Innocent wanted this to be an ecumenical council, bringing together Church leaders from across the world. Attendance included 412 bishops, 71 patriarchs and metropolitans, 900 abbots and priors. Because of the large number of participants, the Fourth Lateran Council became known as the Great Council.
The council began on November 11, 1215. Pope Innocent presented 70 decrees, which the council fathers basically rubber-stamped. The Fourth Lateran Council issued a number of decrees on Communion such as:
- the frequency of Communion,
- the dogma of transubstantiation (that at the consecration, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ), and
- the necessity of going to confession and receiving Communion during the Easter season in order to be in good standing with the Church. (This became known as one's Easter duty).
- Little White Book, Diocese of Saginaw