The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-12-26

Text Is Given to Associated
Press by Representatives
of Pontiff
Vatican City, Dec. 26.-(P-Follow-
ing is the text Of an official summary
of the encyclical, Lux Veritatis," is
sued by Pope Plus XXI commemorate
ing the 18th ecumenical of the coun-
Gil of Ephesus:
After referring to the two commit
tees formed in Rome for celebration OF
the happy event, and having extended
congratulations on the work done dur
ing the commemorative year nearing
its close, the pontiff says he himself
wishes to treat of this important sub.
ject as a conclusion and browning Of
the centenary celebration.
He adds he has firm confidence,
should his words be diligently medi-
tated, they will bring not only COM
fort to Catholics of the entire world
but also will be a motive to the sepa-
rated brethren to consider that the
Roman church always has been the
faithful depository and custodian OF
the doctrine of Jesus Christ and that
also, in the first ages of Christian
ity, all the other churches and re-
ligious communities of the East and
West had recourse to 1t as the infalli-
BILE teacher of truth.
Cites Many Documents
The encyclical then treats very fully
supported by historical and dogmatic
arguments, the following points OF
doctrine which find, in the orthodox
reaction against the HISTORIAN heresy
and In the development Of the Ephe-
sian council, the happiest and full
est confirmation:
Namely, that in Jesus Christ the
true nature, divine and human, are
united in n only divine person (hy-
postatic union); that the Virgin Mary
Is the true mother of God. and that
to the Roman pontiff belongs by d.
vine right a supreme and infallible
authority over the whole church In
matters of faith and morals.
In the first place the encyclical de-
velops the third point which treats OF
the supreme and infallible teaching OF
the Roman pontiff.
After referring to the rise Of the
HISTORIAN heresy which Is centuries
ago endeavored. as already preceding
hereSies had done, to divide the con-
cord and unity of the universal
church. he shows by the citation OF
copious historical documents, how, In
that most grave extremity. the entire
Christian hierarchy recognized the SUI
preme authority of the bishop OF
Rome.
Indeed. Cyril, patriarch Of Alexan-
dria. that great master and defender
of the orthodox faith, even from the
first appearance Of the HISTORIAN
heresy had recourse, according to the
most ancient traditions, to Pope Gel
estine in order to have from him q
sure word and unquestionable ruling
before condemning the error.
Nestorius Appealed Also
And the heresiarch N~estorius, him
self bishop of Constantinople, implic-
lily recognized the supreme and In
fallible judgment of the Roman See
since he also writes more than once
to the Pope to justify himself and to
obtain his appreciation.
And, IN the meantime, the conduct
of Holy Pope Celestine is such that
1t shows at the same time his firm
ness and his great prudence.
First, the patriarch of the Oriental
church.. Saint Cyril, shows that by
himself he is unable to decide sc
great a dogmatic question; the bishop
Of the second Rome, Nestario (bishor
of Constantinople), appeals to the pom
tifical authority; Pope Celestine with
out delay convokeS a synod in Rome
to examine the question diligently and
by an unappealable judgment defines
and condemns 1t.
At this point the encyclical men.
tons an objection which is wont tt
be made in this respect by not a few
ancient and modern writer's which Il
that although Pope Celestine had al
ready defined the truth and con.
demned the heresy, yet the council o.
Ephesus in discussing the question
ex integro and pronouncing upon it
showed itself to have an authority
superior to that Of the pope.
Against this grave objection the
pope brings forward irrefutable his
torical arguments:
The pontifical legates sent tt
Ephesus to preside at the council, re.
ceived from Pope Celestine a precise
order not to put the question In dts
cussion again but to consider it as
already judged and defined by the
Apostolic See.
Confirmed Previous Acts
Having arrived in Ephesus after
the council had begun, they asked to
see the preceding acts and to confirm
them in the name of the pope.
They pronounced by mouth Of the
priest Philip, pontifical legate, words
in which is expressed solemnly the
primacy Of the Roman pontiff, and
brought forward the judgment al
ready proclaimed by Saint Ceiestine,
asking for the appreciation of all the
fathers, and all the fathers consented
to and applauded the words of the
pope whom they call the custodian
of the faith"
Coming then to the condemnation
of Nestorius, the council fathers de-
clare themselves Obliged" by the
sacred canon and by the definition
already given by the bishop of Rome.
There is then not a new condemna-
ton but rather the execution of that
already pronounced by Pope Celes-
tine.
Having shown in this manner by
the most valid arguments, that even
at the time of the HISTORIAN hcresy
recognition Of the supreme and in
faldble authority Of the pope was
common in the church. the encyclical
develops two other points regarding
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