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Show :-l TfilE FL 5TLLS : ! : : I " With a Refutation of the Errors Which It Condemns j . . Translated from the Italian of L'Falconi. Twenty-fust Error "The Chur'h has not the authority to define dogmatically dogmatical-ly that tho religion of the Catholic Church is the only true religion." Refutation The infallibility of tho Church may be considered under a two-fold aspect; that is. either a; a principle or as an object of revelation. Considered as a principle, in the senv attached to it by Christians, it cannot I be dufined. because it must be supposed prior to the (k-rinition, which definition is valuable only inasmuch as it emanates ema-nates from a teacher admitted to be infallible.. Rosard-ed as an object of revelation and as forming a part of the divine done-fit of truth, the infallibility infallibil-ity of the Church may be defined like any other article of faith embraced in 1 revelation. The Church haa repeatedly ho decla.-ed in language which will admit ad-mit of no doubtful interpretation a fact which is sustained with much learning and great power of reasoning by Perrone. in his celebrated answer to the question proposed to him by an j f-nonymous v.rit.-r: whether, nam ;.?, the in f m II i hi: i 1 ..r t, i i. 1 1 , .j, ... . ,,j im. viihiiii iiau t. ei been defined. In order that any given truth be regarded re-garded a:i a dogma of faith, it is not necessary that it be 1 ntabliihe-d as such by a formal decree or exprex; definition of the teaching Church emanating either from an Ecumenical Council or from -the Roman Pontiff: it h enough that the Church pit-posea it for cur belief. be-lief. In other words, our faith in any revealed truth may be based on a formal for-mal and solemn definition or decree of the Church: or. if that be wanting, on the constant and universal 'teaching of her pastors and the consent of the faithful. Thu:i the divinity of Chris-t waa believed, although until the Council Coun-cil of Nice it had not been made the object of a f-pecial decree. In fad, how many truths regarding the satisfaction satisfac-tion made by Chri,'t for the .;ns of men and the efficacy f the sacrifice offered j up by Him on tho Cross, are held as j dogmas of faith, not only bv Catholits ; but even by so-called orthodox Pro testants, although they have neve ' been expressly defined! And the So 1 ciniana who repudiate these 'truths ar , on that very account branded as here . tics. Now. in the depository of revealec truth it is declared that Christ promised prom-ised to send the Holy Ghost, who would teach His Church; that this Paraclete would remain with her forever; that her Divine Founder commanded her to teach all nations, and assured her that he would be with her all days, even unto the consummation of the world. Placed in the tranquil possession posses-sion of all truths; clothed with the mission of teaching them to'th nations; na-tions; assured of the never-failing assistance as-sistance of Christ and of the Holy Ghost, the Church, from the very outset, out-set, directed all her charges to th dissemination dis-semination of thone truths, and haa never cais-ed to condemn the errors which conflict with them. And it was in virtue of her infallibility, considered aa a principle, that all those who were converted from Paganism to Christianity Christian-ity made their acts of faith in each and every truth proposed by the I Church for beHef as a preliminary to aamission into the great family of the faithful. Her most envenomed enemies have never been able to fasten upon her one single error, although they have spent well-nigh nineteen hundred years in the attempt. The Church has received from her Divine Founder th-assurance th-assurance of assistance and enlightenment enlighten-ment from the Spirit of Truth; Heaven and oarth shall pasa away, but the word of Christ shall not pass away. New let us ask our adversaries: Dos it concern the eternal salvation of men to know whether the Catholic Church is or 1? not the only true Church? They can. aa rcasonble beings, return but sne answer to this question, and it is ' Yes. The Church has, then, the authority ' :o define dogmatically that the religion ' ' aught bv her is tho i,r !. ! 1 - - - ..... nue icugion, just as she has the authority to define any other matter of faith. Indeed St Peter affirmed in the very face of' the Sanhedrim that there was no name under Heaven bv which men could be saved except that of Jeeus of Nazareth and Christ Himself said that He desired de-sired but one fold under one shepherd. By this fold He meant His Ctiun ii, bccaufi He said to her in the persons of His Apttstle!. that he who heard her heard Him. and that h,? Who d-j d-j sp.'e5eI her despised Him and His Fa;t!v r I in Heaven; and that he who would not j believe her would bo condemned. Tli :; j can. therefore, b-j no true religion oul-. oul-. sloe of the Catholic Church; nht- is th only spouse of Christ; .ie recognize I herself as Much; she can define this ; trui'h whenever ehe so p!e;tse, and 1.. 1 who refunea to accept her teaching will , be visited with the penalty of Go-I j wrath. Condemmibitur. , Twenty-isecojid Error "The obl;ga-j obl;ga-j tion by which Catholic professors an I j writers are unconditionally bound is . i restricted to those matters only whi'-U t are propreed to universal belief as dog-mat' dog-mat' of faith by the infallible judgment of the Church." Refutation The would-be guardians of the Church who originated this err r seek to set bound to her action, saying to her, as God did to the sea: Hitherto Hither-to thou tf.ialt ome and shart go no further. Infa.ted with pride, thev Pre sume to ir.r-.truct Catholic tea'-hcrs and authora tolling them rhat all their oi,. jectiors to the Church are f itipifi.- by , a mere belief in the dogmas proposal by her infallible judgment. After th manner of ;i certain philosopher-poo:, I they would fain banish the Church to the serene regions of dogma and con- . fine 'her duties to the simple imparting of benedictions and tho administerins of absolution. From all matters appertaining apper-taining to thi:? sublunary sphere, they desire her to keep constantly aloof, arrogating ar-rogating to themselves the exclusive right to manage everything of this kind. But when did Christ amhorizo these men or their pre-decessors to exercise ex-ercise a surveillance over the Church and decide what fhe should or should not do? Our Divine Savior constituted Peter His representative on earth, con- signed to him .the keeping of the keys of Heaven, and invested him with full powers' to bind or remit the sins of I men. He did not fubj- t him either t" the Sanhedrim or to the Emperor, but said to him: s My Father has given me all power in Heaven and on Earth. To thee I in-" in-" j trust the charge of feeding my flock, j Watch over its interest and confirm thy wavering brethren. Let those who I are without my fold be to thee aa , heathens and publicans, and everlast-. everlast-. ing woe to all who will not hear and . obey thy words. And accordingly, from that glorious morning in which she was comforted by the Holy Ghost, the Church haa never ceased to teach not only the dogmas of Faith, but also the practical part of religion. Hence her moral and disciplinary precepts, her admonitions to the faithful to avoid all occasions of sin to themselves or se-andal to others, as well as all offenses against charity , and legitimate authority precepts and admonitions contained jn trhe canons ' and apostolic institutions, which ahe : proposes to her children, and the observance ob-servance of which s'he rigorously exacts. ex-acts. By what right or title, then, do those men assume to judge as to what the Church shall or yhall not do. Her guardians and directors are Christ and i the Holy Ghost. With their assistance she would feel no alarm, even though, the Whole world should rise up in arms against her; much less does she fear these surly curs who, carried away by their pride, the pride of that science which puffeth up. bark themselves hoarse in the vain attempt to dissuade her from pursuing her rightful course. All who hear and obey the Church, net only in matters of dogma, but in all her other teachings regarding morality, ecclesiastical discipline, the leturgy' the administration of the Sacraments.' and in every provision which she may j deem expedient to her own well-being, f are the docibiles Dei, the docile child- I rcn of God, and will be received into l the eternal mansion of the just. On, I the other hand, fhey who, in their ar- ' I rogance, constitute thpmwk- I JUU,fc3 of the Daughter of the Most High and refuse to obey her regulations ' and commands, will! be confounded in their pride, and sooner or later suffer the punishment reserved for the rebels who would not have Christ reign over them. " erumatem inimicos meds illos qui noluerunt me regnare super se. adducite hue, et interficite ante me." |