_secretus_. The first occurrence of [Greek:
kanonikos] is in the 59th canon of the council of Laodicea, where it is
contrasted with [Greek: idiotikos] and [Greek: akanonistos]. [Greek:
Kanonixomena], "_canonized_ books," is first used in Athanasius's festal
epistle.[12] The kind of rule which the earliest Fathers thought the
Scriptures to be can only be conjectured; it is certain that they
believed the Old Testament books to be a divine and infallible guide.
But the New Testament was not so considered till towards the close of
the 2nd century, when the conception of a Catholic Church was realized.
The collection of writings was not called _Scripture_, or put on a par
with the Old Testament as sacred and inspired, till the time of
Theophilus of Antioch (about 180 A.D.). Hence Irenaeus applies the
epithets divine and perfect to the Scriptures; and Clement of Alexandria
calls them inspired.

When distinctions were made among the Biblical writings other words were
employed, synonymous with [Greek: kanonixomena] or [Greek:
kekanonismena], such as [Greek: endiathaeka], [Greek: orismena]. The
canon was thus a catalogue of writings, forming a rule of truth, sacred,
divine, revealed by God for the instruction of men. The rule was perfect
for its purpose. (See BIBLE: section _Canon_.)

The term "canonical," i.e. that which is approved or ordered by the
"canon" or rule, is applied to ecclesiastical vestments, "canonicals,"
and to those hours set apart by the Church for prayer and devotion, the
"Canonical Hours" (see BREVIARY). (S. D.)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] _Zur Geschichte des Kanons_, pp. 3-68.

[2] _Clement Hom._, ap. Coteler. vol. i. p. 608.

[3] _Stromata_, vi. 15, p. 803, ed. Potter.

[4] _Adv. Haeres._ i. 95.

[5] Euseb. _H.E._ v. 24.

[6] _De praescript. Haereticorum_, chs. 12, 13.

[7] _Comment. in Mat._ iii. p. 916, ed. Delarue.

[8] _Monumenta vetera ad Donatistarum historiam pertinentia_, ed.
Dupin, p. 168.

[9] At the end of the _Iambi ad Seleucum_, on the books of the New
Testament, he adds, [Greek: outos acheudestatos kanon an ein ton
theopneuston grachon].

[10] _Prologus galeatus in ii. Reg._

[11] _Expos. in Symb. Apost._ 37, p. 374, ed. Migne.

[12] After the word is added [Greek: kai paradothenta, pioteuthenta
te theia einai]. _Opp._ vol. i. p. 961, ed. Benedict.

CANONESS (Fr. _chanoinesse_, Ger. _Kanonissin_, Lat. _canonica_ or
_canonica virgo_),