Canon (title)

Imagine a special job title in churches from a long time ago called 'Canon'. It wasn't just any job. People with this title were like church helpers who lived by very strict rules.

They were part of groups that followed a special church discipline. Think of it like a special club with its own set of rules for how to live and work together. These rules helped them serve the church in a very organized way.

A long time ago, in the 8th century, Canons lived together in special houses near big churches. They followed the church's rules every day. Later, around the 11th century, some churches said these helpers had to give up their own money and belongings. They had to live like a team, sharing everything. This was a big change, like deciding everyone on a playground has to share all their toys!

When churches started asking Canons to give up their private money, two groups appeared. One group, called 'Canons Regular' or 'Augustinians', followed the new rule and shared everything. The other group, called 'secular canons', did not give up their private money. So, even within the 'Canon' title, there were different ways people chose to live and follow the church's rules.

The title 'Canon' tells us about how churches were organized a thousand years ago. It shows us that some people dedicated their lives to serving the church by living together and following special rules. These rules helped them focus on their work and community.

It's like knowing that a firefighter has special training to help people – the title 'Canon' tells us about a special role in church history.