In this volume Professor Gaudemet examines the growth and development of the law of the Church.

The Decretum of Gratian and the corpus of conciliar legislation, two of its principal sources, figure prominently. While, in these studies, the author's interest lies principally with the investigation of the origins of canon law, he insists that one should not lose sight of the broader context and points to many areas that would repay further study.

Church law, for instance, should not be taken in isolation but seen as a reflection of the needs and values of its time.