First Council of Lyons

Council of Leon & accompanying text, Novellae of Pope Innocent IV, glossed by Bernardus Compostellanus Junior, MS 1. Syracuse University Library, Department of Special Collections.

The First Council of Lyons (A.D. 1245) was convoked by Pope Innocent IV “that the Church, through the salutary counsel of the faithful and their fruitful help, may have the dignity of its proper position; that assistance may speedily be brought to the unhappy crisis in the Holy Land and the sufferings of the Eastern Empire; that a remedy may be found against the Tartars and other enemies of the faith and persecutors of the Christian people; further, for the issue between the Church and the Emperor”. During this Council, Innocent IV formally pronounced Frederick II as deprived of kingdom and empire. Image above links to Tanner translation of the Council decrees. ISBN recommendation: 0-87840-490-2

Fourth Lateran Council

Innocent III: contemporary fresco portrait (early 1200s) by Magister Conxolus, Sacro Speco - near Subiaco

The Fourth Lateran Council (A.D. 1215) was convoked by Pope Innocent III “to eradicate vices and to plant virtues, to correct faults and to reform morals, to remove heresies and to strengthen faith, to settle discords and to establish peace, to get rid of oppression and to foster liberty, to induce princes and Christian people to come to the aid and succour of the Holy Land”. The Constitutions present a dogmatic formulation on Transubstantiation. Image above links to Tanner translation of the Council decrees. ISBN recommendation: 0-87840-490-2