Why are chapters of canons rare in the US?

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Also, does the requirement that each cathedral have one exist no more? I don’t quite understand the subject.

I assume that since they hold a large liturgical position that it is fine to post this in this forum.
 
YoungTradCath said:
?

Also, does the requirement that each cathedral have one exist no more? I don’t quite understand the subject.

I assume that since they hold a large liturgical position that it is fine to post this in this forum.
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My cathedral has no chapter. I suppose there aren’t enough priests to set aside a chapter of canons in each diocese. I do wish they could return. It’s up to the individual bishop to establish such a chapter.
 
Actually, it’s reserved to the Apostolic See. See starting at Canon 503. But I suppose that, yes, if a bishop doesn’t request the Apostolic See to confirm a chapter, then it won’t recommend one or anything.
 
I’ll confess my ignorance on this topic: What is the role of a chapter of canons? Are they primarily liturgical, or assist in the governance of the cathedral, or ?? I have ony read about chapters of canons with respect to European cathedrals.
 
YoungTradCath said:
Actually, it’s reserved to the Apostolic See. See starting at Canon 503. But I suppose that, yes, if a bishop doesn’t request the Apostolic See to confirm a chapter, then it won’t recommend one or anything.
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Okay, but it’s actually Canon 504. 🙂
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
I’ll confess my ignorance on this topic: What is the role of a chapter of canons? Are they primarily liturgical, or assist in the governance of the cathedral, or ?? I have ony read about chapters of canons with respect to European cathedrals.
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Both. I confess that the ideal of a cathedral is probably quite a bit more grand than what you commonly find in the US of A.
 
OK, I am not sure I am understanding your question, or if I even really understand what this code is all about (I did give it a cursory reading, will go back & read it again, but…) but I will give it the old college try for now.🙂

The way I am understandng this is that this “chapter” you are asking about is a group of priests who help with liturgical functions at the Cathedral, and handle certain functions for the Bishop. Correct?

In my diocese we have a “Pastoral Center”, away from the Cathedral where all the “day-to-day” operations of the Diocese are handled.

We have a Bishop, 2 priests who are Co-Vicar Generals, a Chancellor, and a couple other priests who hold titles I am not sure of, and have, on occaision, been allowed to Confirm, outside the Easter Vigil, in the Bishop’s stead.
These are the people who, with our Bishop, run the diocese.
I recently went through the “radical sanation” process. This Bishop did not see any of the paperwork until it was on his desk with a request for his review & signature. By the time it got to that point, I was told, that it was pretty much a given, Bishop’s generally do not have a hand in every jar, if they did, they would do nothing but “push paper” all day! 😉

So maybe they are not called by this name anymore, but I am thinking it is just a general structure of diocesean leadership.

Or I could be totally wrong!! 🤷😛
 
Doesn’t the modern-day cathedral rector usually fill the role of the chapter of canons now-a-days?
 
The pastor of my parents parish is a Canon. His parents are from Malta. While he was in Malta visiting family one of the bishop’s there installed him into his Cathedral’s chapter.
 
Heck, my cathedral has one priest, two mission parishes, and doesn’t even have an organist much less canons.
 
I’ve often wondered this as well. Visiting churches in Europe, one of my favorite features was the cathedral chapters. Many more Masses, chanted Divine Office, Angelus, Rosary, more confessions… and the wonderful sacerdotal “habits” and vestments (i.e. mozzetta, rochet, fascia, etc) that are not usually seen anymore.

http://nadb.katholisch.de/portals/0/nadb/periode-der-heilungen-braucht-zeit-4863.jpg

Of course, the obvious answer seems to be simply lack of priestly vocations. I think having a cathedral chapter could certainly help promote more vocations though, by their witness to the Faith, by the beauty of the liturgy, by more frequent contact with prelates, by more communal prayer of private devotions, more impressive processions… Just seeing the canons walking around town in cassock is inspiring!

It’s a world of difference to have only a rector and a parochial vicar (who is really only here to serve the Spanish-speaking community, but says Mass in English a couple days a week as well) serving a cathedral parish that consists of two churches and one (nonexistent) cathedral, and what you see at most European cathedrals (such as this chapter of the Diocese of Augsburg, Germany):

http://www.dekanat-ottobeuren.de/aktuelles/DomkapitelAugsburg.jpg
 
I once had the privilege of meeting His Eminence Cardinal Rivera of Mexico City in the sacristy of the metropolitan cathedral. His canons arrived first and his sacristan, a very important position, announced his arrival with three bangs of his staff as if the King of Spain were entering. Very impressive.
 
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