Historical events of the past are highlighted to assess the influence God's presence had on human consciousness, including the dynamics of new systems up to the Middle Ages. In any case, God's presence in history is an incontrovertible fact: divinity, even before Christianity (think, for example, of Roman paganism), is the architect of history, ever-present in human life, directing their actions and deeds and then judging them. All the issues highlighted above are explored in depth and encouraged to engage with course participants, also to assess their level of learning and critical judgment on any topics that have most captured their attention.
Preparation for the study of the History of Canon Law cannot ignore specific knowledge acquired from previous studies, particularly Roman studies, those relating to the history of medieval and modern law, and canon law. This is also due to the commonality of certain themes and historical facts that contribute to a greater understanding and completeness of the course as a whole, promoting more direct learning.
The History of Canon Law course is taught in the classroom through lectures, supplemented by seminars and, in some circumstances, upon request by attending students, study groups on specific topics listed in the syllabus. Non-attending students may prepare for the final exam by studying the suggested text or any other text related to the History of Canon Law.
During the lessons, the instructor invites attending students to contribute to the questions they found most interesting. This is useful for the instructor to assess their preparation and actual knowledge of the topics covered, but it is also sufficient to determine whether they have achieved the goal of arousing the interest set at the beginning of the course. Seminars may be held to assess the attending student's critical presentation skills.
Faustino de Gregorio, "The Birth and Constitution of the Christian Republic. An Essay on the Historical and Ideological Evolution of the Early Christian Movement to the Present." With the addition of a paragraph written by Piero Bellini, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli, 2021
The course in the History of Canon Law, according to the instructor, aims to identify the emergence of the Christian movement that, through the preaching of its prophet, gave birth to the Church Institution. Over the years, the Church evolved from a subordinate institution to a dominant one in the historical, legal, and behavioral dynamics of humanity. The historical and cultural trajectory of the Church Institution, with its major protagonists of each era, unfolds over a period spanning from approximately the early 4th century to the 20th century and beyond.
