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451
The Council of Chalcedon
The Council of Chalcedon took place in 451 AD. It essentially set forth the Chalcedonian Creed which describes the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ. The conflict being that the Council of Nicea taught that Jesus was divine, which led to further problems regarding whether Jesus was truly human or semi-human. The Council of Chalcedon found the language that held together the two natures of Jesus. The two councils unequivocally concluded that Jesus is fully God and fully man. -
Period: 451 to
The Catholic Church in History
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Jan 1, 1326
The Black Death
The plague instigated in the Gobi desert in the late 1320's, however peaked in Europe during the years 1346-1353. It was believed that the fleas on black rats which were often on the merchant ships carried the bubonic plague. This plague is described as the worst natural disaster in history as it killed over 75 million people across Europe. The aftermath of the plague influenced the establishments of religious upheavals. The people surmised that is was God's doing as a punishment for sins. -
Jan 1, 1517
The Reformation
Prior to The Reformation, the Church had numerous abuses of indulgences. These include 'forgiving sins' of the citizens for their money. The corruption in various parts of the church caused Martin Luther to act appropiately. In 1517, Luther circulated his 95 Theses which consisted of statements about the aspects of Church life and teaching, and particularly about indulgences. The 95 Theses were posted on the door of a church. By 1524, he gained the undivided support of the German masses. -
Jan 1, 1545
The Council of Trent
Pope Paul III convened the Council of Trent in 1545. This council met various times between 1545 and 1563 to firmly respond to the issues of the Reformation. The Council of Trent rightly so forbade the many corrupt practices among priests, bishops and cardinals. All abuses of indulgences to single-mindedly raise money were forbidden. Furthermore the council's commitment was to show that salvation came from faith and good actions. -
The First Vatican Council
Held between 1869 and 1870, The First Vatican Council comprised of 744 bishops. It reviewed and summaried Catholic faith, and dealt with the authority of the Pope. The first meeting was under the presidency of the Pope. The main purpose of the council was to teach that the Pope has supreme power over the whole Church, and as the successor of Peter, he is infallible when he teaches definitively the doctrine that is to be believed by the whole Church. -
The Second Vatican Council
Being held between 1962 and 1965, the council was unique in that it was the first Council of the Church to utilise electricity, telephones and other means of modern technology to communicate and transport. The council had over 2600 bishops from all over the world in congregation. Today, it is accredited that the council essentially shaped the modern Catholic Church into what it is today, a turning point in the Church's openness to the modern world.
