The Second General Council of the Lateran
Defining Priesthood and Marriage, 1139 A.D.
As a result, the Second General Council of the Lateran held in 1139 A.D. is said to be complementary to the First General Council of the Lateran held only sixteen years before in 1123 A.D.
Two Popes Claim the Papal Seal
The schism which caused the need for a General Council to be called involved two popes claiming their rightful seat. There were two families in faction with one another who elected their own Pope. The Pierleoni clan elected Anacletus II, a member of their family. Whereas the Frangipani faction elected Innocent II. Historical records say that there was no question that Innocent II was the better man, but neither held proper claim to the title based on the law set down in 1059 A.D. in the election of Popes.
Innocent crossed the Alps to look for support, which he found in the famed Doctor of the Church, Bernard of Clairvaux, but Innocent did not take full reigns until Anacletus died in 1138 A.D.
Contributions of the Second General Council of the Lateran
Many of the issues which had arisen before were included in the 30 canons of this council, but a few new issues were defined.
Five new canons were issued regarding clerical life. One of them made null and void all marriages of the clergy before or after their ordination. Faithful were not allowed to attend Mass celebrated by a married clergyman. And the famed and hated practice hereditary benefices which were positions in the church which were handed on from father to son, and then so on, was annihilated and condemned.
There was a strange canon in this General Council involving the pillaging of the homes of the bishops upon their death. This was strictly forbidden and had apparently been a rather rampant and cultural practice of the time as horrific as it seems.
Two other odd canons were added which might intrigue the modern mind. Knights who participated in jousts were denied Christian Burial as this was considered a detestable act. And to use a catapult in wartimes against Christian men could usher in an excommunication. This new method of warfare which hurled huge stones at the walls of castles was considered ‘detested by God.’
Several canons were added regarding Christian belief, and what would constitute the necessity for ex-communication. Christian Burial and the rights thereof were also laid out very clearly.
The First General Council of the Lateran, 1123 A.D.
The Third General Council of the Lateran, 1179 A.D.
Sources: The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325 – 1870 – By Philip Hughes, The General Counsdcils: A History of the Twenty-One Church Councils from Nicaea to Vatican II – By Christopher M. Bellito, The Documents of Vatican II – By Walter M. Abbott, S.J. and the Very Reverend Monsignor Joseph Gallagher, A Short History of Christian Doctrine: From the First Century to the Present – By Bernard Lohse, The Reform of the Liturgy – Annibale Bugnini, www.catholicdigitalstudio.com/councils.htm
St. Bartholomew at the Lateran
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