GRATIAN°

GRATIAN ° (Franciscus Gratianus ; d. before 1179), monk of Bologna. He is known for his canonical compilation Decretum Gratiani, assembled about 1140. The other title of the compilation, Concordantia discordantium canonum, clearly indicates its purpose, to bring together a large number of patristic texts and decrees of Church councils and popes, arranged in order of content. Though never officially adopted by papal authority, it was used in schools and synods, and from around 1159 was the manual of the Roman Curia. Among the thousands of texts assembled in the compilation only a few isolated ones concern the Jews. They include canon 61 of the Fourth Council of Toledo held in 633 (see *Church Councils), securing for children who are true Christians the belongings of their parents who have returned to Judaism (E. Friedberg (ed.) Corpus Juris Canonici, 1 (1871), 419: c. 7, c. 1, qu. 4). Others are canon 34 of the Council of Agde held in 506, imposing an eight-month instruction period for Jewish candidates for baptism, and canon 56 of the Fourth Council of Toledo, compelling Jews converted by force to remain Christians (ibid., 1392: c. 93–94, d. 4, De cons.). One small group of texts concerns mixed marriages, which must be dissolved and the children brought up by the Christian party; the converted Jews (of Spain) who have readopted Judaism, whose children must be given into the care of monasteries; converted Jews, who must avoid all contacts with their former coreligionists; and the prohibition on Christians eating the unleavened bread of Jews, living among them, consulting their physicians, bathing with them, or finally, sharing meals with them (various councils; ibid., 1087: c. 10–14, c. 28, qu. 1).

bibliography:

A. Villien and J. de Ghellinck, in: Dictionnaire de théologie catholique, 6 (1920), 1727–51; J. Forchielli and A.M. Stickler (eds.), Studia Gratiana, 1 (1953– ); New Catholic Encyclopedia, 6 (1966), s.v.

[Bernhard Blumenkranz]