Councils are legally convoked meetings or assemblies of bishops and those they have specially invited for the purpose of discussing and regulating matters of church doctrine, discipline and other pastoral concerns. Councils are a common effort of the Church for self-preservation and self-defense. They appear whenever faith or morals or discipline are seriously threatened.

1.       To clarify doctrine  

2.       To impose discipline

3.       To establish structures

4.       To set-up pastoral guidelines

1.       Ecumenical or General Council – Universal (for the whole world – oikoumene)

2.       Plenary Council – National (for a nation)

3.       Provincial Council – Metropolitan (for a sub-region)

4.       Diocesan Council – Diocesan Synod (for a diocese)

List of Church’s Ecumenical Councils:

1.       Council of Nicaea I (325), 318 bishops, Nicene Creed, divinity of Christ (homoousius), against Arius

2.       Council of Constantinople I (381), 150 bishops, divinity of the Holy Spirit, against Macedonius.

3.       Council of Ephesus (431), 200 bishops, personal unity of Christ, Mary as Theotokos, against Nestorius and Pelagius,

4.       Council of Chalcedon (451), 150 bishops, two natures in Christ, against Eutyches

5.       Council of Constantinople II (553), 165 bishops, confirmed first 4 councils, against Origen, Theodoret, Theodore, 
    and Ibas.

6.       Council of Constantinople III (680-681). 174 bishops, two wills in Christ, against Monothelitism.

7.       Council of Nicaea II (787). 300-367 bishops, regulated veneration of holy images.

8.       Council of Constantinople IV (869). 102 bishops, condemned irregular council called by  Photius.  Last of Eastern
    councils.

9.       Council of Lateran I (1123). 900 bishops, abolished lay investiture, church discipline, recovery of Holy Land from 
    the infidels.

10.   Council of Lateran II (1139), 1000 prelates, put an end to errors of Arnold of Brescia.

11.   Council of Lateran III (1179). 302 bishops, reformation of morals, condemned Albigenses and Waldenses.

12.   Council of Lateran IV (1215). 483 bishops, 800 abbots. 70 reformatory decrees, Most important council of the 
  Middle Ages.

13.   Council of Lyons I (1245), 140 bishops, deposed Emperor Frederick II, called for new crusade under St. Louis 
  of France.

14.   Council of Lyons II (1274). 515 bishops, 1000 dignitaries. temporary reunion of Greek church with Rome, term Filioque
  was added,  rules for papal elections.

15.   Council of Vienne (1311-1313). 300 bishops, crimes and errors of Knights Templars, Fratecelli, Beghards and
  Beguines, new crusade, reformation of clergy.

16.   Council of Constance (1414-1418). ended great Schism of the West with election of Pope Martin V, confirmed decrees
  of synod against  Wycliff and Hus.

17.   Council of Basle/Ferrara/Florence (1431-1439). Council held in various places, dealt with extirpation of heresy, peace in
  Christendom,  reform of the Church.

18.   Council of Lateran V (1512-1517). 15 cardinals, 80 bishops, decrees chiefly disciplinary, religious upheaval in Germany
  caused by Luther.

19.   Council of Trent (1545-1563). 276 bishops, 7 abbots, 7 generals of monastic orders, 160 doctors of divinity. Longest
  council under 5 popes, condemned errors of Luther, reformed discipline of the Church, largest number of dogmatic and
  reformatory decrees. Produced most beneficiary results.

20.   Council of Vatican I (1869-1870). 746 bishops, 28 abbots, 29 generals of orders, all in all 803. Adjourned unfinished,
  canons relating to faith and constitution of the Church, decreed the infallibility of the pope when speaking ex cathedra.

21.   Council of Vatican II (1962-1965). 2540 bishops (out of 2,908), plus others = 3,000.

Significance of Vatican II  

1.       The most important religious event of the 20th century.

2.       Council with the biggest number of attendance than any other previous councils.

3.       Council with most representatives in terms of nations and cultures.

4.       Council with more non-Catholic (18) and lay observers (52).

5.       First Council to use mass media (electricity, telephones, typewriters, news, TV.

6.       Approach was pastoral, to promote peace and unity, using research and modern thought.

1.       Announced by Pope John XXIII on Jan. 25, 1959 for the renewal of the Church and for unity.

2.       Preparation began in May 1959 with consultation of world’s bishops, theological faculties, and universities to make recommendations for the agenda. 13 preparatory commissions (with more than 1000 members) were appointed to write draft proposal. They prepared 67 documents called schemata, later educed to 17.

1.       Council opened on Oct 11, 1962, by Pope John XXIII advising council fathers to meet the pastoral needs of 
    the Church.

2.       Summoned to the council as voting members were all Catholic bishops, heads of male major religious orders.

3.       Invited but without right to vote were some observers from the Orthodox and Protestant churches, some lay auditors,
    male and female.

4.       Preparatory commissions originally from the Curia (the papal bureaucracy); but once the council had been opened,
    others council fathers were added.

5.       Council closed on Dec. 8, 1965 by Pope Paul VI. The Council released 16 documents:  4 Constitutions,  9 Decrees, 
    and 3 Declarations.

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Last Updated: Saturday, December 01, 2001 12:41:47 PM