Discussion Groups / English Usage / July 2008

[Snipped much information about canons]

Canons also pop up from time to time in literature: several in
Trollope's Barsetshire novels, of course; Canon Chasuble, who finally
wins Miss Prism in "The Importance of Being Ernest"; and one or two in
the detective fiction of Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie, I seem to
recall.

But my favourite  is Canon Throbbing, the unwillingly celibate clergyman
in Alan Bennett's "Habeas Corpus". Bennett describes him in the Dramatis
Personae as "an unfired canon".

Lots of good definitions of canon - good stuff! But you left one out -

A Canon can also feature  prominently in a specific kind of religious
war -  usualy (but not always) something to do with Nikon.

I'll get me coat...

Jitze

Then would it be fair to call the canon God's FAQ?

There's a Vicar Of Rome*, at least. Is he a Catholic? (Do bear unload in
the woods?)

*currently, I think, Cadinal Agostino Vallini

And the ever-helpful Google says:
Job search for Vicar of Rome jobs at MySpace Jobs. Take a look at our
extensive number of Vicar of Rome job listings!
http://jobs.myspace.com/a/ms-jobs/list/q-Vicar+of+Rome

If Catholics don't have sextons, who rings their bells? I hope the
Church came up with something more imaginative than bell-ringers.

The RC church in England does have some canons: e.g. the Administrator of
Westminster Cathedral, the Revd Canon Christopher Tuckwell. I sometimes play
for a funeral at the RC church in Trowbridge: the Revd Canon Liam
O'Driscoll, the parish priest there, is in overall charge of the RC Deanery
(9 parishes). I'm sure there must be many more canons, perhaps at least many
as there are RC Deaneries.

Alan Jones

The Catholic Encyclopedia says that the Catholoc Church does
have canons. The article on the Chapter of a cathedral has more
information than most people would need.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03582b.htm

   Officials of the chapter
   
   At the head of the chapter as a corporate body, is a
   president who, as before said, is called in different
   countries by various names, though the prevailing one is
   that of dean. The duty of this official is to convoke the
   chapter and preside over it. He is also to see that the
   canonical statutes are observed in all that relates to
   capitular meetings and the choir service. The chapter
   appoints a treasurer, a secretary, and a sacristan. The
--> Council of Trent decreed (Sess. V, Cap. i) that a canon
   theologian should be constituted in cathedral churches. His
   office is to explain the Holy Scripture and the dogmas of
   the Faith, and also to treat questions pertaining to moral
--> theology. A canon penitentiary is likewise to be appointed
   (Sess. XXIV, cap. viii) with power to hear confessions in
   the whole diocese.
   ....

   Other members of the chapter
   
   These are called by the general name of capitulars or
--> canons. The division of such canons into seniors and
   juniors, residential and forensic, prebendal and
   semi-prebendal, etc., belongs rather to archæology. The
   number of simple canons is not fixed by a general law of the
   Church, and the bishop can, with the consent of his chapter,
   increase their number, except in cases where the pope has
   absolutely determined how many canons shall compose a
   particular chapter. In the latter case no new capitulars can
   be added except by Apostolic authority. ... In England and
   Scotland the number of canons is usually ten, and the
   president is called provost. In Ireland the chapter is
   presided over by a dean, and besides the canons penitentiary
   and theologian, there are usually also a number of other
   dignitaries.

Ah ha!

This final section says that (at the time of compiling the
article from sources dated 1882, 1886, 1889, 1890) there were no
cathedral chapters in the United States:

   Cathedral chapters in missionary countries
   
   In England, Ireland, Scotland, Holland, and some other
   countries, cathedral chapters have been erected. As the
   circumstances of these countries are different from those in
   lands where the Church is canonically established, the Holy
   See has made some changes in the common law governing
   cathedral chapters. The canons are dispensed from residence
   near the cathedral church, and may be parish priests or
   missionaries dispersed through the diocese. They are
   likewise dispensed from the daily chanting of the Divine
   Office in choir. It is generally prescribed, however, that
   when the capitulars come to the cathedral for their monthly
   meetings, they must recite Terce together and assist at a
   conventual Mass. As a general rule the rights and offices of
   canons in missionary countries are the same as those already
   enumerated for places where canonical law is in full force.
   The Bishop is therefore to ask their counsel or consent, as
   the case may be, in matters referring to diocesan
   administration and when the episcopal see is vacant, the
   chapter succeeds to the deceased bishop and elects a vicar
   capitular. In the United States, cathedral chapters have not
   as yet been constituted. In 1883 Propaganda consulted the
   American bishops on the advisability of erecting them, but
   the prelates judged that the time was not yet opportune.