The pope is infallible I L C 5 AUG 2 1 1984 FACE THE FACTS! No. 7 The Pope Is Infallible by Rev. Wilfred G. Hurley, C.S.P. THE PAULIST PRESS New York, N. Y. Nihil Obstat: Arthur J. Scanlan, S.T.D., Censor Librorum . Imprimatur: J« Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop of New York . New York, September 14, 1934 . COPYRIGHT, 1934 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DwdWSterf FOREWORD One of the most powerful, able and influ- ential men in the world today. A man hon- ored, respected and admired by all, was asked: "To what do you attribute your unparalleled success?” He replied: "To one thing alone! I have never deceived myself! I face the facts!" You have been created! You exist! You live! Why? What is the purpose of it all? FACE THE FACTS! Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/popeisinfallibleOOhurl The Pope Is Infallible READING TIME—20 minutes, 10 seconds It is a turning point in the history of the world! The Apostles kneel at the feet of Christ. The lips of Jesus move. He speaks those stern words of command: "As the Father hath sent Me, so do I send you.” "Go ye, therefore, and teach all na- tions.” "Whosoever heareth you, heareth Me, and whosoever despiseth you, despiseth Me also, and whosoever despiseth Me, despiseth My Father in Heaven.” The Catholic Church is born! By Scripture. By tradition. By his- tory. By intelligence and reason. By its four marks. By those four divine seals of unity, of holiness, of Catholicity, and Page Five of Apostolicity, the Catholic Church proves it is Christ’s living, visible, teach- ing organization. Bringing to man the truths of Life, Death, and Eternity. Teaching you what God would have you believe. And how you should live in ac- cordance with this belief. Bringing to you the Revelation of God! Bringing it to you clearly! Definite- ly. Explicitly! With no error or false- hood. With the certainty and authority of Christ Himself. But how can such certainty be pos- sible? Because the Catholic Church has a head with a special power. As the suc- cessor of St. Peter, he is infallible. Is this true? Is this common sense? Is this reasonable? Did Christ give to St. Peter and his successors this power? What are the facts? Page Six WHAT IT MEANS First of all, what is meant by the in- fallibility of the Pope? Now the word "Pope” is simply the word "Papa.” It comes from the two words "Pater Patrum.” The first two letters of each. Meaning "The Father of Fathers.” He, the Pope, is simply the successor of St. Peter in St. Peter’s bish- opric of Rome, and as such, is the head of the Church. Now by "infallibility” we simply mean this. The Church believes that when the Pope, its head, speaking as its supreme pastor and chief shepherd, is defining a doctrine of faith and morals to be held by the whole Church, he is protected from error. By "defining a doctrine” is meant simply to make a public declaration of what the Church believes. Not of any new teachings. Because this cannot be. The "deposit of faith” was closed with the death of the Apostles. After that, nothing would be added or taken away. Hence, to "define a doctrine” is simply Page Seven a public declaration of what has always been the teaching of the Church. Thus in the Council of Nicea in 325 A. D., the Pope defined the doctrine that Christ was the true Son of God. Does this mean that he was creating a new doctrine? No! For three hundred years the soil of the Roman Empire had run red with the blood of victims dying for this belief. For three hundred years after Peter’s reign, as each successor stepped into his place, without excep- tion, he received the martyr’s crown. One by one, the first thirty Popes died the death because they taught Christ was God. Surely it was no new article of Faith. Then why define it? Because the subtle teachings of Arian- ism, undermining it by subtle distinc- tions, demanded such a definition. Thus, too, with the teachings of Nes- torius, Pelagius, Eutyches, and the other countless erroneous doctrines which were trying to insinuate themselves into the true teachings of Christ. Page Eight The wisdom of such a protection is only too apparent. Its necessity is only too obvious. Your reason and intelli- gence tell you that such a protection from error is imperative. Without it, inevitably, Christianity would have lost all certainty. All authoritative teach- ings. Had the shepherd not been thus armed, inevitably, the sheep would have been destroyed by the wolves of error. For this protection is given not to man, but to the office. Not for personal glory, but for your security. Need I add that, should the Pope write as a private theologian, or should he write concerning matters economic, political, scientific, or historical, this protection is not present? The definition must be only of faith and morals and held by the entire Church . Does this mean that the Pope is sin- less? That he is above human frailty? Of course not! There is a broad distinc- tion between the personal sinfulness or sanctity of a man and his work. Thus a man may be baptizing, absolve another from sin although he himself Page Nine may be deeply sinful. The Pope is only a man. He is only human. Yet, the Church has been singly blessed in its leaders. The Apostles num- bered only twelve, but one betrayed Christ, one denied Him, a third ran away. From Apostolic times to the present day 261 men have succeeded to the office of Peter. Yet, even their bit- terest foes cannot point to more than half a dozen who were not men of eminent sanctity. PETER APPOINTED BY CHRIST Now then, did Christ give this privi- lege to Peter? Christ’s mission on earth is nearly ac- complished. With His Apostles He has retired into solitude for six days and six nights of rest and prayer. It was the lull before the storm. The quiet before the forces of hell would break forth dur- ing those terrible days of Christ’s pas- sion and death. The organization has been formed. Its members well instructed. Its char- Page Ten ter granted. And now the final step. That it would be ready to carry on His work in His name until time should be no more. Christ looks searchingly into their faces as He asks, “Whom do men say that the Son of man is?” We know the answer only too well! Sadly the Apos- tles revealed how stony were the hearts of those who had listened to Him. Then came the question. Direct. In- cisive. Charged with infinite import, “Whom do you say I am?” All were silent. Why? Because God is drawing close to one of His creatures. Then the silence is shattered with this startling cry. It is the voice of Simon Bar-Jona, “Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God.” The new alliance between God and man was begun! The New Testament is sealed! “And Jesus said to him ‘Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona: be- cause flesh and blood have not revealed it to thee , but My Father Who is in Heav- en* *’—it is the will of His Father in Page Eleven Heaven! Then, on with the completion of His organization! —"And I say to thee—that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. xvi. 15). Whenever God in the ages past has chosen a certain man for a particular work, always does He change the name of that man to the office which he is to hold. Thus making Abram the father of the nations which should come, He changes his name to Abraham which means "Fa- ther of the Multitude.” Or again, choos- ing Jacob for a leader, God immediate- ly changes his name to "Israel,” "as a prince thou hast power with God.” Once more God speaks! Does God ut- ter empty sounds? Does God make fu- tile gestures? Again God chooses a man for a spe- cial office. The name "Simon” is changed. "Thou art 'Peter’ and upon this rock . . .” Unfortunately the Eng- lish language does not bring out clearly the significance of Christ’s words. Be- Page Twelve cause the English tongue is mostly evolved from other languages. Thus, most of the one-syllable words as rock, cat, dog, have come from a Saxon tongue. Most of our words ending in "ation” come from the French tongue. Others from German, Latin, Greek, and Spanish tongues. Unfortunately, this is what happened here. The word rock is from the Saxon tongue. The word "Peter” from the Latin. But in other tongues the sense of this text is unmis- takable. Thus, in French, Christ said, "Thou art Pierre and upon this pierre, etc.,” or in Latin, "Thou art Petrus and upon this petra, etc.” Thus in Greek, "Thou art Petros and upon this petra, etc.” And so too in the Aramaic tongue which Christ spoke, "Thou art Kepha and upon this kepha, etc.” Christ was changing Simon’s name to "rock.” And need I point out that "Kepha” means not only an ordinary rock but one whose base strikes deep into the earth and pre- sents the very symbol of indestructible endurance. And need it be pointed out that the word "you” as used in Sacred Scripture Pate Thirteen signifies the plural. In the singular the word is "thee” or "thou.” Thus Christ asks the Apostles, "Whom do you say I am?” Then note the change. "Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona — I say to ihee—” Simon has become the rock upon which the organization rests. From that day on, never again is he Simon Bar-Jona, but always spoken of, always referred to, as Simon Peter, or Simon Kepha, or Simon the Rock. Surely the words are too obvious, when once this text is understood, to ad- mit of any other meaning. PETER ACTS AS THE HEAD Read the Scriptures! Always Peter is the head. Always exercising supreme jurisdiction. Was it not Peter who con- ducted the election at which Matthias was given the place made vacant by the death of Judas? (Acts i. 25.) Was it not Peter who first preached to the Jews in Jerusalem? (Acts ii. 14.) Was it not Peter who first received the Gentiles into the Church? ( Acts xi.) Page Fourteen Was it not Peter who acted as judge in the case of Ananias and Saphira? (Acts v.) Was it not Peter who, "when there had been much disputing” in the Coun- cil of Jerusalem (Acts xv.) , "rising up,” said the word that ended the dispute, so that "all the multitude held their peace”? Was it not Peter who performed the first miracle, when, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, he commanded the lame beggar at the Temple gate to "arise and walk”? (Acts iii.) Was it not Peter as leader that Paul went to visit, after his conversion, tarry- ing with him for fifteen days? (Gal. i. 18.) Was it not Peter to whom the Angel sent a special message announcing the Resurrection of Our Lord? (Mark xvi. 7.) Was it not Peter to whom the risen Christ first appeared? (Luke xxiv. 34.) Was it not Peter who replied to the Sanhedrin in the name of the Apostles — Page Fifteen being filled with the Holy Ghost? (Acts iv.) Peter’s name heads all four lists of the twelve Apostles (Matt. x. 2; Mark iii. 16; Luke vi. 14; Acts i. 15). Moreover, St. Matthew especially designates St. Peter "the first.” Both his original name and the name given to him by Christ to signify his office are used in the Sacred Text. Never are his authority and jurisdic- tion disputed. Thus in the Council of Jerusalem, Peter decides. The case is closed. Thus we would understand it to be, had Scripture recorded no further words of Christ. Yet there is text after text. For instance, Christ again speaking to Peter: "And I will give to thee the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and whatso- ever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” He who holds the keys is the master of the house! And again, "Simon, the son of John, Page Sixteen lovest thou Me?” Then the threefold command 'Teed My lambs, feed My lambs, feed My sheep.” Thus, all the members of the Church, including his fellow Apostles themselves are placed under his supreme jurisdiction and authority. But the granting of this privilege is made indisputable at the Last Supper. Christ had just given that beautiful discourse as related by St. John. It is farewell. For He goes to His death. Peter can listen no more, his love will not be silenced. Rising to his feet he vehemently cries cut in protest, "I will lay down my life for Thee, I am ready to go with Thee both unto prison and death.” But Christ knew full well how weak is human flesh. Sadly, He forewarns him, "The cock shall not crow this day twice till thou deny Me thrice.” Full well did Christ know the power of the forces of evil. Looking down through the ages, the years to come, He saw the darkened days when the storms Page Seventeen of error, malice, and hate, should sav- agely lash His organization. But all in vain! For now come those words of security, "Simon, Simon, behold Satan has desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not: and thou being once converted confirm thy breth- ren. There is my certainty! Peter’s faith shall not fail! Christ knew this prayer was heard—and answered. Immedi- ately, He vests Peter with the office — to confirm the faith of his brethren — to strengthen and secure them against error. And what is this if not infallibility? How could he confirm them if he him- self might be in the wrong? And how know that he is free from error unless Christ Himself guarantee it? What more effectual method for Hell to prevail than by corrupting the faith? By intermingling error with truth until all certainty vanish? How else secure the authority and certainty of Christ’s teachings? Page Eighteen THE SUCCESSORS OF ST. PETER But did this privilege die when Peter suffered the death? How could it? Common sense and intelligence demand differently. This privilege belonged not to the man but to his office. "Teach all nations,” com- manded Christ. It must live in his suc- cessors until the end of time. I say this—No! All antiquity bears witness. For example, the first five cen- turies after Christ. First Century Peter has been put to death. Linus has succeeded Peter only to win his martyr’s crown. Cletus, has followed Linus and gone to his martyrdom. Clement is now the third successor of St. Peter as Bishop of Rome. St. John, the Evangelist, the Beloved Disciple, still lives and governs the bishopric of Ephesus. A dissension arises in Corinth. Corinth is near Ephesus. Do they appeal to John to intervene? No! But to Clement of Rome! He au- Page Nineteen thoritatively intervenes and settles the difficulty. But St. John had been with Christ three years in Galilee. John who lay on the breast of Christ at the Last Supper. John who stood beneath the Cross during the Cru- cifixion. Why not appeal to John? But John says, No! Appeal to Clement! But why Clement? Why? Because Clement was Peter’s successor. Fully conscious of his authority and duty, as was the entire Church. He is to com- mand Bishops and to speak in the name of God, and he exacts obedi- ence of the Church in Corinth. Second Century Origen writes: “The chief au- thority for feeding the sheep was delivered through Peter, and upon him—the Church was founded.” Third Century Cyprian says: “The Roman See is the mother and root of the Cath- olic Church.” Page Twenty Fourth Century St. Ambrose writes, "where Peter is, there is the Church.” Fifth Century After hearing the decision of Pope Leo I, the Council of Chal- cedon accepted it with the words, "So do we believe — Peter has spoken through Leo.” Thus, too, St. Augustine declares, "Rome’s reply has come; the case is closed.” Down through the centuries it has always been the same. Surely, glancing down through the pages of history the struggles of the Church are only too evident and nu- merous. It has had to face one attack after another. The materialism of the ancient Romans, the paganism of the barbarian hordes. Both from without and within has the Church suffered on- slaughts. Down through the ages even to the present day. The atheism of the seventeenth century. The modernism of the eighteenth. The New Paganism which characterizes the twentieth. Page Twenty-one At what time did the sheep not need an infallible shepherd? What single hour did Peter’s brethren not need this confirming hand? And so it always must be, until that day when time shall end, and the last Pope shall hand back the sheepfold and the flock to the Eter- nal "Good Shepherd”! U NANSWERABLE PROOF Finally, there is another proof. A practical proof. An unanswerable proof —it is this. If the Pope is not infallible, why cannot the world prove that he has erred? Fifty years ago this very issue was fought out to a finish. Thousands of dollars were raised and spent by the enemies of the Church in such an in- vestigation. All that was necessary for them to do was to find a single definition which had been proven wrong. Or to find where one Pope contradicted an- other, or contradicted a general council. Then the Church would be forever si- lenced. Page Twenty-two What happened? The Vatican wel- comed the challenge. Eagerly it threw open its records. Thousands of the best intellects in the world searched them diligently. Every minor detail was noted. Nothing was overlooked. But with what results? The record was without a blemish. Down through the centuries the hand of God never fal- tered. His promises were kept with Divine, Infinite Perfection. The teach- ings and the commands of Christ safe- guarded and protected. And thus it must always be. Even to the generations yet unborn — shall the Church fulfill His command to “Teach all nations.” “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Yes!—with the cer- tainty and authority of Christ Himself. For upon Peter did Christ found His Church. “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. And the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” To Peter He promised the keys to the kingdom of heaven. To Peter was given the pastoral office to “feed the Page Twenty-three sheep” as well as the lambs. To Peter came the command to "confirm the brethren,” as well as the flock. By the consent of all antiquity the Bishops of Rome are the successors of St. Peter. Denial of the supremacy of Peter’s successors is a denial of the Gospel. A denial of all history and tradition. A denial of the Reason and Intelligence of God. "To place a Bible abounding in diffi- culties and apparent contradictions in the hands of all to draw a thousand dif- ferent, conflicting meanings out of it would be to challenge God’s wisdom. But when beside the voiceless Volume is placed a living voice to interpret it, pro- tecting from error in this duty, then, and only then, the system is complete, and worthy of Divine authorship.” Then, and only then, do you come to the fullness of God’s revelation to men. With its truth unquestionable! With its certainty indubitable! With its au- thority infallible! Page Twenty-four 51