicars, the Dean's Vicar and the Succentor, are also the two senior Minor Canons. Some Minor Canons do sit with, but are not voting members of, the Chapter. Although at present Minor Canons are generally more junior clergy this is a recent development. Within living memory such offices were often freehold and were held by clergy of great distinction and seniority.
Canons regular are the members of certain religious orders in the 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. There are a variety of congregations of canons, some of whom are part of the Confederation of Canons Regular of St. Augustine.
- Canons Regular of the Lateran or St. Saviour, who seem to date back to Pope Alexander II (1063)
- Order of the Canons Regular of Premontre; Norbertines founded by St. Norbert (1120)
- Order of the Holy Cross (Canons Regular) founded in Portugal in 1131 and re-founded in 1977
- Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross (the Crosiers), founded at Clair-lieu, near Huy, in Belgium, in 1211
- 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
- Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception, a congregation of Canons Regular founded in France in 1871
Many bishops endeavoured to imitate St. 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). 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. 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. With monks, Holy Orders are incidental 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
- "Canon 502 §3". The Code of Canon Law. Rome, IT: The Vatican. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
- Insignia according to Gammarelli and Barbiconi
- "http://www.smomge.org/Brianz.jpg" (Image search result). Google. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
- "Ente - Santissimo Salvatore e Santi Giovanni Battista ed Evangelista in Laterano" (in Italian). Vicariate of the Diocese of Rome. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- "Ente - San Pietro in Vaticano" (in Italian). Vicariate of the Diocese of Rome. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- "Liberian Chapter. The Chapter of Saint Mary Major". Rome, IT: The Vatican. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
- "Ente - San Paolo fuori le Mura". Vicariate of the Diocese of Rome. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- "Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1995 No. 2". Opsi.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
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