The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

142 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.the power that sends an ambassador greater than hewho is sent ?Thus we see that the name of the Pope is indeliblymarked on every page of ecclesiastical history. Thesovereign Pontiff ever stands before us as command er-iu-chief in the grand army of the Church.Do the Bishops of the East feel themselves aggrievedat home by their Patriarchs or civil Rulers ? theylook for redress to Rome, as to the star of their hope.Are the Fathers and Doctors of the early Churchconsulted ? with one voice they all pay homage tothe Bishop of Rome as their spiritual Priuce. Is anEcumenical Council to be convened in the East orWest ? the Pope is its leading spirit. Are new nations to be converted to the faith ? there is the HolyFather clothing the missionaries with authority, andto the work. Are new errorsgiving his blessingto be condemned in any part of the globe? allturn towards the oracle of Rome to await hiseyesanathema, and his solemn judgment reverberatesthroughout the length and breadth of the Christianworld.You might as well shut out the light of day andthe air of heaven from your daily walk, as excludethe Pope from his legitimate sphere in the hierarchyof the Church. The history of the United Stateswith the Presidents left out, would be more intelligible than the history of the Church to the exclusionof the Vicar of Christ. How, I ask, could such greatauthority endure so long, if it were a usurpation?