The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-04-28

ton. We may add that the persistency OF
our neighbor in citing as instances where
1nfallibility was msnifestly wanting, cases
which do not come with the conditions OF
the dogma requires explanation also.
But let us go on step. We may wraugie
forever over Bible texts. There is no sect
so absurd or impious but has been able to
give some specious color to it's extrava-
gance by misinterpreting the Bible. Let
US then ask what did the Fathers of the
Church think on this subject. How did
the early Christians hold the doctrine
which they received from the Apostles
To this we reply that we find express and
implied recognition of the doctrine of Papal
lnfallibility in all the writings and doings
of the early Christians, and in no single in
stance do we find it disputed.
Origen A. D. ZIG calls St. Peter "the
foundation of the Church." says he had the
"chief authority of feeding the sheep. st.
Cyprian A. D. 2s4 says there is Zone
Church founded by Christ our Lord upon
Peter as the origin. and principle of uaity.'
st. Hilary A. D. $50, calls st. Peter the
"happy foundation of the Church Z" St.
Optatus A. D. 365 says that in the city of
Rome, the episcopal chair was conferred on
Peter the First, the head of the apostles,
chair against that single chair should be a
schismatic and sinner. St. Ambrose A.
D. 3S3 says. " Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia,"
Where Peter is, there Is the Church where
the Church is there death is not, but life
eternal.n st. Jerome-39O-"I am in COM
munion with your holiness, Zone of the
Popes) that is with the chair of Peter.
built" Popes of the early day and Papal
legates claim the same succession and
power and innumerable of the early
writer's whose names, even, we have not
room to give.
The Councils from the earliest record
never thought Of considering any decree
binding without the approval of the Pope.
Some Councils he rejected and they have
never been recognized by the Church. Of
some Councils he selected certain portions
of their proceedings which he confirmed
and rejected others, and such action of the
Pope has always been received as perfectly
conclusive. We have room only for an
extract from Dollinger's history of the
Church, I'd vol. PIP. go .4-the same Dol
linger with whom the Presbyterian is so
"The Pope is supreme teacher and guardian
of the faith. That the DEGREES of synOds re- |
garding faith, obtained their full power and |
authority only by being received and confirmed
by the Pope, was publicly acknowledged in |
the fourth century Thus the Synod held at |
Rome 372, under the Pope st. Damascus, de-
clared that the Council of Rimini, notwith- |
standing the great number of bishops who
were there assembled, was invalid and nall, |
because neither the Bishop of Rome, whose |
decision should be awaited before all others, |
nor Vincent of Cspua, and Others had decreed |
with them. The Same Pope was the first who
condemned the heresy of Apollinaris, although |
it arose in the East; and by his decision, 10
Sozomen relates, the controversy of the OrieD-
tails on the divinity of the Holy Ghost was
ended. The Fifth General Council, which was
o Council of only Oriental bishops, acquired |
the authority of an Gcumenical Synod by the
acceptance and confirmation Of the
Pope and st. Augustine declared, after the
two African Synods had been confirmed by the !
Pontiff, that the cause Of the Pelagians was
serminsted. Roma locuta eat, causa Gnita
,st'-'Rome hath spoken, the case is finished