The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-09-12


The Catholic Church is perfect society," super
natural society," society founded by Christ for the
salvation of the human race. But the church is a
society Of living men, and therefore must be
visible society. 1t Is a society for all men who
would be saved and must therefore be a perpetual
society No society can exist without head,
center, an authority, governing power. Our Dl-
vine Lord before organizing His society and estab-
fishing His church chose one Of His disciples and
appointed him head Of the society church He was
soon to institute. "Thou art Peter" spoke our
Savior to this disciple, "and on (theeJ this rock
will build my church"
Had the disciples Of Christ chosen the visible
foundation Icy would have had power to change
IT, Had Peter himself by divine appointment es-
tablished the church Peter could claim right to
alter or modify It's doctrines. But when Christ
himself chose the Lead and built his church no
power on earth could destroy it and all hell could
not prevail against it.
Now as the Divine Founder was soon TO 60 %
the Father and leave for all time visible society
to perpetuate his doctrines it was necessary that
visible head should preside over this society and
50 He made Peter that head and His visible sue
cessor on earth with superhuman power to rule His
church. and in and through his lawful successors
to rule it to the end Of time. This Is what
Catholics mean by the Supremacy Of St. Peter, and
Of the Pope Of Rome as his lawful successor.
The Church Of Christ is one holy, Catholic and
Apostolic The church IS one in It's Sacrifice, its
Sacraments and It's Doctrines. And this oneness
excludes all multiplicity, all division, all diversity
Christ said:
4On thee, Peter. will build Ny church mot
churchesJ to thee I wil give the keys; feed ny
lambs. feed my sheep; there shall be one flock and
one Shepherd"
By divine precept all are bound 70 be within this
church which Our Lord compared 10 sheep fold.
EIe that hears you hears me; lie that viii not hear
the church let him be % the heathen Az the Father
hath sent me, I send you; 20 teach all nations;
preach the gospel 10 every creature; he who be-
lieves and Is baptised shall be saved; he Who be-
/ lieyeth not shall be condemned"
There can be only one true church, and all are
commanded By Christ to belong 70 that church.
He who knows this vii Of Christ and this oblga-
ton and does not obey cannot be in the way Of
salvation.
4 church teaching supernatural truth, mysterious
truth beyond human understanding, must Be an
infalble church. especially If tremendous penalties
I accompany determination not 70 listen 70 rs
voice. Hence our Lord made His church infaLibls
on the instance be made i divine. II vii be with
you always. even 10 the end of time" and again:
Il VIII send you the Holy Spirit the spirit of truth,
I 10 teach you, and He vii abide with you for evef"
I Without an infallible church there can Be 10
faith. 10 certainty, and therefore no supreme obi
I cation 70 believe. The only church On earth that
makes good her claim 70 infaibility the Roman
Catholic. That church not only claims infallibflity
/ bur she exercises and makes her claim operative
\ through. % General councils. ~ The voice of
7 her Bishops in union With The See u Peter. (3)
The Pope. the head II the church. TEACHING * Ca
thedra. or q the vicar or representative On earth
Of Christ.
/ What, then. DO ve mean bg asserting Papal in
faIibilityz We mean that the Sovereign P0nti5 Is
bv divine appointment and a. successor 70 s. Peter
I diyineIy protected and exempt from error, whsh,
IN the exercise of his exalted oies he defines hat
fs u faith. hat u what ~ are 70 beieTe touching
doctrines and morals. Here IL what the Vatican
Council representing the universal church. pro-
claims in reference 70 this sugect. we teach and
define It u be dogma diginely reyealed that when
the Roman Pontff speaks * CathedTa. that is wien
IN discharge Il the Office and ~ teacher q I'll Chris
tians bv virtue of hs supreme apostolic authority,
he deanes that doctrine regarding faith or morals
i u b had by the univeraa church, IL enjoTs ~
the divine assistance promised n him IN blezssd
(Coatinued on Page 81