Precept, in its common acceptation, is opposed to counsel, inasmuch as the former imposes an obligation, while the latter is a persuasion. In ecclesiastical jurisprudence, the word precept is used:
Precept
Select a passage to highlight — you’ll be invited to create a free account.
Source notes
SMITH, Elements of Ecclesiastical Law, III (New York, 1888); FERRARIS, Bibliotheca Canonica, V (Rome, 1889), s.v. Lex, art. I; BAART, Legal Formulary (New York, 1898).
APA citation. Fanning, W. (1911). Canonical Precept. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12372b.htm
MLA citation. Fanning, William. "Canonical Precept." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. <https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12372b.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Wm Stuart French, Jr. Dedicated to Eunice Philona Smith Roberts.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. June 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is webmaster at newadvent.org. Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.
Source Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) · Letter P