Chapter VIII. Duties of Canons

THE canons attached to a cathedral church form the council or senate by whose advice and help the bishop is assisted in the government of the diocese. Collegiate churches were also served by a body of canons. By the common law, besides helping the bishop in the government of the diocese, canons were bound to residence near the church which they served; they were bound to sing the divine office every day in choir, and in turn to celebrate the conventual Mass. When a bishopric becomes vacant the government of the diocese devolves on the chapter of canons, who must elect within eight days after the vacancy occurs a vicar capitular to administer the affairs of the diocese until the appointment of a new bishop.

As there are either no prebends for the support of the canons in this country, or their income is too small for the purpose, our canons have been dispensed by the Holy See from the obligation of residence near the cathedral and from the daily celebration therein of Mass and divine office. They are, however, still bound to assemble at the cathedral on some one day in every month to be designated by the bishop, and on that day to sing office, say a conventual Mass, and hold a chapter. Similar provisions have been made in other countries, In the United States the place of canons is to some extent taken by the diocesan consulters.

In diocesan matters of importance the bishop is bound to ask the advice of his canons, and sometimes it is specially provided that he must obtain their consent to what he proposes to do.

Canons in England do not indeed elect a new bishop, but the Holy See has granted them the right of commendation, which is exercised by electing three clerics whose names they send in alphabetical order to the archbishop or to the senior bishop if the vacancy occurs in the archbishopric, ‘The bishops then hold a meeting and after deliberation send the names with their remarks and opinions concerning the merits of each to the Holy See. The Holy See selects one of the three or someone else as it is judged more expedient.