The Rise of Canonical Collections Before and in the Time of Gratian

The history of canon law begins long before anyone called it “canon law.” It begins in the lived experience of Christian communities struggling to articulate norms, resolve disputes, and preserve unity across vast distances and diverse cultures. From the earliest centuries, the Church possessed rules, customs, and authoritative voices, yet it lacked a single, coherent legal system. Instead, it inherited a mosaic of texts—conciliar decrees, papal letters, penitential prescriptions, monastic ru…