Las verdades católicas en las colecciones canónicas anteriores a Graciano. Estudio del decreto de Buchardo de Worms (s. XI)

Abstract

Summarium Theologicae atque canonicae fontes Eccleslae et examini 8C definitioni Subiectorum Traditlonls, etiam .Ve'ritates catholicae. dictorum" vel -Iocl' theologiei. (Sac'ra Scriptura, Concilia, Sedes Romana, Patres EccleSise, Theologia, Sensus fideUum, etc.) operam saepe dant, et eorum hierarchiae et mutuis connexionibus. Res agitur gravis vel fideli communltatl veritates definitas profitenti quas illam oportet scire ubl invenlri possent; vel magisteriali quoque auctoritatl testimoniorum interpreti qUibus revelationis deposltum asservatur; vel etiam theologicae methodo quae his locis enutritur eosque simul illustrat et ordinat. Hac in re Decretum Burchardl Wormsiensis, canonica collectio saeculo XI, testis est magnl commodi quia videre permittit, plus quam alia documenta, locorum Traditionis historiam doctrinalem in discrimine. Loei cum sint quoque res ecclesiologicae, praesens studium primo prorrigit (11) ecclesiologiam In Decreto implicitam. Burchardo Wormslensi, atque theologicis adiunctis in qUibus versatur et cogitat, Ecclesia visibilis compagem accipit circum sul Ipsius elementa fundamentalia (Summum Pontificatum, Episcopos, etc.) atque ordinum communionem constituit. Nec rigidum aedificium hierarchicum quo Summus Pontifex sihi contrahit totam rem ecclesialem vel ecclesiasticam ea concipitur, sed potius charismatum sidus et ordinum vel graduum, qUibus peculiare pondus unusquisque confert vocemque atque praesentiam actuosam in aedificationem corporis Christi. l'raebet Igltur Decretum notas quibus ampla explanatione opus est, praesertim quod attinet actionem centmlizatlonis Primatus in Ecclesia; theo!ogiam vero continet etiam Episcopatus quae in posterum servabitur. Burchardi Decretum duplicem prospectum concedit veritatibus catholicis studendis. Et concedlt et exigit. Primum quidem (111) testis est sllens sed eloquens doctrinalis incrementi quod loei experti sunt decem saeculis suae collectioni praecurrentibus. Stratorum instar impositorum materiis, quas tempora slgnarunt et theologiae dlversae, composita collectio nobls Ipsa loquitur historiam utilitate confertam. Hoc demum sensu habet vitam propriam, libera a consilio eorum auctorum. 'Disputatur delnde (IV) methodologia conceptlonesque peculiares Burchardi, et cum eo laborantlum, pro Conciliis, Ecclesiae Patrlbus, Documentis. Pontlflciis et theologorum doctrina. Hoc studium ostendlt quomodo Burchardo Concilia sint auC<tOritas fundamenta lis, alveus scilicet praestantlssimus qui nobis tradidit S. Scripturae sensum. Possunt dici Concilia medium 10- cum obtinere inter S. Scripturam et ceteros locos theologicos. €cclesiae Patres Collectioni suppeditant textus judiciorum moralium, sententias indoles sapientiaBs, in rectas mores adhortationes, praecepta definida ac praesertim textus doctrinales, libro XX (De contemplatione) collectos. Patres sunt iam non tantum Eplscopi in Concilio congregati quantum auctores christiani magnam doctrlnae opinlonem habentes, qui saltem implicitam Eccleslae probationem acceperunt. Hls ergo utitur magls doctrinaliter quam iurldlce. Deoretalia et documenta pontificia In Collectione munere funguntur declarativo et completivo. Sedes Romana iudicium vldetur cul . maxime competlt ordinare ae Interpretari ius et tradltlona.8lItiquas. Burchardi denique Deeretum timide nuntlat configurationem In EccleSia novi doctorum hominum . ordlnis, qul cito dlgredletut a Patrlbus ut mlnorem constituta locum sed magnl ponderls doctrinalis. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract Theological and Canon law sources usually deal withthe subJect of the bearers of Tradltionln the Church (Holy Scripture, Synods; • Roman See,Fathers, Theologians, Sensus Fidelium ,etc.), in arder to define them and to takea look at their mutual relationship. It is a major subject • concerning: , a) the .Faifhful, who believespecific truths and should know where to find them; b) the Church teaching authority, who interprets the documents containing divine Revelation; e) theological methodology, which draws its raw materials from those loci. Burchard of Worms' Deeretum Is a remarkable witness on our subject because it represents a turning point in the history of the loci Traditionis. Since every loei has ecclesiological relevancy, this study tackles at the beginning the views on the Church which are implicit in Burchard's Decretum. In B's mlnd the visible Church organizes itself around its key offices (Papacy, Bishops, etc.) and behaves like a Commonwealth of ordines. The Church is not viewed as a rigid hierarchical structure where the Pope would sumaries the whole body. It is a rather a realm composed of spiritual gifts and offices, each one performing Its own task in order to build up the body of Christ. Sorne of the notions presents in our Decretum will later go through a due development, especially those concernlng the centralizing role of the Papacy withln the Church. B's Deeretum is endowed however with an almost correct and everlasting Episcopate-theology. The Decretum allows us a twofold vantage point in the research about the loci. For one thing B' Collection is a silent though eloquent witness of a ten centurias old development regarding our subject. The book, whlch consists in layers of materials coming from very different periods and theologies, speaks by Itself about a history full of outstanding data. On this account, B' work is independent and can be detached from Its author's point of view. For another, theDeeretum entalls a very speclflc conception and methodology as far as Synods, Fathers, Papal documents, and theologians are concerned. This study shows the Synods playing the role of the key auctoritas, second only to Holy Scrlpture, in B' outlook. It can be stated that Synods hold a klnd of intermediate positlon between Holy Scripture and the others loci. The Fathers of the Church provlde the Colleetion with a big number of texts containing moral criteria, wisdomlike sayings urgings to good behaviour, speci• fic rules, and above all dogmatic mattter (Lib. XX. De Contemplatione). InB's own:.terminology, the Word Fathers has not to do any more with bishops summoned to a Synod; it rather refers to the Christian authors who enjoya distinct prestlge within the Chureh in matters of Catholic teaching. Decretals and kindred Papal doouments fulfill in our Collectlon a task which is both declarative and complementary. The Holy See ultimately speaks the mind of the Chureh in matters concerning the interpretation ofancient law and traditions. Finally, B's Decretum softly announces the appearance in the Church of a new kind of scholars whose writings start gaining a growing influence in theologicál matters. These magistri would befo re long develop into a locus second to the Fathets but r.emarkable in scope and future importance.