The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-02-22
LETTER OF RIGHT REVEREND
BISHOP coRBETT, OF
cROoKsToN, MiNN.

the Laity of the Diocese, Peace and
Benediction in Christ Jesus, Our
Lord.
Dearly Beloved Brethren:
The Papacy forms that wonderful
unceasing succession of two hundred
and sixty Roman Pontiffs from ST.
Peter to Benedict the Fifteenth, now
gloriously reignirg. No grander TACT
of history shines forth than that long
line of Popes, reaching back to Peter
The deeds of no greater, nObler and
purer body of men can ever be re-
corded Many Popes, as true heroes
of the faith, died as martyrs, more
than seventy are honOred as saints
and numbers of them are eminent for
their virtue, science and wisdom. The
unholders of the light Of truth, the
champions of the Church, and the
defenders OF the rights OF peoples,
Pcpes are noted for their powerful
and vast minds. The Chair of Peter
has been occupied by men remarkable
for their nobility Of soul, brilliancy
of intellect, and greatness OF piety.
No more dignified, imposing and
sublime spectacle, indeed, can be con-
templated on earth than that admir-
able dynasty of the Bishops Of Rome,
in which Capital st. Peter established
his See and expired as Bishop OF
Rome, according to the constant tradl-
ton of the Church and reliable non
styy In
thinking and unprejudiced scholar
would refuse the splendor of great
ness to Leo the Thirteenth, Plus the
Tenth and Benedict the Fifteenth.
The divinely appointed head of
Christianity, the supreme teacher and
ruler of the entire Church of God, the
solid center of unity thereof, the in
fallible sentinel of faith, the custo-
dian of the treasures of the graces OF
Christ, the bearer OF the highest dig
nifty on earth, the Pastor Of all
Bishops, priests, and faithful, the SUI
preme Judge of all religious questions,
the doctor OF true faith and the
greatest moral world power, thor
oughly incorruptible, the Pope holds
the spiritual allegiance of over three
hundred millions Of people spread
throughout the world, even though
dissimilar in language, customs, and
government. The words of the Pope,
the object of universal concern, are
heard and needed over all the earth
The Papacy is we'll nigh twenty
centuries old The Pope is mortal
but the Papacy lives. Christ and
Peter have truly died, but both dwell
today in Rome in the person of Bene
dict the Fifteenth, through whom
they speak, act and rule. Mortals
who hear the voice, prosper. and NOR
tails. who despise their voice
eventually fail. The enemies of the
Papacy, indeed, go the way OF al
flesh, and shame marks their graves
Luther, Henry the Eighth, Calvin, ant
in our own times Napoleon, Bismarck
Garibaldi, and Gambetta are no more
but the Papacy, ever young and Wig
orous, survives despite force ant
sword. Atrocious prosecutions, trying
exile and cruel death only increase it,
SlE6nSIu. HS L dpdIy 10 elS III iiiSAot>
and indestructible as are all th'
works of the Eternal and Omnipoten
God. Ever hated, misrepresented ant
blasphemed, the Papacy lives and viii
live forever.
The Primacy of st. Peter.
Christ, the Incarnate God, was th'
visible Head of the Church while OF
earth, but is now the invisible Hea'
in heaven. God the Father" declare
st. Paul, "hath made Christ the Hea'
over all the Church. Eph. ], 17-22
Christ, the way, the light and tn
truth. was pleased in His divine wis
dom to appoint ST. Peter the first il
the Apostolic College after his nobl
profession of divinity, Thou art Pc
ter and upon this rock | will bull
my Church" Matt. 16, Is. Investe
thereby with the right of precedenc
st, Peter, as the prince of tn
Apostles, exercised the prerogative o
all occasions. Peter, therefore. tn
foundation stone of the House Of Goo
is the real Head and possesses tn
nlSHoSI dlSulIy ONSl lIlC othS
Apostles. Our Lord Himself accorde
Peter the first place of honor an
rank as prove the words of Hol
Scripture, and by virtue of hi
primacy Peter assumed priority
speaking and acting in the name an
as the representative of the Apostle
Always and everywhere did ST. Pete
take preeminence by the authority {
Christ as His chief representative o
earth.
The Supremacy of st. Peter.
St Peter received from the Divir
Founder of the Church not merel
preeminence of place, but also S
premacy of power and authority, owe
the other Apostles. To primat
supremacy adds authority, jurisdi
ton and power. The primacy of S
Peter constitutes not simply an no
orary position but verify the office
him, whose privilege is to guide, go
ern and instruct the Church Chris
our Saviour, bestowed on st. Pete
His visible shepherd, supreme powt
by the symbol of the keys: Il WI
give to thee the keys of the kingdo
of heaven" Matt Is. Under this ST
nifcant figure our Lord assured