Benefice

A Vikarie is a foundation under private law with legal personality. It is originally a medieval legal person according to ecclesiastical and secular law. Ever since the Reformation there are no more spiritual institutions. They usually received another destination and only subject to the Civil Code, however, but differ in their origin. This oldest legal persons are for the most part become scholarships and have a rich and diverse medieval background. The collator has jus patronatus, and is the one who gives scholarships. There are now still legal entities that carry the word Vikarie, Vikarei, prebend, parsonage or Benefizie in their name, one of which is believed to date back to the Middle Ages.

Pfarrvikarie

Nowadays, one also understands under a Vikarie a personal or spatially defined administrative and pastoral region, which is headed by a vicar. Other terms for this are quasi parish, Expositur and branch church. The Pfarrvikarien not have the same status as a canonical territorial parish, these are but treated.

Medieval background

Originally Vikarie was a benefice without pastoral care in the Middle Ages. This was a separate asset, the proceeds of which were destined for the maintenance of the priest ( vicar ).

Religious care for the spiritual welfare and family awareness played an important role in the founding of the vicarages. In return for the income of the beneficiary ( beneficant ) had commemorate during Holy Masses in his prayers the founder and pray for their salvation. In Foundation letters to him are other tasks were often imposed.

This need led to the formation of sources of funds from which the officers could settle his livelihood. From about the 10th century, the custom of giving a clergyman this one beneficum arose. The social influence thereof grew later, as always more goods into the dead hand came.

The income (interest) of that entity avant la lettre mostly came from a land that was donated for the care of the priest. The proceeds of such a Vikarie were ( a collator ) given to and by the founder or his successor chosen vicar. This was formally the spiritual government ( bishop) used in the ministry. The vicar was then socially become " owners " of the Vikarie. He had a duty to manage the Vikariegüter and could represent them in legal matters. Legally remembers this form to a trust under English law.

Examples

• So, for example, donated Johannes van der Schuren his inheritance in 1454 for Catherine Vikarie to Radevormwald.
• The oldest document of Golzheimer parish archives dated 14 June 1495th Peter van Golshem Bruwer and his wife Fye ( Sophia ) donate from their property in Golzheim an inherited annuity. This is twelve bushels rye Düren degree and twelve pennies for a weekly divine service of two fairs, one on Sunday and one on Fridays, also two pounds of wax to these fairs, which Nicholas altar should be kept forever on Golzheimer St.. Connected with the Foundation is the establishment of a vicar point, the first holder is to be the son of the founder. Emmerich Bruwer. After his death, to the brother masters " of loevelicher broder creates more hochgeloeffter Hilliger Jonfferen Mary ... and the Hilligen Paiss sent Gregorius, eyn cartridge other churches zo Golshem " accept the choice of successor and oversee the implementation of the Foundation. When choosing a suitable priest to native Golzheimer used in preference to others. To deposit the founders set precisely specified pieces of farmland in the Golzheimer field. The Vikarie should be more than three centuries survive to again and again to promote the spiritual offspring of Golzheim.
• By episcopal decree of 9 April 1585 St. Nicholas Church was raised to the main church, with Weimerskirch as Vikarie. The common parish priest had to reside at St. Nicholas and can be represented in perpetuus Weimerskirch by a vicar.

Notes and sources

• Foundation Vikarie Sancti Nicolai 1501, Winterswijk
• Deed Vikarie the Cross Brotherhood in Elspe, diocese of Cologne ( 1496 )
• Müller: The spiritual goods of the Zerbst aldermen from before the Reformation. In: Zerbst Jb XVI 8-12

• Law ( Middle Ages)
• Foundation
• Church History of Law
• Canon Law
• History of Law ( Germany )