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Unitive Reform Principles of the Late Medieval Conciliarists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Ray C. Petry
Affiliation:
Duke University Divinity School

Extract

The first two words of the title simply accent the conciliarist refusal to separate Christian reform and ecclesiastical unity. Pierre d'Ailly insisted that there could be no true reformation without union, no true union without reformation. The principles necessarily delimited here in terms of their most frequently recurring expression are discussed under five large heads.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1962

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References

1 The passages quoted are from Tierney, B., Foundations of the Conciliar Theory: The Contribution of the Mèdieval Canonists from Gratian to the Great Schism (Cambridge, 1955), pp. 4 and 6.Google Scholar

2 See the appropriate points in the notes of this paper. The body of translated texts and editorial commentary in Spinka, M., et al., Advocates of Reform from Wyclif to Erasmus [Library of Christian Classics, Vol. XIV] (Philadelphia and London, 1953)Google Scholar is an invaluable aid. Significant translations and interpretations are also available in Gewirth, A., Marsilius of Padua, The Defender of Peace, 2 vols. [Records of Civilization, Sources and Studies, No. 46] (Columbia, 1951, 1956)Google Scholar, and in Lewis, E., Medieval Political Ideas, 2 vols. (London, 1954).Google Scholar

3 De potestate regia et papali, cap. 18, ed. Leclercq, J., Jean de Paris, L'ecclésiologie du XIIIe siècle (Paris, 1942), p. 230, 11. 414: “dici potest quod una est ecclesia, unus populus christianus, unum mysticum corpus non quidem in Petro vel Lino sed in Christo qui solus est proprie et maxime caput ecclesie.” Cf. cap. 6, p. 186, 11. 22–28. andGoogle ScholarTierney, , op. cit., pp. 165–168.Google Scholar

4 Defensor Pacis, Dict. II., cap. 22, Sec. 5. ed. C. W. PrevitéOrton, The Defensor Pacis of Marsilius of Padua (Cambridge, 1928),Google Scholar p. 345: “Est rursum et fuit Christus solus ecclesiae sive fidei fundamentum et petra.”

5 Dialogus, Pars 1, Lib. 6, cap. 84, ed. M. Goldast, Monarchia s. Romani imperii sive tractatus de jurisdictione imperiali, regia et pontificia seu sacerdotali (Frankfurt, 1668), II, 603, 11. 7–9: “Sed omnes fideles sunt unum corpus …et sunt unus populus et una communitas. Ergo possunt eligere aliquos, qui vicem gerant totius corporis.”

6 Consilium pacis, cap. 15, L. E. Du Pin, Opera Omnia Joannis Gersonii (Antwerp, 1706), II, 832C: “…cujus gratia et meritis, Ecclesia corpus suum mysticum, suscipit incessanter sensum, motum, et spiritum vitalem.”

7 See the De modis published by Du Pin, Opera, II, 161 (163), ff. as a work of Gerson. Edited by Heimpel, H., Dietrich von Niem Dialog über Union und Reform der Kirche 1410 (Die modis uniendi et reformandi ecclesiam in concilio universali) (Leipzig, 1933), p. 7: “catholica (universalis ecclesia ex variis membris unum corpus constituentibus, sc. ex Grecis, Latinis et barbaris in Christum credentibus, ex hominibus et mulieribus), ex rusticis et nobilibus, ex pauperibus et divitibus est coniuncta et nominata, cuius corporis universalis ecclesie caput Christus solus est. Ceteri vero, ut papa, cardinales et prelati, clerici, reges et principes ac plebei sunt membra inequaliter disposita. Nee istius ecclesie papa potest nee debet dici caput, sed solum vicarius Christi eius vicem gerens in terris, dum tamen clavis non erret.” Cf. pp. 6–12, 17, 73. Consult, also, H. Heimpel, Dietrich von Niem, c. 1340–1418 (Miinster, i/W., 1932); likewise, E. F. Jacob, Essays in the Conciliar Epoch (2nd ed.; Manchester, 1953), pp. 24 ff.Google Scholar

8 Propositiones utiles, ad exterminationem praesentis schismatis, per viam Concilii generalis, 2, Du Pin, Opera, II, 112A: “Licet Papa in quantum Christi Vicarius quodammodo dici possit caput Ecclesiae et ipsius sponsus, tamen Ecclesiae et ipsius sponsus, tamen Ecclesiae et ipsius sponsus, tamen Ecclesiae ucclesiae unitas, non necessario dependet, aut originatur ab unitate Papae.” See Oakley, Francis, “The ‘Propositiones Utiles’ of Pierre D'Ailly: An Epitome of Conciliar Theory,” Church History, XXIX, 4 (Dec. 1960), 399400.Google Scholar Consult De materia concilii generalis, Pars 2, fol. 25r, ed. by B. Meller, Studien zur Erkenntnislehre des Peter von Ailly. Anhang, p. 331: “Et ideo subordinatio corporis ecclesiae ad papam est solum accidentalis, sed essentialis ad Christum, a quo immediate habet auctoritatem et illud privilegium, quod non potest errare in fide. Quod privilegium non habet a papa.” Ibid., fol. 25v: “Ex quibus omnibus sequitur, quod potestas seu auctoritas ecclesiae immediate est a Christo, et non a Petro. Et hoc notatur in verbo Christi, quia non dicit: ‘Tu es Petrus et super hane petram’ aedificabis, sed ‘aedificabo’; nee dicit tuam, sed ‘ecclesiam meamCusa, Cf., De auctoritate presidendi in concilio generali, ed. Kallen, G., Cusanus Texte II, 1 (Heidelberg, 1935), p. 20, 11. 710Google Scholar: “Et quia accidentaliter sunt administratorie dignitates in ecclesia, tune ad radicem potestatis sacerdotalis ligandi et solvendi in se nihil conferunt, quoniam in illa omnes sunt equales.”

9 Defensor Pacis, II, xix, 2, ed. PrevitéOrton, p. 313: “…quinimo certum est, deliberationi universalis concilii Spiritus Sancti dirigentis et revelantis adesse virtutem.” Gewirth, op. cit., II, 275.

10 Consilium pacis, 12, 15, Du Pin, Opera, II, 822: “Quamvis enim Spiritus sanctus Concilium errare non permitteret in Articulo Fidei principali…. ” Ibid., p. 830: “declinantes ad viam Spiritus sancti, quae est Concilium generale, ….”

11 Sermo in Vigilia Domin. Palmar. Coram Concil. Const., Propos. 1, Du Pin, Opera, II, 206: “Ecclesiastica unitas ad unum caput Christum, fit et agglutinatur per amorosum Spiritus sancti vinculum ….” Propos. 3: “Ecclesia habet potestatem seu facultatem ex vivifico germine sibi insito per Spiritum sanctum, quod seipsam potest continuare in integritate et unitate membrorum suorum, ….” Propos. 6: “Ecclesia vel Generale Concilium eam repraesentans est Regula à Spiritu sancto directa, tradita à Christo, ut quilibet cujuscumque status etiam Papalis existat, eam audire ac eidem obedire teneatur; …” Sermo habitus die XXI Julü, Anno 1415, super processionibus faciendis pro viagio Regis Romanorum, Pars. 3, Dir. 2, Du Pin, Opera, II, 279: “Est autem Generale Concilium Politia talis composita, habens suam directionem magis ex assistentia speciali Spiritus sancti, et promissione Jesu Christi, quam ex natura, vel ex humana sola industria.”

12 Mansi, J., Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio (Paris and Leipzig, 1903), 27:540Google Scholar.

13 De auct. pres., ed. Kallen, Cusanus Texte, II, 1, p. 12, 11. 18–20: “Sed vigor ipsius ecclesie non potest esse, ab homine, sed a Christo vivificante per spiritum sanctum corpus suum per omnia membra.” Cf. p. 10, 11. 13–16.

14 De pot. regia et papali, 3 and 6, ed. Leclercq, pp. 180, 186. Cf. Tierney, op. cit., pp. 166–172.

15 Dialogus, Pars 1, Lib. 6, Cap. 84, ed. Goldast, p. 603, 11. 10–11: “Quia concilium generale non videtur esse aliud quam congregatio aliquorum qui vicem gerant totius Christianitatis.”

16 Consilium pacis, 4, 7–10, 13, and 15, Du Pin, Opera, II, 826: “…alia via humana non reperitur, quam concilium, quo plenarie schisma sedari possit ….”

17 Defensor Pacis, II, ii, 3, ed. PrevitéOrton, p. 117: “…de universitate fidelium credentium et invocantium nomen Christi, et de huius universitatis partibus omnibus in quacumque communitate, etiam domestica.” Cf. Gewirth, II, 10. See also Defensor Pacis, II, xxi, 1 and II, xix, 10.

18 Dialogus, Pars 1, Lib. 6, Cap. 85, ed. Goldast, p. 603, 11. 59–61: “Illa igitur congregatio esset concilium generale reputanda, in qua divertae personae gerentes auctoritatem et vicem universarum partium totius [Xanitatis] ad tractandam de communi bono rite conveniunt, nisi aliqui noluerint vel non potuerint convenire.” Ibid., p. 604, 11. 54–55: “Sicut etiam Deus non solum est Deus clericorum; sed etiam et laicorum.” P. 605, 11. 24–25: “Et ideo ubi sapientia, bonitas, vel potentia mulierum esset tractarui fidei (de qua potissime est tractandum in concilio generali) necessaria, non est mulier à generali concilio excludenda.”

19 Consilium pacis, 13, Du Pin, Opera, II, 822–823.

20 Propositiones Utiles, Du Pin, Opera, II, 113: “Pro sedando praesenti schismate absque autoritate Papae immo ipso contradicente, potest autoritate Universalis Ecclesiae generale Concilium congregari ….” Cf. De Officio Imperatoris, Du Pin, Opera, II, 917.

21 Consult the excellent collection of texts and analyses in Heinz-Mohr, G., Unitas Christiana (Trier, 1938), pp. 140 ff. and notes; alsoGoogle ScholarVansteenberghe, E., Le cardinal Nicolas de Cues (Paris, 1920), pp. 3451.Google ScholarDe concordantia catholica, Lib. 2, cap. 17, (Bâle ed., p. 736): “Quare universaliter dici potest universale concilium, repraesentationem catholicae Ecclesiae, habere potestatem immediate a Christo et esse omni respectu tam supra papam quam sedem apostolicam.” Ibid., (p. 738): “Quis dubitat totum concilium supra papam esse?”

21 Consult the excellent collection of texts and analyses in Heinz-Mohr, G., Unitas Christiana (Trier, 1938), pp. 140Google Scholarff. and notes; also Vansteenberghe, E., Le cardinal Nicolas de Cues (Paris, 1920), pp. 3451.Google ScholarDe concordantia catholica, Lib. 2, cap. 17, (Bâle ed., p. 736): “Quare universaliter dici potest universale concilium, repraesentationem catholicae Ecclesiae, habere potestatem immediate a Christo et esse omni respectu tam supra papam quam sedem apostolicam.” Ibid., (p. 738): “Quis dubitat totum concilium supra papam esse?”

22 De pot. regia et papali, 3, ed. Leclercq, p. 180, 1. 5, p. 230, 11. 10f.: “Potest nihilominus dici summus pontifex caput quantum ad exterioram ministrorum exhibitionem in quantum ipse est principalis inter ministros ….” Ibid., cap. 6, p. 186, 11. 43f.: “ …cum papa non sit dominus omnium ecclesiasticorum bonorum generaliter, …. Sed papa est universalis dispositor et dispensator bonorum,….”

23 De imperatorum et pontificum potestate, ed. Brampton, C. K., (Oxford, 1927)Google Scholar, with passages from caps. 1, 9, 10, etc., as translated in Lewis, op. cit. 11, 607, 610–612. Cf. the Breviloquium de potestate papae, especially Lib. 2, caps. 2–6, ed. Baudry, L. (Paris, 1937), pp. 17Google Scholar ff.

24 Sermo habitus die XXI Julü, 1415, Pars 3, Dir. 2, Du Pin, Opera, II, 278 ff.: “…potest nihilominus usum potestatis illius certis Legibus et Statutis limitare in aedificationem Ecclesiae.” Cf. De Potestate ecclesiastica…., Con sid., 6–7, Du Pin, Opera, II, 234–236. Also, Lewis, op. cit., II, pp. 406 ff.

25 De ecclesiae … autoritate, Pars 3, cap. 1, Du Pin, Opera, II, 949–951, 951A-B.

26 De pot. regia et papali, cap. 20, ed. Leclercq, p. 243, 11. 2–8: “Amplius cum fides christiana sit catholica et universalis non potest summus pontifex hoc ponere sub fide sine concilio generali quia papa non potest destruere statuta concilii…. tamen non intelligitur in hiis que fidei sunt, eo quod orbis maius est Urbe et papa cum concilio maior est papa solo,….” Cf. Tierney, op. cit., p. 169.

27 Breviloquium, Lib. 2, cap. 3, ed. Baudry, p. 20.

28 De potestate ecclesiastica, Consid. XI, Du Pin, Opera, II, 243: “Potestas Ecclesiastica in sua plenitudine, est in Ecclesia sicut in fine, et sicut in regulante applicationem et usum hujusmodi plenitudinis Ecclesiasticae potestatis, per seipsam, vel per generale Concilium…. ut aliqua sit relicta inobliquabilis et indeviabilis regula ab optimo legislatore Christo secundum quam possit abusus hujusmodi potestatis reprimi, dirigi, atque moderari. Haec autem regula, est vel Ecclesia, vel generale Concilium.”

29 De materia, ed. Meller fol. 24v, pp. 329–330: “non dicit, ‘quia papali,’ sed ‘quia universali consensu’….”

30 De unitate, 5, Du Pin, Opera, II, 115C: “ad finem celeriorem et salubriorem habendae uniones eadem adaptandi….”

31 De pot. regia et papali, 13, ed. Leclercq, p. 215, 11. 17–24; cap. 24, pp. 254, 11. 31–32: “Sed ad deponendum decet quod fiat per concilium generate ….” P. 254, 1. 24; “quia eum ipse pape, sicut quilibet alius prelatus, presit non propter seipsum, sed propter populum, ut scilicet prosit, efficacior est consensus populi in hoc casu ad deponendum eum etiam invitum ….”

32 Ep. cons. Pacis, 13, Du Pin, Opera, II, 824–826.

33 Sermo habitus die XXI Julü Anno 1415, I, 1, 2, 4, III, 1, 2, 4, Du Pin, Opera, II, 275 ff. Cf. Lewis, op. cit., II, 406–408.

34 See the excellent summary and source references in Salembier, L., “Pierre d'Ailly,” Dictionnaire de Théologie Catholique, I, 1 (Paris, 1930), 647648.Google Scholar Note, especially, Recommendatio Sacrae Scripturae, Du Pin, Opera, I, 604; Tractatus de Ecclesiae, concilü generalis … autoritate, I, 1, Du Pin, Opera, II, 928, 931, 951, 959, 960, 983, etc,; Utrum Petri Ecclesia Lege reguletur, Dn Pin, Opera, 11, 668–691.

35 Conclusiones Cardinalis Cameracensis cum quibusdam additionibus, 7, Mansi, Amp. coll. concil, 27:547: “Nam, secundum quosdam magnos Doctores, generale Concilium potest errare non solum in facto, sed etiam in jure, et quod magis est, in fide.” Cf. M. Creighton, A History of the Papacy … (London, 1897), I, 311, and Valois, N., La France et le grand schisme d'Occident (Paris, 1902), IV, 267Google Scholar and nn. De eccl. autoritate, III, 2, Du Pin, Opera, II, 953: “Patet: quia Universalie Ecclesia, à Christo et non à Papa hoc privilegium authoritatis habet, quod in Fide errare non potest: et hane etiam authoritatem, secundum aliquos, habet Concilium, Universalem Ecclesiam repraesentans; sedtalem authoritatem, non habet Papa, cum errare possit in Fide; ergo in hoe major est authoritas Concilii vel Ecclesine, quam Papae.”Cf. Ibid., lll, 1, Du Pin, Opera, 949–951; also De Materia, fol. 25r, ed. Meller, op. cit., p. 330.

36 De materia, ed. Meller, op. cit., pp. 329–334, especially fol. 24r, p. 329: “Ergo totum concilium mains est papa et per consequens auctoritas totius concilii major auctoritate papae.” Cf. fol. 26r, p. 333.

37 On the derivation of conciliar theory from twelfth century canonists rather than from Marsilius and Ockham, see, in addition to the classic work of Dr. Tierney, the brief presentation of Jedin, H., Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: An Historical Survey (New York, 1960), pp. 105Google Scholarff. This is translated by Graf, E. from Kleine Konziliengeschichte (Freiburg, 1959).Google Scholar The recapitulation of early conciliar theory and practice in Jedin's, Dr.Geschichte des Konzils von Trent (Freiburg i/B., 1949)Google Scholar is quite helpful.

38 De materia, fol. 26r and v, 27r and v, 28r and v, ed. Meller, op. cit., pp. 333–336. P. 334, fol. 26v and 27r. “Quapropter consequens est ut…. Concedatur Universalem ecclesiam posse auctoritate Christi generale concilium in predictis casibus congregare.”

39 See the pertinent collection of texts from De Concordantia Catholica, Lib. 1, cap. 6, Lib. 2, caps. 12, 13, 14, 19, 27, 34, and Lib. 3, caps. 4 and 12, translated from the 1514 Paris edition and the 1564 Basel edition by Coker, F. W., Readings in Political Philosophy (Rev. ed.; New York, 1938), pp. 259273Google Scholar, and by Lewis, E., Medieval Political Ideas (London, 1954), II, 415422Google Scholar, from S. Schard, De jurisdictione authoritate et praeeminentia Imperiali ac potestate ecclesiastica (Basel, 1566). Cf. Lib. 2, cap. 34, in the edition of Goldast, op. cit., fol. 47.

40 De Concordantia Catholica, Lib. II, caps. 12–14, Lib. III, caps. 4 and 12. Cf. note 21 of this paper. De con. cath., III, 4, in the translation of Coker, F. W., Readings in Political Philosophy (Rev. ed.; New York, 1938), pp. 264265.Google Scholar

41 De auctoritate presidendi in conciliogenerali, fol. 164v and 165, ed. G. Kallen, Cusanus Texte, II, 1, pp. 24–28.

42 See the excellent collection and interpretation of texts in Mohr, Heinz, Unitas Christiana, pp. 145146Google Scholar, and 353. De auct. pres., ed. Kallen, op. cit., pp. 22, 12, 23–24, 30, 32, 34.

43 Consilium pacis, 18, Du Pin, Opera, II, 838–839, for example, with De modis below.

44 Cf. Ibid., ed. Heimpel, p. 43: “Concilium ergo generale representans universalem ecclesiam, si affectat unionem integram videre, si affectat scismata reprimere, si vult scismatibus finem statuere, si vult ecclesiam exaltare, primo ante omnia ad instar sanctorum patrum, qui nos precesserunt, limitet ac terminet potestatem coactivam et usurpatam papalem.”

45 De modis, ed. Heimpel, p. 46. The translation is that of Spinka et al., Advocates of Reform, p. 161.

46 De modis, ed. Heimpel, p. 47: “ a Deo eb conciliis generalibus concessis.”

47 Ibid., ed. Heimpel, p. 48–49.

48 Ibid., pp. 72–73.

49 Ibid., pp. 106–107, 110–117.

50 Dr. Spinka properly stresses d'Ailly's large dependence upon Langenstein, perhaps with too little regard for the bishop's distinctive focusing of many reform issues already enunciated. See Advocates of Reform, p. 103 and nn.

51 De Officio Imperatoris, papae, reliquorumque membrorum concilü Constantiensis, Du Pin, Opera, II, 917 ff. P. 918D: “… dum hoe sacrum Concilium ad hune finem congregatum aspicimus, ut sancta Mater Ecclesia jam dudum per schismaticam divisionem miserabiliter deformata, nune per pa cificam unionem reformatur. Sane neo vera unio sine reformatione, nee vera reformatio sine unione esse poterit.” Cf. Jordan, G. J., The Inner History of the Great Schism of the West (London, 1930), p. 139.Google Scholar Cf. De officio, 919D.

52 Tractatus …. super reformatione ecclesiae, in concilio Constantiensi …., Du Pin, Opera, II, 903–916. A close dependence of d'Ailly's later reform program upon an earlier body of reforming proposals involves: (1) a letter of d'Ailly to Pope John XXIII (ed. Du Pin, Opera, II, 882–883); (2) one from the University of Paris to that Pope (ed., Denifle et Chatelain, Chartularium, IV, 204ff, cf. 217); (3) a presentation possibly incorporating d'Ailly's suggestions, before the University of Paris (ed. Finke, Acta, I, 131–148); (4) the “Capita Agendorum,” once attributed to Zabarella and now often ascribed to d'Ailly himself (ed. Finke, Acta, IV, 548ff). See the pertinent discussions of Valois, op. cit., IV, 199–205.

53 See the provisions of Trent, session 5, cap. 2 for the tardy repudiation of alms preachers, Schroeder, H. J., Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent (St. Louis, 1941), pp. 26 ff., 305 ff.Google Scholar, etc.

54 Edita in concilio Constancienci (1414), according to the text of Finke, H., Acta Concilii Constanciensis (Münster, i/W., 1928),Google Scholar IV, 591–636. Cf. the discussions of Niem's reform emphases in Finke, op. cit., pp. 589–590 and in H. Heimpel, Dietrich von Niem, especially, pp. 134–153. See the terse reform summary in the De modis, ed. Heimpel, p. 118.

55 Note Finke, op. cit., pp. 589–590; Heimpel, op. cit., pp. 152–153. Avisamenta, ed. Finke, IV, 593–596.

56 Ibid., pp. 600–601: “Preterea per istas pessimas reservaciones totus status ecclesiasticus a capite usque and membra turbatur et pervertitur. Fiunt enim illis causantibus mercancie pessime et excluduntur electores ordinarii … Item per easdem reservacionos omnis caritas, que dependere debet a eapite ad inferiores ecclesiasticos prelatos, tolitur … Et si eciam aliquis sanctorum de celo descenderet seque alicui cathedre vel monasterio vacanti, et presertim in reditibus pingui prefici peteret in curia predicta, nequaquam illic super hoc audiretur, nisi pacisceretur et solveret ante omnia pecunias. Et sic virtutes et sciencie non habent ibi locum in talibus per se tantum, nisi eis assit pecunia copisa etc.” (Luc. 15:10).

57 See, especially, pp. 603, 608, 610–11, 616–618, 621–623. Pp. 610–612: “Item expedit, ut apostolicus revocet omnes gracias expectativas,… Item expedit, ut revocentur omnes concessionos et alienaciones … Item expedit, ut revocentur omnes commende prioratum, dignitatum, parochialium ecclesiarum et aliorum beneficiorum, ecclesiasticorum secularium et regularium, facte episcopis titularibus et regularibus personis quibuscunque per sedem apostolieam,….” P. 616: “Expedit igitur, quod ipsa curia in suis membris in ipso instanti concilio reformetur, scilicet ut ipsi mercatores et prosenete ac mediatores symoniaci a predicta curia protinus expellantur ….” P. 623: “… igitur, vos patres optimi in prodicto concilio spiritus sancti gracia insimul convocati, sic et vos mundetis templum Domini de istis avaris prosenetis et sacerdotibus ….“ P. 630: ”Et numquid melius et salubrius esset tollere omnino illas pessimas reservaciones et reducere ad ius commune ecclesias et ecclesiastica beneficia huiusmodi necnon eorum ordinarios collatores, quam sic ea viliter permittere occupari?”