21 Ecumenical Councils that Shaped Catholic History and Beliefs

Podcast-style audio course -
Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
Professor, Georgetown University
(6 customer reviews)
Audio Download + Subscription
$0.00
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Audio Download + Subscription
$0.00
Learn more
Includes Free Study Guide
Audio Download + Subscription
$0.00
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Internationally best-selling author, renowned professor, and the “dean of American Catholic Historians,” Fr. John O’Malley presents his masterpiece on the 21 councils that shaped history.

No other institution, except possibly the papacy, has more greatly influenced the church and the larger history of the Western world than the ecumenical council. Most of us, however, know little about it.

This course is designed to take you through the fascinating history of the ecumenical (church-wide) council, from its first appearance in Nicaea (325) through Vatican Council II (1962-1965).

This 12-part audio series explores the deep issues of faith and the sometimes curious issues of clerical behavior with which the councils dealt. Councils, which were principally (but not exclusively) assemblies of bishops, gathered in the name of Christ or the Trinity, who made decisions binding on the whole church. Those decisions were about either doctrine (what Christians believe) or about “discipline” (public behavior, especially of bishops and priests).

You’ll explore how councils gave us the creeds, shaped our understanding and practice of the sacraments, and settled major controversies. To explore the councils is to explore the developments of theology an

Internationally best-selling author, renowned professor, and the “dean of American Catholic Historians,” Fr. John O’Malley presents his masterpiece on the 21 councils that shaped history.

No other institution, except possibly the papacy, has more greatly influenced the church and the larger history of the Western world than the ecumenical council. Most of us, however, know little about it.

This course is designed to take you through the fascinating history of the ecumenical (church-wide) council, from its first appearance in Nicaea (325) through Vatican Council II (1962-1965).

This 12-part audio series explores the deep issues of faith and the sometimes curious issues of clerical behavior with which the councils dealt. Councils, which were principally (but not exclusively) assemblies of bishops, gathered in the name of Christ or the Trinity, who made decisions binding on the whole church. Those decisions were about either doctrine (what Christians believe) or about “discipline” (public behavior, especially of bishops and priests).

You’ll explore how councils gave us the creeds, shaped our understanding and practice of the sacraments, and settled major controversies. To explore the councils is to explore the developments of theology and history that have given us the church as we know it today. With this course you will understand why the ecumenical council remains one of the most important institutions in Western civilization.

*This course was previously titled For Christ Assembled: The Church’s Ecumenical Councils

Your Free Electronic Study Guide! When you order this course, we will send you a free electronic study guide that you can access in 3 convenient ways:

1) You can check your order confirmation email. It will include a link that enables you to download your guide.
2) The back of your program package also contains a copy of this link. You can access your guide by simply entering this URL into your browser.
3) Your case of CDs or DVDs will contain a copy of your electronic guide on CD. Simply insert this disc into your computer’s CD/DVD drive to access your guide.

$17.99

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6 reviews for 21 Ecumenical Councils that Shaped Catholic History and Beliefs

  1. Bob –

    Informative, easy to listen to

    I thoroughly enjoyed this course. I have enjoyed O’Malley’s books and was happy to listen to him on this audio presentation.

  2. Fr. Dennis Tindall, Bishop, Auckland, UK –

    *

    It provides a great deal of information in digestible form and gives access to an expert.

  3. Raymond O’Neil, Tucson, AZ, USA –

    *

    Fr. O’Malley’s grasp of Church History in relation to the present age is extraordinary and vital to an understanding and enduring love of the Church in spite of its missteps.

  4. Fr. Dan –

    Covering all the councils of the Church in one course is a big task.

    Covering all the councils of the Church in one course is a big task. The course could easily have been doubled in length. It’s been interesting to see the perspective of how many of the councils flowed from and into one another. The speaker is knowledgeable but a bit dry.

  5. Phyllis Ann K., WI –

    Fall Survey: October 2016

    I most heartily enjoyed learning so much about these 23 ecumenical councils down through the centuries, with comments both insightful and anecdotal. History the way I most appreciate it!

  6. Harold K., NE –

    2018 Spring Survey

    The Ecumenical Councils was a good survey of the 21 Councils and the major issues that they covered.

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