CANONICAL Life, the method or rule of living prescribed by the ancient clergy who lived in community. The canonical life was a kind of medium between the monastic and clerical lives. Originally the orders of monks and clerks were entirely distinct; but pious persons, in process of time, instituted colleges of priests and canons, where clerks, brought up for the ministry, as well as others already engaged therein, might live under a fixed rule, which, though somewhat more easy than the monastic, was yet more restrained, than the secular. This was called the canonical life, and those who embraced it canons. Authors are divided about the founder of the canonical life. Some will have it to be founded by the apostles; others ascribe it to Pope Urban I. about the year 1230, who is said to have ordered bishops to provide such of their clergy as were willing to live in community, with necessaries out of the revenues of their churches. The generality attribute it to St Augustine; who, having gathered a number of clerks to devote themselves to religion, instituted a monastery within the episcopal palace, where he lived in community with them. Onuphrus Panvinus, brings the institution somewhat lower; according to him, Pope Gelasius I. about the year 495, placed the first regular canons of St Augustine in the Lateran church.