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Edward Peters

Canon Law

Guide to Multi-Lingual Commentaries on 

the 1917 or Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law

   (this page under continual construction, last updated 24 March 05)

          

     The 1917 Code of Canon Law, in force for just over 65 years 6 months, was, in whole or in part, the object of a large number of commentaries, themselves of varying scholarly authority, appearing in at least a half-dozen languages. This guide offers an introduction to these works and authors.

  • Author’s first names were often spelled inconsistently, especially when their work appeared in a language other than their own. To avoid confusion, all first names here are abbreviated. Names usually appear in alphabetical order. All authors reported here would be recognized as “approved authors” (1917 CIC 20, 1983 CIC 19). With some trepidation, I have bolded names of works generally regarded as outstanding in the field.

  • The title of the work, usually without secondary titles, appears in small caps, with an imposed capitalization standard.

  • Where applicable, the number of volumes given represents the author’s division of the work, and not necessarily the binder’s. Author's possible subdivision of volumes is not reported here. Numbers of pages in monographs are offered where available.

 

Semi-Official Sources

  • T. Bouscaren & J. O'Connor, eds., Canon Law Digest, 10 vols. Compilations (nearly all translated into English) of thousands of official applications of the 1917 Code over its enforcement period. Not much commentary, but one can hardly research the 1917 Code without access to this set. Lacks a comprehensive index, but this weakness is remedied by Peters' 1917 Code translation linked above.

  • E. Regatillo, Interpretatio et Iurisprudentia Codicis Iuris Canonico, to approx. 1952. Quasi-encyclopedic, almost too much information for its format, arranged by canon.

  • C. Sartori, Enchiridion Canonicum seu Sanctae Sedis Responsiones, as late as 1961. The single best reference in the field. More focused than Regatillo, arranged by canon.

  • S. Woywod, Canonical Decisions of the Holy See, to approx. 1932. Nice start, but eclipsed by Sartori and Regatillo.

 

Canonical Dictionaries and Encyclopediae

  • P. Lydon, Ready Answers in Canon Law. Direct style, more scholarly than its title suggests. A good reference, alphabetically arranged.

Palazzini

  • E. Jombart, Summary of Canon Law (Bégin trans.). Speedy overview, but a useful look at canon law on the eve of the Second Vatican Council.

  • R. Naz, ed., Dictionnaire de Droit Canonique, 7 vols. Superb resource with numerous famous authors. Appeared over three decades, with only the last volume being rather overcrowded and rushed upon the announcement of the Council and reform of 1917 Code.

  • P. Palazzini, ed., Dictionarium Morale et Canonicum, 4 vols. Numerous authors, dependable but for some reason not widely cited.

  • P. Trudel, A Dictionary of Canon Law. Very superficial.

 

Other Dictionaries and Encyclopediae

  • W. McDonald, The New Catholic Encyclopedia, 17 vols. Appeared in the waning years of the 1917 Code, underrated as a resource for Pio-Benedictine studies. Reflects Conciliar times.

  • A. Vacant, ed., Dictionnarie de Théologie Catholique, 15 vols. Excellent entries by many accomplished canonists appear among theological entries.

 

Pan-Textual Commentaries, Multi-Volume

 

Latin

  • C. Badii, Institutiones Iuris Canonici, 2 vols.

  • M. Bargilliat, Praelectiones Iuris Canonici, 2 vols.

  • C. Berutti, Institutiones Iuris Canonici, 6 vols.

  • A. Blat, Commentarium Textus Codicis Iuris Canonici, 5 vols.

  • F. Bouaert & G. Simenon, Manuale Iuris Canonici, 2 vols.

  • F. Cappello, Summa Iuris Canonici, 3 vols. Designed for students, highly-regarded, the author is quietly believed to be a saint.

  • G. Cocchi, Commentarium in Codicem Iuris Canonici, 9 vols.

  • M. Coronata, Compendium Iuris Canonici, 3 vols. Topical rather than canon-by-canon, but it's all there.

  • M. Coronata, Institutiones Iuris Canonici, 5-6 vols. A bit dense, but highly-regarded.

  • P. Ferreres, Institutiones Canonicae, 2 vols.

  • H. Jone, Commentarium in Codicem Iuris Canonici, 3 vols. Canon-by-canon with original text, but not all provisions are discussed.

  • P. Maroto, Institutiones Juris Canonici ad Normam Novi Codicis, 2 vols.

  • A. De Meester, Juris Canonici et Iuris Canonico-Civilis Compendium, 3 vols.

  • J. Noval, Commentarium Codicis Iuris Canonici, 5 vols.

  • B. Ojetti, Commentarium in Codicem Juris Canonici, 4 vols.

  • E. Regatillo, Institutiones Iuris Canonici, 2 vols. Better known for his topical studies, this is still a useful work.

  • A. Toso, Ad Codicem Juris Canonici Commentaria Minora, 5 vols. The biggest little commentary in canon law.

  • A. Vermeersch & J. Creusen, Epitome Iuris Canonici, 3 vols. Clear, a personal favorite.

  • F. Wernz & P. Vidal, Ius Canonicum, 7 vols. Originally a pre-1917 Code commentary on decretal law, updated to accommodate codified legislation. Immense authority.

 

Cappello

 

 

Ojetti

 

 

Maroto

Toso

Vermeersch

Wernz

 

English (Americans)

  • J. Abbo & J. Hannan, The Sacred Canons, 2 vols. Concentrates on Books I-III, well-respected.

  • C. Augustine (Bachofen), A Commentary on Canon Law, 8 vols. Major study with extensive use of pre-Code sources. Never fails to give insight.

  • S. Woywod, A Practical Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, 2 vols. Author a canon and civil lawyer, with most of 1917 Code paraphrased, excellent commentary. Later revised by C. Smith. (nb: the author's name is Woywod, not Woywood.)

Augustine

 

   Don't miss: L. Wrenn, "Charles Augustine, O.S.B., excepts from a journal" The Jurist 45 (1985) 297-320.

 

Ayrinhac

  • H. Ayrinhac, series Legislation in the New Code, 6 vols. A bit difficult to classify, this six volume work (some of which pre-dated the 1917 Code, but was later revised by P. Lydon) covers most of the Pio-Benedictine codification (notably absent religious institutes and procedural law). Individual volumes are General Legislation (cc. 1-214), Constitution of the Church (cc. 215-486), Administrative Legislation (cc. 1154-1551), Legislation on Sacraments (cc. 726-1011, 1144-1153), Marriage Legislation, and Penal Legislation (Book V).

Hannan

 

French

  • G. Bareille, Code de Droit Canonique.

  • A. Cance, Le Code de Droit Canonique, 4 vols. Best-known French commentary, steady work. Later supplemented by his Décisions et Précisions Canoniques 1928-1955.

  • F. Cimitier, Pour Étudier le Code de Droit Canonique.

  • J. Mothon, Institutiones Canonique, 3 vols.

  • R. Naz, ed., Traité de Droit Canonique, 4 vols. Not well-known but consistently clear and helpful. Multiple authors.

German

  • E. Eichmann, Lehrbuch des Kirchenrechts.

  • H. Fulster, Kirchenrecht in Frage und Antwort.

  • M. Leitner, Handbuch des Katholischen Kirchenrechts.

  • J. Sägmüller, Lehrbuch des Katholischen Kirchenrechts.

Italian

  • G. Cavigioli, Manuale di Diritto Canonico.

  • N. Coviello, Manuale di Diritto Ecclesiastico.

  • A. Jemolo, Elementi di Diritto Ecclesiastico.

Spanish

  • aa.vv., Comentarios al Codigo de Derecho Canonico, 4 vols. Well done.

  • aa.vv., Codigo de Derecho Canonico y Legislacion complementaria.

Polish

  • F. Baczkowicz, Ius Canonicum, (Polish)

  • I. Grabowski, Ius Canonicum secundum Novum Codicem (Polish)

 

Pan-Textual Commentaries, Single Volume

 

  • U. Beste, Introductio in Codicem, + 1100 pp. Terse style, but much of use. Underrated. Author was later a relator (Coetus de Normis) for the Revision Commission.

  • T. Bouscaren & A. Ellis, Canon Law: A Text and Commentary, + 1000 pp. The way most pre-Conciliar canon lawyers in the US learned canon law. Light only in procedural law.

  • F. Della Rocca, Manual of Canon Law (Thatcher trans.) + 600 pp.

  • R. Paray Re, Institutiones Iuris Canonici juxta Novum Codicem.

  • D. Prümmer, Manuale Iuris Ecclesiastici, + 700 pp. Updating of author's pre-Code work.

  • M. Ramstein, A Manual of Canon Law, + 700 pp.

  • J. Raus, Institutiones Canonicae, + 500 pp.

  • S. Sipos, Enchiridion Iuris Canonici, + 900 pp.

  • S. Woywod, The New Canon Law, + 400 pp. Re-worked his essays from American Ecclesiastical Review. Respectable, but anyone with access to the Practical Commentary (above) would use it first.

Prümmer

 

Topical Commentaries

 

Book I: General Norms

 

 

Cicognani
  • A. Cicognani, Canon Law, 2d ed., (after an extended historical and theoretical discussion) his fine commentary on norms starts at p. 444.  
  • G. Michiels, Normae Generales Juris Canonici, 2 vols.

 

 

 

Book II: Persons

  • L. Bender, Normae Generales de Personis (87-106), 232 pp.

  • I. Chelodi, Ius Canonicum de Personis (rev. P. Ciprotti) 520 pp.

  • G. Michiels, Principia de Personis in Ecclesia…Canones Praeliminaires (cc. 87-106), 708 pp.

II.1) Religious

  • L. Fanfani, De Iure Religiosorum, 599 pp. Substantially translated into French by L. Misserey under the title of Le Droit des Religieuses.

  • S. Goyeneche, Quaestiones Canonicae de Iure Religiosorum, 2 vol.

  • H. Papi, Religious in Church Law, 355 pp.

  • J. Pejsca, Jus Canonicum Religiosorum

  • T. Schaeffer, De Religiosis ad Normam Codicis Iuris Canonci, 1214 pp. Standard in the field.

  • A. Vermeersch, De Religiosis Institutis et Personis, 2 vols.

II. 2) Secular Institutes

  • aa.vv., Études sur les Instituts Séculiers, 347 pp. Signed studies.

  • aa.vv., De Institutis Saecularibus, 2? vols.

II.3) Laity and Associations of the Faithful

  • S. de Angelis, De Fidelium Associationibus, 2 vols.

  • J. Demeuren, Le Droit Canon de Laiques d’apres le Nouveau Code.

 

 

Book III: Things

 

III.1 Diocesan Curia

  • S. d'Angelo, La Curia Diocesana a Norma del Codice di Diritto Canonico, 2 vols.

 

III.2. Sacramental Law

  • F. Cappello, Tractatus Canonico-Moralis de Sacramentis, 5 vols. Thoroughly reliable.

  • F. Hürth & P. Abellán, De Sacramentis. = pp. Designed for theology students, but heavily canonical.

  • E. Regatillo, Ius Sacramentarium, 998 pp.

III.2.A) Liturgical Law

  • C. Bachofen, Liturgical Law, 467 pp. Excellent overview, and in tune with the best of the then still young liturgical movement.

III.2.B) Matrimonial Law

 

Gasparri

The undisputed master of Pio-Benedictine marriage law.

  • I. Chelodi, Ius Canonicum de Matrimonio et de Iudiciis Matrimonialibus, 296 pp.

  • F. Galtier, Le Mariage…Orientale et Occidental, 456 pp.

  • F. Garcia, Tractatus Canonico-Moralis de Sacramento Matrimonii.

  • P. Gasparri,  Tractatus Canonicus De Matrimonio, 2 vols. The classic work, among the most famous of canon law books ever written.

  • V. Heylen, Tractatus de Matrimonio, 775 pp.

  • D. Lazzarato, Jurisprudentia Pontificia: [de Causis Matrimonialibus], 2 vols. often bound as 4. Massive.

  • L. Nau, Manual on the Marriage Laws of the New Code of Canon Law,  252 pp.

  • G. Payen, De Matrimonio in Missionibus, 3 vol.

  • J. Petrovits, The New Church Law on Matrimony, 458 pp.

  • J. Risk, Marriage-Contract and Sacrament, 187 pp. Topical.

  • T. Vlaming, Praelectiones Iuris Matrimonii, 2 vols.

  • A. van Vliet & C. Breed, Marriage and Canon Law, 307 pp. Topical.

 

 III.2.C) Extreme Unction

  • A. Kilker, Extreme Unction, 425 pp.

III.3. Temporal Goods

  • W. Doheny, Practical Problems in Church Finance, 115 pp.

  • M. Pistocchi, De Bonis Ecclesiae Temporalibus.

  • G. Vromant, De Bonis Ecclesiae Temporalibus...praesertim Missionarium, 329 pp.

 

Book IV: Procedures 

 

Roberti

  • F. Cappello, Praxis Processualis, 217 pp.

  • C. Holböck, Tractatus de Jurisprudentia Sacrae Romanae Rotae, 400 pp.

  • F. della Rocca, Canonical Procedure: A Philosophical-Juridic Study of Book IV, 384 pp. Fitzgerald trans.

  • M. Lega, Commentarius in Iudicia Ecclesiastica, 3 vols. Top in its field.

  • J. Pinna, Praxis Iudicialis Canonica. 324 pp.

  • F. Roberti, De Processibus, 2 vols. Highly-regarded.

Lega

 

 

IV.1) Matrimonial Procedures

  • W. Doheny, Canonical Procedure in Matrimonial Cases, 2 vols. Widely used, though less commonly cited.

  • J. Torre, Processus Matrimonialis, 374 pp.

  • F. Wanenmacher, Canonical Evidence in Marriage Cases, 412 pp.

 

Book V: Sanctions

 

  • I. Chelodi, De Delictis et Poenis et de Iudiciis Criminalibus (rev. Ciprotti) 198 pp.

  • I. Chelodi, Ius Poenale, 182 pp.

  • G. Michiels, De Delictis et Poenis, 3 vols. Probably the strongest in the field.

  • G. Pellegrini, Jus Ecclesiae Poenale, 3 vols. The last major study of Pio-Benedictine penal law.

  • F. Roberti, De Delictis et Poenis, 2 vols.

 

 V.1) Censures

  • F. Cappello, De Censuris, 476 pp.

  • P. Cerato, Censurae Vigentes, 307 pp.

  • V. Heylen, De Censuris, 246 pp.

 

Virtually all of the great commentators

on the 1917 Code are deceased now. 

Please pray for them.

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