The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-02-24
Three-foId power Given the Church.

The whole power which Christ con.
ferred on st. Peter and his legitimate
successors may be divided into three
kinds. Firstly: The power of teach.
Ing, by which the Church receives a
mission to teach all nations, the right
to define what Ia true doctrine, to
preach, catechize and direct the educa-
ton Of the faithful. Hence. by divine
right, Bishops possess the power to
control and inspect the schools OF
their dioceses, to forbid all false teach
ing, books and publications that faint
the faith or morals of the people. Dis
obedience to Bishops in these matters
is disobedience to God Himself Sec
ondly: BY her power OF the ministry,
the Church administers the sacra-
ments, grants indulgences, institutes
feasts, regulates the ceremonies of
the Mass and all that constitutes
Catholic worship. The Church has the
right to own places of worship for
the living and cemeteries for the dead,
and to possess property necessary or
useful to her ministry 1t is both an
Injustice and sacrilege to violate her
possessions, for they rest on divine
right. Thirdly: BY the power of gov
eminent or Jurisdiction, the Church
possesses the right to religious admin
istration of the countries wherein the
faithful dwell. The Pope divides the
ecclesiastical territories into Dioceses,
which are divided into parishes. Bish-
ops are nominated for the government
of the Dioceses, and they ordain priests
for the administration of the parishes.
The Church has right to make laws
and precepts, which the faithful are
bound to accept as the commandments
of the Church. Bishops can make
rules, institute statutes and laws for
the government of their Dioceses.
The coercive power of imposing penal
ties and censures ON refractory sub
jects belongs to the Pope and Bish.
ops. ..
Knowing the Church to be infallible,
and believing her voice to be the
Voice of God, speaking to him through
the Church, the loyal Catholic accepts
the truths she teaches with childlike
faith. Joyfully and trustfully does he
cleave to God and His words spoken
by the Church. Listening to the
Church, he listens to no human teach.
er, but to God, Whose perpetual and
Divine presence makes the Church
perpetually proof against error. The
loyal Catholic subjects his will to the
Church, whether the truths proposed
are positively defined, or left to her
approved sentiment. In full accord
with the Church, he thinks, feels and
acts, according to her dictates. Believ
ing that God governs the Church
through His representatives, the gen
uine Catholic unreservedly submits
himself to their guidance and accepts
in the spirit of faith, their decisions
On all matters affecting religion. I'm
like the unfaithful Catholic, who plays
false and diplomatic role through
human respect and fear of mourning
odium, he will tolerate no evil to avoi6
trouble, knowing that to please the
world is treason to God. eff I please
men," writes st. Paul, IT should not
be the servant of Christ"
The staunch Catholic will shun al
doctrinal teaching except that deliv
cred by the Church through her accre
dited representatives.
A Catholic cannot listen to a fallible
teacher to obtain better information
about religion, the true Church giving
him all to be had. He must not read
un-C Catholic controversial literature
the Church being intolerant towards
error, the natural position of the Gus
todian of truth. To the Church the
individual is sacred, but error detest
able. The honest Catholic, conquer
ing the monster of human pride, which
Is SO adverse to truths Incompetent
sible to reason, subduing the terror oil
sensual passions, which dread the re
straint imposed upon them by the prac
teal truths of the Catholic Faith, and
crushing the tyrant of human respect
and the fear of the sacrifices, to which
the public profession of his faith may
expose him, will give, unreservedly
and Internationally, the firm and per
severing assent demanded by Divine
Revelation.
The true Catholic will exercise un
selfish devotion to the interest of re
ligion, outspoken sympathy in defense
of the Church and a dignified opposi
ton to the demands of a perverse pub
lie opinion.
See what loyalty men have fol
human organizations that perish
under continued adversely, but the
Church, animated by the Immorta
Spirit of God Himself, comes out Of
the battles stronger than ever. Armed
with the weapons of Gods power
prayer and penance, she alone stands
the test of time while all human insti
tutions crumble into dust She alone
continues her triumphal march
throughout the ages, despite the wors'
forms of prosecutions, curing evil II
II