Canons Regular of the Lateran

History[edit]

The canons regular trace their origins to the 4th century reforms of the clergy by Martin of Tours in France and Eusebius of Vercelli in Italy. They and other bishops sought to shape the accepted lifestyles of their clergy on a domestic model, based on the communal pattern followed by the first Christians as depicted in the Acts of the Apostles. The premier example of this effort was the life and work of Augustine of Hippo, who himself lived as a monk before being called to take up the office of bishop for his North African city. He later wrote a short monastic rule to guide a community of women who wanted to live the monastic ideal. This document became the official guide for the earliest of the religious communities to emerge in the church in later centuries, in parallel to that of the Rule of St. Benedict. From this comes the title "regular", meaning one following a "rule" (Latin: regula).


Under the guidance of Cardinal Hildebrand of Sovana (later to become Pope Gregory VII), the Lateran Synod of 1059 organized and recognized these developing communities and recommended them as the preferred pattern of clerical life, at a time when mandatory celibacy was being made a universal requirement for the clergy of the Roman Church.^[1]


Among notable canons was Abbot Giuseppe Ricciotti (1890–1964), who wrote on Scripture and ancient history.


The canons' distinctive habit comprises a totally white cassock, sash, shoulder cape (mozzetta) and skull cap (zucchetto), identical to what the Pope wears as his daily attire.


The congregation is based near the ancient Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains), where the current Abbot General lives with the General Curia of the Congregation, the current Abbot General Rt Rev. Edoardo Parisotto CRL was elected on 26th June 2024. Provinces exist in Argentina, Belgium, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and the United States. It is a member of the Confederation of Canons regular.^[2]