The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-11

CORDIAL WELCOME HOM0-RECEPTION
4 AT ST. PATRIcK's CATHEDRAL.
One of the most imposing ceremonies
ener seen within the walls of st. Patrick's
C,xthedral, New York, renowned for the
CIasholic Church are there gotten up, took
place on the 3lst ult., the occasion being |
ssae solemn reception of Most Rev. Arch
sishop McCloskey on his return from the |
Ecumenical Council. The affair was strictly |
an accordance with the Roman rubric.
The sacred edifce was filed to repletion,
emany of the attendants being ladies and
gentlemen of other denominations. Among
Athe prominent citizens present were Mayor
Hall, City Judge Bedford, Judge Bowling,
Police Commissioner Brennan, Hon. j. B.
Nicholson, of the Charities and Correction
commission, and several others. The adj
EMISSION was by invitation tickets. The
New York papers report the proceedings
in full, giving the address of Rev. Thomas
u. Preston, DID,, and the Archbishop's re-
ply, which would fill nearly page of our
feaper. We can only give the conclusion of
nis Grace's response:
There is one thing which, whenever the
Vatican Council is mentioned, comes up
YsrUminently before the mind-one thing
Wssich, in this connection is always the
s.zzbiect of comment. This ls because OF the
.gxternal attention which has been drawn
xo It. He referred to the definition made
Ssy that. Council of the dogma Of the infalli-
Hf3Sty Of the Sovereign POntiH. Concern
ane this definition there had been much
MISREPRESENTATION, and consequently, great
decentralization. 1t was believed by many
tI,xt. in declaring the Pope to be infallible,
xhei Church had been creating new doc
trine: that she had been comforting on the
Ho}y Father, or had allowed the assump-
aiCe by him of an authority never before
recognized; and, therefore, that she was
expressing the consciences of men, was in
sasrxsripg with the recognized order of
gtAings in civil society, and was making OF
,.ne Pope demigod, proclaiming thas he
.seuld do no wrong. Now, the doctrine OF
anfallihilty was no new doctrines; it re-
-.cegnized in the Pope no prerogative that
he was not already in the full possession
of: 1T aid not interfere with the regulations
of civil society; but, on the contrary, con-
-srIbnted,te good order therein. AS man,
the Pope was faliible as you or ]! and as
likely to go astray, unless directed,
strengthened and sustained by Gods
grace. The Church can make no new doc
trine; and, in this, as in all other dogmas
OF faith, she simply defines what is the
truth she has received from God; what has
contained in the deposit of revelation;
what was believed before but not defined.
An accordance with this prer0gative, she
has defined infallibility as inherent in the
Successor of Peter, when, by virtue of his
sacred office, he acts as teacher of the
Z Church Universal. 1t is now dogma, not
no believe which is to be guilty of heresy.
lit has been believed ever since the days of
sabe Apostles. All Catholics believe that
raIse Pope is the successor of st. Peter-that
IN r. IT, n
r Sr4sucsl; and, as Peters successor - as
,sesoaser at the Chnrch--inherits the prero-
.gati yes of that chief of the apostles. To
Peter. and to him alone, it was said,
* Chez art the rock. ;" Upon him tile Church
was, aailt Now the Church must endure
for ever; but how can it endure if, against
.ahat cock, 1.-The gates of help shall ever
sprevailf If the divinely appointed head
of the Church can teach error and false
doctrine, then the promises of our Saviour
G,sVe failed, which 1T would be blasphemy
Go suppose; therefore, against the sue
a,essseys OF Peter the "the gates of help
ssonnot prevail. To Peter our Saviour
gave the commission, Confirm thy breth-
sem Were it possible for him to teach
.exrur, how could he confirm them? By
f;nfallibility, then, is meant, simply, that
when the Pope defines as of faith, with all
the solemnity attaching to his Office as
,steacher of tue whole Church, any point of
faith or morals, he is, as the successor OF
Meter, by virtue OF Cue blNlue PROMISES,
sarotected and preserved from error. In
s-slle earliest days of the Christian Church,
vEhen schisms arose, and doubts perplexed
r5he faithful, Catholics everywhere turned
&c the See Of Peter and asked what is the
e1ruth7 And when the successor of Peter
spoke, in answer to the call made upon
EIiu,, the decision from his mouth was re-
:garded as if coming from the mouth OF
Christ himself He called upon to
-@peak-called upon To settle the doubts
(which had ariscn-aud would not God be
<zEanting ia not having built up ii perfect
Church, if, when councils could not be
convened, the Pope had been liable to err
an f,is decisions ON points of faith!
They had all heard the discussion, and
Gsnew of the decision. Never in any as
-semblage of Church OF State, was there
greater liberty given to men to speak
Freely, to express their most earnest sen
ttiments, than was given to the Council al
she Vatican. They did speak freely, but
never did they forget their dignity al
prelates of the Church; never did they of
Send the sensibility of any of their brethren
though they may have contested against
chem earnestly. From his own experience
said the speaker, he did not know a BishoL
who plainly and emphatically denied the
doctrine of Papal infallibility. There were
i'm the minds of some prudential reason.
against the definition; but when the agita-
-eiOn became great, when doubts were
sarisiDg in the minds of men that never
edoubtea before, it was deemed necessary
~ l. n