Legal Definitions - Concordia discordantium canonum

Definition: Concordia discordantium canonum is a Latin term that means "the harmony of the discordant canons." It refers to a collection of ecclesiasticalauthorities compiled by Gratian, an Italian monk, around 1140. Gratian analyzed questions of law by comparing different texts and drawing conclusions from them. Later scholars in canon law usually followed Gratian's work.

Example: The Decretum Gratiani, also known as the Decretum, is a famous example of concordia discordantium canonum. It is a book that Gratian wrote, which became an authoritative text-book for canon law. The Decretum was widely used by scholars and canonists, who respected it as a great law-book.

Explanation: Concordia discordantium canonum is a term that describes the process of comparing different texts to find answers to legal questions. Gratian used this method to create the Decretum, which became a famous example of this type of work. The Decretum was widely respected and used by scholars and canonists, who saw it as an authoritative text-book for canon law.