Folia Theologica 14. (2003)

Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi: A Turning Point in the History of the General Councils of the West in the 13th Century (A Critical Summary on the Importance of the Constitutions of the Fourth Lateran Council [1215] According to its Theological, Canonical and Historical Aspect)

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chastity, major clerical orders, impotency, notorious crime, and disparity between parties.63 Canon 52 had reduced the extension of consanguinity in the collateral line from the seventh to the fourth degree.64 In the direct line of consanguinity, marriage is invalid between all ancestors or descendants. The degrees of consanguinity were determined according to the German system at that time, which computed the degrees from the common ancestor in the longer line.

Another trend apparent in the 11th and 12th centuries was the centralization and regulation of the procedure for canonization of saints. The regulations for the public veneration of the relics of the martyrs and saints had become much stricter as well. These measures were deemed necessary to suppress abuses. Pope Alexander III, following the intention of Gregory VII had ordered in 1170 that no canonization process be opened without the express authorization of the Holy See.65 In 1200, Innocent III also mentioned that the right of canonization belonged to the proper authority of the Pope.66 With these preliminary decrees in the background, canon 62 of Lateran IV determined that only the pope has the authority to regulate the cult of relics. Moreover, commerce of these sacred relics was strictly forbidden.67 By the end of the 13th century, the Decretals Gregorii IX had clarified the circumstances for the procedure of canonization of saints.68 This canon law collection contained a decretal by Alexander III (Audivimus)69 as well as canon 62 of Lateran IV.70

63 OLIVARES, E., “Catálogos de impedimentos matrimoniales, su evolúción historica” in Archivo Teologico Granadino 61 (1998) 41-91.

64 ERDŐ, P., “Le espressioni canoniche dei matrimonio nella storia” in Folia canonica 2 (1999) 31-51. Especially 43-44.

65 Regesta Pontificum Romanorum ab condita ecclesia ad annum post Christum natum MCXCVIII, ed. JAFFÉ, P.-W ATTENBACH, G. curaverunt LOEWENFELD, S. [JL] KALTEN BRUNNER, F.[JK]-EWALD, P.[JE], IL Lipsiae 1888." JE 13546 (8767, 9260), 355. MIGNE, LP. (ed.), Patrologiae cursus completus. Series Latina, 1-221. Lutetiae Parisiorum 1844-1864. 200. coli. 1259-1261.

66 Bullarum diplomatum et privilegiorum, III. 174-176.

67 COD 263.

68 Cf. KRÖTZL, C., “Prokuratoren, Notaren und Dolmetscher: Zu Gestaltung und Ablauf der Zeugeneinvernahmen bei Spätmittelalterlichen Kanonisa- tionsprozessen” in Hagiographica 5 (1998) 119-140.