This book is the most important Canon Law reference book for the Catholic Church. In civil law, Legislative History is extremely important and often cited in legal argument. This book gives Canon Law a Legislative History. This work is monumental in that the only complete English language translation of the 1917 Code.  It is meticulously footnoted with research cross-references.

Canon Law did not evolve in haste, more like tortoise speed. But that makes the milestones even bigger. This book assembles them all. Today, in light of the sexual abuse scandals, there is much discussion over whether the legal system of Canon Law is really a legal system, and, if it is, will it survive the scandal. This book has got to be at the base of any such discussion. This history shows the identity of Canon Law and where it has been. This history helps lead it into the future.

All of this is done for the first time in English. It takes every solid resource available in English and hands them all to Canon Lawyers on one platter! It refers to doctoral dissertations, official interpretations, association documents, and the Canon Law Digest.

The "Curator" of this "Scholarly Apparatus", Dr. Edward N. Peters, is both a canon and civil lawyer. The best lawyers are the ones who love the law. In this work, it is evident that Dr. Peters loves both systems of laws. This work is a crowning achievement for him and for the Canon Law of the Catholic Church.