The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-16
COYLE ON
PRIVACY OF PETER
St. PauPS Pastor DiscourseS on
the Days Feast
SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION
Father coyIe Sets Forth Teaching of
Catholic Church on the Cues
ton of Papacy-Masses
Are Well Attended.

The four masses at St. Paul's church
yesterday were well attended. At the last
mass the Rev. Father Coyle was cele-
brant and preacher. After reading the no.
tees for the week and the gospel In Eng
fish. Father Coyle spoke in part as fol-
lows:
The feast of today, the commemoration
Of all the holy Roman pontiffs, brings be-
fore US rather forcibly the difference be-
tween the old historic church Catholic and
the various non-Catholic churches. We
Catholics on today proclaim our loyalty
and allegiance to the bishop of Rome,
whom we regard as the 25sth successor of
the fisherman Peter of Galilee, chosen
by the founder of the Christian religion TO
be his visible vleeregent on earth.
Todays gospel takenfrom St. Matthew
xvi, 1919. so evidently points to the flu
ture primacy OF Simon Bar-Jona, that it is
difficult TO see how candid outsiders can
escape the logical conclusion that our
Lord made Peter the head of the infani-
BILE teaching society He established to
perpetuate and continue His mission for
all time. Thou art a rock and on this
rock ! will build my church. To thee 1
give the keys of the kingdom of heaven
Whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall
be bound also in heaven.
The Keys.
Our Lord established but one church,
for truth is undivided. The foundation
stone on which that superstructure must
rest Is the rock-Peter. Observe, too that
the giving of the keys signifies the hand
ing over of jurisdiction. Even today the
giving of keys conveys that meaning. II
you give your friend the keys of your
house to hold during your absence, do
you not thereby give him charge over
your house? Remember, to Peter alone,
not to the other apostles, were these
words addressed.
So much for the promise The fuhlment
of the promise Is found in ST. John XXI,
15-17. Our Lord after His resurrection
gave Peter who through human weakness
mserably denied his Master, an oppor-
tunity OF atoning by threefold confess
sion for his triple denial. Simon, son.
of John (Jona), lowest thou Me. Yea,
Lord, Thou knowest that 1 love Thee.
Feed my lambs Simon. son of John, low
est thou Me? And Peter was grieved be-
cause He said to him the third time, Low
est thou Me? And he said to Him, Yea,
| Lord, Thou knowest all things. Thou
l.nowest that love Thee, He said to him,
Feed. my sheep. The whole sheepfold,
| therefore, is entrusted to this universal
| Shepherd. not only the lambs, the weak
and tender portion of the flock, the faith
full, but the sheep who guard the lambs.
the pastors and prelates of the church.
After the Ascension.
And after Christ's ascension, Peter ex-
ercised his primacy. Peter is always first
in the list of the apostles. He is called
by Matthew the first apostle. He was not
| first in age or in prlority-of election,
therefore, he was first not only In rank
| and honor but in authority. He was first
of the apostles to perform a miracle He
| was first to address the Jews on the MEM
orable first Peateoost dny. He first re-
ceives the Gentlles into the church. He
alone speaks at the election of Matthias.
| In the apostolic council of Jerusalem there
was much disputing. Peter speaks and all
the multitude hold their peace.
We see how the early church that made
no extraordinary efforts to release st.
James from prison besought heaven for
the rescue of Peter. A general could be
lost but not the commander in chief at
that time.
Peters office did not close when Peter
was martyred under the bloodthirsty
| Nero. His office was assumed by Linus.
Then came Cletus and then Clement. Dur
ing the pontlicate of Clement dissension
and scandal arose in the church at Cor
NTH. The members did not appear to ST.
John. bishop of Ephesus. practically their
neiehbor. for decision. The case was
referred to the seat of authority, Rome,
where Peters successor held sway. Gle
ment was the universal pastor--John the
lbishop of a local church. All controversies
| east and west were referred invariably to
Rome. When Rome spoke the case was
ended.
General Councils.
| we find too that the first general coun-
ellis held in the east at Nice, CONSTANT
NOBLE. Ephesus and Chalcedon were con-
voled by the Pope's or at least the Pope
consented to their convocation. They
presided by their legates over all, except
| the first and second councils OF Constan-
tinople. They confirmed all by their au-
thoritv. Many other thoughts arise on
This the feast day that commentaries
the illustrious line of prelates that reigned
in the Eternal City from Peter to the
tenth Plus, now gloriously reigning May
the day dawn soon when the prayer of
Christ will be answered, when all Christ
ians will submit to the infallible shep-
hard when there shall be one fold and one
sbenherd over all the world. God send
that day full soon. when all the world
y,u acknowledge Christ and be loyal
..,ara,, ~ christ's church and Christ's
| --,.A.zoront the hishon of Rome.