Folia Theologica et Canonica 1. 23/15 (2012)

IUS CANONICUM - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi, Biblical Texts and Medieval Ecclesiastical Discipline up to the Decretum Gratiani

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SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI, O.PRAEM.

II. Biblical texts and medieval ecclesiastical discipline

prior the Gregorian Reform

The cathedral schools were the genuine and traditional places for instruction of the clergy until the 1 Th century.14 These cultural centers, which formed around the residential churches of the bishops, had been strengthened already through the rules of Charlemagne (768-814).15 His ‘Admonitio generalis’ (789), obligatorily ordered the education of the persons who were being prepared for the priesthood at the cathedrals.16 This regulation belonged to that cultural prosperity which was named later the ‘Carolingian Renaissance’,17 and helped the adoption of the revised Vulgate’s text during the priestly formation, which text- form was corrected by Alcuin and Theodulf of Orléans.18 Theodulf composed a penitencial book between 798 and 81819, which is an emblematic disciplinary work of the Carolingian epoch.2" The importance of the Biblical knowledge was promoted also by the canonical legislation of this period, namely by the Council of Chalon-sur-Saône in 813.21

Much later, th & Decretum Burchardi Wormatiensis (between 1008 and 1022) received a distinguished importance, especially in the Low Countries. Bur- chard summarized the discipline of the provincial councils and he used various

14 Cf. von Classen, P., Italienische Rechtschulen ausserhalb Bolognas, in Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress of Medieval Canon Law, Berkeley, California, 28 July - 2 august 1980 (MIC C/7), Città del Vaticano 1985. 205-221, especially 205-207.

15 Szuromi, Sz. A., Egyházi intézménytörténet (Bibliotheca Instituti Postgradualis Iuris Canonici Universitatis Catholicae de Petro Pázmány nominatae 1/5) [Institutional history of the Church], Budapest 2003. 151-161.

16 Boretius, A. (ed.), Capitularia regum francorum (Monumenta Germaniae Historica), I. Han- noverae 1883 (repr. 1960). Cf. Klauser, R., Zur Entwicklung des Heiligspechungverfahrens bis zum 13 Jahrhundert, Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte. Kanonistische Abteilung 40 (1954) 88. Szuromi, Sz. A., ‘Work in progress’ - The transformation of the cathedral teaching to the university instruction of the canon law at the end of the ll"1 Century, in Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftung Kanonistische Abteilung 91 (2005) 758-766.

17 Bischoff, B., Latin Paleography. Antiquity and the Middle Ages (transi. D. Ó Cróinín-D. Ganz), Cambridge 1995. 202-211.

18 Grabois, A., Bible, in Strayer, J.R. (ed.), Dictionary of the Middle Ages, 2. New York 1983. 210-217, especially 211.

19 PL CV 191-210.

20 Brommer, P., Die bischöfliche Gesetzgebung Theodulfs von Orléans, in Zeitschrift der Savigny- Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte. Kanonistische Abteilung 60 (1974) 1-120.

21 Can. 1 : Decrevimus iuxta sanctorum canonum constitutionem et ceterarum sanctarum scriptarum doctrinam, ut episcopi assidui sint in lectione et scrutentur misteria verborum Dei, quibus in ecclesia doctrinae fulgore splendeant, et verborum Dei alimentis animas sibi subditas saciare non cessent et cum David cotidie dicant: “Revela oculos meos, et considerabo mirabilia de lege tua”, ita videlicet ut illas scripturas notissimas habeant, quae canonicae appellantur, et earum sensum per patrum tractatus inquirant. Canones quoque intellegant et librum beati Gregorii papae de regula pastorali et secundum formam ibidem constitutam et vivant et praedicent. Concilia aevi Karolini (Monumenta Germaniae Historica), II/I. Hannoverae - Lipsiae 1906. 274.