The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-01-28
THE GREAT COUNCILS OF THE
CHURCH.

legitimately assembled in any other
way than by the express authorization
of the Supreme Apostolic See.
The Sovereign Pontiff's sanction and
ratification of all the acts and DEGREES
of General Council is afterwards in
dispensably required for their valid
ity, there being no action of the body
apart from the head.
An Ecclesiastical Council or Synod
may be defined as Legitimate assem-
bly, of prelates of the Church, con-
vened for the regulation of it's public
affairs" Councils are ecumenical,
general or particular.
An Ecumenical Council is one which
represents the whole Catholic Church.
For such a Council, it suffices that the
chief part of the Church should have
assembled, in agreement with the Sow
ereign Pontiff.
A General Council is one which is
conspicuous for the number of pre-
lates, but which, through it's not being
confirmed by the Sovereign Pontiff, or
for some other reason, is not held to
represent the Universal Church.
A Particular Council is one which
represents only a portion OF the
Church. Such councils are-1, Ma
tional, or primatial; 2, Provincial, Or
metropolitan; 8, Diocesan, which are
called simply synods.
The definitions of an Ecumenical
Council, in matter of faith or morals
(but not if they merely regard disci-
pline), are, when approved by the
Sovereign Pontiff, certain and infalli-
BILE.
Other councils, whether General or
Particular, have only as much author
ity as have the Churches which they
represent. Their authority may be
great; but it cannot be infallible, I'M
less it be solemnly confirmed by the
appreciation of the Holy See.
The following are the Ecumenical
Councils whose acts and DEGREES have
received the sanction and ratification
of the Apostolic See.
325.-The First Council of Nice,
which was held in the reign of Con-
stantine, and presided over by Hosius
of Corduba, the legate of the Pope ST.
Sylvester; 37S prelates in it con-
demned the heresy of Arius, which
denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ.
3S1-The First Council of Constan-
tinople, held under Pope Damascus and
the Emperor Theodosius; $50 prelates
sat in the Council, and condemned the
heresy of Macedonius, which denied
the Divinity of the Holy Ghost.
431.-The Council of Ephesus, under
Pope St. Celestine, in which 431 pre-
lates condemned the heresy of Nestor-
JUS, who affirmed that there were two
distinct persons in Jesus Christ
451.-The Council of Chalcedon, un-
in xrThi
lates condemned the heresy of Eu-
tyches, who denied the two distinct
natures, divine and human, in Jesus
Christ.
563.-The second Council of Con-
the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, in
which 1873 prelates sat.
682.-The third Council of Constan.
tinople, under Pope Agatha, in which
189 prelates condemned the Monothe
4 Christ had no human will separate
from the Divine will.
i 757.-The second Council of Nice
under Pope Adrian l., in which seven
ty-five prelates condemned the Icono
clast heresy, that denied the lawful
ness of sacred images and pictures and
their veneration.
869.-The fourth Council of Con
stantinople, under Pope Adrian H., in
which upwards of 200 prelates deposed
the schismatic patriarch Photius, and
restored Ignatius to his See.
!, 1118.-The first Lateran Council, I'm
der Calixtus H., in which 900 prelates
abolished the right of investiture with
ring and crosier claimed by certain
rulers.
], 1139.-The Second Lateran Council
under Innocent H., in which 1,00(
prelates sat- The heresies of Peter O.
Bruys and Arnold of Brescia were con
demned by it.
under Alexander Ill, condemned the
genses
1215.-The Fourth Lateran Council
under Pope Innocent I'LL; for genera
legislation.
) 1245.-The First Council of Lyons
general crusade.
under Pope Gregory X, attended b.
500 prelates, decreed the Procession 0
the Holy Ghost from the Father an(
the Son.
1311.-The Council of Vienne, unde
Pope Clement ", in which 800 prelate
abolished the order of the Knight
Templars, and condemned the Frati
!; celli, the Beghardi, and the Beguins.
: 1417.-The Council of Constance
!, This council, schismatic in it's com
.. mencement, afterwards submitted t,
Pope Gregory XII, and it's acts wer
partially ratified by Pope Martin v
; In it the forty years disputed success
: sion to the See of Peter was term
mated by the voluntary resignation o
Gregory XII.
1434.-The Council of Florence, il
, which the act of reconciliation of tn
: Greeks of the Byzantine empire wa
!. signed by al Bishops.
= 1512.-The Fifth Lateran Council
commenced under julius IT., contin
: ued under Innocent x, attended b.
: lao bishops, who passed DEGREES TO
: the re-establishment of discipline
i ~e -