A collection of canonical decrees and excerpts from the Fathers and from Roman Law, published on his private authority by John Gratian, a monk and professor at the University of Bologna, c1150 Before his time there were many decrees of particular councils in the East, in Africa, Spain, and Gaul. Gratian sought to bring order into these various collections, adding brief comments and intending it as a text for the great law school of Bologna. It is divided into three parts. The first consists of 101 "Distinctions," subdivided into chapters; the second part contains 36 "Causes"; the third section is composed of 5 "Distinctions." The first part deals with the written sources of canon law and of ecclesiastical persons; the second treats of ecclesiastical administration, marriage, and penance; the third comments upon Sacraments and Sacramentals. The references to the Decree are technical, e.g., C. 24 DL meatis chapter 24 of the fiftieth Distinction; C. 4 C. III q. 2 means chapter four in the second question of the third cause. The Leipzig edition of the Decree is critically edited by Friedberg.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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