The Catholic bulletin., 1919-02-22

most widespread, the most united,
the most vigorous organization on
earth. A supreme head of the Church,
therefore, is absolutely necessary,
which the Papacy so grandly presents,
the Papacy which cannot subsist
without the Church, neither the
Church without the Papacy.
Supremacy of the Pope.
The supremacy of the Pope was
ever an acknowledged fact in the
Church. AS a matter of history the
Pope has constantly exercised, in
every age, from the beginning, SUI
premacy of authority and jurisdiction,
not only over the people of Rome, but
also over the people, priests and Bish-
ops of the entire world The asser-
tions of ST. Augustine, Rome has
spoken, the cause is finished and of
st. Ambrose, Where Peter is, there
is the Church." have become proven
bial. The Vatican Council expresses
clearly the Church's teaching on this
point.
The reigning Pontiff acts by divine
right as the supreme ruler and chief
teacher of the Church of God.
Through Peter his successors in his
sublime Office receive the Divine Com
mission to fully rule, govern and feed
the entire flock and confirm the
brethren till the end of time. The
Pope, is, therefore, the common Father
and teacher of Christendom, the
mouthpiece of the Church which is
the pillar and ground of truth" Eph.
5, Tim. 8. The representative of
Christ, the Invisible Head of the
Church in heaven, the Pope wields the
authority of God, holds His power, in.
terprets and sustains His Divine
Laws. The Pope possesses ordinary,
Immediate and episcopal jurisdiction
over the entire Church. His authority
extends to all alike, both pastors and
faithful, whether singly or collective
1y. The appointments of Bishops to
their Sees, which have been directly
made or confirmed by the Apostolic
See, and the acts of national and pro-
vincial Councils submitted to the
same prior to becoming laws, plainly
exhibit Papal supremacy. The Pope,
indeed, as successor of st. Peter, en-
joys all the rights and prerOgatives of
st. Peter not only as the head of the
faithful, but also as the Pastor of pas
tors. The Pope as the successor of
st. Peter possesses ecclesiastical
authority absolutely, and the Bishops,
the successors of the other Apostles,
possess it in conjunction with and de-
pendence on the Pope, the supreme
Head. AS for the priesthood, Christ
established it as an auxiliary to the
Papacy and Episcopate.
The Papacy, The Center of Unity and
Stability.
The Pope, the Venerable Vicar OF
Christ, is the divinely appointed cen
ter of unity, without which ensue dis
b solution, division and death. Unity in
faith cannot be maintained apart from
one common living authority. Unity
of faith absolutely demands a SUI
preme teaching authority. The Church
presents to the world her admirable
oneness of teaching, of worship, of or
ganiZation and government, because
the Papacy teaches, acts, rules and
resolutely insists upon the accept
ance of the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth. Regard
less of persons and consequences, the
Pope fearlessly condemns those, who
in a spirit of pride, independence an(
egotism, attempt to falsify, to mini
mize or distort the doctrine of our Di
vine Master. The power of eXcom
munication in the Church, by which
are expelled disobedient and stubborn
Catholics, who rebel against her or
ders or refuse to accept any article O.
faith, effectively safeguards the Unit.
of the Church. Thus the fold is save(
from infection and contamination
Reject hereto after the first ant
second admonition" Tit 3, 10. The
basis of unity in the Church is tha
recognized supreme control in teach
ing and administration, which Catho
lies religiously obey and must obey
if they are Catholics at all, the author
ity of Peter speaking through th'
lips of Benedict the Fifteenth, alway
in the name and with the guidance o
Christ, Who in the plentitude of Hi
divine power, appointed Peter th
rock, against which the gates of hel
may hurl their wrath, but all to N
avail. No power of sin and error
therefore, can ever vanquish th'
Church of the living God. The Pope
of Rome has been regarded through
out the ages as the supreme arbite
and spiritual sovereign of Christen
dom. All appeals have been made t.
Rome as the supreme tribunal an
final court. The early Christians
having all one mind and one hear
in the Lord" considered Rome as thei
mother, and the writings of the Faith
ers insist on union with the Bishop
of Rome, and indeed, the long COLDER
chain of Pontiffs, Bishops and Priest
and faithful ever remains unbroker
The faithful communicate with thei
pastors, the pastors with their Bish
ops, and the Bishops throughout tn
entire world with the Pope, from
whose primacy, supremacy and infal
Iibility naturally and directly flow
unity in the Church. The Pope, tn
sunreme ruler of Christ's Kingdom