Customer Reviews

Code of Canon Law Annotated: Prepared Under the Responsibility of the Instituto Martin De Azpilcueta

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I'm a canon lawyer, meaning I work within the Catholic Church's internal legal system. So a good commentary is essential.

Of all the commentaries on the Code of Canon Law available in the English language, this one remains my favorite. It is a wonderful translation of the University of Navarre's annotated commentary, using the British translation of the Code into English. What is also neat is the Latin parrallel text which allows canonists to see what word is being employed when in doubt. This is important to avoid confusion, since there are two words for law in Latin -- each with a subtlely different meaning -- so it is important to know which one is being used.

This volume also contains other important texts to canonists that are not available in the other commentaries, texts such as Pope John Paul II's Pastor Bonus through which the Holy Father reorganized the Roman Curia, as well as complimentary legislation specific to a number of English speaking countries. So you're getting more than just a code and commentary with this little volume.

This commentary is also very portable, compared to the other English language commentaries, as in it fits in a briefcase or laptop computer bag. However, this makes for small print with regards to the commentary part, which is the one drawback.

If you are a canonist or someone interested in canon law, this work is essential if your primary language of communication is English. In fact, I've gone through a number of copies since I keep one at the office, one at home, one at my parents' home, and one in French. I consult it at least daily, either in my work as a canonist or in my work as a Catholic writer.

Being a Canon Lawyer myself, this is a Superior Product. It allows the user/reader to know what the actual LAW is from the LATIN with a good explination of what it states. The one drawback is its size. I do wish that it was just a little larger and that some of the print were just a little bigger.
Would also be nice if the publishers could make a CD ROM version of this work, so that it could have portions incorporated into Canatical Legal Briefs. That is how good it is.

The Code of Canon Law Annotated by the Instituto Martin de Azpilcueta by the Universidad de Navarra is perhaps the best reference out there in canon law. First up, you can see that this is not just an effort of one, two or three people; this book is a serious scholarly collaboration of 34 professors from different universities who are prestigious in their specific sub-fields in canon law.

Concerning the format, although previous reviewers commented significantly on its [small] size as a downside, I would like to put this matter relative to the Exegetical Commentary of Canon Law by the same institution. If folks would like a more rigorous reference in canon law, the Exegetical Commentary is a far better source.

Concerning the content, I'm glad that the commentaries are direct to the point with supplements from later clarifications and legislation on the matter. Sometimes, the canons are not self-explanatory in themselves, so this approach is very useful to put the entire thing into perspective. Also, the commentaries are not opinionated but based on actual jurisprudence, not unlike other canon law commentaries out there that tend to be too opinionated for my taste.

I'm no canonist and I only had a few courses in basic Catholic theology, but I find this book very refreshing and I highly recommend this to those who are interested in learning canon law as well.

Code of Canon Law Annotated: Prepared Under the Responsibility of the Instituto Martin De Azpilcueta
Well written and easy to follow. Notes are very helpful,