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BOOK IV, CHAPTER FOUR THERE IS NO ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST WITHOUT SUBMISSION TO THE POPE
Although the devil desired to sift
all the disciples, the Lord testifies that He Himself asked for Peter alone,
and wished that the others be confirmed by him (Lk.
22:32); and to Peter as well was committed the care of "feeding the
sheep" (Jn. 21:15); and also to him did the Lord hand over the
"keys to the kingdom of Heaven" (Mt. 16:19). If, however, anyone
believes contrary to this, let him know he is condemned and anathematized.
Consider, therefore, that whoever has not been in the peace and unity of the
Church cannot have the Lord. Those not willing to be at
agreement in the Church of God cannot abide with God. For the Church of God
is established among those known to preside over the Apostolic Sees, and
whoever separates himself from these Sees is manifestly in schism. (Pope
Pelagius II) Remember and understand well that
where Peter is, there is the Church; that those who refuse to associate in
communion with the Chair of Peter belong to Antichrist, not to Christ. He who
would separate himself from the Roman Pontiff has no further bond with
Christ. (Pope Leo XIII) It is necessary for salvation that
all the faithful of Christ be subject to the Roman Pontiff. (V Lateran
Council) It is absolutely necessary that the
Christian community be subject in all things to the Sovereign Pontiff if it
wishes to be a part of the divinely-established society founded by our
Redeemer. (Pope Pius XII) No one is found in the one Church
of Christ, and no one perseveres in it, unless he acknowledges and accepts
obediently the supreme authority of St. Peter and his legitimate successors.
(Pope Pius XI) The Roman Pontiff is the direct
and immediate pastor of every soul redeemed by Christ, for he is our
Redeemer's Vicar. (I Vatican Council) If, therefore, the Greeks or
others say that they are not committed to Peter and to his successors, they
necessarily say that they are not of the sheep of Christ, since the Lord says
that there is only one fold and one shepherd (Jn.10:16). Whoever, therefore,
resists this authority, resists the command of God Himself. (Pope Boniface
VIII) Christ expressly pointed out which
Church He estalished when He turned to Peter and
said: "You are Rock, and upon this Rock I will build My Church."
Yes, "His" Church - the one Church of Christ - not "many"
churches. (St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe) It is an error to believe that a
man is in the Church if he abandons the See of
Peter, the foundation of the Church. (St. Cyprian) Where Peter is, there is the
Church. (St. Ambrose) As ye are children of Christ, so
be ye children of Rome! (St. Patrick) To be Christian, one must be
Roman, governed by Christ's Vicar on earth. The Church does not rest on
Christ alone, but also on Peter. That Christ and His Vicar constitute only
one single Head is solemn teaching. Therefore, those who think they can
accept Christ as the Head of the Church without adhering faithfully to His
Vicar on earth are in dangerous error. (Pope Pius XII) REFERENCES
1. Pelagius II: "Quod Ad Dilectionem," DNZ:246; "Dilectionis Vestrae,"
DNZ:247 2. Leo XIII: "Satis Cognitum,"
ACTS OF LEO XIII: Supreme Pontiff, Rome: Vatican Press, 1896 4. Pius XII: Cf. "Orientalis Ecclesiae," ACTA APOSTOLICAE
SEDIS, 36:129, Rome: Vatican Press 5. Pius XI: "Mortalium Animos,"
PTC:873 6. I Vatican: Cf. "Dogmatic
Constitution on the Church of Christ," ch.3, DNZ:1831 7. John XXIII: "Quotiescumque Nobis,"
June 29, 1961 8. Boniface VIII: "Unam Sanctam,"
DNZ:468 10. Cyprian:
UOC, CSL vol.III, pt.1, p.207 (1868) 11. Ambrose:
"Commentary on Twelve of David's Psalms," XL: 30; JUR vol.II:1261 12. Patrick:
THE WRITINGS OF ST. PATRICK, White, 1954 13. Pius XII:
PTC:1502; "Mystici Corporis,"
PTC: 1040-1041 |