The General Councils of the Church
Type
Book
Authors
Category
Dogmatic Theology
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Publication Year
1960
Publisher
The Bruce Publishing Company, United States
Pages
193
Tags
Description
Unquestionably, the most dramatic event of the first months of John XXIII's pontificate has been the announcement of his intention to convoke a General Council of the Church. There have been but twenty such councils; in the past four centuries, only two. A General Council is as momentous as it is rare in the life of Christendom.
Yet, precisely because a General Council is such a rarity, few people have a clear notion of what it is. What, for instance, constitutes a General Council? When are they held? Why? What have been their results and their effects on later times?
These are the basic questions which this book answers. It is a brief and compact yet surprisingly thorough and popular presentation of the personalities, issues, and results of the twenty General Councils held during the past two years.
Each of these Councils, even the least important among them, has been a veritable landmark in the evolution of Christian life. Their respective histories crystallize in a concrete manner the doctrinal disputes, moral crises, and disciplinary problems that have been the inseparable human component of Christianity's progress and decline. In a sense, the histories of these great Councils are the history of Christianity itself.
Too often, unfortunately, the Councils are reduced to a barren recital of names and dates and obscure theological disputes. Thus taken out of their living context they are of little interest and of less use to the reader who wants to know what in fact went on and why - which is precisely what the author provides. He introduces each of the Councils by an account of the concrete historical situation which provoked the Council. Then, against a vibrant background of colorful personalities, petty ecclesiastical bickering, Machiavellian intrigue, threats, and violence, he discusses the issues and the heated, often labored, occasionally ludicrous arguments which developed over them. The whole is completed by a summary of the results of the particular Council as seen from the calm perspective of history.
Father Murphy has successfully joined a concise, lucid elaboration of theoretic considerations to the men and events responsible for them. With remarkable balance he maintains a clear view of the essentials amid a complex of fascinating detail. In his hands, the great Christian Councils come resoundingly alive. In addition, The General Councils of the Church is an excellent introduction to the epoch-making event now being prepared in the Church.
Taken from the inside flaps.
Yet, precisely because a General Council is such a rarity, few people have a clear notion of what it is. What, for instance, constitutes a General Council? When are they held? Why? What have been their results and their effects on later times?
These are the basic questions which this book answers. It is a brief and compact yet surprisingly thorough and popular presentation of the personalities, issues, and results of the twenty General Councils held during the past two years.
Each of these Councils, even the least important among them, has been a veritable landmark in the evolution of Christian life. Their respective histories crystallize in a concrete manner the doctrinal disputes, moral crises, and disciplinary problems that have been the inseparable human component of Christianity's progress and decline. In a sense, the histories of these great Councils are the history of Christianity itself.
Too often, unfortunately, the Councils are reduced to a barren recital of names and dates and obscure theological disputes. Thus taken out of their living context they are of little interest and of less use to the reader who wants to know what in fact went on and why - which is precisely what the author provides. He introduces each of the Councils by an account of the concrete historical situation which provoked the Council. Then, against a vibrant background of colorful personalities, petty ecclesiastical bickering, Machiavellian intrigue, threats, and violence, he discusses the issues and the heated, often labored, occasionally ludicrous arguments which developed over them. The whole is completed by a summary of the results of the particular Council as seen from the calm perspective of history.
Father Murphy has successfully joined a concise, lucid elaboration of theoretic considerations to the men and events responsible for them. With remarkable balance he maintains a clear view of the essentials amid a complex of fascinating detail. In his hands, the great Christian Councils come resoundingly alive. In addition, The General Councils of the Church is an excellent introduction to the epoch-making event now being prepared in the Church.
Taken from the inside flaps.
Number of Copies
1
