I. The First Council of Toledo was held on Sept, 1, 400, under Patronus, the bishop. The reason for assem- bling this council, which consisted of nineteen bishops, was the troubles and disturbances caused by the heresy of the Priscillianists, which sprang up towards the close of the 4th century. Nineteen bishops, from all tlie Spanish provinces, attended, JMany of the sect of the I'riscillianists who presented themselves were received back into communion with the Church after having abjured their errors. In this council the bishop of liome is, for the first time, spoken of simply by the title of '• pope." Twenty canons were also published,
. 1. Permits to admit married men to the office of dea- con, provided tliev will ol)serve continence.
•1. Forbids to admit to any higher order than that of piibdeacon a mau who has publicly done penance, and even restricts his administration of that office.
4. EiiMcts that a subdeacon, marrying a second time, Fh;ill be reduced to the rank of porter or reader, and shall not be permitied to read the Gospel or epistle; should he marry a third time, he shall be separated from the (Jhinch for two years, and then be admitted to lay communion only.
5." Deprives all priests and clerks who, having been ap- pointed to any church in town or country, do not assist daily at mass.
7. Permits clerks whose wives do not lead a decorous life to bind them or shut them up, and to make them fast ; forbids them to eat with them until they have done penance.
12. Forbids a clerk to leave bis own bishop in order to attach himself to another,
13. Warns those who attend the other offices of the Church, but who do not communicate, that they must either receive the holy communion, or take place among the penitents, upon pain of excommniiication.
14. Orders that any one who shall have received the holy eiicharist without eating it shall be driven from the Church as guilty of sacrileL'e.
IT. Excommunicates a married mau keeping a concu- bine; but permits unmarried men to do so. Allows ei- ther a wife or a concubine.
20. Restricts the consecration of the chrism to the bish- ops ; orders all priests to send a deaccui or subdeacon to the bishop at Easier, in order to receive it from him.
See Mansi, Concil. ii, 1222,
II. The Second Council of Toledo was held about 447, during the popedom of Leo I, against the Priscillian- ists. Nineteen bishops attended, who condemne<l the heresy and the followers of Priscillian in a formulary of faith directed against all heretics, to which eighteen atiathomas arc attached. See Mansi, Concil. iii, 14G5; Baronius, ami. 447, § 17, etc.
III. The Thiril Council of Toledo was held May 17, 531 ; Montanus, bishop of Toledo, presiding over seven other bishops. Five canons were published.
1. Relates to the treatment of children offered by their parents to be brought up for holy orders. Others relate to the continence of the clergy, the preservation of church property, etc.
In this council Toledo is, for the first time, spoken of as a metropolitan see. See Mansi, Concil. iv, 1734.
IV. The Fourth Council of Toledo was held May 8, 589; Leander, the primate of Seville, presiding over seventy-two bishops, from the different provinces un- der the rule of king ReccarediLS, who attended in per- son. Eight deputies were also present. The main object of the council was to confirm the conversion of the Goths who had abjured Arianism, and who here presented a confession of faith, in which they declared their assent to the first four oecumenical councils, and anathematized the principal errors of the Arian party. Twenty -three canons were published, and as many anathemas directed, as against other heresies and evils,
so against those who deny the procession of the Holv (ihost from the Father and the Soti, and those who re- fuse to anathematize the Council of Ariininum.
2. Directs that, according to the king's writ, the Coii- staiilinopoliian cieed shall be stiiig by the pet, pie in ev- ery church in the kingdom before the Lord's Prayer in the eucharistical office.
fi. Relates to the rule of continence to be oh>.erved hy heietical bishops, priests, and deacons, wheu reconciled to the Church, as well as l)y all clerks.
7. Orders that some portion of Holy Scfi[itiire shall he read daily at the tables of priests, to prevent idle conver- sation.
11 and 12. Relate to penitence. Forbid to reconcile without penance; forbid the priest to admit to penance without tirst cultint; off the hair of the penitent, if a man, or changing her dress, if a woman.
14. Forbids Jews to have Christian women for wives or concubines.
19. Leaves it to the bishop to fix the endowment to he given to a newly founded church.
22. Forbids to say anything but psalms at the funerals of the religious.
See Mansi, v, 997. .
V. The Fifth Council of Toledo was held May 17, 597; sixteen bishops attended; two canons only remain,: and the subscription of thirteen bishops only appear.
1. Orders that priests and deacons who will not observe^ the law of continence shall be degraded, shut up in a cloister, and put to penance.
2. Forbids the bisho|i to api)ropriate to himself the rev- enues of any church or chnpel in his diocese, and declares that they belong to the ministering priest.