(Latin: guardian; officer in charge of voting-tablets)
Formerly, the canon of a cathedral or collegiate church, having, by episcopal approbation, care of the souls connected with his church; an under-sacristan, or treasurer; also, in the Franciscan Order, a superior or official presiding over a number of convents collectively called a custodia. According to the ancient legislation approved by Gregory IX in 1230, only one of the several custodes of a province was present at the general chapter for election of a minister general. This custos custodum is still chosen among the Conventuals. In the Capuchin Order there are custodes general and custodes provincial. Among the Friars Minor are also two kinds of custodes: the custos provincire, authorized to represent his provincial in the general chapter; and the custos regiminis, ruler of a small province, or custody, including four to eight convents.
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