Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-12
God forbid, venture 70 contest this dedni-

God forbid. venture 70 contest this dehnt-
ton of ours, let him be anatheMA
Rishop Pessler, the great Secretary Cen
eraI of the Vatican Council. tells Us that
particular pains were taken to designate
precisely what Is meant by pspsl infalioil-
itv. therefore the expression, ION the IN
fallible teaching Office OF the Roman Pom
tiff" was chosen rather than on the
infallibility," in order TO forestau the erro-
neous DEDUCTIONS which might be drawn
tro,u the General term "infallibility" by
those who are disposed to dispute the doc.
trine on this very ground, viz, because II
was so general.
Such persons would be sure 70 misrePre
amt the doctrine to others, and mlSie,d
them in their inquiries. Accordingly the
Council carefully and exactly declared 6y
the very title, in what respect the iniaiu-
bility is used of the Roman Pontifs. Let
MS now consider the explicit proofs OF the
doctrine itself Matthew xvi, Thou art
Pe,sr and on this rock l will build my
chnrch. and the gates of hell shall not pre-
vail against it." III, the Supreme Architect
nj the Universe" says our Lord Jesus
Christ twill establish a church which
ia TO last till the end OF time;
7 will Law the foundations so deep and
strong on the rock of truth that winds ana
storms of error shall never prevail agains'
il Thou, o Peter, shalt be the foundation
of this church. 1t shalt never be shaken
and thou shalt never be shaken, because
thou shalt rest on me, the rock OF truth.
The church of which Peter is the founda'
| tion is declared to be impregnable; that Is
proof error. How can you suppose an in-
movable edifice built on
A rorrERING FOUNDATION.
| for it is not the building that sustaips the
foundation, but the foundation supports the
| buildicgr
The reverend gentleman, continuing
! made several more quotations, and said
! Christ prays for two things. First, that the
faith OF Peter and his successors might mol
fail Second, that Peter would confirm his
! brethren in the faith. As the prayer OIL
Jesus is always heard, therefore Peter anG
| his successors, the bishops of Rome, shall
! never fail. John XSi:l6-l7, Feed my
lambs; feed my sheep" Peter is appoint
ed the universal shepherd of his hOck-Oi
the sheep and OF the lanbs-that is, shep
| herd OF the bishops and priests, as well as
OF ::hn people. The bishops are shepherds
in reference to their ilockS; thew are sheep
in reference to the Pope, who is the shep,
herd of shepherds. The Pope as shepherd
must feed the flock, not with the poison OF
error, but with the healthy food or SOUND
| doctrine.
Now, what was implied in these words OF
the sacred scripture vas the Deliei anG
practice of the whole Catholic world
from the days of Peter to Leo Nil. Some
say this is a new dogma, but such is not
the case. Were tradition and history to
show that the Church had once taught that
the Pope was fallible when speaking eI'
cathedra then, indeed, might the dehni
ton of 1870 be called new dogma. The
Church only declares it dogma when the
doctrine is denied by q considerable number
witness the dogma that Mary is the mother
of God, a dogma declared only with the
| condemnation of Anus. But all
tradition is full OF this beHef
80 that ii became tritt phrase
Roma locofd cS fuitd cGuSa"-Rome has
spokcn, the cause is ended The councils
OF the church are quoted in the chapter OF
the definition itself as the Eighth General
| Council held in ConstantinOple A. ID. 500,
! Second General Council of Lyons A d. l2I4,
also quoted Council of Florence l439.
As proof of accepted belief in
PAPAL AVAILABILITY
we have in the third century POp'Stephen
reversing the decision of ST CPrian
! Carthage and of council of African
Bishops regarding Baptism.
In the fifth century Pope st. Innocent |
condemns the religious:hereS Ii the four
tenth Gregory N condemns ne hercsy
of Wycliffe. In the sixteenth, leo \ con
dennis Luther In the seventeenth, lnnO-
cent Y condemns the Janseniss. In the
nineteenth, Pho Mono declares tie lmmacu-
late Conception. And to all thee decisions
the Catholic world assented rs hfallible.
To the argument that this is 90 great
prerogatiYe to be conferred on nan, point
to the greater power given toman. The
apostles We're inspired men, made the
mouthpieces of Gods revelation, OF which
the Popes are only the custodians.
Professionalism is split up inb seets and
contradicting divisions because there is no
supreme authoritative jude. In the
Catholic Church all is harmon and unity
because all bow to the InfallDle Teacher,
whose faith by Jesus prayer on never fail;
of that shepherd who has bee commission
teach the laity and clergy the word OF
! C~l'. -, fallililitY.