Folia Theologica 14. (2003)
Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi: A Turning Point in the History of the General Councils of the West in the 13th Century (A Critical Summary on the Importance of the Constitutions of the Fourth Lateran Council [1215] According to its Theological, Canonical and Historical Aspect)
178 SZ. A. SZUROMI Innocent III and the Fourth Lateran Council.97 The local legate-councils have also remained important as a vehicle of reform in the Church. These smaller, local councils helped to bring about the realization of the intentions of the general councils throughout particular dioceses. Without entering into an analysis of the Council of Trent (1545-1563), we mention in passing that this council employed the local councils perfectly as vehicles for ensuring the reception of canon law throughout the individual dioceses within the Church.98 Moreover, besides the local councils, the cathedral schools and university faculties were also effectively employed by Lateran IV as means of implementing the intentions of the council.99 Lateran IV served to strengthen the decisions reached by Lateran III (c.18) regarding the economic support of the cathedral schools.100 The support of these schools was the obligation of the diocesan bishop. The council emphasized the importance of theological studies which were to be held especially at the residences of the archdioceses. Instructors were supplied with the latest conciliar and papal decrees for use as material in the faculties of canon law. For this reason, the new canonical material quickly made an impact upon the daily ecclesial practices. And this was all the more so since scholars who, having studied canon law at the universities, returned to their native countries often received important posts in the diocesan court, especially at the tribunals. 97 ULLMANN, W„ A Short History, 225-226. 98 Cf. The councils between 1563 and 1590. 99 BELLOMO, M., “Il Medioevo e l’origine delTuniversità” in BELLOMO, M., Medioevo edito e inedito I. Scholae, Universitates, Studia (I Libri di Erice 20/1), Roma 1997. 15-30. 100 Canon 11.
