The book was published by Hawthorn Books in 1961, and while some might state that book is outdated and lacks the modern scholarship necessary surrendering the events of the Second Vatican Council, I disagree. Father Francis gathers a multitude of sources in his academic writing to guide the reader from an understanding of what composes a Council and the environment surrounding the eras on which these General Councils were convoked? The book is divided into four key areas: The First Ecumenical Councils, The Medieval Councils of the Western Church, the Shadow of the Conciliar Theory, and the Councils of Trent and the Vatican [I].
Through the first part, Fr Francis in his scholarships focuses on explaining and demonstrating the areas surrounding the call of the first councils. In such, he focuses on how the Councils was formed using the characteristics of the Roman Senate. In which the Emperor would call a council, but he would have no vote. In such a matter, the see of more importance felt under Rome. The Roman bishop then, acted as the Princeps Senatus in which as well as following the tradition of the Senator of Rome, he voted first, and other Senators would vote per him. Yet, it was vastly agreed that a Council was Ecumenical not on the matter of the convocation from the Emperor, but the agreement of the faithful bishops accepting it as such in a synodal communion with the whole church. It as well gives us at the end of this section, a summarized glimpse of the Photian Synods and Schism, and the role of the Papacy in such as the final tribunal of matters.
The second part focuses on the General Councils of the Western Church and the matter of the Unions that were tried to be achieved with Greeks and the Orientals. In the first part, Fr. Francis touches on the first Synod in which the churches were In Full Union, the Photianist Council of 879-80 on which all churches agreed (via votes) that each Church should have her usage in according to the local traditions. In the later years as well, Emperor Leo VI recognized Rome as the Final (and highest) tribunal on disciplinary matters when he appealed to Pope after the refusal of Patriarch Nicholas Mysticus’ refusal to allow his fourth marriage. Later, emperor Romanus Lecapenus as well recognized Rome as the highest and final tribunal. Fr. Francis academically shows that the historical accounts are not cut as black and white using multiple historical sources.
The third part focuses on the events surrounding the infighting between the French Bourbons and the Germanic Habsburg Dynasty. In such it focuses on the events regarding the Western Schism, the Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy, and the evolution of Christian thought throughout the Medieval World. In a matter of events, Fr. Francis seeks to demonstrate as well that the matter of the numbering of the Ecumenical rather than being a matter of doctrinal characteristic is simply a matter of convenience by canonists who differ throughout the church’s history. To defeat the Conciliar theory, the Greeks were needed. They played the key and most important role regarding the understanding of the Papal position for the Western Church. Thanks to the Greek’s views of the Council and the Patriarchs, the western theory of Conciliarism was defeated doctrinally by matters of events and facts since the position of the Council was with the help of the Greeks brought to its Patristical understanding and position.
The Fourth part deals with the two most important councils for the Western Church since Chalcedon. The first one is Trent on which an actual reform occurs. Since the Medieval era, the positions of the church were filled with clergy who upheld Nepotism. As such, they used the selling of indulgences to finance large projects, and while synods had existed prohibiting this, no reform was made until the events surrounding Luther. On the second council, Father using various sources shows the evidence of the parameters of papal infallibility, the protests from the secular world, and its true definition.
Father Francis not only serves as a great historian, but he is kind of the forgotten teacher that the modern church must reconcile, understand and embrace its past. Often the church is filled with neophytes that are thrown around extremist camps. Unable to comprehend the center and bases of the Church. Father Francis serves as that guide to aid us in this historical realm of the church.
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