Canon number |
Title |
English |
Description
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Canon 1 |
De fide catholica |
On the catholic faith |
Infallibly defined the teaching of the Catholic Church on transubstantiation,[39] the doctrine which describes in precise scholastic language the transformation by which the bread and wine offered in the sacrament of the Eucharist becomes the actual blood and body of Christ.
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Canon 2 |
De errore abbatis Ioachim |
On the error of abbot Joachim |
Condemnation of the doctrines of Joachim of Fiore and Amalric of Bena.
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Canon 3 |
De haereticis |
On heretics |
Procedure and penalties against heretics and their protectors. If those suspected of heresy should neglect to prove themselves innocent, they are excommunicated. If they continue in the excommunication for twelve months they are to be condemned as heretics. Princes are to swear that they will banish all whom the church points out as heretics.
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Canon 4 |
De superbia Graecorum contra Latinos |
On the pride of Greeks towards Latins |
Exhortation to the Greeks to reunite with the Roman Church.
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Canon 5 |
De dignitate patriarcharum |
On the dignity of patriarchs |
Proclamation of the papal primacy recognized by all antiquity. After the pope, primacy is attributed to the patriarchs in the following order: Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem.
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Canon 6 |
De conciliis provincialibus |
On provincial councils |
Provincial councils must be held annually for the reform of morals, especially those of the clergy. This was to ensure that the canons adopted would be implemented.
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Canon 7 |
De correctione excessuum |
On the conviction of offences |
Sets down the responsibility of the bishops for the reform of their subjects.
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Canon 8 |
De inquisitionibus |
On inquests |
Procedure in regard to accusations against ecclesiastics.
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Canon 9 |
De diversis ritibus in eadem fide |
On different rites within the same faith |
Celebration of public worship in places where the inhabitants belong to nations following different rites.
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Canon 10 |
De praedicatoribus instituendis |
On appointing preachers |
Ordered the appointment of preachers and penitentiaries to assist in the discharge of the episcopal functions of preaching and penance.
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Canon 11 |
De magistris scholasticis |
On schoolmasters |
The decree of 1179, about a school in each cathedral having been entirely ignored, was re-enacted, and a lectureship in theology ordered to be founded in every cathedral.
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Canon 12 |
De communibus capitulis monachorum |
On general chapters of monks |
Abbots and priors are to hold their general chapter every three years.
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Canon 13 |
De novis religionibus prohibitis |
On the prohibition against new religious orders |
Forbade the establishment of new religious orders.
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Canon 14 |
De incontinentia clericorum punienda |
On punishing clerical incontinences |
Set out guidelines for punishing incontinence.
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Canon 15 |
De arcenda ebrietate clericorum |
On preventing drunkenness among the clergy |
Prohibited both drunkenness and the hunting of birds and dogs.
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Canon 16 |
De indumentis clericorum |
On the dress of clerics |
Prescribed dressing for clergy members—including a ban on embroidered or pointed shoes—and prohibited gambling and spectating theatrical performances.
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Canon 17 |
De comessationibus praelatorum et negligentia eorum super diviniis officiis |
On prelates' feasts and their negligence at divine services |
Admonished clerics who excessively engaged in non-religious activities while infrequently attending mass.
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Canon 18 |
De indicio sanguinis et duelli clericis interdicto |
On sentences involving either the shedding of blood or a duel being forbidden to clerics |
Clerics may neither pronounce nor execute a sentence of death. Nor may they act as judges in extreme criminal cases, or take part in matters connected with judicial tests and trials by ordeal.
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Canon 19 |
Ne ecclesiae mundanis suppellectilibus exponantur |
That profane objects may not be introduced into churches |
Household goods must not be stored in churches unless there be an urgent necessity. Churches, church vessels, and the like must be kept clean.
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Canon 20 |
De chrismate et eucharistia sub sera conservanda |
On keeping the chrism and the eucharist under lock and key |
Ordering that the chrism and the Eucharist to be kept under lock and key, with a three-month suspension for leaving it out carelessly, and worse if "anything unspeakable" were to happen to it.
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Canon 21 |
De confessione facienda et non revelanda a sacerdote et saltem in pascha communicando |
On confession being made, and not revealed by the priest, and on communicating at least at Easter |
Introduced the mandate "Omnis utriusque sexus", which commands every Christian who has reached the years of discretion to confess all his, or her, sins at least once a year to their own priest. This canon did no more than confirm earlier legislation and custom (of the previous century), although it is sometimes incorrectly quoted as commanding the use of sacramental confession for the first time.
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Canon 22 |
Quod infirmi prius provideant animae quam corpori |
That the sick should provide for the soul before the body |
Before prescribing medicine for the sick, physicians shall be bound under pain of exclusion from the church, to exhort their patients to call in a priest, and thus provide for their spiritual welfare.
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Canon 23 |
Quod ecclesia cathedralis vel regularis ultra tres menses non vacet |
That a cathedral church or a church of the regular clergy is not to remain vacant for more than three months |
Mandated that a church is not to be without a prelate for more than three months.
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Canon 24 |
De electione facienda per scrutinium vel compromissum |
On making an election by ballot or by agreement |
Mandated that pastors are to be either elected or chosen by a committee acting on behalf of the congregation.
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Canon 25 |
Quod electio facta per saecularem potestatem non valeat |
Example |
Specified that spiritual leaders may not be selected by non-Christians.
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Canon 26 |
De poema indigue confirmantis electionem |
On the penalty for improperly confirming an election |
Laid out the punishments for not adhering to electoral guidelines.
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Canon 27 |
De instructione ordinandorum |
On the instruction of ordinands |
Stressed the need for bishops to properly guide their disciples and not ordain the "ignorant and unformed".
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Canon 28 |
Quod compellantur cedere qui postulaverunt licentiam cedendi |
That those who have asked for permission to resign are to be compelled to do so |
Allowed members of the clergy to resign, with the caveat that their resignations would be irreversible.
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Canon 29 |
Quod nullus babeat duo beneficia cum cura annexa |
That nobody may hold two benefices with the cure of souls attached |
Forbade the holding of several ecclesiastical offices at any given time.
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Canon 30 |
De idoneitate instituendorum in ecclesiis |
'On the suitability of those instituted to churches |
Forbade "unworthy persons" from working in churches.
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Canon 31 |
De filiis canonicorum non instituendis cum patribus |
On not instituting the sons of canons with their fathers |
Prohibited clergymen from having their sons succeed them.
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Canon 32 |
Ut patroni compententem portionem dimittant clericis |
That patrons shall leave a suitable portion to clerics |
Ruled that priests are entitled to a "fitting portion from the revenues of the church".
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Canon 33 |
De procurationibus non accipiendis sine visitatione |
On not receiving procurations without a visitation being made |
Dictated that bishops may only expect to be reasonably remunerated when visiting churches.
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Canon 34 |
De subditis non gravandis sub praetextu servitii alicuius |
On not burdening subjects under the pretext of some service |
Forbade prelates from charging for superfluous services.
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Canon 35 |
De causa appellationis exprimenda |
On stating the grounds for an appeal |
Defendants must not appeal without good cause before sentence is given; if they do, they are to be charged expenses.
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Canon 36 |
Quod iudex possit interlocutoriam et comminatoriam sententiam revocare |
That a judge can revoke an interlocutory and a comminatory sentence |
Judges may revoke comminatory and interlocutory sentences and proceed with the case.
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Canon 37 |
De litteris non impetrandis ultra duas diaetas et sine specialis mandato |
On not procuring letters which entail more than two days' journey and are without a special mandate |
Declared that plaintiffs may not impede trials by calling on faraway witnesses, unless the defendant agrees to it.
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Canon 38 |
De scribendis actis, ut probari possint |
On writing acts so that they can be proved |
Stipulated that trial proceedings must be recorded in writing.
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Canon 39 |
De restitutione danda contra possessorem, quae non rapuit ipse |
On granting restitution against a person in possession who was not the robber |
Ruled that stolen goods have to be returned to their original owner.
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Canon 40 |
De vera possessione |
On true possession |
Ruled that plaintiffs still have rightful ownership of goods withheld from them for more than a year.
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Canon 41 |
De continuatione bonae fidei in omni praescriptione |
On continuing good faith in every prescription |
Declared that all prescriptions have to be made in good faith.
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Canon 42 |
De saeculari iustitia |
On secular justice |
Stressed that religious law should not interfere with secular law, and vice versa.
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Canon 43 |
Ne sine causa clericus fidelitatem laico faciat |
On a cleric not doing fealty to a layman without good reason |
Clerics should not take oaths of fealty to laymen without lawful cause.
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Canon 44 |
Quod constitutiones principum non praeiudicent ecclesiis |
That the ordinances of princes should not be prejudicial to churches |
Lay princes should not usurp the rights of churches.
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Canon 45 |
Patronus qui clericum ecclesiae occiderit vel mutilaverit, ius patronatus omittit |
A patron who kills or mutilates a cleric of a church loses his right of patronage |
Forbade patrons of churches from killing clergymen.
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Canon 46 |
De talliis a clericis non exigendis |
On not exacting taxes from clerics |
Laid out exceptions to a Lateran III canon exempting clergymen from taxation.
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Canon 47 |
De forma excommunicandi |
On the form of an excommunication |
Decreed that excommunication may be imposed only after warning in the presence of suitable witnesses and for manifest and reasonable cause.
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Canon 48 |
De more recusandi iudicem |
On how to challenge a judge |
Laid out the guidelines to challenging a judge.
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Canon 49 |
De poena excommunicantis iniuste |
On the punishment for excommunicating someone unjustly |
Stipulated that excommunication is to be neither imposed nor lifted for payment.
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Canons 50–52 |
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There had been kings of France and Castile who had repudiated their wives and "remarried" with serious public consequences. Marriage, impediments of relationship, publication of banns were addressed in Canon 50.[70]
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Canon 53 |
De bis qui praedia sua in fraudem decimarum dant aliis excolenda |
On those who give their fields to others to be cultivated so as to avoid paying tithes |
The council condemned those who had their property cultivated by others (non-Christians) in order to avoid tithes.
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Canon 54 |
Ut decimae ante tributa solvantur |
That tithes should be paid before taxes |
Ruled that tithe payments have priority over all other taxes and dues.
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Canon 57 |
De interpretandis privilegiorum verbis |
On interpreting the words of privileges |
Gave precise instructions on the interpretation of the privilege of celebrating religious services during interdict, enjoyed by some orders.
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Canon 63 |
De simonia |
On simony |
Prohibited simony, in that no fees are to be exacted for the consecration of bishops, the blessing of abbots or the ordination of clerics.
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Canon 64 |
De eadem circa monachos et sanctimoniales |
On the same with regard to monks and nuns |
Ruled that monks and nuns may not require payment for their entry into the religious life.
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Canon 67 |
De usuris Iudaeorum |
On the usury of Jews |
Prevented Jews from charging "extortionate and excessive interest".
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Canon 68 |
Ut Iudaei discernantur a christianis in habitu |
That Jews should be distinguished from Christians in their dress |
Mandated a special dress code for Jews and Saracens to distinguish them from Christians so that no Christian shall come to marry them ignorant of who they are.
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Canon 69 |
Ne Iudaei publicis officiis praeficiantur |
That Jews are not to hold public offices |
Disqualified Jews from holding public offices, incorporating into ecclesiastical law a decree of the Holy Christian Empire.[77]
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Canon 70 |
Ne conversi ad fidem de Iudaeis veterem ritum Iudaeorum retineant |
That converts to the faith among the Jews may not retain their old rite |
Prescribed measures to prevent converted Jews from returning to their former belief.
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Canon 71 |
Expeditio pro recuperanda Terra sancta |
Expedition for the recovery of the holy Land |
Designated 1 June 1217 as the start of the Fifth Crusade. This canon was disregarded by canonists like Johannes Teutonicus Zemeke, who omitted it from his collection of Lateran IV canons, Compilatio quarta, and Damasus Hungarus, who wrote, "This constitution is temporary, and I do not care to gloss it."
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