Canon ( Greek : κανονικός , romanized : kanonikós ) is a Christian title usually used to refer to a member of certain bodies in subject to an ecclesiastical rule .
54-585: A lay clerk , also known as a lay vicar , song man or a vicar choral , is a professional adult singer in an Anglican cathedral and often Roman Catholic cathedral in the UK, or (occasionally) college choir in Britain and Ireland. The vicars choral were substitutes for the canons . They are not in holy orders ; the term "vicar" is derived from the Latin adjective vicarius ("substituted") and in this context simply means
108-601: A College on the basis of their ability and potential in both singing and academic study are traditionally called "Choral Scholars". At Christ Church , Magdalen College , and New College, Oxford , they are called "Academical Clerks". "Clerks Choral", or Choral Clerks are also found in a few of the ancient Cathedrals and collegiate churches in the United Kingdom and Ireland however these singers are more usually styled "lay clerks" or occasionally "lay vicars" or "lay vicars choral". Canon (priest) Originally,
162-450: A balance between choral scholars (or, as at New College, Oxford , and Magdalen College, Oxford , "academical clerks") – university or " gap year " students who combine their studies or other commitments with singing – and lay clerks. Choral scholars sing alongside lay clerks for usually around half the latter's salary. Many universities now offer such scholarships to fill places within college and cathedral choirs. Undergraduates admitted to
216-407: 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 or other major church and conducting his life according to the customary discipline or rules of the church. This way of life grew common (and is first documented) in the 8th century AD. In the 11th century, some churches required clergy thus living together to adopt
270-470: 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
324-498: A deputy. The majority of lay clerks are male; however, female altos are nowadays becoming increasingly common. The title refers to the laymen who were employed to sing musical sections of church services during the Middle Ages . At the time, this was often music which was evolving into a format too complicated to be sung by many ordinary clerks and priests. In the diocese of Hereford an endowment for six vicars choral to sing
378-405: A diocese or archdiocese, then he governs two (arch)dioceses which are his own and the vacant one, with the latter being temporarily while a successor of a vacant (arch)diocese is not yet installed or assumed office. Before the election of the administrator of a vacant see, the governance of the see is entrusted, with the powers of a vicar general , to the auxiliary bishop , if there is one, or to
432-570: A lay person). It has traditionally been said that the King of England (now the British Sovereign ) 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 Sovereign was never a canon of St David's, even as a layman (see also
486-430: A member of a religious order. Mostly, however, they are ordained, that is, priests or other 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
540-519: A pope is elected. Previously during this period the arms of the Camerlengo appeared on commemorative Vatican lira coinage. It now makes its appearance on Vatican euro coins , which are legal tender in all Eurozone states. The interregnum is usually highlighted by the funeral Mass of the deceased pope, the general congregations of the College of Cardinals for determining the particulars of
594-551: A successor is installed or assumed office which ends the sede vacante period, the coat of arms of a new (arch)bishop will then be used by the (arch)diocese and discontinuing the usage of the predecessor's arms. The name of a bishop or an archbishop is not mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer while a successor is not yet installed or assumed office where after mentioning the Pope , the celebrant will either immediately mention
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#1732790969959648-714: A very limited capacity. At the same time, all the heads of the departments of the Roman Curia "cease to exercise" their offices. The exceptions are the Cardinal Camerlengo , who is charged with managing the property of the Holy See, and the Major Penitentiary , who continues to exercise his normal role. If either has to do something which normally requires the assent of the Pope, he has to submit it to
702-403: A year: The term sede vacante can be applied to Catholic dioceses, archdioceses, and eparchies outside of Rome. In such cases, this means that the particular diocesan bishop or archbishop has either died, resigned, been transferred to a different diocese or archdiocese, or lost his office and a successor has not yet been installed or assumed office . If there is a coadjutor bishop for
756-401: Is at least 35 years old. If the college of consultors fails to elect a qualifying person within the time allotted, the choice of an administrator passes to the metropolitan archbishop or, if the metropolitan see is vacant, to the senior-most by appointment of the suffragan bishops . The pope can also decide to name an administrator himself to a diocese or archdiocese instead of waiting for
810-403: Is installed or assumes office on a/an (arch)diocese. A coat of arms of the last bishop or archbishop of a diocese or archdiocese, either the arms of a transferred, retired or died previous (arch)bishop or the one as (arch)bishop of a transferred (arch)diocese, may also be used during sede vacante period to indicate and establish continuity while awaiting for the installation of a successor. Once
864-704: Is the Diocese of Rome and the "vacant seat" is the cathedra of Saint John Lateran , the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome . During this period, the Holy See is administered by a regency of the College of Cardinals . According to Universi Dominici gregis , the government of the Holy See and the administration of the Catholic Church during sede vacante falls to the College of Cardinals , but in
918-404: 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
972-649: Is to combine the clerical and monastic forms of life, thus they are equally committed to pastoral ministry and to the communal celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours . Their distinctive religious habit is the rochet , which can be rendered in a range of forms. There are a variety of congregations of canons, some of which are part of the Confederation of Canons Regular of St. Augustine : Many bishops endeavoured to imitate St. Augustine and St. Eusebius, and to live
1026-645: The English Reformation , the King of England was a canon of the basilica of Saint Paul 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,
1080-644: The Michael Ramsey Professor of Anglican Studies , who must be Anglican but did not have to be ordained. Historically, the chair in Greek at the university was also a canon professorship. This canonry was transferred to the Lightfoot Professor of Divinity in 1940. The Lightfoot professorship was attached to the canonry until 1985, when the non-Anglican James Dunn was appointed. Minor canons are those clergy who are members of
1134-683: 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 Emmanuel Macron . This applies even when the French President is not a Catholic or even an atheist. The proto-canon of the papal basilica of Saint Mary Major is the King of Spain , currently Felipe VI . Before
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#17327909699591188-585: 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 were until recently held only by Anglican priests. At Durham, the canon professorships are the Van Mildert Professor of Divinity , the holder of which must be an Anglican priest, and
1242-763: The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1562) Article 37), though he or she may occupy the first prebendal stall , which is assigned for the monarch's use. A canon professor is a canon at an Anglican cathedral (either lay or in orders) who also holds a university professorship. There are four canon professorships in the University of Oxford in conjunction with Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and two in Durham University in conjunction with Durham Cathedral , although academics titled "canon professor" may also be found at other universities where
1296-599: 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 also be
1350-417: The (arch)diocese, then this period does not take place, as the coadjutor bishop or archbishop immediately succeeds to the episcopal see . Within eight days after the episcopal see is known to be vacant, the college of consultors (or the cathedral chapter in some countries) is obliged to elect a diocesan or archdiocesan administrator . The administrator they choose must be a/an priest or (arch)bishop who
1404-481: 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 who live in community with lay brothers . Their goal
1458-641: The College of Cardinals. Papal legates continue to exercise their diplomatic roles overseas, and both the Vicar General of Rome and the Vicar General for the Vatican City State continue to exercise their pastoral role during this period. The postal administration of the Vatican City State prepares and issues special postage stamps for use during this particular period, known as " sede vacante stamps". The coat of arms of
1512-456: The Holy See also changes during this period. The papal tiara over the keys is replaced with the umbraculum , or ombrellino in Italian . This symbolizes both the lack of a Pope and the governance of the Camerlengo over the temporalities of the Holy See. As further indication, the Camerlengo ornaments his arms with this symbol during this period, which he subsequently removes once
1566-477: 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
1620-419: The administrator cannot use the cathedra even if he is a bishop or an archbishop as it symbolizes the office of a full-time or mainstay prelate and the former only serves as the temporary head of a/an (arch)diocese while a successor is not yet installed into office therefore he can only use the chair reserved for the main celebrant of a mass. The term has been adopted in sedevacantism , an extreme strand of
1674-505: The appointments as canon and professor have been made independently. Section 2 of the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1995 was passed for the express purpose of enabling Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford , to appoint not more than two lay canons. One of the motivations for this provision was that, under section 6 of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840 ( 3 & 4 Vict. c. 113),
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1728-525: The burial and the preparation for the new election. This process was evident with Camerarius Boso Breakspeare . During the long sede vacante of 1268 to 1271, the importance of the Camerarius was so clear that the Cardinals prepared to elect a new one if he died. After the death or resignation of a pope , the Holy See enters a period of sede vacante . In this case the particular church
1782-757: The cathedral staff, such as in the United States Episcopal Church , where a diocese's "Canon to the Ordinary" is a senior priest who works directly for the diocesan bishop (ordinary). 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
1836-408: The cathedral, and few in number) or honorary canons (non-cathedral clergy given the title as a mark of honour—often many of them): either may wear a violet or violet-trimmed cassock . In some Church of England dioceses, the title Prebendary is used instead of Canon when the cleric is involved administratively with a cathedral. Canons may be members of the diocesan or bishop's staff rather than
1890-411: The college of consultors of a particular (arch)diocese, metropolitan archbishop or the senior-most by appointment of the bishops within the ecclesiastical province to appoint a/an (arch)diocesan administrator where it is then called as apostolic administrator . Usually, the emeritus (arch)bishop will be appointed in such a case. If the appointed apostolic administrator is a diocesan bishop or archbishop of
1944-460: The conclave, even if some cardinals are missing. The period from the death of the Pope to the start of the conclave was often shorter but, after William Henry Cardinal O'Connell had arrived just too late for two conclaves in a row, Pius XI extended the time limit. With the next conclave in 1939, cardinals began to travel by air. Days before his resignation in February 2013, Benedict XVI amended
1998-552: 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 Anglican churches are either canons residentiary (working at
2052-532: The election of Pope Francis, a period of 13 days. The longest period without a Pope in the last 250 years was the approximately half year from the death in prison of Pius VI in 1799 and the election of Pius VII in Venice in 1800. Whilst conclaves and papal elections are generally completed in short order, there have been several periods when the papal chair has been vacant for months or even years. The following table details sede vacante periods in excess of
2106-493: The election, and finally culminates in the papal conclave to elect a successor. Once a new pope has been elected (and ordained bishop if necessary) the sede vacante period officially ends, even before the papal inauguration . Cardinals present in Rome are required to wait at least fifteen days after the start of the vacancy before they hold the conclave to elect the new Pope. After twenty days have elapsed, they must hold
2160-646: The faithful Pars dynamica (trial procedure) Canonization Election of the Roman Pontiff Academic degrees Journals and Professional Societies Faculties of canon law Canonists Institute of consecrated life Society of apostolic life Sede vacante ( lit. ' with the chair [being] vacant ' in Latin ) refers, in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church , to
2214-407: The formal body which has legal responsibility for the cathedral and for electing the bishop. The title of Canon is not a permanent title and, when no longer in a position entitling preferment, it is usually dropped from a cleric's title nomenclature. However, it is still given in many dioceses to senior parish priests (including some rural deans , those who have played a role in the wider life of
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2268-645: 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 Cathedral , London. In St Patrick's Cathedral, 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,
2322-417: The liturgy was established in 1237, unusual for the non-monastic cathedrals where normally the canons were each responsible for providing and maintaining a vicar. The six were supposed to be two priests, two deacons, and two sub-deacons. In 1395 the vicars choral were incorporated into a college of 27 and in 1472 a new college, its handsome quadrangle still standing, was built on the site of two canons’ houses to
2376-538: The notaries" in the papal court made a regency council which governed the sede vacante period. It was the obligation of the Camerarius (papal chamberlain), the head of the Camera Apostolica , to formally establish the death of the pope. Gradually, this led to the theory that the Camerarius, as the chief of the curia, should conduct normal business even after the death of the pope, and also conduct
2430-615: 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 ,
2484-667: 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. Sede vacante Jus novum ( c. 1140 -1563) Jus novissimum ( c. 1563 -1918) Jus codicis (1918-present) Other Sacraments Sacramentals Sacred places Sacred times Supra-diocesan/eparchal structures Particular churches Juridic persons Philosophy, theology, and fundamental theory of Catholic canon law Clerics Office Juridic and physical persons Associations of
2538-466: 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 Latin Church , canons are the members of a chapter , that is a body of senior clergy overseeing either a cathedral (a cathedral chapter ) or a collegiate church . Depending on
2592-405: The rules to allow the cardinals to begin the conclave sooner, if all voting cardinals are present. Historically, sede vacante periods have often been quite lengthy, lasting many months, or even years, due to lengthy deadlocked conclaves. The most recent period of sede vacante of the Holy See began on 28 February 2013, after the resignation of Benedict XVI, and ended on 13 March 2013 with
2646-526: The senior among them, if there are several, otherwise to the college of consultors as a whole. The administrator has greater powers, essentially those of a bishop or archbishop except for matters excepted by the nature of the matter or expressly by law. Canon law subjects his activity to various legal restrictions and to special supervision by the college of consultors (as for example canons 272 and 485). Vicars general and episcopal vicars lose their powers sede vacante if they are not bishops or archbishops;
2700-516: The south east of the cathedral. This collegiate establishment at Hereford was most unusual; the only other cathedral with a similar body was St. Paul's where there was a much smaller college of minor canons. Although these vicars choral gradually also became chantry priests, the establishment at Hereford survived the Reformation. With the post-war proliferation of Cathedral choral scholarships, however, many cathedral or collegiate choirs comprise
2754-438: The state during which a diocese or archdiocese is without a prelate installed in office , with the prelate's office being the cathedral (some are also used as a place of residence if the prelate lives within the cathedral compound). The term is used frequently in reference to papal vacancies occurring upon the Pope 's death or resignation . Early in church history, the archpriest , archdeacon , and " primicerius of
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#17327909699592808-484: The statement "and all the clergy" skipping the name of a/an (arch)bishop or generally stating all the (arch)bishops as "the Order of Bishops". If a locally-appointed (arch)diocesan administrator or an apostolic administrator is a/an (arch)bishop, however, the name of an administrator is mentioned ("our Administrator", or simply as "our (Arch)bishop") as if a/an (arch)diocese have a prelate installed in office. Additionally,
2862-599: 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 Latin Church was to elect a vicar capitular (now named a diocesan administrator) to serve during a sede vacante period of
2916-422: The vicars that are themselves having both positions retain the powers they had before the see fell vacant, which they are to exercise under the authority of the administrator. However, vicar generals retain their duties and responsibilities of the office—specifically during sede vacante serving as right-hand to the (arch)diocesan or apostolic administrator to establish continuity—until the succeeding (arch)bishop
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