December 4, 2012      Martin Mallon  (Ireland)      Martin's previous articles  

       Ecumenical Councils to be held every ten years “for ever”

The Council of Constance was the sixteenth Ecumenical Council and ran from 1414-18. One of the three problems the Council wanted to consider from its start was how to reform the corrupt morals of the church. What a great topic for any Council to consider, “how to reform the corrupt morals of the church”, and every Council should have to consider this matter. Wouldn’t it be great if Councils were held on a regular basis and this particular problem was always considered.

In fact, one of the great findings of the Council of Constance, which was promulgated in Session 39 on 9 October 1417 , was that Councils must be held regularly:

 “The frequent holding of general councils is a pre-eminent
means of cultivating the Lord's patrimony. It roots out the briars, thorns and thistles of heresies, errors and schisms, corrects deviations, reforms what is deformed and produces a richly fertile crop for the Lord's vineyard.

Neglect of councils, on the other hand, spreads and fosters the aforesaid evils. This conclusion is brought before our eyes by the memory of past times and reflection on the present situation.

For this reason we establish, enact, decree and ordain, by a perpetual edict, that general councils shall be held henceforth in the following way. The first shall follow in five years immediately after the end of this council, the second in seven years immediately after the end of the next council, and thereafter they are to be held every ten years for ever.

They are to be held in places which the supreme pontiff is bound to nominate and assign within a month before the end of each preceding council, with the approval and consent of the council, or which, in his default, the council itself is bound to nominate.

Thus, by a certain continuity, there will always be either a council in existence or one expected within a given time. If perchance emergencies arise, the time may be shortened by the supreme pontiff, acting on the advice of his brothers, the cardinals of the Roman church, but it may never be prolonged.”

Ecumenical Councils are to be held every ten years “for ever”. Naturally, this did not go down well with subsequent Popes and curia as it deprived them of power and control. As at any other Ecumenical Council the Holy Spirit was present and ran the show, hence this is a great inspiration of the Holy Spirit still waiting to be received. Perhaps the People of God will now promote this teaching?

It is also interesting to note that the Council was able to bind the Pope; if a Council could do that then it can today.

Session 44 on 19 April 1418 , the second last Session, shows how seriously these canons were treated with Pavia being chosen as the location for the next Council as the Pope was “bound” to chose a venue before the Council closed:  

Martin, etc. We wish and desire to put into effect a decree of this general council [45 ] which lays down, among other things, that general councils must always be held in the place which the supreme pontiff, with the consent and approval of the council, is bound to depute and assign, within the month before the end of this council, as the place for the next council after the end of the present one. With the consent and approval of this present council, we therefore, by this present decree, depute and assign the city of Pavia for this purpose, and we ordain and decree that prelates and others who ought to be summoned to general councils are obliged to go to Pavia at the aforesaid time…  

It is clear what the Council intended with these teachings, and it is also clear why they would not be popular with Popes and curias. However,
if such teachings were reinstated and Ecumenical Councils were held regularly on fixed dates, our church would be much more accountable and open, just as the Holy Spirit intended.

Read about the Council of Constance here