1

1428: Pope Martin V, in cons Ad reprimendas insolentias, issues a major assertion of the immunity of clerics from civil tribunals. CIC Font 1: 58-60.

1875: ' Stephanus Sipos. {Dec 2}

2

1947: Pope Pius XII, in ap. con. Provida Mater, approves the establishment of secular institutes. AAS 39: 114-124; CLD 3: 135-146. DDC 5: 1451-1461.

3

1745: Pope Benedict XIV, in cons In regiminis, criticizes cardinals who come to Rome but twice a year, and only to collect revenues at that. CIC Font 1: 882-88

1983: Solemn presentation of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, in Consistory.

4

1894: H. Pezzani receives congratulations from the Gregorian on the publication a few months earlier of his Codex Sanctae Ecclesiae Romanae, in 3 vols, one of the most thoughtful proto-codifications of the 19th century.

5

6

7

8

1356: U Paul of Liazarius, student of Johannes Andreas, lay canonist, professor at Bologna. DDC 6: 1276-1277.

1567: Pope St. Pius V, in con. Etsi dominici, voids all grants of indulgences attached to alms-giving, a rule in effect to this day. CIC Font 1: 209-211

9

1952: Pope Pius XII, in Postquam apostolicis litteris, codifies Eastern canon law on temporal goods, religious, and various definitions. AAS 44: 65-150.

10

1971: U Timothy Lincoln Bouscaren, sj, canon and common lawyer, co-author of Canon Law: Text and Commentary, founder of Canon Law Digest, at age 87. CLD 7: iii.

1971: Pericles Cdl Felici releases revised schema of the Lex Ecclesiae Fundamentalis for commentary.

Bouscaren

11

 385: In one of the earliest surviving papal decretals letters, Pope Siricius advises Bp Himerius of Tarragona on a variety of theological and disciplinary matters.

1929: Lateran Treaty, negotiated by Pietro Cdl Gasparri, settles “The Roman Question” and recognizes the independence of the Vatican City State. AAS 21: 209-294, et cet.

Siricius

12

13

 528: Emperor Justinian directs John of Cappadocia to begin the compilation of the (first, but soon lost version of) Codex Justiniani.

14

15

16

1301: John the Monk, a Franciscan canonist, delivers a rousing lecture in Sexto before leaving the University of Paris. DDC 6: 112-113. {Aug 22}

17

1457: U John of Anania, attorney who, after the death of his wife, was ordained and taught canon law, specializing in Book V of the Decretals, at Bologna.

1565: Pope Pius IV, in In principis apostolorum, revokes all privileges contrary to the norms of the Council of Trent.

18

19

20

21

1900: U Eugène Grandclaude, highly influential canon lawyer of the 19th century, founder of the journal Le Canoniste Contemporain. {Aug 23}

1967: Pope Paul VI appoints Abp. Pericles Felici as (second) Pro-President of the Revision Commission. Comm I: 35.

22

1197: U Bazianus, outstanding decretist and leader in the rediscovery of Roman Law.

1418: Pope Martin V, in con. Inter cunctas, affirms the right of ecclesiastics to own property. CIC Font 1: 46-57

1949: Pope Pius XII, in Crebrae allatae, codifies Eastern canon law on marriage. AAS 41: 89-117.

1996: John Paul II, in ap. con., issues laws governing the election of his successor. Universi Dominic gregis (22 February 1996). Cf. 1983 CIC 332, 349. Click here for Dr. Peters' overview of Universi. Click here for a list current eligible papal electors.

23

1965: Rev. Raimondo Bidagor, sj, becomes Revision Commission secretary. Comm I: 35.

24

1453: U Nicholas of Tudeschis, or, Panormitanus, famed Benedictine canonist, at approx. age 50.

25

26

27

28

29

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1198: & The Collectio Sangermanensis is published in England.

8

9

10

1965: First meeting of canonists to discuss, among other things, foundation of Canadian Canon Law Society.

11

 422: Pope Boniface I, in Retro maioribus tuis, rejects recourse to synods without leave of the pope. CIC Font 1: 21

12

1677: Pope Innocent IX, in Ad Nostri Apostolatus, decrees that anyone profaning the Sacred Species should be punished as is fit, not excluding execution by the secular authorities. CIC Font 1: 479-480.

13

1436: U John of Imola, leading civil and canonical scholar, at Bologna. DDC 6: 107-110. {Oct 19}

1623: Urban VIII directs, in Sanctissimus, that reports of unauthorized cults of the deceased be forwarded to the Holy See.

14

15

16

17

18

1999: Secretary of State releases revised privileges and faculties of cardinals.

19

1904: Pope St. Pius X issues m. p. Arduum sane munus announcing his intention to codify western canon law.

20

1965: Revision Commission is transferred to its permanent location in the Via dell-Erba. Comm I: 35.

21

1314: Avignon pope Clement V publishes an authentic collection of decretals and sends them to the Universities of Paris and Orleans, but almost immediately errors are found in these would-be Clementinae, and the collection is revoked.

22

23

1280: Pope Nicholas III, in Cum quasdam Constitutiones, sends a collection of decrees to the University of Paris.

24

1464: & John Turrecremata, Spanish Franciscan cardinal and renowned lecturer on Gratian, completes his commentary on Causas 17-36.

1907: ' Stephan Kuttner, in Bonn, Germany.

25

1877: & Rev. Sebastian Smith receives the imprimatur for the first edition of his Elements of Ecclesiastical Law, in 3 vols, the first, and never surpassed, study of late decretal law done in and for the United States.

1904: Pope St. Pius X directs world episcopate to make suggestions on the codification of western canon law within four months.

1970: U Clement Bastnagel, canon law professor and dean, Catholic University of America.

26

1771: Pope Clement XIV recognizes the Spanish Rota as a tribunal of third instance. Cf. AAS 39 (1947) 156.

27

28

1963: Pope Bl John XXIII establishes Pontifical Commission for the Revision of the Code of Canon Law. Bp James Violardo becomes Secretary for a short time. Comm I: 5, 35.

29

1945: U Justinian Cdl Serédi, osb, one of Hungary's greatest canonists, had completed Cdl Gasparri’s Fontes of the 1917 Code, at age 61. {Apr 23}

J. Serédi, osb

30

31

1675: ' Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini who, as Benedict XIV, would become the greatest canonist-pope of the Ius Novissimum. {May 3}

1

2

1961: & After many delays, Gommarus Michiels, ofm cap, brings out the first volume of his revised masterpiece on penal law, De Delictis et Poenis, eventually in 3 vols.

3

1967: Synod of Bishops convenes to develop the “Ten Guiding Principles” for the post-Conciliar revision of canon law. Comm I: 55-56, 77-100.

4

5

6

1904: Cdl Gasparri, in Perlegisti, invites Catholic universities to assist with the codification process. ASS 37: 130-131.

7

 529: Emperor Justinian promulgates the first edition of the Codex Justiniani, but it is lost shortly later.

1947: Holy See confirms the right to the Spanish Rota to continue its long service in third instance. AAS 39 (1947) 155-163.

8

1338: Pope Benedict XII, in “In agro Dominico”, organizes the poenitentiarii into a college, the ancestor of the modern Sacred Penitentiary. {Apr 13}

1493: U Hieronymus de Zanettinis, of Bologna, specialist in Roman and canonical comparative studies. {Jan 22}

1610: Pope Paul V issues the first Bulla Coenae, excommunicating apostates as well as heretics.

9

1242: U Richard of England, decretist and commentator on the works Bernard of Pavia.  

1892: & Pope Leo XIII congratulates Pietro Gasparri on the publication of the first (of many) edition of his masterpiece, De Matrimonio, in 2 vols.

10

1700: & Johann Georg (Anacletus) Reiffenstuel, ofm, receives permission to release the first volume of his magisterial Ius Canonicum Ecclesiasticum.

11

1926: & Franciscus Roberti dedicates his famous De Processibus, in 2 vols.

1967: & Imprimatur granted for first volume of Studia Canonica, influential canon law journal published in Canada.

12

13

1059: Pope Nicholas II, in decree In Nomine Domini, reserves right to elect Roman Pontiff to cardinal bishops.

1744: Pope Benedict XIV, in cons. Pastor bonus and In apostolica, gives the Sacred Penitentiary its modern form. {Apr 8}

1993: Charter convention of the Canon Law Society of the Philippines opens in Antipolo City, Rizal.

14

15

16

17

1964: Pope Paul VI appoints 70 Consulters to assist with the revision of the 1917 Code. Comm 1: 35.

18

19

20

1968: Revision Commission proposes to divide specific tasks among various subcommittees (coetus)

21

1246: Pope Innocent IV, in Cum inter venerabiles, sends first of three collections of his decrees to the University of Paris.  

1958: U Salvatore Riccobono, eminent scholar of Roman Law, in Palermo, at age 94. {Jan 31}

1986: John Paul II, in ap. con. Spirituali militum curae, issues special law on military chaplains. Cf 1983 CIC 569.

22

1982: Schema novissimum of the revised Code of Canon Law is presented to Pope John Paul II for final examination.

23

1884: ' Justinian Seredi. {Mar 29}

1221: Pope Honorius III, in Sedis Apostolicae, issues legislation on the responsibility of the Holy See for ecclesiastical goods around the world. CIC Font 1: 29-30.

24

25

1245: U John the Teuton, author of the Glossa Ordinaria on Gratian.

26

1914: ' Jean Beyer, sj, {Jan 22}

27

28

1400: U Baldus de Ubaldis, outstanding civil and canonical legal scholar.

1738: Pope Clement XII, in In eminenti, pronounces first excommunication upon Freemasonry. CIC Font 1: 656-658.  

1970: American Procedural Norms approved by Congregation for Public Affairs, most of which norms were incorporated into the 1983 Code’s provisions for matrimonial nullity cases. CLD 7: 950-966.

29

30

1271: Hostiensis, of Henry of Susa, perhaps the greatest decretalist, leaves four copies of his great Summa to various schools by last will. DDC 5: 1211-1227. {Oct 25}

1

1567: Pope Pius V, in cons. Ad exequendam, sets out uniform salary structures for pastors.

1934: Holy Office privately issues first norms for Petrine Privilege cases.

2

3

1298: Pope Boniface VIII, in Sacrosanctae Romanae Ecclesiae, promulgates the Liber Sextus.  

1758: U Pope Benedict XIV, the greatest canonist-pope of the Ius Novissimum. {Mar 31}

4

1493: Pope Alexander IV first distinguishes between the Signatura of Justice and the Signatura of Grace. DDC 7: 492-493.

1515: Pope Leo X, at the Fifth Lateran Council, issues Inter sollicitudines, first universal legislation on the censorship of books. CIC Font 1: 115-116.

1977: US bishops petition the Holy See to repeal the excommunication levied by the Third Council of Baltimore on American Catholics who remarry civilly after divorce. {Oct 22}

5

1852: ' Pietro Gasparri {Nov 18}

6

7

8

1963: Holy Office, by decree Piam, lifts ban on elective cremation. AAS 56: 822-823; CLD 6: 666-668.

9

10

11

12

13

1416: U Petrus de Ancharano, married professor of canon and civil law at Bologna, at about age 86.

1983: Through the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, dispensation from canonical form granted to allow two Catholics to marry in an non-Catholic ceremony. CLD 10: 181-183.

14

15

Day on which, according to Canon 7 of the Synod of Auxerre (578), all priests of the diocese should meet at the cathedral to discuss common issues. {Nov 1}

 419: African Synod occasions the production of the Isidoriana or Hispana Antiqua.

16

1911: Monastic prison for recalcitrant religious, already long out of use, official suppressed. DDC 7: 586.

17

18

1753: Pope Benedict XIV forbids agreements between parties intended to preclude rights of canonical appeal.

19

1918: 1917 or Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law assumes force.

1956: Mass of Dedication, Medieval Canon Law Institute (then at the Catholic University of America) with the canonist Abp. Amleto Cicognani celebrating.

20

21

22

23

1904: Pope St. Pius X  invests the Acta Sanctae Sedis with official character. {Jan 1, Sep 28}

1951: John Abbo & Jermone Hannan receive an imprimatur for their Sacred Canons, in 2 vols, a highly respected American commentary on Pio-Benedictine law.

24

1939: Congregation of Sacraments establishes the “Office of Vigilance” to examine tribunal reports from around the world.

25

1085: U Pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand), illustrious canonist pope who opened the era of “Gregorian Reforms”, eventually culminating in St. Raymond Peñafort’s Liber Decretalium under Pope Gregory IX.

26

1742: Pope Benedict XIV, in cons. Etsi pastoralis, promulgates landmark legislation on inter-ritual issues. CIC Font 1: 734-755.

27

1917: Pope Benedict XV, in Providentissima Mater, promulgates the 1917 or Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law.

28

1998: Pope John Paul in m.p. Ad tuendam Fidem, adds text to 1983 CIC 750 and 1371, and to CCEO 598 and 1436.

29

1954: Canonization of Pope St. Pius X, prime mover behind the 1917 Code of Canon Law. AAS 49: 306. {Mar 19}

30

1381: & William of Horborch completes his Novae (an important collection of Rotal cases) DDC 5: 1076-1077. {Jan 30, Aug 22}

31

1

1537: Pope Paul III issues con. Altitudo, one of three papal pronouncements on matrimonial law for converts directly incorporated into the 1917 Code. 1917 CIC Doc. VI. {Jan 25, Aug 2}

2

1582: & Roman Correctors’ version of Gratian’s Concordia is released.

3

1430: & William of Lyndwood, England’s foremost medieval canonist, completes his gloss on the Provinciale.

4

1457: & John of Turrecrementa, Franciscan cardinal, completes his 3-vol. Commentary on Gratian.

5

6

7

1230: Pope Gregory IX makes the first known reference to "third orders", here, Franciscan. {Aug 17}

8

1215: U Sicard of Crémone, French canonist, theologian, liturgist, historian DDC 7: 1008-1011.

1725: Pope Benedict XIII restricts the ability of laity to claim ecclesiastical immunities.

1945: Pope Pius XII reorganizes the course of studies at the Roman Rota.

9

1931: U Dominicum Prümmer, op, German moral theologian and commentator on Pio-Benedictine law (eg, Manuale Iuris Canonici), at age 65. {Jan 23}

D. Prümmer, op

10

1972: Pope Paul VI establishes the Pontifical Commission for the Revision of Oriental Canon Law.

11

12

1957: Pope Pius XII, in Cleri sanctitati, codifies Eastern canon law on persons. AAS 49: 433-603.

13

14

1559: The Holy Office mitigates severe sanctions attached to the very first Index of Forbidden Books, published earlier the same year.

1966: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith confirms abrogation of the Index of Forbidden Books. AAS 58-445; CLD 6: 814-815. {Nov 15}

15

16

17

1669: Pope Clement IX, in Solicitudo, forbids religious from engaging in business enterprises. CIC Font 1: 465-467.

18

1529: Convocation of the extraordinary legatine tribunal, Cdls Campeggio & Wolsey presiding, at Blackfriars’ to hear the marriage case of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, without result. {July 11}

1704: Henry Prescott of Trinity College, Dublin, at home sick in his bed, records that he consoles himself by reading Durandus' De Consecracione.

19

20

21

1479: U Andreas de Barbatia, lay canon and civil lawyer, taught at Bologna, at about age 79.

1932: The Spanish Rota is suppressed due to the Spanish Civil War. Cf. AAS 39 (1947) 156.

22

Sts. Thomas More & John Fisher

Common Lawyer & Bishop, Martyrs

23

24

1349: U Peter Bertrand, French professor of canon law, later cardinal, at about age 70.

25

26

1905: & Pope St. Pius X congratulates Franciscus Wernz, sj, on the publication of his Ius Decretalium, in 7 vols, the last great commentary on decretal law.

27

28

1988: John Paul II, in ap. con. Pastor Bonus, issues current norms on the reorganization of the Roman Curia. Cf 1983 CIC 360-361. {Jan 22}

29

1748: Pope Benedict XIV, in enc. Magnae Nobis, stresses the importance of raising children in mixed marriages as Catholics. CIC Font 2: 146-151.

1908: Pope St. Pius X, in ap. con. Sapienti consilio, reestablishes the Roman Rota (and the Apostolic Signatura, etc.), suppressed since the Italian Revolution some 40 years earlier. ASS 41 (1908) 425-461.

1959: Pope Bl. John XXIII, in enc. Ad Petri Cathedram, formally announces his plans to convoke the Second Vatican Council and to reform the Code of Canon Law. AAS 51 (1959) 497-531. {Jan 25}

30

1741: Pope Benedict XIV, in Quanta cura, forbids, inter alia, trafficking in Mass stipends. CIC Font. 1: 682-683.

1

1463: & John Turrecremata, Spanish Franciscan cardinal and renowned lecturer on Gratian, completes his commentary on Causas 13-26.

1580: Pope Gregory XIII, in cons. Cum pro munere, becomes the first to use the descriptive term "Corpus Iuris Canonici".

1949: Holy Office condemns Communism as an anti-Catholic sect. AAS 41: 334.

2003: U Msgr John Barry, JCD, co-founder, Canon Law Society of great Britain and Ireland, first editor of Canon Law Abstracts, at age 85.

2

1641: ' Johann Georg (Anacletus) Reiffenstuel, ofm, in Katlenbrunn, Tergernsee. {Oct 5}

1921: & Albert Blat, op, releases the first volume of his Commentarium in textus Codicis iuris canonici, ultimately in 5 vols.

3

1623: The Seventh Book of Decretals by Peter Matthew is placed on the Index of Forbidden Books.

4

5

1634: Pope Urban VIII, in Coelestis Hierusalem, centralizes norms regarding the cult of saints. CIC Font I: 402-406.

6

7

1348: U Johannes Andreas, greatest lay canonist in history, unsurpassed expert in Sexto, author of Novellae, lecturer in canon law at Bologna, of the plague, at about age 73. His death closes what has been called the “Golden” or “Classical” Age of canon law.  

1889: ' Franciscus Roberti. {Jul 16}

8

1241: Pope Gregory IX, in Cum, sicut ex, declares beer to be invalid matter for Baptism. CIC Font I: 30.  

1357: U Hermann of Schildis, German canonist and Augustinian, author of Introductorium pro studio sacrorum canonum.

9

1988: U James O’Connor, sj, long-time editor of Canon Law Digest, age 77.

10

1454: U Guilelmus Custodis (Bont), auditor of the Roman Rota, professor of law at Louvain, specialist in Books I and II of Decretals.

11

1533: Pope Clement VII condemns the attempted marriage of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn and orders a return to Catherine of Aragon under pain of excommunication. {Jun 18}

12

13

1936: U Arthur Veermersch, sj, first-rank canonist, author of Epitome Iuris Canonici in 3 vols., at age 78. {Aug 26}

A. Veermersch, sj

14

1925: & Stanislaus Woywod completes his Practical Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, in 2 vols.

15

1938: & Michaël Lega completes his magisterial Commentarius in Iudicia Ecclesiastica, in 3 vols.

16

1216: U Pope Innocent III, among the most accomplished and influential of the medieval canonist popes, about age 55.

1927: & Adrien Cance completes his Le Code de Droit Canonique, in 4 vols, the most prestigious Pio-Benedictine commentary in French.

1977: U Cdl Franciscus Roberti, consulter to the first Codification Commission, professor of canon law, expert on sanctions and procedures, and founder of the major canon law journal Apollinaris, at age 89. {Jul 7}

Innocent III, by Kiselewski

(from US capitol)

17

1935: Pope Pius XI establishes the Pontifical Commission for the Redaction of the “Code of Eastern Canon Law.” AAS 27 (1935) 306-308.

1952: The Roman Rota, coram Felici, Versalien., finds for nullity of marriage based on the testimony of a single witness. SRRD 44 (1952) 445-451.

18

1947: U Alphonse Van Hove, canonical historian. {Aug 7}

1988: U Meletius Wojnar, osbm, commentator on Eastern canon law, at age 77. {Oct 15}

19

20

1898: Sacred Congregation of the Council, in A primis, bans “presumed” incardination of clerics.

21

1542: Pope Paul II, in Licet ab initio, establishes the Roman Inquisition, forerunner of the Holy Office and eventually the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

22

1958: First International Congress on Medieval Canon Law opens at University of Louvain.

23

24

1694: Innocent XII, in Instantibus, authorizes religious superiors to use up to six fellow religious to enforce their expulsion directives. DDC 7: 585.

1858: Sacred Congregation of the Council permits parole evidence to clarify a cleric’s last will.  

1937: & Matthaeus a Coronata completes his Compendium Iuris Canonici, in 3 vols.

25

26

27

28

1508: U Ludovicus Bologninus, canon and civil lawyers, among many projects, correlated Gratian's Decretum with Gregory's Decretals.

29

1911: Congregation of the Council requests American bishops to avoid "corporation sole" as a method for holding ecclesiastical property. CLD 2: 443-445

30

1879: & Amelius Friedberg publishes his edition of Gratian’s Concordia.

31

1

ST. ALPHONUS LIGOURI

BISHOP, CANONIST, & CIVIL LAWYER

2

1571: Pope St. Pius V issues con. Romani Pontifices, one of three papal pronouncements on matrimonial law for converts directly incorporated into the 1917 Code. 1917 CIC Doc VII. (Jan 25, Jun 1}

3

4

1903: On the very evening of his election, Pope St. Pius X, determines to codify canon law, but says nothing for the time being.

5

2002: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith excommunicates seven women who simulated ordination on the Danube.

6

7

1872: ' Alphonse Van Hove. {Jul 18}

1917: Cdl Bisletti directs that canon law students be taught to analyze the 1917 Code synthetically and analytically using the Code itself as the primary text. AAS 9: 439; (English trans here).

8

1296: U Abbas Antiquus (Bernard of Montemirato), famous lecturer on the Ius Decretalium at Toulouse and Bologna.

9

10

1313: U Guido de Baysio, outstanding decretalist, at Avignon, about age 65. {Jan 25}

11

1859: After lengthy debate in the presence of the pope, the Holy Office “defers” on the question of the necessity of conversion to the Catholic faith for the operation of the Pauline Privilege.

12

13

14

15

16

1418: U Louis of Curtosiis, professor of canon law at Padua.

17

1289: Pope Nicholas IV issues first regulations on third orders. {Jun 7}

18

19

1744: Pope Benedict XIV, enc. Cum semper oblatas, authorizes bishops to determine "just wages" for pastors. CIC Font 1: 824-832.

1914: U Francis Xavier Wernz, sj, one of the most widely respected commentators on “ius novissimum”, author of the last great commentary on decretal law, Ius Decretalium, in 7 vols, at age 72. AAS 6: 421-456.

1917: Pope Benedict XV orders that certain provisions of the Pio-Benedictine Code (mostly ones on sacraments) go into immediate effect.

F. Wernz, sj

20

1025: U Burchard of Worms, bishop and canonist, author of a very influential Decretum around 1015.

1910: In its decree on the removal of pastors, Maxima cura, the Sacred Congregation of the Consistory states that “The welfare of the people is the supreme law.” AAS 2: 636. Cf 1983 CIC 1752.

1914: U Pope St. Pius X, prime mover behind the 1917 Code. AAS 6: 421-456. {Mar 19}

21

1241: & First “Notabilia” on the Decretals of Gregory IX published anonymously.

1670: Holy Office issues landmark instructions on the conduct of investigations regarding freedom to marry.

22

1313: U John the Monk, Franciscan cardinal and canonist. DDC 6: 112-113. {Feb 16} 

1361: William of Horborch receives his Bachelor in Decretis. DDC 5: 1076-1077. {Jan 30, May 30}

1966: & Xavier Ochoa dedicates the first volume of his Leges Ecclesiae, eventually in 6 vols.

23

1826: ' Eugène Grandclaude. {Feb 21}

24

1607: Pope Paul V decrees that civil cases involving religious are outside the competence of diocesan bishops.

25

26

1562: Pope Pius IV revokes the privilege accorded some (non-episcopal) procurators of German bishops to having a deliberative vote at the Council of Trent. {Dec 5}

1858: ' Arthur Veermersch. {Jul 12}

1913: Congregation for Rites restricts the use of "Venerable" to those whose cause for beatification has been accepted. CIC Font 8: 418-420.

27

28

29

30

31

1442:U Arnoldus Gheyloven Theodorici, of Roterdam, studied at Bologna and Padua, commentator on canon and civil law.

1

2

1869: Neapolitan bishops become the first of several groups to call formally for the revision of canon law, but stop sort of specifically asking for a codification.

3

1931: U Henry Ayrinhac, sss, American commentator on the 1917 Code.

4

1401: ' Marianus Socinus, married canonist, taught at Padua and practiced until about 1467.

5

1234: Pope Gregory IX, in Rex pacificus, promulgates St. Raymond of Peñafort’s Liber Decretalium. It remained basic law in the Church until the advent of the advent of the Pio-Benedictine Code some 650 years later. {Jan 6, Jan 7, Jan 19}

Gregory IX, by Jones 

(from US capitol)

6

1503: U Felinus Sandei, professor, auditor of the Roman Rota, later bishop, widely cited by his contemporaries and successors, at about age 59.

7

8

9

1253: Pope Innocent III, in Ad expiendos, send the third collection of his decrees to the University of Paris.

10

11

12

13

1334: U Durand de Saint-Pourçain, bishop, theologian, and canonist, called the Resolute Doctor for the tenacity with which he argued his positions. Inspired a ditty upon his death: Durus Durandus jacet hic sub marmore duro; An sit salvandus ego nescio, neque curo. DDC 5:84-85.

1471: U Philippus of Franchus de Franchis, noted commentator in Sexto.

14

15

1374: Gilles de Bellemère enters the service of the Roman Rota and begins to collect more than 700 of its decisions. DDC 2: 296-297.

1917: Pope Benedict XV, in m.p. Cum iuris canonici, establishes a Commission of cardinals for the authentic interpretation of the 1917 Code. AAS 9: 483-484; CLD 1: 55-57. Cf 1983 CIC 16.

1965: Pope Paul VI, by m.p. Apostolica sollicitudo, establishes the Synod of Bishops. AAS 57: 775-780; CLD 6: 388-393.

16

17

1692: Pope Innocent XII, in cons. Romanus Pontifex, removes most quasi-episcopal jurisdiction from cardinals qua cardinals, a condition that remains in effect to this day.

1949: & Herbert Jone dedicates the first volume of his three-volume Commentarium in Codicem Iuris Canonici.

18

1213: U Bernard of Pavia, bishop, illustrious canonist, author of the Prima Collectio, or Brevarium Extravagantium. DDC 2: 782-789.

19

20

21

1624: Congregation of the Council firmly upholds right of religious superiors to expel recalcitrant members. DDC 7: 585.

22

1586: Pope Sixtus V reduces the number of "referees" (consulters) at the Signatura, lest their great number diminish the respect due their office. DDC 7: 492-493.

23

1590: U Giovanni Paolo Lancelotti, in Perugia, lay canonist, author of Institutiones Juris Canonici (a model for later codification) at age 68.

1881: & Amelius Friedberg produces his edition of the Liber Decretalium, in Sexto, Clementinae, and the two Extravagantes.

24

25

26

1468: U John Turrecremata, Spanish Franciscan cardinal and renowned lecturer on Gratian, in Rome.

27

28

1908: Pope St. Pius X, in Promulgandi, formalizes the use of the Acta Sanctae Sedis and then the Acta Apostolicae Sedis as the vehicle for promulgating ecclesiastical law. ASS 41: 619-620 & AAS 1 (1909) 5-6. {Jan 1, May 23}

29

30

1

1942: Pope Pius XII delivers his classic allocution to the Roman Rota on moral certainty in marriages cases. AAS 34: 338-343 (Italian); CLD 3: 605-611.

1991: Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches assumes force of law.

2

3

4

1408: U Antonius de Butrio, outstanding married lay canonist, in Bologna.

1459: U Radulphus de Beeringhen, professor of canon law at Louvain for over 20 years.

5

1703: U Johann Georg (Anacletus) Reiffenstuel, ofm, author of the monumental Ius Canonicum Universum, in 5 vols, at Freising. {Jul 2}

6

1988: First International Conference of Deans of Canon Law Schools opens at the Catholic University of America.

7

8

9

1663: ' Francis Xavier Schmalzgruber, in Griesbach, Bavaria. {Nov 7}

2003: & Edward Peters completes his Incrementa in Progressu 1983 Codicis Iuris Canonici

10

11

12

1869: Pope Pius IX, in Apostolicae Sedis, reorganizes latae sententiae censures.

13

14

15

1911: ' Meletius Wojnar. {Jul 18}

16

1756: Pope Benedict XIV, in enc. Ex omnibus, decrees that only those who publicly and notoriously reject "Unigentius" should be denied the sacraments. CIC Font 2: 534-538.

17

1917: Corrections to the Pio-Benedictine Code are published. AAS 9: 557, 589.

18

1991: Pope John Paul II, in ap. con. Sacri Canones, promulgates the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

19

1432: Fire destroys the 600 volume personal canonical library of John of Imola, along with his personal papers and all his worldly goods. {Mar 13}

20

1870: The Italian Revolution forces a suspension of the First Vatican Council before it can formally address, among other things, widespread requests to codify western canon law. 1917 CIC Preface.

21

 447: A letter of Pope Leo I makes the earliest reference to Statuta ecclesiae antiqua.

1446: U William Lyndowood, England’s foremost medieval canonist, author of the classic Provinciale.

22

1977: Holy See repeals the excommunication levied by the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore on American Catholics who remarry civilly after divorce. CLD 8: 1213. {May 4}

23

24

1934: & Raoul Naz releases the first volume of the Dictionnaire de Droit Canonique, ultimately in 6 vols, most influential canonical encyclopedia of the 20th century.

25

1271: U Hostiensis, or Henry of Susa, one of the greatest decretalists, in Lyons, at about age 71. DDC 5: 1211-1227. {Apr 30}

1317: John XXII, in Quoniam nulla, promulgates the Clementinae, the last official collection of ecclesiastical laws until the 1917 Code.

26

27

28

29

30

1986: Msgr. Emilio Eid, vice-president of the Eastern Code Commission, presents final schema of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches to Pope John Paul II for final examination.

31

1

Day on which, according to Canon 7 of the Synod of Auxerre (578), all abbots in the diocese should meet at the cathedral to discuss common issues. {May 15}

1274: Pope Bl. Gregory X, in Cum nuper, sends a collection of his decrees to the Universities of Bologna, Pavia, and Paris.  

1296: U William Durantis, the Speculator, French professor of canon law and Rota judge, at about age 60. DDC 5: 1014-1075.

2

3

1741: Pope Benedict XIV, in cons. Dei miseratione, orders sweeping changes in marriage nullity procedures, many of which survive to this day. CIC Font 1: 695-701.

4

St. Charles Borromeo, 

DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

Bishop, Canon & Civil Lawyer

5

1905: & Ethelred Taunton of Westminster releases The Law of the Church, the first dictionary of canon law in English.

6

1417: Canonist Cardinal Franciscus Zabarella begins his service as papal legate to the unusual Council of Constance.

1744: Pope Benedict XIV, in cons. Firmandis, decides that bishops may remove religious pastors in their diocese without consent of religious superiors. CIC Font 1: 855-862.

1924: In what became known as the “Helena” or “Montana” Case, Pope Pius XI dissolves a naturally binding, consummated, non-sacramental marriage (non-bapt/Prot) in favor of the faith of a Catholic party wishing to marry the non-baptized party. CLD 1: 553-554.

1965: Revision Commission holds formal session to consider the advisability of a separate Eastern Code, a Lex Ecclesiae Fundamentalis, and other matters. Comm I: 36-37.

7

1546: U Conrad Lagus of Germany, a leading proponent of critical studies in comparative legal procedures.

1735: U Francis Xavier Schmalzgruber, sj, author of the acclaimed 12 volume Ius Ecclesiasticum Universum, at Dillingen. {Oct 9}

8

9

10

11

1563: The Council of Trent approves the decree Tametsi which would eventually result in the nearly universal requirement of canonical form for marriage.

12

1939: The Canon Law Society of America is founded in Washington, DC.

1963: In its first formal session, the Revision Commission decides to put off most work until the close of the Second Vatican Council. Comm I: 36.

13

1904: The Sunday sub-Commission for the codification of canon law opens its first session, Abp. Pietro Gasparri presiding, Msgr. Eugenio Pacelli, asssitant.

14

1965: Msgr. Willy Onclin becomes assistant secretary to the Revision Commission. Comm I: 36.

1988: Plenary Session of the Commission on Eastern Canon Law concludes final review of the proposed Eastern Code.

15

1599: U Boetius Epo, married lay canon and civil lawyer, teacher of many subjects, including pontifical law, for nearly 40 years, at age 70. DDC 5: 384-386.

1905: Arthur Vermeersch, sj, receives permission to release the first issue of Periodica, still a major canon law journal.

1966: The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith re-confirms the abrogation of the Index of Forbidden Books and the absolution of any who labored under censures incurred in its light. AAS 58: 1186; CLD 6: 817-818. {Jun 14}

16

 534: Emperor Justinian, in Constitutio Cordi, promulgates the second and surviving edition of the Codex Justiniani, the masterwork of Tribonian. {Dec 15}

1331: Pope John XXII issues first regulations governing apostolic chanceries.

Tribonian, by Putnam

(from US capitol)

17

1741: Pope Benedict XIV, in enc. Satis vobis, forbids “marriages of conscience” without the authorization of the local bishop. CIC Font 1: 701-705.

18

1934: U Pietro Cdl Gasparri, architect of the 1917 Code, author of De Matrimonio in 2 vols., complier of the CIC Fontes, most influential canonist of the 20^th century, in Rome, at the age of 82. Cf DDC 5: 939. {May 5}

Cdl Gasparri

19

20

1965: Revision Commission opens formal work on what will become the 1983 Code with a solemn dedication ceremony in the Vatican. Comm I: 38-42.

21

 533: Emperor Justinian promulgates the Institutes.

22

 726: Pope Gregory II writes to St. Boniface the letter Desiderabilem mihi, the second paragraph of which, Quod proposuisti, was thought for centuries by many to have approved of divorce and remarriage for certain hard cases.

1817: Pope Pius VII partially codifies the procedural civil laws of the Papal States.

23

1740: Pope Benedict XIV, in cons. Quod Sancta, reiterates requirement that diocesan bishops fulfill their ad limina duties. CIC Font 1: 665-670.

24

25

1377: U Petrus de Stagno, osb, professor of law, specialist in the Clementinae, and later bishop and cardinal.

26

27

1095: Pope Urban II address bishops and troops camped at Clermont and issues the first plenary indulgence (in the modern sense) to all who join the First Crusade.

1983: The Pio-Benedictine Code of 1917 is abrogated and the 1983 Code of Canon Law takes force. Cf. 1983 CIC 6 § 1, 1°.

28

29

30

1

2

1949: U Stephanus Sipos, author of Enchiridion Iuris Canonici, one of Hungary's finest canon lawyers, at age 74. {Feb 1}

3

1340: William of Montlauzun produces his commentary on Pope Benedict XII's Summi magistri. DDC 5: 1078-1079. {Jan 2}

1943: U Charles Bachofen, (Dom Augustine, osb) who authored, among other works, the excellent 8-vol.A Commentary on the New Code of Canon Law, at Mt. Angel Abbey in Portland OR (USA). {Jan 11}

C. Bachofen, osb

4

1842: ' Francis Xavier Wernz, sj. {Aug 19}

1916: Pope Benedict XV issues allocution on the completion of what will become the 1917 Code. AAS 8: 465-468. (Eng. trans.)

5

1545: Pope Paul III, in Dudum cum fide, allows (non-episcopal) procurators of some German bishops a deliberative vote at the Council of Trent. {Aug 26}

6

1973: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issues revised norms on Petrine Privilege cases. CLD 8: 1177-1184.

7

1254: U Pope Innocent IV, author of Apparatus in quinque libros decretalium, one of the most influential and accomplished of the medieval canonist-popes.

1965: Pope Paul VI and Orthodox Patriarch Athenagoras I lift excommunications imposed on each other's predecessors in 1054. AAS 58: 40-41; CLD 6: 249-250.

8

9

1917: The Code Commission decides that it will not accept interpretation inquires from private individuals, a rule that remains in effect to this day. AAS 10 (1918) 77; CLD 1: 57.

10

1520: Martin Luther casts his condemnatory bull, Exsurge Domini, and a copy of the Corpus Iuris Canonici, into the flames.

1965: Through the Conciliar Commission on the Liturgy, Pope Paul VI approves use of sign language by the Deaf throughout Mass. CLD 6: 522-553.

11

12

13

1545: After numerous delays, Pope Paul III opens the Council of Trent, described by Cdl Gasparri “the greatest source of legislation on faith and morals in the history of the Church.” 1917 CIC Preface.

14

15

 530: Emperor Justinian issues his command to Tribonian to begin compilation of the monumental Digest of Justinian. {Nov 16}

1248: U Lawrence of Spain, outstanding teacher of canon and civil law.

16

 533: Emperor Justinian issues the decree Constitutio Tanta, confirming the authority of the Digest.  

1466: U Antonius de Rosellis, professor at Bologna, specialist in Books II and III of the Decretals.

1935: U Michaël Lega, expert in sanctions and procedures. {Jan 1}

Lega

17

18

19

20

1585: Pope Sixtus V, in cons. Romanus Pontifiex, standardizes the requirement for bishops, etc, to make quinquennial visits to Rome. CIC Font 1: 277-281.

21

ST. PETER CANISIUS

DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

CIVIL & CANON LAWYER, THEOLOGIAN

 882: U Hincmar of Rhiems, archbishop, canonist, politician. DDC 5: 1135-1154.

1911: Roman Rota establishes its own specialized course of studies.

22

1880: The Holy Office limits to Sacred Scripture its restrictions on publishing books treating of “holy things”.

23

24

25

26

27

28

1210: Pope Innocent III, in Devotioni vestrae, promulgates the Tertio Compilatio.

29

30

1331: U Bernardus Guidonius, Dominican, bishop, inquisitor, historian, expert on penal law.

1966: U Pietro Cdl Ciriaci, first President of the Revision Commission. Comm I: 35. {Jan 15}

31

1957: Bp. Van Waeyenbergh of the Catholic University of Louvain invites Dr. Stephan Kuttner to organize an International Congress of Medieval Canon Law in conjunction with the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair.