The Synods of Arles

Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99...

The first Council of Arles was held in 314, for the purpose of putting an end to theDonatist controversy. It confirmed the findings of the Council ofRome (313), i.e. it recognized the validity of the election of Caecilian of Carthage, and confirmed theexcommunication of Donatus of Casae Nigrae. Its twenty-two canons dealing with various abuses that had crept intoecclesiastical life since thepersecution ofDiocletian (284-305) are among the most important documents of earlyecclesiastical legislation. A council held in 353, and attended, among others, by twopapal legates, was decidedlyArian in attitude. Thelegates were tempted into rejecting communion withAthanasius and refused to condemn Arius, an act which filledPope Liberius with grief. In the synod of 443 (452), attended also bybishops of neighbouring provinces, fifty-six canons were formulated, mostly repetitions of earlier disciplinary decrees. Neophytes were excluded from major orders; married men aspiring to thepriesthood were required to promise a life of continency, and it was forbidden toconsecrate abishop without the assistance of three otherbishops and the consent of themetropolitan. A council of 451 held after the close of theCouncil of Chalcedon in that year, sent its adhesion to the "Epistola dogmatica" ofLeo I, written byFlavian of Constantinople. (SeeEUTYCHES.) A council was held on New Year's Day, 435, to settle the differences that had arisen between theAbbot of Lérins and theBishop ofFréjus. Apropos of the conflict between the archiepiscopal See of Vienne and Arles a council was held in the latter city in 463, which called forth a famous letter fromSt. Leo I (Leonis I, Opp., ed.Ballerini, I, 998; Hefele, Conciliengeschichte, II, 590). Between 475 and 480 another council was called, attended by thirtybishops, in which the pre-destinationist teachings of thepriest Lucidus were condemned. In 524 a council was held under the presidency ofSt. Caesarius of Arles; its canons deal chiefly with the conferring of orders. Little is known of the councils of 554 and 682. An important council was held in 813, at the instigation ofCharlemagne, for the correction of abuses and the reestablishment ofecclesiastical discipline. Its decrees insist on a sufficientecclesiasticaleducation ofbishops andpriests, on theduty of both to preach frequently to the people and to instruct them in theCatholicFaith, on theobligation ofparents to instruct their children, etc. In 1034 a council was held at Arles for the re-establishment of peace, the restoration ofChristian Faith, the awakening in the popular heart of a sense of divinegoodness and of salutary fear by the consideration of past evils. In 1236 a council held under the presidency of Jean Baussan,Archbishop of Arles, issued twenty-four canons, mostly against the prevalentAlbigensian heresy, and for the observance of the decrees of the Lateran Council of 1215 and that ofToulouse in 1229. Close inspection of theirdioceses is urged on thebishops, as a remedy against the spread ofheresy; testaments are declared invalid unless made in the presence of theparishpriest. This measure, met with in other councils, was meant to prevent testamentary dispositions in favour of knownheretics. In 1251, Jean,Archbishop of Arles, held acouncil near Avignon (Concilium Insculanum), among whose thirteen canons is one providing that the sponsor atbaptism is bound to give only the white robe in which the infant isbaptized. In 1260 a council held by Florentin,Archbishop of Arles, decreed that confirmation must be receivedfasting, and that onSundays and feast days the religious should not open their churches to thefaithful, nor preach at the hour of theparish Mass. Thelaity should be instructed by theirparishpriests. The religious should also frequent theparochial service, for the sake of good example. This council also condemned the doctrines spread abroad under the name ofJoachim of Flora. In 1275, earlier observances, twenty-two in number, werepromulgated anew at a Council of Arles.

CONTACT US |ADVERTISE WITH NEW ADVENT