decretal

[ dih-kreet-l ]

adjective

1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing a decree or decrees.

noun

1. a papal decree authoritatively determining some point of doctrine or church law.
2. Decretals, the body or collection of such decrees as a part of the canon law.

decretal

/ dɪˈkriːtəl /

noun

1. RC Church a papal edict on doctrine or church law

adjective

1. of or relating to a decretal or a decree

Derived Forms

• deˈcretalist, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of decretal¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Old French < Late Latin dēcrētālis fixed by decree, equivalent to dēcrēt ( um ) decree + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of decretal¹

C15: from Old French, from Late Latin dēcrētālis; see decree

Example Sentences

He denied the validity of the rule of celibacy; he quoted Wickliff as a great doctor; he rejected the supremacy of Rome and the binding force of tradition and decretal; John XXII., he said, had had no power to condemn Jean de Poilly; so far from St. Francis occupying the vacant throne of Lucifer in heaven, he was rather with Lucifer in hell; since the time of Silvester the Holy See had been the church of avarice and of imperial power, where canonization could be obtained for money.

From Project Gutenberg

Probably the first auto de fé on record was that held by the Senator Annibaldo at the portal of Santa Maria Maggiore, when these unfortunates were burned or condemned to perpetual prison, and Gregory took advantage of the occasion to issue the decretal which became the basis of inquisitorial procedure, and to procure the enactment of severe secular laws in the name of the senator.

From Project Gutenberg

Innocent thereupon wrote to Emeric, sending him the severe papal decretal against the Patarins of Viterbo as a guide for his action, and ordering him to cleanse his territories of heresy and to confiscate all heretical property.

From Project Gutenberg

When a priest was inducted into a benefice, it was customary to exact of him an oath that he would not overlook any offences committed by his parishioners, but would report them to the Ordinary that the offenders might be prosecuted and fined, and that he would not allow any quarrels to be settled amicably; and though Alexander III. issued a decretal pronouncing all such oaths void, yet they continued to be required.

From Project Gutenberg

The angry pope issued a decretal forbidding all judges and inquisitors to attack in any way the officials and nuncios of the Holy See without special letters of authority—but the mere audacity of the attempt shows the height of presumption to which the members of the Holy Office had attained.

From Project Gutenberg