2. The hierarchy, together with the
Supreme Pontiff, either assembled in council or agreeing through other means of communication.
We almost blush to have to remark that this, infallibility, centred in the Pope or bishops, does not render them personally impeccable. The two things are as distant as the poles, and can only be brought together and confounded in minds who, according to the expression of Dante, have lost the light of the intellect, and live in a darkness which is little short of death.
The modes of exercising this attribute are three:
She is infallible as teacher, as witness, and as judge.
As teacher: when she proclaims and expounds to the faithful the revelation of the Theanthropos.
As witness: when she affirms what belongs or does not belong to that revelation.
As judge: when she pronounces final judgment on controversies and disputes which arise in relation to revealed doctrines.
Having thus given a brief idea of all that belongs to the subject of infallibility, it seems to us that no one who has understood the nature and essence of the church, and the object for which it was established, can fail to perceive not only the entire reasonableness, but also the absolute necessity of such a doctrine.
We have said that the church in its active element is nothing less than the Theanthropos himself, communicating the term of the supernatural moment, which includes teaching, through the agency of secondary agents, both physical and personal. The church, therefore, under the aspect from which we are now regarding her, is the Theanthropos teaching his revelation, expounding his revelation, affirming and witnessing to his revelation, declaring what agrees