Vatican II In A Year Day 2: Background on Ecumenical Councils
Jan 2, 2025
Dr. Robert Fastiggi, a historical and dogmatic theologian and chair of dogmatic theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, delves into the rich history of ecumenical councils. He explains the significance of the Council of Nicaea in defining Christ's divinity and discusses how subsequent councils, like Constantinople and Ephesus, addressed key theological controversies. Fastiggi also highlights Trent's reaffirmation of sacraments and justification in response to Protestantism, showing how these gatherings shaped the Church's doctrine and unity over the centuries.
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What Makes A Council Ecumenical
- An ecumenical council is an assembly of bishops under the Roman pontiff to decide faith, morals, and discipline for the whole Church.
- Early councils were often convoked by emperors but required papal confirmation to be truly ecumenical.
Nicaea's Core Declaration
- The Council of Nicaea affirmed Christ's full divinity and produced the Nicene Creed declaring the Son "begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father."
- Nicaea anathematized claims that the Son was created or of a different substance than the Father.
Affirming The Holy Spirit
- The First Council of Constantinople (381) expanded the creed to affirm the full divinity of the Holy Spirit and its worship with Father and Son.
- That addition clarified Trinitarian doctrine amid Arian pressures and later gained ecumenical recognition.
