Reading Guide 10, part 1 (3/21): Papal Monarchy in the Early 13th Century
A. Pope Innocent III: the Fourth Lateran Council, 1215 (Geary 421-446)
The Fourth Lateran Council was called in 1215 by Pope Innocent III.
A general council, concerning the entire Catholic Church (and not just
one or two dioceses), the decisions made by this council were extremely
important in shaping the religious and social life of medieval Europe.
Terminology: a ‘canon' means, in this case, ‘chapter'. So the ‘canons
of the 4th Lateran' are the chapters, or orders, produced by that Council.
‘Regulars' refers to ‘regular clergy', or those who follow a rule (regula
in Latin); we might simply say ‘monks'.
1. What is the overall purpose of the 4th Lateran Council? What
tone does it take? Is it arrogant? Concerned? Helpful? Worried? Some
or all of these? Try to think, in other words, as if you were an
attendee at the Council - what were you worried about? How did your
concerns shape the subjects of the Council?
2. Canon 1: Why did they open with a creed? Wouldn't this have been
obvious? Why was a creed necessary?
3. Canon 3: This is the general description and prohibition of heresy.
How is heresy defined? Why is it dangerous? What role should
the laity take with regard to heresy? How was heresy to be combated?
Why were the bishops so concerned with preaching? Who could preach? Why
were there limitations on preaching?
4. Canon 11: What is the purpose of this canon? How is it to
be attained?
6. Canons 15-16: These pertain to the lifestyle of the clergy.
With what sorts of behavior are the members of the council concerned? How
is a good life to be enforced? Why do they care so much about priestly
behavior?
7. Canon 18: What does this canon tell us about the "church vs. state"
issue? About jurisdiction?
8. Canon 21: This is an extremely important canon. What does
it suggest was happening before 1215? Why did the clergy think confession
was important?
10. Canon 27: What does this canon tell us about the overall goals
of the Council?
11. Canon 29: this deals with a problem known as pluralism. Why
would pluralism be seen as a bad thing? What efforts does the council
take to rectify this situation?
13. Canon 68: The council was very much concerned with identifying
and defining Christian behavior. Part of this process meant knowing what
Christianity was not, or, perhaps who was not Christian. What does
this canon require? What implications does it carry?
14. The previous questions have concerned specific elements of the
Council's decree. Think now about what these documents mean about the place
and authority of the papacy. What powers did the popes claim? Why? (Hint:
if you think it's because they were power-hungry or greedy, think again)
It is often hard for modern Protestants to put themselves into the medieval
Christian mindset, but this is what we must do to understand the medieval
papacy. What were its goals? Why did it feel that a powerful papacy was
necessary to achieve them? Why did it insist on unity of belief? What is
the concept of "Christendom"?