Ecumenical Council of Prague (Merveilles du Monde Map Game)

The Ecumenical Council of Prague was the 16th Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church. It was convoked by Pope Benedict XI in 1411 to discuss Jan Hus' teaching and the growing Hussite influence in Bohemia.

Starting in 1412, the Council was hosted at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert, Prague. The Council also happened in a moment of great crisis in the Catholic Church, due to Emperor Vincent of Luxembourg refusing to recognize the election of Benedict XI. Together with the cardinal-bishops of Verdun and Liege, the emperor was excommunicated and deposed by the pope.

Discussion in Plenary Sessions

Session of 1412

• Pope Benedict XI and the Roman delegation: After studying the teachings of Jan Hus about the Crusades, Purgatory and Hierarchy of the Church, we come to the following conclusions based in the teachings of the Church:
  1. Crusades: We agree with Hus position that the Christians must forgive their enemies. However, the Muslims proved to be dangerous and not trustworthy. Timor and his Horde destroyed everything on his path, Christians and Muslims alike. The Holy City of Jerusalem was sacked and the Churches destroyed. The Rus', that even being Schismatic are Christians, suffered terrible torments in the hands of the Muslims. Due to the necessity of the Christians to defend themselves against the threat of the heathen, the pontiff declares that he will not abolish the Crusades, but for now on it will be only called in case of invasion of Christian nations by Muslim.
  2. Purgatory: For the Church, all who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation - but after death they undergo purification, to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. Because those who comes into God's presence must be perfectly pure for in the strictest sense His "eyes are too pure, to behold evil" (Habakkuk 1:13).  All sins are not equal before God, nor dare anyone assert that the daily faults of human frailty will be punished with the same severity that is given to those who violate God's law. For unrepentant venial faults for the payment of temporal punishment due to sin at time of death, the soul will stay at the Purgatory being purified.  However, the Purgatory is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The time that a soul stays at the Purgatory is known only by God. To this, Saint Gregory the Great said: “As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.” This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore, Judas Maccabeus made atonement for the dead that they might be delivered from their sin." (2 Macc 12:46.) From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead. However, the Holy Father understands that there is a growing abuse of the use of the indulgences. Pope Saint Gregory XI tried to limit its use by decreeing that indulgences could only be used during jubilees and times of calamity, but some members of the clergy continued to use it outside of these occasions. To stop it the Pope Benedict XI decides that for now own agents of the Ecclesial Tribunal will be spread across Europe, observing any member of clergy that incentivizes the abuse of indulgences or that preach something different from the teachings of the Church about the use of indulgences. These priests will be investigated, captured, judged, excommunicated and sentenced to prison for life.  Any corrupt member of the clergy will pay for his crimes against the Christians and the church.
  3. Hierarchy of the Church: The Church considers that the Christian faithful are those who have been incorporated in Christ through Baptism, have been constituted as the people of God. For this reason, since they have become sharers in Christ's priestly, prophetic, and royal office in their own manner, they are called to exercise the mission which God has entrusted to the Church to fulfill in the world, in accord with the condition proper to each one. In virtue of their rebirth in Christ there exists among all the Christian faithful a true equality with regard to dignity and the activity whereby all cooperate in the building up of the Body of Christ in accord with each one's own condition and function. The very differences which the Lord has willed to put between the members of his body serve its unity and mission. For in the Church there is diversity of ministry but unity of mission. To the apostles and their successors Christ has entrusted the office of teaching, sanctifying and governing in his name and by his power. But the laity are made to share in the priestly, prophetical, and kingly office of Christ. They have, therefore, in the church and in the world, their own assignment in the mission of the whole People of God. This way, we can surely say that Christ did not give to all the faithful power to administer His sacraments, except in the case of baptism and matrimony, or to offer public worship. This was reserved to those who, having received the sacrament of order, belong to the hierarchy of order. He entrusted the guidance of the faithful along the paths of duty and in the practice of good works to a religious authority, and for this purpose He established a hierarchy of jurisdiction. Moreover, He established His Church as a visible, external, and perfect society, hence He conferred on its hierarchy the right to legislate for the good of that society. Finally, from both groups (hierarchy and laity) there exist Christian faithful who are consecrated to God in their own special manner and serve the salvific mission of the Church through the profession of the evangelical counsels. (Being edited.)
• Icelandic Delegation:
  1. Purgatory: Ari points out that Ari Guðmundsson explored and Mapped out Inferno half a century ago.
• Bishop Henry of Geneva-Lenzburg and Swiss delegation: Henry generally agrees with Pope Benedict XI, and specifically points out on the topic of the hierarchy of the church that a hierarchy of some sort is necessary from a practical point of view to ensure continuity and consistency in the teaching of the way of Christ and to counteract heresies which without a central administration of the Church could spread unchecked and damage the legitimate teachings of Christ.
• Cardinal William de Lauder (Scotland), Cardinal Martin Gouge (Auvergne), Bishop Gilbert Greenlaw (Celtic Lollard Catholic Church Scotland) and Scottish-Auvergnat joint delegation:
  1. Crusades: We disagree with the Pope on renouncing our right to contain the murderous heathens of Islam. Although we agree with Hus position that the Christians must forgive their enemies, these heathens have proven themselves to be dangerous and untrustworthy, more than unwilling to limit their onslaughts against our Christian brothers, which although schismatic, they remain a part of our religion. Timor and his Horde destroyed everything on his path, Christians and Muslims alike. The Holy City of Jerusalem was sacked and the Churches destroyed. The Rus', that even being Schismatic are Christians, suffered terrible torments in the hands of the Muslims. The necessity of the Christians to defend themselves against the threat of the heathens remains, but we believe that the pontiff's declaration that he will not abolish the Crusades isn't enough, if they are to have a purely defensive function from now on, it would make the task of containing these hordes of heathens simply incredibly hard, leading to more slaughters of our brothers in Christ, which would be on our hands.
  2. Purgatory: We agree with the Pope but ask him to seek a viable compromise with the Hussites, unwilling to see them leave the fold of our great Church.
  3. Hierarchy of the Church: We agree with the Pope but ask him to seek a viable compromise with the Hussites, unwilling to see them leave the fold of our great Church.
• Headmaster Philippe Leonard Seghers of the Order of Bari, on behalf of the priests, bishops, and prelates of the Kingdom of Tripolitania:
  1. Crusades: It will come as no surprise that we are wholeheartedly supportive of the power of the Pope - the very Vicar of Christ - to declare a crusade. Since the fall of Jerusalem in the 630s, Christians of all loyalties, of all regions, have rightfully sought to restore this holy city to Christian rule. While we are called upon to love our neighbors, we are also called upon to defend our faith and our faithful. The example of Timur's recent rampages across large parts of the world has highlighted just how dangerous Muslims are to Christendom. The record of recent crusades, including the Crusade of the Holy League and the recent Libyan Crusade, has been one of major success and liberating lands from the threats of Muslims. Situations like the Holy League's crusade might still be permitted under the suggestion issued by the Papal delegation, but the Libyan Crusade would not have been sanctioned. To appease the Hussite followers, we acknowledge that there is no direct obligation on Christendom to engage in a crusade; the Pope may issue a call for a crusade but it is the secular rulers who must agree to send troops. If His Holiness is to seek a compromise with the Hussites, we strongly propose that crusades be limited to the Saracen threat, against Pagan threats - and explicitly reject crusades within Christendom.
  2. Purgatory: We agree that there are clear and present abuses of the indulgence system by some parishes across Europe, and agree with the Papal delegation's proposal to end any possible corruption within the Church.
  3. Hierarchy: The current hierarchy of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church is divinely instituted - as Christ himself said, "tu es Petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam," that is "you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." We strongly support apostolic succession and the office of the Papacy.

• Pope Benedict XI and Roman delegation: Pope Benedict XI accepts the idea offered by Headmaster Philippe Leonard Seghers. As a compromisse for Hus and his followers, he offer that, for now on, the Crusades will never be called against Christian nations, only against Muslim and Pagan threats.
• Latin Patriarch Angelo Correr and Archbishop of Athens Macarius I on the Behalf of the Latin Empire
  1. Crusades: Agree with Pope Benedict XI with the Muslims being untrustworthy but we disagree that they can be forgiven. especially what those barbarians did to us and our Byzantine neighbor by kidnapping a great king from the Byzantines and sacking our city of Aydin. these savages can and will not be forgiven
  2. Purgatory: We fully agree that their is corruption in the church and must be sought out and destroyed at all cost.
  3. Hierarchy: We agree with the statement from the Order of Bari and we strongly agree with Apostolic Succession.

Session of 1413

• Pope Benedict XI and Roman delegation: After deliberating, we come to these conclusions:
  1. As Headmaster Philippe Leonard Seghers of the Order of Bari said, the hierarchy of the Church was divinely instituted by Christ when he gave the primacy to Saint Peter. Jan Hus is right to say that Christ is the Head of the Church. However, Christ gave the primacy to Peter and the pope, as successor of Saint Peter, is is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful. The presence of other members of the Church's Hierarchy can be see in the Scripture in Acts 6:1–9, and in 1 Timothy 3:1–13. Those are the deacons. This show that the Church already has a hierarchy during this period.
  2. Came to our knowledge that Hus and his followers celebrates the Eucharist by taking communion under both kinds. We don't see this practice as heresy, but as a ritualistic difference. We reaffirm the doctrine of the Transubstantiation.
  3. The use of the Bible in vernacular isn't common in the Latin Rite. However sui iuris Churches are allowed to use vernacular Bibles during their rites.
  4. We see that much of the reluctance of the Hussites with accepting the doctrine of the Purgatory is due to the abuses made by members of the clergy to sell indulgences. These abuses end for alienating the faithful from the true meaning of the Purgatory. To stop these abuses, the pope maintain his proposal made last year about punishments for corrupt clerics and decides to reduce the use of indulgences to a minimum, only for times of calamity and jubilees. To receive a indulgence, the people must do an act of charity during this period and money will not be accepted. If a priest receives money to give indulgence, he will be punished. About the doctrine of Purgatory, the Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Spirit, in conformity with the sacred writings and the ancient tradition of the Fathers in sacred councils, says:
     • That Purgatory is the state of those who die in God's friendship, assured of their eternal salvation, but who still have need of purification to enter into the happiness of heaven. It's based in the Holy Scripture, when it speaks of purifying fire (1 Corinthians 3, 1 Corinthians 3:15 and 1 Peter 1, 1 Peter 1:7), when Jesus says about forgiveness in the age to come (Matthew 12, Matthew 12:32) and when the practice of praying for the dead is mentioned (2 Macc 12:46)
     • Because of the communion of saints, the faithful who are still pilgrims on earth are able to help the souls in purgatory by offering prayers in suffrage for them, especially the Eucharistic sacrifice. They also help them by almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance.

• After analyzing these conclusions, Pope Benedict XI observed that the Hussite case is similar to the Lollard. Some of Hus' teaching aren't so far away from the Church and those that are, only need some changes to return to the True Path, like happened with the Lollards. Thus, the pontiff asks the members of the Council if they agree in offering the Hussites the position of sui iuris church. If the Council agrees, he will make the offer to Hus and his followers, indicating the particularities of this new sui iuris Church.
  • Philippe Leonard Seghers, of the Order of Bari and on behalf of the priests, bishops, and prelates of Kingdom of Tripolitania is in support.
  • Cardinal William de Lauder (Scotland), Bishop Gilbert Greenlaw (Celtic Lollard Catholic Church Scotland) and Cardinal Martin Gouge (Auvergne) on behalf of the Scottish-Auvergnat joint delegation are in support of a sui iuris Church for the Hussites, much how we were allowed to have our own Celtic Lollard 'sui iuris Catholic Church.'
  • Latin Patriarch Angelo Correr and Archbishop of Athens Macarius I, of the Latin Empire is in support of sui iuris

Session of 1414

• Pope Benedict XI and Roman delegation: With the agreement of the members of the Council, Pope Benedict XI officially proposes to Jan Hus and the Hussites the position of sui iuris church with the following particularities:
  1. Adoption of a liturgical rite using Czech as vernacular. A commission of theologians will help the Hussites to organize it, this way avoiding confusion and heresies.
  2. In the Hussite Church, both celibate and married men can be ordained priests. However a priests can't marry after being ordained. They must choose carefully before joining as a member of the clergy. The Latin-rite will continue to ordain celibate priests.
  3. Bishops and archbishops will always be choose from the celibate priests. The main archbishop will be the leader of this sui iuris Church and will receive the title of Cardinal-Patriarch. He can be elected by the way that the Hussite clerics feel better. After he is elected, the pope must be warned so the pontiff can create the candidate cardinal.
  4. A Hussite embassy must stay in Rome to show the friendship between the Hussites and the Holy See, as happens with the other sui iuris churches.
  5. The creation of an Ecclesial Tribunal formed by Hussite clerics. The Tribunal will be responsible to investigate and judge cases of misconduct and abuses of Hussite clerics.
  6. During the Eucharist of the Hussite-rite is allowed that the Communion be received under Communion under both kinds. In the Latin-rite and other rites, this practice will be mandatory only on Christmas, Easter and in the feast of Corpus Christi. Outside of these days, the communion under both kinds may be granted when the bishops of other rites think fit.
  7. The Church of Saint Lawrence in Prague will be given to the Hussite sui iuris church to be used as their Patriarchal See, this way being renamed as Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint Lawrence.

• For the questions about the Books of Wycliffe, the pontiff suggests the revision and interpretation of Wycliffe works under the Church's light, in the same way that happened with The Mirror of Simple Souls of Venerable Marguerite Porete. After all, the correct interpretation of Wycliffe's teachings allowed the organization of the Lollard Catholic Churches. Pope Benedict XI also asks the opinion of the council for a punishment to Guillaume V of Raron, the corrupt ex-bishop of Sion. He waged war against his own subjects. The pope asks if Guillaume must be imprisoned for life or burned at the stake for his crimes against the Church and the Christians.

• Icelandic Response: As Capital punishment is gone from Iceland the delegate proposes hard labour building schools and churches for the Bishop.
• Bishop Henry of Geneva-Lenzburg and Swiss delegation: Henry agrees with Pope Benedict XI's proposal about the sui iuris church and approves of the Icelandic delegation's idea for Raron's punishment, seeing this as a more suitable punishment than just burning him at the stake.
• Latin Patriarch Angelo Correr and Archbishop of Athens Macarius I of the Latin Empire: Angelo agrees with Pope Benedict Xi sui iuris and agrees that Raron should be imprisoned.