The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"PRIMACY OF PETEB. 129of St. Peter, without questioning that superior sauthority? It is not a very uncommon thing forecclesiastics occupying an inferior position in theChurch to admonish even the Pope. St. Bernaid,though only a monk, wrote a work in which, withApostolic freedom, he administers counsel to PopeEugenius III., and cautions him against the dangersto which his eminent position exposes him. Yetno man had more reverence for any Pope thanBernard had for this great Pontiff*. Cannot ourGovernor animadvert upon the President s conductwithout impairing the President s jurisdiction ?Nay, from this very circumstance, I draw a confirming evidence of Peter s supremacy. St. Paulmentions it as a fact worthy of record, that heactually witJistood Peter to his face. Do you thinkit would be worth recording, if Paul had rebukedJames, or John, or Barnabas? By no means. Ifone brother rebukes another, the matter excites nospecial attention. But if a son rebukes his father,or if a Priest rebukes his Bishop to his face, weunderstand why he would consider it a fact worthrelating. Hence, when St. Paul goes to the troubleof telling us that he took exception to Peter s conduct, he mentions it as an extraordinary exercise ofApostolic freedom, and leaves on our minds the obvious inference that Peter was his superior.In the very same Epistle to the Galatians, 8tPaul plainly insinuates St. Peter s superior rank."I went," he says, to Jerusalem to see Peter, andI