ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Jurisprudence of Catholic canon law

So, you know how when you go to school, there are rules that you have to follow? Like you have to listen to the teacher, be quiet when they're talking, and you can't just run around the classroom whenever you feel like it?

Well, the Catholic Church also has rules that people have to follow. They are called "canon laws." These laws are like a set of instructions that tell people what they can and can't do in the Church.

Jurisprudence is a big word that means the study of laws and how they work. So, when we talk about the "jurisprudence of Catholic canon law," we're talking about how these rules work and how they are enforced.

Basically, if someone in the Church doesn't follow these rules, there are consequences. They might not be able to receive certain sacraments or do certain things in the Church.

But, it's not just about punishment. The rules are there to help people lead good and holy lives. So, if someone wants to get married in the Church, for example, they have to follow certain rules to make sure that their marriage is a good and holy one.

In order to make sure that these rules are fair and just, there are people who study canon law and make sure that it makes sense and is in line with what the Church teaches. So, it's kind of like the teacher making sure that the rules at school are fair and make sense.