Canon (priest)

A canon (from the Latin canonicus 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).

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 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 so living together to adopt the rule first proposed by Saint Augustine that they renounce private property. 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 to serve during a sede vacante period of the diocese.

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. Depending on the title of the church, several languages use specific titles, i.e. 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).

All canons of the Church of England have been secular (that is, not professed monks) since the Reformation. 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. The Dean and Chapter are the formal body which has legal responsibility for the Cathedral and for electing the (arch)bishop. In addition to their regular (ordained clergy) canons, cathedrals of the Church of England may also have lay canons, who are not clergy.

Honorary canons

Canon is still used as a largely honorary title in many dioceses to senior parish priests. This is usually awarded as a recognition of long and dedicated service to the Diocese. These priests are entitled to call themselves Canon and still have a role in the administration of the cathedral. Honorary canons are members of the Chapter in name but are non-residential and receive no emoluments.

Minor canons are those clergymen who are members of the cathedral's establishment and take part in the daily services but are not part of the formal Chapter.

Lay people, especially diocesan chancellors (legal counsellors), can be made canons as well.

Generally speaking, the canons in the Episcopal Church or the Anglican Church in the United States 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.

Canons regular

The members of certain religious orders in the Roman Catholic church (not to be confused with clerics regular), exclusively composed of priests, notably:

Canons Regular of the Lateran or St. Saviour, who seem to date back to Pope Alexander II (1063)
Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross (The Crosiers) founded at Clair-lieu, near Huy, in Belgium, in 1211
Confederation of Canons Regular of St Augustine
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
Swiss Congregation of Canons Regular of Saint Maurice of Agaune

(not to be confused with clerics regular)

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 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.

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Secular canons

Honorary canons

Canons regular

Sources and References