Decretum

The Decretum is a vast repertory in seventeen parts and three thousand seven hundred and sixty chapters; though roughly subdivided under the aforesaid seventeen rubrics, its contents are thrown together without order and seemingly represent undigested results of the author's studies and researches; hence it has been surmised that the "Decretum" is a mere preparatory outline of the "Panormia" (see below), its material in the rough.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3: Brownson-Clairvaux 1840-1916 1913

The so-called Decretum of Gelasius classes the Gospel of St. Bartholomew among the apocrypha.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

The commentators on these collections are named decretalists, in contradistinction to the decretists, or those who commented upon the "Decretum" of Gratian.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

It must also be noted that several of these collections contain decretals anterior to the time of Gratian, but not inserted by him in the "Decretum".

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

Finally, it is an exclusive collection, that is to say, it abrogates all the collections, even the official ones, of a later date than the "Decretum" of Gratian.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

"Decretum" of Gratian to the pontificate of Gregory IX (1150-1227).

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

On account of their importance they were made the text of canonical instruction at the University of Bologna, and, like the "Decretum" of Gratian, were glossed, i.e. notes bearing on the explanation and interpretation of the text were added to the manuscripts.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

It was also called "Collectio seu liber extra", i.e. the collection of the laws not contained (vagantes extra) in the "Decretum" of Gratian.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

"Breviarium extravagantium", or summary of the decretals not contained in the "Decretum" of Gratian (vagantes extra Decretum), was the work of Bernard of Pavia (q. v.) and was compiled 1187-1191.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

Some authors (Schulte, Launin) maintain that Gregory IX abrogated even those laws prior to Gratian's time which the latter had not included in his "Decretum", but this opinion is contested by several others (von Scherer, Schneider, Wernz, etc.).

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913