Is there a specific legal definition for the Latin term 'vir' used within the Catholic Church?

(it is used in Canon 1024)

In Christ, Bill Nelson

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), August 21, 2003

Answers

Vir is Latin for "Man". If you want a generic term for "humanity" the term is "homo" as in "homo sapiens".

-- Joe (Joestong@yahoo.com), August 21, 2003.

Thank you, Joe. I knew the latin term, but is there a legal canon law definition? There seems to be a legal definition for a lot of other terms.

bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), August 21, 2003.

Bill, what do you mean by a "legal canon law definition"? Are you asking if there is a canon in which the word "vir" is itself defined? Or are you asking of "vir" is authoritatively defined in some other Church document, outside the Code?
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 21, 2003.

"1577 'Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination.'66 The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry ..."

Footnote 66 points to "CIC, can. 1024."
Canon 1024 reads, in Latin: "Sacram ordinationem valide recipit solus vir baptizatus."
The word "vir" is a masculine noun, never used to refer to a woman (mulier).

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 21, 2003.

yes to both :)

bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), August 21, 2003.

Oops! I forgot to say that #1577, above, is from the Catechism.
JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 21, 2003.

Further demonstration of the distinction -- about as clear and unquestionable as it can get -- is this from the Cathechism, first in Latin, then in English:

"III. Masculum et feminam creavit eos
Aequalitas et diversitas a Deo volitae
369 Vir et mulier creati sunt, id est sunt a Deo voliti: ex alia parte, in aequalitate perfecta quatenus personae humanae, ex alia vero in eorum esse specificum viri et mulieris. 'Virum esse,' 'mulierem esse' realitas est bona et a Deo volita: vir et mulier dignitatem habent inamissibilem quae illis immediate a Deo eorum Creatore advenit. Vir et mulier sunt, cum eadem dignitate, 'ad imaginem Dei.' Illi in suo 'virum-esse' et in suo 'mulierem-esse' sapientiam et bonitatem reverberant Creatoris."

"III. Male and Female He Created Them
Equality and difference willed by God
369 Man and woman have been created, which is to say, willed by God: on the one hand, in perfect equality as human persons; on the other, in their respective beings as man and woman. 'Being man' or 'being woman' is a reality which is good and willed by God: man and woman possess an inalienable dignity which comes to them immediately from God their Creator. Man and woman are both with one and the same dignity 'in the image of God.' In their 'being-man' and 'being-woman,' they reflect the Creator's wisdom and goodness."

JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 21, 2003.