The 1917 Code of Canon Law, in force for just over 65 years 6 months, was, in whole or in part, the object of a large number of commentaries, themselves of varying scholarly authorit

Semi-Official Sources

T. Bouscaren & J. O'Connor, eds., Canon Law Digest, 10 vols. Compilations (nearly all translated into English) of thousands of official applications of the 1917 Code over its enforcement period. Not much commentary, but one can hardly research the 1917 Code without access to this set. Lacks a comprehensive index, but this weakness is remedied by Peters' 1917 Code translation linked above.

Palazzini

Pan-Textual Commentaries, Multi-Volume

Latin

C. Badii, Institutiones Iuris Canonici, 2 vols.
M. Bargilliat, Praelectiones Iuris Canonici, 2 vols.
C. Berutti, Institutiones Iuris Canonici, 6 vols.
F. Bouaert & G. Simenon, Manuale Iuris Canonici, 2 vols.
G. Cocchi, Commentarium in Codicem Iuris Canonici, 9 vols.
M. Coronata, Compendium Iuris Canonici, 3 vols. Topical rather than canon-by-canon, but it's all there.
M. Coronata, Institutiones Iuris Canonici, 5-6 vols. A bit dense, but highly-regarded.
P. Ferreres, Institutiones Canonicae, 2 vols.
P. Maroto, Institutiones Juris Canonici ad Normam Novi Codicis, 2 vols.
A. De Meester, Juris Canonici et Iuris Canonico-Civilis Compendium, 3 vols.
J. Noval, Commentarium Codicis Iuris Canonici, 5 vols.
B. Ojetti, Commentarium in Codicem Juris Canonici, 4 vols.
A. Toso, Ad Codicem Juris Canonici Commentaria Minora, 5 vols. The biggest little commentary in canon law.
A. Vermeersch & J. Creusen, Epitome Iuris Canonici, 3 vols. Clear, a personal favorite.
F. Wernz & P. Vidal, Ius Canonicum, 7 vols. Originally a pre-1917 Code commentary on decretal law, updated to accommodate codified legislation. Immense authority.

Cappello

Ojetti

Maroto

Toso

Vermeersch

Wernz

English (Americans)

Augustine

Do20.

Ayrinhac

H. Ayrinhac, series Legislation in the New Code, 6 vols. A b

Hannan

French

G. Bareille, Code de Droit Canonique.
A. Cance, Le Code de Droit Canonique, 4 vols. Best-known French commentary, steady work. Later supplemented by his Décisions et Précisions Canoniques 1928-1955.

German

E. Eichmann, Lehrbuch des Kirchenrechts.
H. Fulster, Kirchenrecht in Frage und Antwort.
M. Leitner, Handbuch des Katholischen Kirchenrechts.
J. Sägmüller, Lehrbuch des Katholischen Kirchenrechts.

Italian

G. Cavigioli, Manuale di Diritto Canonico.
N. Coviello, Manuale di Diritto Ecclesiastico.
A. Jemolo, Elementi di Diritto Ecclesiastico.

Spanish

Polish

F. Baczkowicz, Ius Canonicum, (Polish)
I. Grabowski, Ius Canonicum secundum Novum Codicem (Polish)

Pan-Textual Commentaries, Single Volume

U. Beste, Introductio in Codicem, + 1100 pp. Terse style, but much of use. Underrated. Author was later a relator (Coetus de Normis) for the Revision Commission.
.
R. Paray Re, Institutiones Iuris Canonici juxta Novum Codicem.
.
J. Raus, Institutiones Canonicae, + 500 pp.
.
S. Woywod, The New Canon Law, + 400 pp. Re-worked his essays from American Ecclesiastical Review. Respectable, but anyone with access to the Practical Commentary (above) would use it first.

Prümmer

Topical Commentaries

Book I: General Norms

Cicognani

Book II: Persons

L. Bender, Normae Generales de Personis (87-106), 232 pp.
I. Chelodi, Ius Canonicum de Personis (rev. P. Ciprotti) 520 pp.
G. Michiels, Principia de Personis in Ecclesia…Canones Praeliminaires (cc. 87-106), 708 pp.

II.1) Religious

L. Fanfani, De Iure Religiosorum, 599 pp. Substantially translated into French by L. Misserey under the title of Le Droit des Religieuses.
S. Goyeneche, Quaestiones Canonicae de Iure Religiosorum, 2 vol.
H. Papi, Religious in Church Law, 355 pp.
J. Pejsca, Jus Canonicum Religiosorum
T. Schaeffer, De Religiosis ad Normam Codicis Iuris Canonci, 1214 pp. Standard in the field.
A. Vermeersch, De Religiosis Institutis et Personis, 2 vols.

II. 2) Secular Institutes

aa.vv., Études sur les Instituts Séculiers, 347 pp. Signed studies.
aa.vv., De Institutis Saecularibus, 2? vols.

II.3) Laity and Associations of the Faithful

S. de Angelis, De Fidelium Associationibus, 2 vols.
J. Demeuren, Le Droit Canon de Laiques d’apres le Nouveau Code.

Book III: Things

III.1 Diocesan Curia

S. d'Angelo, La Curia Diocesana a Norma del Codice di Diritto Canonico, 2 vols.

III.2. Sacramental Law

F. Hürth & P. Abellán, De Sacramentis. = pp. Designed for theology students, but heavily canonical.

III.2.A) Liturgical Law

C. Bachofen, Liturgical Law, 467 pp. Excellent overview, and in tune with the best of the then still young liturgical movement.

III.2.B) Matrimonial Law

Gasparri

The undisputed master of Pio-Benedictine marriage law.

I. Cpp.
F. Galtier, Le Mariage…Orientale et Occidental, 456 pp.
F. Garcia, Tractatus Canonico-Moralis de Sacramento Matrimonii.
.
D. Lazzarato, Jurisprudentia Pontificia: [de Causis Matrimonialibus], 2 vols. often bound as 4. Massive.
L. Npp.
G. Payen, De Matrimonio in Missionibus, 3 vol.
J. P
J. Risk, Marriage-Contract and Sacrament, 187 pp. Topical.
T
A. van Vliet & C. Breed, Marriage and Canon Law, 307 pp. Topical.

III.2.C) Extreme Unction

A. Kilker, Extreme Unction, 425 pp.

III.3. Temporal Goods

W. Doheny, Practical Problems in Church Finance, 115 pp.
M. Pistocchi, De Bonis Ecclesiae Temporalibus.
G. Vromant, De Bonis Ecclesiae Temporalibus...praesertim Missionarium, 329 pp.

Book IV: Procedures

Roberti

F.
C. pp.
F. d
M
J. Pinna, Praxis Iudicialis Canonica. 324 pp.

Lega

IV.1) Matrimonial Procedures

W. Doheny, Canonical Procedure in Matrimonial Cases, 2 vols. Widely used, though less commonly cited.
J. Torre, Processus Matrimonialis, 374 pp.
F. Wanenmacher, Canonical Evidence in Marriage Cases, 412 pp.

Book V: Sanctions

I. C
G.
G. P
F. Roberti, De Delictis et Poenis, 2 vols.

V.1) Censures

F. Ca
P. Cerato, Censurae Vigentes, 307 pp.
V. Heylen, De Censuris, 246 pp.

Virtually all of the great commentators

on the 1917 Code are deceased now.

Please pray for them.

Top || Home || Canon Law || Liturgy & Sacraments || Catholic Issues || Personal