The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-18

w 49, 81 49, EiH ssss 'fsss
8 DR.. o. a.. Brownson leotured ON the Attn
on "Papal Infkllibility," at the new COL
lege of St. John the Baptist, Lewis and
Willoughby avenues. Brooklyn. The
chapel of the college, which is son the Sc
cond floor, contained about two thousand
people, a large number to collect on the
outskirts Of Brooklyn on Sunday evening
at fifty cents head. brass band was III
attendance, and the hall was decked with
flags. At 6:l5 Mr.. Brownson walked up the
aisle, supported by two priests. He was
dressed in a suit of dark gray. His en-
trance was heralded byImusic from Q band.
About one hundred priests, students, and
laymen were seated on the platform.
Father O'Farrel, of st. Peters, introduced
the speaker. He said he was embarrassed
in introducing Mr.. Brownson, who had
done as much as any American for the in
struction and enjoyment of the people. He
knew of no layman, and few clergymen,
able to give clearer idea of the doctrine
to be discussed.
DR.. Brownson said that he felt embar-
rassment in addressing them. He came to
them old and infirm, the vigor of manhood
gone, the wreck of what he was. He would
do his best. If others could do better, God
bless them. This new college was about
opening which made the occasion impor-
tant, and the subject of infallibility fit
one. 1t is a subject for theOlOgians. But
he had been dabbling in theology all his life
He had given his best thoughts to Papal
infallibility, and had always believed " it
since he became Catholic. The Bishop
who received and confessed him first had
taught him this doctrine. The Pope speak
ing er cathedra could not err, for he is the
successor of Peter. Mr.. b. has felt no sur
prise or struggle about this doctrine: He
| believes it will remain with him till his
dying breath. Do we mean that the Pope
cannot err as q man that his elevation to
| the Papacy endows him with faculties that
he had not before7 No! His infallibility
is only by and through the assistance of
the Holy Ghost. Many besides Catholics
inspired. SO of all apostles. PrOtestants
who are not rationalists believe this. Catho-
lies hold that the Pope is assisted by the
Holy Ghost to declare and define what has
been believed from the beginning. 1t is
not harder to believe that the successors or
St..Peter are inspired to define the truths
| of religion than it is to believe that the
apostles gave infallible truth. Many news
papers talk of the ahsurdity of believing
| that the Pope is infallible, which every
| week assert that his great predecessor was
| so. If ST. Peter were here now describing
| what Gods truth is, every Christian would
receive the utterance as intallibly true.
| The Lord speaks through Peters successors
as through him. The point he was trying
to make is that the Pope is infallible by
supernatural aid. The fulfillment of his
Office necessitates infallibllity in him. In
what respects is he infallible7 He saw in
q paper the other day that the editor con-
sidered the Prussian successes as a bitter
satire on the infallibility of the Pope. The
Pope never said the French should be vic
| torious. If he bad it was no matter OF faith.
| The pope is the teacher and governor of
the Universal Church. II is not necessary
that he should be intallible as governor.
He may confirm bishops that are not the
| best men. In tue external control of the
church, the Pope may have made mistakes;
He has to follow human Judgment in such
matters. His absolute infallibility is in de-
fining what is the word of God in matters
of doctrine He can sin as we'll as you or /.
| He goes to confession oftener than most of
us, and perhaps not without reason. He
may be a bad man just as you have bad
President. The Supreme Court is court
of final resort. and its decisions may not be
right. The difference with the final deci
sions of the Pope is that they are always
right Those w no suppose that Catholic con-
sciences are loaded with a new dogma are
mistaken. 1t has even been declared before
by a council. The Council of Florence, with
the East and West united, really declared
the doctrine when it declared that the Pope
was the vicar of Christ. Civil governments
| have had quarrels with the Pope. They
wanted to rule it entirely. They desired in
dependence to do what they pleased in
| spite OF the Cnurcn. IN one sense Jne
Church has nothing to do with civil gov
| eminent. In another sense it has. The
speaker dwelt on the slavery question
illustrating the fact that there is often a
clash between the laws of ethics and the
desires of large nations. The question is
not decided yet whether it is q sin to hold
slaves-so also about the supposed sin of
drinking. We should have authority from
| God to decide such questions.
| Jesus Christ is the ruler OF all he claims
| that authority. He has right to rule in
republics as well as in mOnarchies, when
moral questions are considered. When ma
tions fail to do His will He allows other
nations to overrun them for while until
they return to him. You cannot go coun-
ter to the law of God with irnpunity,
whether in matters of Supporting bad
rulers or of supporting the Infamous mar
rage laws of New York. In the sixteenth
century some nations protested against the
Papacy, and thus against the law of God.
Religion has declined in Protestant ma
tions until individuals are setting up for
themselves. All sacred and holy things
are sneered at. Conservatives are said to
have their faces on the back of their heads.
ASome Catholics think that the decisions of
the Pope are not reliable till confirmed by
the Church. They are too much like those
who confine their religion to one day in the
week, and one corner OF their lives. He
had often defended the infallibility of the
Church. His final decision was that, since
counciIs cannot be often held. q living