The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-27
CONVOCATTONS AND COUNCILS OF
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.


MarIyrdOm of st. Peter.
Theimmense convocation of Catholic Priests
in Rome at present TO assist at the eighteenth
makes the subject of the councils and convocar
tions OF the Catholic Church one OF interest.
The first great councils were epochs In the his
tory of Europe, and their deliberations were
regarded with the deepest attention by all
classes, whether within or without the pale OF
the Catholic Church. II would be impossible TO
point out q society on history's page IN which
more assemblies have been held, combining
in them everything distinguished by science
General, national, provincial councils, and
diocesan synods are to be met with on every
page of the history of the Church. Such an
example held up during centuries TO the view
OF the people of Europe had exercised consider
able Influence on all questions as we'll as that of
religion. In the first ages OF Christianity coun-
ellis were much more easily assembled than
now, because the Church was less numerous,
and because the united powers accumulated on
the heads of the emperors enabled them to call
together sufficiently great number OF bishops
to make at once such an impression by their
deliberations as that nothing more was re-
quired than the assent OF the rest.
ECcLEsIAsTIcAL COUNCILS.
council, generally speaking, MEANS IN the
ecclesiastical sense of the word, an assembly of
bishops, legitimately convoked to determine
questions relating to the faith, rights and disci-
pline of the Church. Councils are either pro
Vinc1al, national, or general, according as they
nation or d Of ali Cnristendom; and their j1ris.
diction is of corresponding extent. We snail
speak only of the
GENERAL OR ECUMENICAL COUNCILS.
These are councils summoned by the Pope
and consisting of all the bishops of Christen-
dom, and are designed TO adjudge questions of
schism and heresy belief al nd discipline which
affect the universal church. The first eight
General Councils were convoked by the Chris
tian emperors at the request or with the con-
then extend beyond the limits of the
Roman empire. Bishops and their repre-
in ecumenical councils, although the privilege
has often been extended TO abbots and the
generals of monastic orders. The Doctors of
the Church and the lower orders of the clergy
have only consultative vote, If they be invited
and participate in the deliberations of the
council The Pope in person or by legate, pre-
sides over the council. In some of The early
Eastern councils the emperors presided only in
decision is usually according to the number of
votes cast, although in the Council of Constance
voted separately.
POWERS OF A GENERAL COUNCIL.
General Councils do not create new dogmas,
but interpret and declare what was originally
cording to Catholic belief are infallible in mat
ters of faith. Their infallibility, however, does
not extend to questions OF discipline, history,
politics, or science, nor even to the grounds of
their decision, nor to collateral observations.
The disciplinary ordinances are usually term5d
canons (cdnOneS), and the decisions concerning
doctrines, dogmas (dogndtG) In the Council of
Trent, however, the latter were called canons
and the former capita or decretd.
NAMES OF GENERAL COUNCILS
The Catholic Church recognizes nineteen nineteen
0E heS S b %oses Was
the first. Then followed the frst OF Nice, In
8Sl; the first Of Ephesus in 4Sl that of Chalce-
don in 45l; the second of ConsJantinople In $50;
the third Of Constantinople in $50; the second of
Nice in 7S7; the fourth of Constanttnople in S69;
the four councils of Lateran, at Rome, in 1923,
1889, ll79, and 1875 the first and second of Lyons
in 1911 that Of Constance in I4i4 that Of Basic
in l4l3, ltill its dissolution by the Pope), and
that of Trent in 1915 The Councils OF Pisa in
Florence and fifth
in 1912 are also regaru ed by some ecumenical.
The Greek Church receives as authoritative the
decisions of only the first seven General Ooun-
ellis. The Protestant Churches generally deny
the full authority Of any of them, and esteem
only as ecumentcal the six which directly fol-
lowed the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem.
GENERAL COUNCILS SUMMONED BY THE POPE
Ecumenical councils have been described by
Catholic writers as 1.-THE Parliament or States
rity and under the presidency of the sovereign"
for 10 the sovereign Pontif alone belongs essen
TALLY the right OF convoking General Councils.
This does not, however. exclude the moderate
and legitimate influence of temporal rulers.
nical Council varies a great deal. There were
one hundred and eighty Bishops at Constanti-
nople in 8Sl. one Thousand at Rome In llS9, and
| ninety five only in the same In 1912 including
| the Cardinals. .rrf-
THE LAST GENERAL COUNCIL.
| The Council of Trent opened its deliberations
| December IL, l645 and was convened by the
Sovereign Pontiff, Paul III, for the purpose of
refuting the doctrines of the Reformation. In
|
! nails but four archbishops, twenty-five bishops
hve or six heads of orders. with great number
! of doctors, both secular and regular. 1t lasted
eighteen years, during the successive reigns of
| four Popes Three patriarchs, twenty-one arch
| bishops, one hundred and sixty eight bishops
and seven generals OF orders were present at
| the last session of this Council.
| A CoNvooATIoN
! of preates like the present one in Rome differs
! from q General Council in many respects.
! First, an invitation is sent to each prelate
! decide on matters OF faith and discipline, but
! to assist in the celebration of some great
! Catholic event, such as the canonizatlon of
martyrs, or the centenary of the martyrdom
| OF the first Pope. The conference of one hun
| dred and ninety two prelates at Rome in 1874,
| which proclaimed the dogma OF The Immaou-
| late Conception, was not council; but, judg-
| ing from the Importance of their deliberations
and their decision on tins grave point It would
| q council at the summons of the Pope.
The preparations for the present convocation
at the Eternal City are OF the grandest kind,
and st. Peters, the greatest OF all temples, the
| impershable handiwork OF Michael Angelo,
win be Illuminated with myriad lights,
| shedding an ef1ulgence over the tomb wherein
repose the earthly remains OF the first Pope.
The festival will take place on Saturday, aud
| the services and ceremonies on Sunday will be
magnificent and imposing. There are already
four hundred Catholic prelates assembled in
Rome and some thousands OF priests. From
every part OF the world flock The faithful, all
eager TO be present on this eVentful occasion.
other respects than a religious ceremony, for
we understand from reliable authority "that.
the Popes object in convoking a council of all
the bishops at the canonlzation is TO procure
| the sanction of the Church to an arrangement
with Italy. The proceedings will be opened by
an address TO the Holy Father from the bishops
OF the whole world, referring to Italy in con
ciliatory language, and the Pope will thus be
authorized to take the step which his heart has
long prompted, % but from which he has been
The bishops OF the United States who have