DECRETIST Meaning and
Definition
-
Decretist refers to a legal scholar or theologian who specializes in the study and interpretation of ecclesiastical laws and decrees, specifically those issued by the Catholic Church during the medieval period. The term "Decretist" derives from the Latin word "decretum," meaning decree or authoritative decision.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, as the Catholic Church gained more power and influence, the need for a systematic understanding and application of its laws became essential. Decretists played a crucial role in this regard. They were responsible for analyzing and explicating a vast body of legal texts, including papal decrees, synodal canons, and the works of earlier canonists.
Decretists were part of a larger intellectual movement known as canon law, which sought to codify and harmonize the various legal traditions and laws of the Church. They developed methodologies to interpret and reconcile seemingly contradictory texts, establishing legal principles and norms that guided the ecclesiastical jurisprudence of the time.
Their work was not limited to legal analysis alone, as the Decretists also examined theological and moral questions implicated in the interpretation and application of Church laws. Their writings and commentaries served as authoritative references for judges, theologians, and administrators within the ecclesiastical hierarchy.
The influence of Decretists was far-reaching, and their scholarly contributions laid the foundation for the development of canon law as a distinct discipline. They shaped the legal framework of the Catholic Church, ensuring its smooth functioning and providing guidance on matters of faith, administration, and dispute resolution.
-
One skilled in the knowledge of the decretals.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for DECRETIST
- secretist
- xecretist
- cecretist
- fecretist
- recretist
- eecretist
- dwcretist
- dscretist
- ddcretist
- drcretist
- d4cretist
- d3cretist
- dexretist
- devretist
- defretist
- dedretist
- deceetist
- decdetist
- decfetist
Etymology of DECRETIST
The word "Decretist" originally comes from the Latin word "decretum", which means "decree" or "order". In medieval Catholic canon law, a "decretist" referred to a scholar or jurist who specialized in studying and interpreting papal decrees or authoritative legal decisions, known as decretals. The Decretists were prominent legal scholars of the 12th and 13th centuries who played a significant role in shaping the development of canon law during that period. Their work involved analyzing and commenting on the Church's legal pronouncements and formulating legal principles based on these decretals. The term "Decretist" has since been adopted to refer to these scholars and their contribution to canon law.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
