The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-06-30
POPE'S ENCYCLICAL.

An Abstract Received by Cardinal Glib
bOns-The Church DlvinsIy APPOintsds
BALTIMORE. Md. June 29.-cardl-
nal Gibbons has received from Rome the
advance shoats containing the following
comprehensive abstract OF the popes
encycl!cll On the reuh:on OF the Christ-
ian churches:
hns attracted 50 much attention, the pope
''Thc holy father. intent upon the
work II bringing all to the one fold OF
Christ. considers that II would conuuce
70 that end were II set before the peoples
OF the Christian world the ideal ana e1-
empIar OF the church as divinely con-
stituted 10 which church all are nounu
by Gods command TO belong.
I'm Scripture the church Is cailed q
body and the body OF Christ. Il iS
visible as being living and organized
society and Is animated by the invisi-
Bile vital principle OF supernatural me.
Those. therefore, who deny that Christs
church IL L visible body, or refuse 70
allow that II has the perennial commn-
nlcatIon OF the gifts OF divine grace arc
equally in 4 grievous and perniclouH
error
"a church which should embrace all
men everywhere and At all times was
clearly fOretold by the prophet lSaiah
and was typified as Our Lords myA-
tical body, body united to himself as
head OF a mystical body the members OF
which, II separated one from the other,
cannot be united with one and the
same head And 50 another head IKE
to Christ.
That is. another Christ, must be iu-
vented II besides the one church.W1hch
is His body, men wish TO set up an
other.
'As n necessary consequence in His
divine wisdom, He ordained IN his
church unity Of falth-a virtue which
Is thu first Of those bonds which unite
man TO God and which we receive the
name Of the faithful
Christ endowed his apostles With au-
thorlty like To HIS own and promised
that the spirit OF truth should direct
them and remain with them forever
and because OF this commission II Is no
more allowable to repudiate one iota OF
the apostles teaching than 10 regret any
point Of the doctrine OF Christ Hims
self. THIS apostolic mission was lli-
tended Tor the salvation OF the whole
human race and consequently must
last TO the end OF time.
''The maEisterum instituted by Christ
IN his Chucrh was by Gods VIII per-
petuated in successors appointed by the
apostles. and In like manner the duty
OF accepting and protesting all that Is
thus taught IS also perpetual and i'm
mutable. There is nothing which the
church founded on the principles naS
been more careful 10 guard than the IN
tegrity OF the faith. The fathers OK
the church are unanimous in consider
ing disobedient to the Catholic COM
munIon anyone who in the least degree
deylates from even one point of the
doctrine proposed by the authoritative
magIsterum OF the church.
"The church Is mans guide to what
ever pertains to heaven. This Is the
Office appointed 20 IL by God that II may
watch over and may order an that con-
Germs religion and may without let or
hIdrance exercise, according 20 Its Judg-
ment, It's charge over Christianity.
Wherefore they who pretend that the
church has anywise 10 interfere In civil
matters or to infringe upon the rights
OF the state, either know 1t not, or wick
edly calumniate It.
"As no true and perfect human so-
clety can be conceived which Is not gov
srned BY some supreme authority, 80
CnFlAL OF nGNGSSlkg 6hNN ~ AAA.
a supreme authority to which all Chris
tians must be obedlcnt. For the preser-
walton OF unity there must be unity OF
government jure dlvino, and men may
he placed outside the one fold by schlsm
as well as by heresy.
'The nature Of this supreme authority
can be ascertaIned from the positive
and evident will Of Christ in the matter.
AS He wIlIed that His kingdom should
be visible. Christ was Obliged 70
designate n vice regent on earth
IN the person OF st. Peter He also
determined that the authority given to
him FOR the salvation OF mankind In per-
petuity, should be inherited by st Pc
Cer's successors
at cannot be doubted from the words
OF Holy Writ that the church by the VIII
OF God rests on st. Peter. as building
upon its foundation. st. Potter could
not fulfill this duty without the power
OF commanding, forbIddinG and judging
which is properly called jurisdiction.
"For the preservation OF unity In the
Christian church It is above all things
necessary that there should De union
between the Roman pontiff, the ono
Euccessor Of St. Peter and the Bishops,
the many Successors OF the apoStolAc
college.