The New York herald., 1872-10-28
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH

The Infal1ibfltty OF the Church-Faith
Necessary for Salvation, and an Infalli-
bic Church Required for Faith.
The mass sung by the choir yesterday at this
church was Meiner's, the organ being presided
over by Mr.. Danforth The principal solo in the
''Gloria" was the "Laudamus Te," which was sung
by Collett with his usual power. Miss Emma How
son sang the "Et mcarnatus" Of the "Credo" with
precision and cultivated taste that left nothing
to be desired In the "Agnus Del" the choruses
were very fine. In the afternoon Corini's vespers
were sung.
The high mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father
Lynch. After the first gospel the Rev. Father
McQuirk ascended the pulpit, and beforo announc-
ing the text of his sermon announced that on next
Sunday the mission by the Jesuit Fathers would be
opened In this church.
| Father McQuirk then preached from John xiv %
"But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father viii send in NV name, He Will teach you all
things and bring all things to your mind, whatso-
ever shall have said to you." OF the many great
gifts with which God has endowed His Church un-
questionaby that of her inlallibility. whether we
view the gift itself its absolute necessity for the
maintenance OF Christian unity and divine faith, is
the greatest. Infallibility is an attribute OF God
alone. Yet He Is free to confer 1t upon man
II He deems 1t necessary to carry out the work
OF salvation. Thus He has conferred 1t upon His
Church to enable her to teach with authority
OF which he has made her the depository and guard
ian, and TO AFFORD us ground OF certainty by which
we may be able to elicit acts OF divine iaith neces
sary for eternal salvation The infalbility of the
Church surpasses all other prerogatives. 1t is the
cornerstone OF the Catholic Church. Without it
the Church would toter and fall into fragments;
with 1t 1t Is firmly compacted and bound together.
No small amount OF mlsapprehension exists In
the meaning OF the dogma OF nlallibility Infalli.
bity does not mean impeccability. Catholics do
not believe in the snlessness Of popes, bishops or
In n n npN
their FIRE freedom from sin being in PROPORTION
Catholics claim inerrancy except in matters
pertaining 10 faith and morals. When we say that
mission Of teaching men the truths OF revelation
and the principles OF morality, is not liable to any
error by virtue OF the promises made her by Jesus
Christ. His Divine spirit abdes with her and
enables her to decide with unerring authority what
were the doctrines delivered to the Apostles, to ex
pound their true sense and condemn teachings con-
There is no salvation without faith, and without
an infallibe Church we cannot have 1.-THE rational
faith of which the Apostle speaks. For what is
faiths 1t is an act OF the mind by which we firmly
6eeye something to be true not on account Of
OF him who a1lrms it. 1t is such faith that God
requires OF US. To have this faith we must be GER
tain OF the true sense Of revelation and OF the iden-
tlty Of that which Is now offered to belief with
that which was originally revealed. How could
the meaning OF divine revelation be unerringy
known II there were no authority competent to
determine 1t T? Is its meaning so clear as to be
obvious TO all Is IL expressed In such q manner
as to defy misnterpretaton? Alas the continued
existence OF heresies from the days OF the Apostles
to our own times clearly proves that the Scriptures
were never meant to be interpreted by private au-
thority. The truths OF revelation are Of so stu
pendous nature, its mysteries so bewildering to
the mind, their comprehension so far exceeds the
capacity. OF beings merely rational, that man may
well doubt Ii the Interpretation which seems to
him just is, indeed. the meaning OF the inspired
writer. II, then, God has made any revelation to
man He has supplied him with the means by which
II ~ may be known and and rightly understood. God
does fully and in manner worthy Of His infinite
intelligence.
reveal to him the truths of religion and leave him
| destitute OF the means to ascertain their true
| and most loving design OF God over His creatures
have been accomplished II He left them In laby
rinth OF doubt, from which they could not extricate
themselves? The existence, then, Of an infalGe
tribunal for the Interpretation OF the Scriptures
naturally follows as an evident corollary from the
fact OF revelation 1t is but part OF great whole
1t is but in consonance with the harmony and COM
pleteness OF all His other works. He wishes that
designed them Now, without an inalIible author a.
ity for deciding without possibility OF error, and
for teaching In the name OF God the truths
OF revelation, revelation Itself would be in
complete; 1t would be an anomaly IN the midst
OF the universal order and supreme harmony OF
the rest OF Gods creations. 1t would be altogether
Intellectual for the end for which 1t was voucn-
sa1ed--the redemption OF man by faith 1t would,
therefore, the @ e be repugnant to the first principles Of
the means requisite to the end sought.
the necessity OF an infallible Church becomes
even more manifest when consider that TO
elicit the divine laith which God requires, we need
to be certain not only OF the inst Interpretation Of
Scripture. but also that what is now proposed to
our belief, IS the very truth, which was originally
reveaed-that 1t has suffered no corruption
pcrversion since its revelation. what means have
we of knowing this In the absence Of an infaible
Church, which can bear witness that the doctrines,
which are now offered to our belief, are Identical
with those received from heaven. We find
in the Holy Scriptures promises as clear
and as explicit as human language allows that the
Church should enjoy, and be strengthened with,
this divine prerogative. In st. Matthew we read
that "Jesus, coming, spoke to them; all power Is
given TO me In Heaven and on earth; 60, there
lore; teach We all nations, baptslng them IN the
name OF the Father, and Of the Son. and OF the
Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever have commanded you; and 10 ! am
with you all days even to the c0nsummation OF the
world.' From this commission given to the
Apostles flows the infalibility OF the Church.
Christ Is therefore with His Church, and she can
not err or truth itself would be liable to In
many texts OF Sacred Scripture man is commanded
on the pain OF his immortal soul to yield unhesitat
ing faith to the Church and to her teachings an
obedience which surely God would not exact for
any but an infallible Church. The preacher con-
Guided by showing the intimate connection OF the
iniallibility Of the Pope with that OF the Church.