Council of Constance

Outline:

A.  The Calling of the Council

B.  Cardinal D’Ailly:  Only the Universal Church has the privilege of infallibility

C.  Sacrosancta:

            This holy synod of Constance, consisting a General Council and lawfully assembled to root out the present schism and bring about the reform of the Church in head and members … declares that, being lawfully assembled in the Holy Spirit, constituting a General Council and representing the Catholic Church militant, it holds power immediately from Christ and that anyone of whatsoever state or dignity, even the papal, is bound to obey it in matters which pertain to the faith, the rooting out of the said schism and the general reform of the church in head and members.

            Further it declares that any person of whatsoever rank, state or dignity, even the papal, who contumaciously refuses to obey the mandates, statutes, ordinances or instructions made or to be made by this holy synod or by any other General Council lawfully assembled concerning the aforesaid matters and matters pertaining to them shall, unless he repents, be subjected to fitting penance and duly punished, recourse being had if necessary to other sanctions of the law.

                                                                                    6 April 1415

C.  Council of Constance convened by Pope Gregory XII

D.  Martin V is elected pope

E.  The ground-up renew of the Church after Constance

F.  Martin V returns to Rome:  My duty is to return to Rome.  The city is suffering from the absence of its sovereign; the Roman Church is the mother of all the rest; there and there alone the Pope is at his post, like a pilot at the helm.

Questions to Consider:

1.  Why choose the city of Constance for the great council?

2.  How does the ecclesiology of Cardinals D’Ailly and Cambrai differ from the orthodox understanding?

3.  How does the second convening of the Council of Constance undo the decree SACROSANCTA?

4.  Reflect on the words of Nicholas of Cusa:  Man has not to reform religion, but religion has to reform man.

5.  How does Pope Martin explain the causes of the Great Schism and what does he do to solve this problem?