Catholic Answers Live #12324 How Did the Church Councils Get Their Names, Purgatory, and More - William Albrecht
Aug 13, 2025
William Albrecht, host of the Patristic Pillars YouTube channel and a knowledgeable expert on early church history, dives deep into intriguing topics. He explains how church councils got their names and recommends a key Early Church Father for study. Monophysitism and its implications are clarified, revealing its impact on early councils. Albrecht also explores whether Purgatory was discussed in the Early Church and outlines how the Council of Rome determined the Canon of Scripture, shedding light on the intricate foundations of Christian doctrine.
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Why Councils Use Place Names
- Church councils are named after the geographic locations where they met and sometimes retain multiple place-names when they moved.
- William Albrecht explains councils like Ephesus and Florence began in one city and finished in another, so names can vary historically.
Prepare For RCIA With Two Practical Reads
- Read accessible introductions before diving into primary fathers; Jimmy Akin's and Joe Heschmeyer's books were recommended.
- William Albrecht specifically advised reading Pope St. Leo the Great's Tome and the recommended modern guides to prepare for RCIA.
What Monophysitism Denies About Christ
- Monophysitism claims Christ has a single nature by saying divinity swallowed humanity, which the church rejected.
- Chalcedon (451) affirmed the hypostatic union: Christ is fully God and fully man in one person without confusion.
