Interstice

Interstice (pronounced in-tur-stis)

(1) An intervening space.

(2) An interval of time.

(3) A small or narrow space or interval between things or parts, especially when one of a series of alternating uniform spaces and parts.

(4) In Roman Catholic canon law, the interval of time that must elapse before promotion to a higher degree of orders.

(5) In physics, the space between adjacent atoms in a crystal lattice.

(6) In medicine or pathology, a small area, space, or hole in the substance of an organ or tissue.

(7) In geology, an opening or space, especially a small or narrow one between mineral grains in a rock or within sediments or soil.

1595-1605:  From the Old French interstice (interval), from the Latin interstitium (interval (literally "space between")) from intersistere, the construct being inter (between) + sistere (to stand, place), the stem of stare (to stand) from the primitive Indo-European root sta- (to stand, make or be firm).  The adjective was interstitial (pertaining to or situated in an interstice), noted since the 1640s; the noun plural was interstices.

St Augustine, Benedict and canon law

In Roman Catholic canon law, an interstice is a defined waiting period; the interval of time required between the attainment of different degrees of an order, the best-known and most widely applied being the three months between an appointment to a diaconate and ordination to the priesthood.  While ninety-odd days is the minimum, interstices tend to be longer though a bishop may shorten the length, should some extraordinary circumstance arise.

Codifications of these rules of progression of candidates for church office were published during the fourth & fifth centuries and reflected regional differences in the early church.  While there were those who never varied from the minimum stipulation, there were bishops who imposed a waiting period of four years as acolyte and five as a deacon.  Even during the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II, 1962-1965), there was no attempt to modify canon law organizationally by removing from it stuff which would better constitute a book of advisory guidelines.

Structurally interesting itself is canon law and its interpretation in an absolute theocracy.  The way it works is that canon law is not always interpreted by judges because, with the advice of the bishops, a pope is the Magisterium and his interpretations are binding.  Pope Benedict XVI (b 1927; pope 2005-2013, pope emeritus since) discussed this in a 2012 address to the judges of the Roman Rota, the Holy See’s highest court of appeal.  He explained canonical law can be interpreted and understood “only” within the Church and "…the work of the interpreter must not be deprived of vital contact with ecclesial reality.”  Arguing for a more flexible position than had often been heard from Rome, Benedict said the need existed always to consider “…the proper meaning of the words considered in their text and context", commending the “inner process of St Augustine in biblical [teaching] the transcending of the letter has rendered the letter itself credible".

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI with Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (b 1949) and Archbishop Georg Ganswein (b 1956; Prefect of the Papal household & personal secretary to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI), having a couple of beers during the retired pontiff’s ninetieth birthday celebration at the Vatican.  Following Bavarian tradition, there was no interstice between rounds.