History of the School
The School of Canon Law, together with the School of Theology and the School of Ecclesiastics of Philosophy make up the Schools set of programs of study Ecclesiasticals of the University of Navarra, a corporate work of Opus Dei, founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer.
The project educational of the School of Canon Law is integrated into that of the University of Navarra, whose Christian identity is developed in an atmosphere of freedom and respect for the religious beliefs, political ideas and opinions of professors and students.
Its academic qualifications have full canonical validity. It aims to train specialists in law who have an in-depth knowledge of canon law and the law of the States concerning the religious phenomenon, while at the same time acquiring a solid preparation in the fundamental legal disciplines. In addition, the close relationship of the School of Canon Law with the School of Theology and the School Ecclesiastical Philosophy allows students to maintain a lively contact with the research theological and philosophical .
Deans
José Orlandis, Amadeo de Fuenmayor, Carmelo de Diego, Eduardo Molano, Rafael Rodríguez-Ocaña, Jorge Miras, Antonio Viana and, as of 2021, Joaquín Sedano.
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1959
Birth of high school of Canon Law
The center was established in June 1959, through the formula of aggregation to high school 'Utriusque Iuris' of the Pontifical Lateran University.
The official inauguration took place on October 7 and was the main part of the opening of the academic year of the Estudio General de Navarra. The event was very solemn and was presided over by the Nuncio of His Holiness in Spain, Bishop Hildebrando Antoniutti. -
1959
Classes begin
The day after the solemn inauguration, on October 8, 1959, the classes of high school began in a classroom of the Chamber of Comptos.
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1960
School of Canon Law
On October 25, 1960, in the conference room Capitular of the Cathedral of Pamplona, the solemn erection of the University took place, and the high school became School of Canon Law, the first School of Ecclesiastical Sciences of the new University.
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1961
First issue of 'Ius Canonicum'.
Once the teaching was launched, the task of publishing a journal was immediately undertaken. The second academic year began with this exciting project, which became a reality in January 1961 with the publication of the first issue of 'Ius Canonicum'.
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1962
First thesis
On June 25, 1962, Javier Hervada defended his thesis "Fin y características del ordenamiento canónico" directed by Pedro Lombardía. It was the first thesis at Canon Law; and also, the first one defended at the University.
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1967
First honorary doctorate
On October 7, 1967, St. Josemaría, as Chancellor of the University of Navarra, presented the doctorate 'Honoris Causa' to the canonist Willy Onclin (Limburg, 1905-Louvain, 1989).
In his speech, Onclin publicly expressed the positive evaluation he had of the work of the people of the School of Canon Law. These were his words:
"The teachers of this School defend the real value that constitutes the Canon Law in the Church [...]. I am happy to be able from now on to unite my efforts to those of the masters of this School for the realization of our common ideal: to seek the truth, to serve the just, to bring people together and thus to build a better world". -
1967
Martín de Azpilcueta Secondary School
On March 28, 1967, the high school Martín de Azpilcueta, a scientific research center under the auspices of the School of Canon Law was established.
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1975
New building
In 1975 began the construction of the current building of the Schools Ecclesiastical, designed by the architect Joan Rius. The 76/77 academic year began in the new building, where the classes of the School of Canon Law were moved.
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1976
congress International Canon Law
In 1976, School hosted the III International congress at Canon Law. It hosted the 10th edition of congress again in 1998.
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1986
IV Centenary of the death of Martín de Azpilcueta
The high school Martín de Azpilcueta, of the University of Navarra, with the partnership of the department of Education and Culture of the Government of Navarra, organized some conference of programs of study about Doctor Navarro on June 21, 1986, the IV centenary of his death.
The event was attended by scholars of Church Law and Moral Theology, together with historians of the Modern Age, of International Law and of the Economics. -
1996
Exegetical Commentary to the Code of Canon Law
In 1996 was published the Exegetical Commentary to the Code of Canon Law: 6 volumes, promoted by high school Martín de Azpilcueta, coordinated and directed by professors Angel Marzoa, Jorge Miras and Rafael Rodríguez-Ocaña.
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1999
Javier Hervada, canonist and teacher of jurists
On December 6, 1998, the Ministry of Justice awarded Professor Javier Hervada Xiberta (Barcelona, 1934-Pamplona, 2020) the San Raimundo de Peñafort Cross of Honor. The ceremony, presided over by the President Magnificent, took place in the Hall of Degrees of Office of the Executive Council on February 25, 1999.
Since 1965 he was Full Professor of Canon Law of the University of Navarra, of whose School of Law he was Dean between 1973 and 1984. -
2010
One hundred numbers
The magazine of the School 'Ius Canonicum' publishes its issue 100 on the 50th anniversary of the academic center. Edited biannually by high school Martín de Azpilcueta, Ius Canonicum was founded in 1961.
The volume opens with a commemoration of the issue 100, presented by its director, Jorge Otaduy, and includes two papers by Professors José Orlandis and Gaetano Lo Castro, entitled "The high school of Canon Law of the Estudio General de Navarra" and "St. Josemaría Escrivá, Law, Justice. (Fifty years after the creation of the School of Canon Law of the University of Navarra)". -
2011
New honorary doctorate
Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdö (Budapest, 1952), Archbishop of Budapest and President of the committee of Bishops' Conferences of Europe, was invested to receive honorary doctor by the School of Canon Law on October 27, 2011.
The godfather of the new doctor, Professor Eduardo Molano, noted that despite being one of the youngest cardinals of the current high school Cardinalate, "he already has a long history of service to the Church, in which his excellent theological and legal preparation has contributed to make him a great pastor and man of government". -
2012
General Dictionary of Canon Law
In 2012, the School published the "Diccionario General de Canon Law". The work, which required ten years of dedication, is composed of 7 volumes and 2,118 voices. A total of 583 authors from 33 countries worked on it.
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2019
Complete works of Professor Hervada
The high school Martín de Azpilcueta published in early February 2019 the complete works of Professor Javier Hervada. These are the first opera omnia of the digital collection 'Obras completas de autores' of the School.
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2019
Recognition of 'Ius Canonicum'.
In 2019 'Ius Canonicum' obtained the Quality Seal of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT).
A year later, in 2020, the journal was listed for the first time in the Q1 quartile, in the category of 'programs of study religious' and 'Law', of Scimago Journal Rank. -
2023
New Master's Degree
In January 2023, deadline was opened to take the new Master's Degree in Canon Marriage Law, which will start in September, and combines work online and teaching face-to-face at campus in Madrid.
Álvaro González Alonso is the academic director of the program.
SOME OF THE PIONEERS OF THE SCHOOL
José Orlandis was the first Dean of Canon Law. Together with him, other pioneers such as Pedro Lombardía, Javier Hervada, Alberto de la Hera, Ferrán Blasi, Carmelo de Diego, Amadeo de Fuenmayor, Tomás Rincón, Manuel Arteche and Enrique Lalaguna started the School . They started the teaching and research and promoted the magazine 'Ius Canonicum' and the high school Martín de Azpilcueta.
* Click on the image to learn more about the pioneers of the School
José Orlandis
José Orlandis was appointed in 1959 as the first director of the high school of Canon Law of the then Estudio General de Navarra. When he became School, he was appointed Dean, a position he held until 1968. He was professor of "History of Canon Law".
Pedro Lombardy
Pedro Lombardía was Associate Dean in the first board directive of the School. He was the founder and publisher of 'Ius Canonicum'.
He led a school of canonists that is known in the world of specialization program as the "School of Navarra" or "School of Lombardy".
Alberto de la Hera
Alberto de la Hera joined School in 1959, called by Pedro Lombardía. He was in charge of the Chair History section of Canon Law. He worked with Lombardía and José Orlandis for three years (1959-1962). He was secretary of the journal 'Ius Canonicum'.
Ferran Blasi
A few weeks after his ordination to the priesthood, Ferrán Blasi joined the General Study of Navarra. It was the academic year 1959/60. He was a professor at the then high school of Canon Law and professor of Theology at high school of Journalism (today School of Communication).
Javier Hervada
Javier Hervada defended the first thesis of the University in 1962. Since 1965 he has been a professor at Canon Law. He was Associate Dean of the School from 1991 to 1993. Previously he had also been Dean of the School of Law (from 1973 to 1984). He was one of the main managers of high school Martín de Azpilcueta and 'Ius canonicum'.
In 1998 the Spanish Ministry of Justice awarded him the Cross of Honor of the Order of San Raimundo de Peñafort.
Carmelo de Diego
Carmelo de Diego Lora joined the University in 1956 as a professor of Procedural Law at School of Law. He started programs of study at Canon Law and received his doctorate in 1963.
He was Associate Dean (1970-1987) and Dean (1987-1991) of the School of Canon Law.
Amadeo de Fuenmayor
Amadeo de Fuenmayor joined the University in 1965. In the School of Canon Law he occupied the first Chair of State Ecclesiastical Law in Spain. He was Dean from 1968 to 1987.
The University awarded him the Gold Medal in 1991.
Tomás Rincón
Tomás Rincón, graduate in Theology from the Pontifical University of Salamanca, received his doctorate in 1969 from Canon Law. He was director of 'Ius Canonicum' and Deputy Director of high school Martín de Azpilcueta (1983-1992).
He contributed to the translation and commentary of the Code of Canon Law.