Folia Theologica et Canonica 2. 24/16 (2013)

IUS CANONICUM - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi, O.Praem., Gradual Promotion asa Specific Form of Provision of Ecclesiastical Office

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SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI, O.PRAEM.

from 789, from 802, and from 805.17 In order to make step by step more precise the legal regulation of the functioning of the chapters, and in order to understand the uniqueness of the theme of the offices and provision of offices especially within the individual cathedral chapters, numerous sources must be studied back to the 8th century. The importance of this principle is well represented for example by the title dealing with the bodies of canons in the canonical commentary of van Espen, which was published in 1769 in Venice.18 The reason of this profound examination is that the canonical norms concerning the various chapters can greatly different from each other even up to date, although the body of canons itself is an external manifestation of the unity of the bishop and the ordained ministers led by him. Regarding chapters, despite the again and again recurring affirmation of the direct competence of the Holy See, we can see sharp divergences in considering both the general canonical norms (i.e. ecumenical councils, papal decretals issued with general characteristic or acquired this by a later decree), and the peculiarities which prevail in the particular law (i.e. papal privilege-letters, particular councils, episcopal decisions, rules of chapters). Therefore, in the classification of chapters, in the provision of their prebends and in describing their precise functioning we should regard as important not only the rules laid dawn by the Imperial Council of Aachen19, the Council of Cologne in 87320, or the decisions of the Council of Rome in 105921, but also the decisions of the Council of Lateran II (1 139)22, the Council of Lateran III (1179)23, the Council of Lateran IV (1215)24, the Council of Vienne (1311-1312)25, the Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence ( 1431—1445)26, and the Council of Trent. The intense interest of the ecumenical councils was due - beyond the wide range competences that were established in consequence of numerous privileges - in all probability to that power in the provision of episcopal see in case of vacancy, which from the Gregorian reform eminently improved the importance of the cathedral chapters in the diocesan governance.

17 Boretius, A. (ed.), Capituiaria regum francorum (MGH Leges III/l), I. Hannover 1883 (repr. 1984) 125.

18 van Espen, Z. B., Opera omnia canonica. Integra et Completa; Quae hactenus in lucem prodie- runt; in sex partes distributa quibus accedit pars septima complectens Commentarium in Cano- nes et Decreta Iuris Veteris ac Novi, I. Venetiis 1769. 34,43.

19 Mansi, I. D. (ed.), Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, I-XXXI, Florenti- nae-Venetiis 1757-1798 (new edition with continuation: Petit, L. - Martin, J. M. [ed.] I-LX, Paris-Leipzig-Arnheim 1899-1927) [hereafter Mansi], XIV. 230. Vö. Lexikon des Mittelalters, München-Zürich 1977-1999. IV. 938.

20 Mansi XVII. 275-280.

21 Mansi XIX. 907-912.

22 Cone. Lateranense II ( 1139) Can. 28: COD 203.

23 Cone. Lateranense III (1179) Cann. 3^1,8, 15, 18: COD 212-213, 215, 219, 220.

24 Cone. Lateranense IV ( 1215) Const. 7: COD 237.

25 Cone. Viennense (1311-1312) Deer. 5: COD 363.

26 Cone. Basileense - Ferrariense - Florentinum - Romanum, SessioXII (13 iul. 1433), Decretum de electionibus et confirmationibus episcoporum et praelatorum: COD 469.