The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-01-07
INP0RTANT PoNTIFICAL LETTER.
(Iondon Tablet. Dec. 16)

very important letter from his Holiness
addressed. ss it appears FROM internal evidence
| to Bishop in Germany, though the name Of
that Bishop is not forthcoming, has beer
given 70 the world by the newspaper entitled
La Croir Though it has been made public not
In very regular manner, yet. as it has beer
already reproduced by the French Catholic
Press. we cannot do wrong in noticing it, The
Holy Father, after intimating his approval OF
| the Bishops condemnation of some plan the
nature of which is not stated, goes on to deal
with the case of certain German priests who
latter having long delayed manifesting their
adhesion to the dogmatic definition of the
Vatican Council touching the infallible magis
terrain of the Roman Pontiffn have at last made
their profession to this effect, but declaring at
the Same time, "either that they had only
made up their miDds to do so because they
saw those German Bishops who bad defended
the opposite opinions in the Council except
their definition, or else that they admitted in
deed the dogma defined, but without admit
ing the oFportuneness of the definition" The
Holy Father goes on to say that as the defni-
tlons Of General Councils are infallible by rea-
son of the fact that they proceed from the in
SEPARATION of the Holy Spirit assisting the
Church, they cannot but teach the truth aud
that truth does not derive either it's force its
character from the assent of men; rather, as
1t proceeds from God, it requires full and co.
tire consent, dependent no condition. Nor
could any heresy have ever been prescribed in
an eficacious manner if it had been permissi-
bic Tor the faithful to wait, before submitting
TO the definition of the truth, for the assent Of
those who opposed that definition and were
condemned by it. This doctrine" adds his
Holiness, (which il the same for the defnitions
Of Gsumenical Councils and for the defiui-
tIops OF the Supreme PontitfJ, was clearly ex-
pressed by the Vatican Council, when 1t
taught at the close Of its definitions that the
Getinitions of the Roman Pontih are irreform-
able of the mselves, and not in virtue of the
cnpsent of the Church. (Sess. ". c. III. ", in
fine y The Supreme Pontiff then passes
Juo gment on the other class of persons Just
mentioned, 1t 10 still more absurd, he says, to
accept the definition and persist in saying that
IL ~ inopportuue. The vicissitudes, indeed
have ever existed, the fresh errors which are
every day invented for the destruction Of the
Church, the Vicar of Christ deprived of his
liberty, ard the Bishops of the pc Wer, not only
or ssembling. but even of teachpg-all attest
with what Opportuneness Divine Providence
permitted that the definition of the Pontjfcal
should be proclaimed at a tlue
" hen the right rule of belief and conduct was
about to be deprived of all other support "
side, IF the definitions of Goumenical Coun.
,l!s are infallible precisely because they flow |
rom the wisdom and council of the HOLY |
spirit, nothing surely can be more absurd than
20 think that the Holy Spirit teaches indeed |
'hlnRs which are true, but may still teach |
,hem inOpporfunely." The Bishop to whom |
,he letter is addressed is, therefore, instructed
20 warn any such priests ifthey are any in his
1Ioceee, that it il not permitted to them 80 to
INIT their assent as to make il depend upon
IN act--even praiseworthy act-of this or
hat Bishop rather than on the authority of the
Church, and tbat they must adopt the defni-
ion "by fall and entire assent of intelli- /
sence and will, unless they would depart from
ne true faith"