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(Greeksynodos, an assembly).
A general term forecclesiastical gatherings under hierarchical authority, for the discussion and decision of matters relating tofaith,morals, or discipline. It corresponds to the Latin wordconcilium. The wordsynodus appears probably for the first time in the so-called "Apostolic canons", while the wordconcilium was employed in the same meaning byTertullian more than a century earlier. Synod and council are, therefore, synonymous terms.
When thebishops of the whole world are congregated under the presidency of thepope, the synod is denominated ecumenical or general. It is only to such an assembly that it is lawful to apply the termsancta synodus (seeGENERAL COUNCILS). If thebishops of anecclesiastical province meet under the headship of theirmetropolitan, the council is termed provincial. When the hierarchs of all the provinces of a nation assemble, the synod is called national, or, under certain circumstances, plenary. The regulations governing provincial and plenary council are practically the same. In addition to those mentioned, there are other synods that are more difficult of classification, as synods of the East or the West, thesynodoi endemousai of Constantinople, and the mixed councils ofecclesiastical and secular dignitaries who assembled together to make regulations for both spiritual and civil matters.
Different from all other councils is thediocesan synod. Other councils are assemblies ofbishops who have a definitive vote in the matters under consideration, but in adiocesan synod there is only one voter and only one lawgiver, thebishop of thediocese. This article deals mainly withdiocesan synods. In his book "De Synodo Dioecesana" (lib. 1, c. i)Benedict XIV thus defines adiocesan synod: "A lawful assembly convoked by thebishop, in which he gathers together thepriests andclerics of hisdiocese and all others who are bound to attend it, for the purpose of doing and deliberating concerning what belongs to the pastoral care." TheCouncil of Trent (Sess. XXIV, c. ii, "De ref.") required that adiocesan synod be held once a year. This law is still in force, but a mild interpretation, introduced by custom, has been tacitly sanctioned by theHoly See. Usually, the date for holding the synod should be announced on the Feast of the Epiphany. A month before the opening thedecree of convocation should be affixed to thecathedral doors, and it should be published on three successiveSundays inparish churches. When twodioceses are united under onebishop, the synod should be celebrated alternately in thecathedral of each such diocese. It belongs to thebishop to convoke thediocesan synod whether he beconsecrated as yet or not. Anarchbishop, however, who has not yet received thepallium, has not the same right.Vicars-general can assemble a synod only in virtue of a special mandate of thebishop. When adiocese is vacant, thevicar capitular can and should hold adiocesan synod if a year has elapsed since the celebration of the last once. Ordinarily, the convocation of a synod should take place after the episcopal visitation of thediocese, as thebishop can then be better guided in forming hisstatutes. When, however, the visitation has been neglected for years, it is considered more advisable to hold the synod first. As thebishop is the only law-giver at a synod, it belongs to him to draw up the various decrees which he may wish topromulgate at its sessions. While he convokes the synod by his own authority and is not required to consult his chapter concerning the convocation or its preparatory acts, yet he must ask the counsel of his chapter ordiocesan consultors as to the decrees he desires to enact, though he is not bound to follow their advice. Thebishop is exhorted, in the formation of his decrees, to hold private conferences with the prudent, learned, andpiousclerics of hisdiocese, and then to consult his chapter on the proposedstatutes thus formed (S. C. C., 26 Nov., 1689). Only in this way does thebishop deliberate with theclergy of hisdiocese at a synod, and though the finished decrees will receive all their authority from him, yet it is consonant with the mind of theChurch that, in the formation of thestatutes, the opinion of theclergy be heard and considered. Summonses to adiocesan synod should be given to thevicar-general, the members of thecathedral chapter, holders ofbenefices, and all others who have care ofsouls. If there is a custom to that effect, all theclergy of thediocese may be summoned. Regulars who have care ofsouls areobliged to attend a synod. Their superiors are not, however,obliged to attend, unless they personally act asparishpriests orcurates. Thebishop has power to punish with censures all those legitimately summoned who fail to attend. Laymen may also be invited by thebishop to be present at a synod if there is a custom to that effect, but under no circumstances can they acquire aright to such summons.
At the synod the decrees determined on by thebishop arepromulgated, and a period of two months is allowed for having recourse against them to thebishop or theHoly See. All theclergy andlaity of thediocese are bound by these decrees, and it is notnecessary for thebishop to send hisstatutes toRome for revision before publication. Exempt regulars are bound to observediocesan decrees in all things which concern the sacred canons, the Constitutions ofpopes and councils, and the decrees of the SacredRoman Congregations. Thebishop may not force hisclergy to buy printed copies of thediocesanstatutes (S. C. C., 14 Dec., 1658). During the synod the appointment is made of synodal examiners. To the formerduties of these officials has been added by the "Maxima Cura" ofPius X (20 Aug., 1910) that of being associated with thebishop in drawing up thedecree for the administrative removal ofparishpriests. By the samepapal Constitution,parochial consultors, who are to be assessors in case of recourse against adecree of removal, are also to be chosen by the synod from among theparishpriests. Synodal witnesses are likewise chosen at some synods, whose mainduty it is to help in the framing of deliberative questions or to report at the following synod what has been the effect of the degreespromulgated at the last assembly, or to suggest new ones. Synodal judges are also to be chosen, though they are rarely now employed. Their office is to expedite such causes as may be committed to their judgment outsideRome by theHoly See. These judges should be at least four in number in everydiocese, and their names must be forwarded toRome as soon as selected. The subject-matter of the decrees framed at adiocesan synod should concern only the preservation offaith or discipline. Under no circumstances may such a synod define any newarticle of faith or decide anydoctrinal point in dispute betweenCatholictheologians or framestatutes contrary to the common canon law of theChurch.
For synods in general use see bibliography of article COUNCILS, GENERAL. The best work on diocesan synods is that of BENEDICT XIV, De Synodo Dioecesana. BOUIX treats of these synods in De Episcopo, II (3rd ed., Parish, 1883); FERRARIS, Bibliotheca Canonica, II (Rome, 1891), s.v. Concilium, art. 3; in TAUNTON, The Law of the Church (London, 1906), s.v.; HEFELE, Councils of the Church, ed. CLARK (Edinburgh, 1871---), and new French translation by LECLERCQ (Parish, 1907---).
APA citation.Fanning, W.(1912).Synod. InThe Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14388a.htm
MLA citation.Fanning, William."Synod."The Catholic Encyclopedia.Vol. 14.New York: Robert Appleton Company,1912.<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14388a.htm>.
Transcription.This article was transcribed for New Advent by Bobie Jo M. Bilz.
Ecclesiastical approbation.Nihil Obstat. July 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor.Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
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