CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA_ Vatican Council.pdf

6/6/2015 CATHOLICENCYCLOPEDIA:VaticanCouncil

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TheVaticanCouncil,thetwentiethanduptonow[1912]thelastecumenicalcouncil,openedon8December,1869,andadjournedon20October,1870.ItmetthreehundredyearsaftertheCouncilofTrent.

Previoustotheofficialconvocation

On6December,1864,twodaysbeforethepublicationoftheSyllabus,PiusIXannounced,atasessionoftheCongregationofRites,hisintentiontocallageneralcouncil.HecommissionedthecardinalsresidingatRometoexpressinwritingtheirviewsastotheopportunenessofthescheme,andalsotonamethesubjectswhich,intheiropinion,shouldbelaidbeforethecouncilfordiscussion.Ofthetwentyonereportssentin,onlyone,thatofCardinalPentini,expressedtheopinionthattherewasnooccasionfortheholdingofanecumenicalcouncil.Theothersaffirmedtherelativenecessityofsuchanassembly,althoughfivedidnotconsiderthetimesuitable.Nearlyallsentlistsofquestionsthatseemedtoneedconciliardiscussion.EarlyinMarch,1865,thepopeappointedacommissionoffivecardinalstodiscusspreliminaryquestionsinregardtothecouncil.Thiswastheimportant"Congregazionespezialedirettricepergliaffaridelfuturoconciliogenerale",generallycalledthedirectingpreparatorycommission,orthecentralcommission.Fourmorecardinalswereaddedtothenumberofitsmembers,andbesidesasecretaryitwasgiveneightconsultors.Itheldnumerousmeetingsintheintervalbetween9March,1865,andDec.,1869.Itsfirstmotionwasthatbishopsofvariouscountriesshouldalsobecalleduponforsuggestionsastomattersfordiscussion,andon27March,1865,thepopecommandedthirtysixbishopsoftheLatinRitedesignatedbyhimtoexpresstheirviewsunderpledgeofsilence.Earlyin1866healsodesignatedseveralbishopsoftheOrientalRiteunderthesameconditions.Itwasnownecessarytoformcommissionsforthemorethoroughdiscussionofthesubjectstobedebatedatthecouncil.Accordingly,theologiansandcanonists,belongingtothesecularandregularclergy,weresummonedtoRomefromthevariouscountriestocooperateinthework.Asearlyas1865thenuncioswereaskedtosuggestnamesofsuitablepeopleforthesepreliminarycommissions.ThewarbetweenAustriaandItalyin1866andthewithdrawalofthe



FrenchtroopsfromRomeon11Dec.ofthesameyearcausedanunwelcomeinterruptionofthepreparatorylabours.Theyalsomadetheoriginalplan,whichwastoopenthecouncilontheeighteenthcentenaryfestivaofthemartyrdomofthetwogreatApostles,29June,1867,impossible.However,thepopemadeuseofthepresenceatRomeofnearlyfivehundredbishops,whohadcometoattendthecentennialcelebration,tomakethefirstpublicannouncementofthecouncilataconsistoryheldon26June,1867.Thebishopsexpressedtheiragreementwithjoyinanaddressdated1July.AfterthereturnoftheFrencharmyofprotectionon30Oct.,1867,thecontinuanceofthepreparationsandtheholdingofthecouncilitselfseemedagainpossible.Thepreparatorycommissionnowdebatedexhaustivelythequestionwhoshouldbeinvitedtoattendthecouncil.Thatthecardinalsanddiocesanbishopsshouldbesummonedwasselfevident.Itwasalsodecidedthatthetitularbishopshadtherighttobecalled,andthatoftheheadsoftheordersaninvitationshouldbegiventotheabbotsnullius,theabbotsgeneralofcongregationsformedfromseveralmonasteries,andlastly,tothegeneralsofthereligiousorders.Itwasconsideredwiser,onaccountofthestateofaffairsatthetime,nottosendanactualinvitationtoCatholicprinces,yetitwasintendedtograntadmissiontothemortheirrepresentativesondemand.Inthissense,therefore,theBullofConvocation,"terniPatris",waspromulgated,29June,1868itappointed8Dec.,1869,asthedatefortheopeningofthecouncil.TheobjectsofthecouncilweretobethecorrectionofmodernerrorsandaseasonablerevisionofthelegislationoftheChurch.AspecialBrief,"Arcanodivinprovidenti",of8Sept.,1868invitednonUniateOrientalstoappear.AthirdBrief,"Jamvosomnes",of13Sept.,1868,notifiedProtestantsalsooftheconvokingofthecouncil,andexhortedthemtousetheoccasiontoreflectonthereturntotheonehouseholdoffaith.

Receptionofthepromulgation

AlthoughtheBullconvokingthecouncilwasreceivedwithjoybythebulkoftheCatholicmasses,itarousedmuchdiscontentinmanyplaces,especiallyinGermany,France,andEngland.Inthesecountriesitwasfearedthatthecouncilwouldpromulgateanexactdeterminationoftheprimatialprerogativesofthepapacyandthedefinitionofpapalinfallibility.ThedeanofthetheologicalfacultyofParis,BishopMaret,wroteinoppositiontothesedoctrinesthework"Duconcilegnraleetdelapaixreligieuse"(2vols.,Paris1869).BishopDupanloupofOrlanspublishedthework"Observationssurlacontroversesouleverelativementladfinitiondelinfaillibilitauprochainconcile"(Paris,Nov.,1869).Maret'sworkwasansweredbyseveralFrenchbishopsandbyArchbishopManning.ArchbishopDechampsofMechlin,Belgium,whohadwrittenaworkinfavourofthedefinitionentitled"Linfaillibilitetleconcilegnrale"(Paris,1869),becameinvolvedinacontroversywithDupanloup.InEnglandabookentitled"TheCondemnationofPopeHonorius"(London,1868),writtenbytheconvert,LePageRenouf,arousedanimateddiscussionsinnewspapersandperiodicals.Renouf'spublicationwasrefutedbyFatherBotalla,S.J.,in"HonoriusReconsideredwithReferencetoRecentApologies"(London,1869).LettersfromFrenchcorrespondentsinthefirst



numberforFeb.,1869,ofthe"CiviltCattolica",whichstatedthatthemajorityofFrenchCatholicsdesiredthedeclarationofinfallibility,addedfreshfueltotheflames.Inparticular,itledtotheappearanceinthediscussionofIgnazDllinger,provostofSt.CajetanandprofessorofchurchhistoryatMunich.FromnowonwardsDllingerwastheleadingspiritofthemovementinGermanyhostiletothecouncil.HedisputedmostpassionatelytheSyllabusandthedoctrineofpapalinfallibilityinfiveanonymousarticlesthatwerepublishedinMarch,1869,inthe"AllgemeineZeitung"ofAugsburg.AlargenumberofCatholicscholarsopposedhimvigorously,especiallyafterhepublishedhisarticlesinbookformunderthepseudonymof"Janus","DerPapstunddasKonzil"(Leipzig,1869).AmongthesewasProfessorJosephHergenrtherofWrzburg,whoissuedinreply"AntiJanus"(Freiburg,1870).StilltheexcitementoverthemattergrewinsuchmeasurethatfourteenofthetwentytwoGermanbishopswhometatFuldaearlyinSept.,1869,feltthemselvesconstrainedtocalltheattentionoftheHolyFathertoitinaspecialaddress,statingthatonaccountoftheexcitementthetimewasnotopportunefordefiningpapalinfallibility.ThepapalnotificationsaddressedtotheschismaticOrientalsandtheProtestantsdidnotproducethedesiredeffect.TheEuropeanGovernmentsreceivedfromPrinceHohenlohe,presidentoftheBavarianministry,acircularletterdrawnupbyDllinger,designedtoprejudicethedifferentCourtsagainstthecomingcouncilbuttheydecidedtoremainneutralforthetimebeing.RussiaaloneforbadeitsCatholicbishopstoattendthecouncil.

Preparatorydetails

InthemeantimezealousworkhadbeendoneatRomeinpreparationforthecouncil.Besidesthegeneraldirectionthatitexercised,thepreparatorycommissionhadtodrawupanexhaustiveorderofprocedureforthedebatesofthecouncil.Fivespecialcommittees,eachpresidedoverbyacardinalandhavingtogethereightyeightconsultors,preparedtheplan(schemata)tobelaidbeforethecouncil.Thesecommitteeswereappointedtoconsiderrespectively:

dogmachurchdisciplineordersOrientalChurchesandmissionsecclesiasticopoliticalquestions.

Itmayjustlybedoubtedwhetherthepreliminarypreparationsforanycouncilhadeverbeenmademorethoroughly,ormoreclearlydirectedtotheaimtobeattained.Asthedayofitsopeningapproached,thefollowingdraftswerereadyfordiscussion:

threegreatdogmaticdrafts,(a)ontheCatholicdoctrineinoppositiontotheerrorswhichfrequentlyspringfromRationalism,(b)ontheChurchofChristand,(c)onChristianmarriage



twentyeightdraftstreatingmattersofchurchdiscipline.Theyhadreferencetobishops,episcopalsees,thedifferentgradesoftheotherclergyseminaries,thearrangementofphilosophicalandtheologicalstudies,sermons,thecatechism,rituals,impedimentstomarriage,civilmarriage,mixedmarriages,improvementofChristianmorals,feastdays,fastsandabstinences,duelling,magnetism,spiritualism,secretsocieties,etc.eighteendraftsofdecreeshadreferencetothereligiousorderstwowereontheOrientalRitesandmissionsthesesubjectshadalsobeenconsideredintheotherdraftsofdecrees.

Inadditionalargenumberofsubjectsfordiscussionhadbeensentbythebishopsofvariouscountries.Thus,forinstance,thebishopsofthechurchprovincesofQuebecandHalifaxdemandedthelesseningoftheimpedimentstomarriage,revisionoftheBreviary,and,aboveall,thereformandcodificationoftheentirecanonlaw.ThepetitionofArchbishopSpaldingofBaltimoretreated,amongotherthings,therelationsbetweenChurchandStatereligiousindifference,secretsocieties,andtheinfallibilityofthepope.Thedefinitionofthislastwasdemandedbyvariousbishops.Othersdesiredarevisionoftheindexofforbiddenbooks.NolessthanninepetitionsbearingnearlytwohundredsignaturesdemandedthedefinitionofthebodilyAssumptionoftheBlessedVirgin.OverthreehundredfathersofthecouncilrequestedtheelevationofSt.JosephaspatronsaintoftheUniversalChurch.

Proceedingsofthecouncil

Presidingofficers,orderofprocedure,numberofmembers

On2Dec.,1869,thepopeheldapreliminarysessionintheSistineChapel,whichwasattendedbyaboutfivehundredbishops.Atthisassemblytheofficialsofthecouncilwereannouncedandtheconciliarprocedurewasmadeknown.Thecouncilreceivedfivepresidents.TheChiefpresidingofficerwastohavebeenCardinalReisach,butashediedon22Dec.,CardinalFilippodeAngelistookhisplace,3Jan.,1870.TheotherpresidingofficerswereCardinalsAntoniodeLuca,AndreaBizarri,AloisioBilio,andAnnibaleCapalti.BishopJosephFesslerofSanktPlten,LowerAustria,wassecretarytothecouncil,andMonsignorLuigiJacobiundersecretary.TheConstitution"Multiplicesinter"announcingtheconciliarprocedurecontainedtenparagraphs.Accordingtothisthesessionsofthecouncilweretobeoftwokinds:privatesessionsfordiscussingthedraftsandmotions,underthepresidencyofacardinalpresident,andpublicsessions,presidedoverbythepopehimselfforthepromulgationofthedecreesofthecouncil.Thefirstdraftsofdecreesdebatedweretobethedogmaticanddisciplinaryoneslaidbeforetheassemblybythepope.Proposalsofferedbymembersofthecouncilweretobesenttoacongregationofpetitionsthesepetitionsorpostulatesweretobeexaminedbythecommitteeandthenrecommendedtothepopeforadmissionornot.Ifthedraftofadecreewasfoundbythegeneralcongregationtoneedamendments,itwassentwiththeproposed



amendmentstotherespectivesubcommitteeordeputatio,eithertotheonefordogmasorfordiscipline,orreligiousorders,orforOrientalRites.Eachofthesefoursubcommitteesordeputationswastoconsistoftwentyfourpersonsselectedfromthemembersofthecouncil,andacardinalpresidentappointedbythepope.Thedeputationexaminedtheproposedamendments,alteredthedraftasseemedbest,andpresentedtothegeneralcongregationaprintedreportonitsworkthatwastobeorallyexplainedbyamemberofthedeputation.Thisprocedurewastocontinueuntilthedraftmetwiththeapprovalofthemajority.

Thevotinginthecongregationwasbyplacet,placetjuxtamodum(withthecorrespondingamendments),andnonplacet.Secrecywastobeobservedinregardtotheproceedingsofthecouncil.Inthepublicsessionsthevotingcouldonlybebyplacetornonplacet.TheDecreespromulgatedbythepopeweretobearthetitle,"PiusEpiscopus,servusservorumDei:sacroapprobanteConcilioadperpetuamreimemoriam".ThenorthernrighttranseptofSt.Peter'swasarrangedasthehallofsessions.Between8Dec.,1869,and1Sept.,1870,fourpublicsessionsandeightyninegeneralcongregationswereheldhere.Therewereintheentireworldapproximatelyonethousandandfiftyprelatesentitledtotakepartinthecouncil,andofthesenolessthansevenhundredandseventyfourappearedduringthecourseoftheproceedings.Inattendanceatthefirstpublicsessionwere47cardinals,9patriarchs,7primates,117archbishops,479bishops,5abbotsnullius,9abbotsgeneral,and25generalsoforders,makingatotalof698.Atthethirdpublicsessionvoteswerecastby47cardinals,9patriarchs,8primates,107archbishops,456bishops,1administratorApostolic,20abbots,and20generalsoforders,atotalof667.TherewasanattendanceatthecouncilfromtheUnitedStatesofAmericaofallofthe7archbishopsofthattime,37ofthe47bishops,andinaddition2vicarsApostolic.TheoldestmemberofthecouncilwasArchbishopMacHale,ofTuam,Irelandtheyoungest,Bishop(nowCardinal)Gibbons.

FromtheformalopeningtothedefinitionoftheconstitutionontheCatholicfaithinthethirdpublicsession

(1)TheFirstDebates

Aftertheformalopeningofthecouncilbythepopeatthefirstpublicsessionon8Dec.,1869,themeetingsofthegeneralcongregationbeganon10Dec.Theirsessionsweregenerallyheldbetweenthehoursofnineandone.Theafternoonswerereservedforthesessionsofthedeputationsorsubcommittees.First,thenamesofthemembersofthecongregationofpetitionswerecommunicatedthiswasfollowedbytheelectionstothefourdeputations.ThefirstmatterbroughtupfordebatewasthedogmaticdraftofCatholicdoctrineagainstthemanifolderrorsduetoRationalism,"Dedoctrinacatholicacontramultipliceserroresexrationalismoderivatos".Thediscussionofitwastakenupon28Dec.inthefourthgeneralcongregation.Afteradebatelastingsevendays,duringwhichthirtyfivemembersspoke,itwassentbythetenthgeneralcongregationheldon10Jan.,



1870,tothedeputationonfaithforrevision.Therehadbeenheldinthemeantimeon6Jan.thesecondpublicsession.Thishadbeenpreviouslydeterminedupon,on26Oct.,1869,bythecentralcommissionforthemakingoftheconfessionoffaithbythemembersofthecouncil.Thesubjectsdiscussedfromthetenthtothetwentyninthmeetingofthegeneralcongregation(on22Feb.)werethedraftsoffourdisciplinarydecrees,namely,onbishops,onvacantepiscopalsees,onthemoralsofecclesiastics,andonthesmallerCatechism.Finallytheywereallsentforfurtherrevisiontothedeputationondiscipline.

(2)TheParties

Suchslowprogressoftheworkhadprobablynotbeenexpected.Thereasonofthedisagreeabledelaywastobefoundinthequestionofinfallibility,whichhadcalledforthmuchexcitementevenbeforethecouncil.Directlyaftertheopeningofthesessionitsinfluencewasevidentintheelectionofthedeputations.Itdividedthefathersofthecouncilintotwo,itmightalmostbesaidhostilecampsonalloccasionsthedecisionsandmodesofactionofeachofthesepartiesweredeterminedbyitsattitudetothisquestion.Onaccountoftheviolentdisputeswhichhadbeencarriedoneverywhereforthepastyearoverthequestionofpapalinfallibilitytheoverwhelmingmajorityconsideredtheconciliardiscussionanddecisionofthequestiontobeimperativelynecessary.Ontheotherhandtheminority,comprisingaboutonefifthofthetotalnumber,fearedtheworstfromthedefinition,theapostasyofmanywaveringCatholics,anincreasedestrangementofthoseseparatedfromtheChurch,andinterferencewiththeaffairsoftheChurchbytheGovernmentsofthedifferentcountries.Theminority,therefore,alloweditselftobeguidedbyopportunistconsiderations.Onlyafewbishopsappeartohavehaddoubtsastothedogmaitself.Bothpartiessoughttogainthevictoryfortheiropinions.Ashowevertheminoritywassoonobligedtorecognizeitspowerlessness,itendeavouredbyprotractingthediscussionsofthecouncilatleasttodelay,oreventoprevent,adecisionaslongaspossible.MostoftheGermanandAustroHungarianmembersofthecouncilwereagainstthedefinition,aswellasnearlyhalfoftheAmericanandaboutonethirdoftheFrenchfathers.About7oftheItalianbishops,2eachoftheEnglishandIrishbishops,3bishopsfromBritishNorthAmerica,and1Swissbishop,Greith,belongedtotheminority.WhileonlyafewArmenianbishopsopposedthedefinition,mostoftheChaldeanandGreekMelchitessidedwiththeminority.IthadnoopponentsamongthebishopsfromSpain,Portugal,Belgium,Holland,andCentralandSouthAmerica.ThemostprominentmembersoftheminorityfromtheUnitedStateswereArchbishopsKenrickofSt.LouisandPurcellofCincinnati,andBishopVrotofSt.AugustinethesewerejoinedbyArchbishopConnollyofHalifax,NovaScotia.ProminentmembersofthemajoritywereArchbishopSpaldingofBaltimore,BishopsWilliamsofBoston,WoodofPhiladelphia,andConroyofAlbany.

Conspicuousmembersofthecouncilfromothercountrieswere:France:amongtheminority,ArchbishopsDarboyofParis,GinoulhiacofLyons,BishopsDupanloupofOrlans,andDavidofSaintBrieucamongthemajority,ArchbishopGuibertofTours,



BishopsPieofPoitiers,FreppelofAngers,PlantierofNmes,RaessofStrasburg.Germany:minorityBishopsHefeleofRottenburg,KettelerofMainz,DinkelofAugsburgmajority,BishopsMartinofPaderborn,SenestryofRatisbon,StahlofWrzburg.AustriaHungary:minority,ArchbishopsCardinalRauscherofVienna,CardinalSchwarzenbergofPrague,HaynaldofKalocsa,andBishopStrossmayerofDiakovrmajority,BishopsGasserofBrixen,FesslerofSanktPlten,RiccabonaofTrent,ZwergerofSeckau.Italy:minority,ArchbishopNazaridiCalabianaofMilan,BishopsMorenoofIvrea,LosannaofBiellamajority,Valerga,LatinPatriarchofJerusalem,BishopsGastaldiofSaluzzo,GandolfiofLoreto.England:minority,BishopCliffordofCliftonmajority,ArchbishopManningofWestminster.Ireland:minority,ArchbishopMacHaleofTuammajority,ArchbishopsCullenofDublinandLeahyofCashel.TheEast:minority,Jussef,GreekMelchitePatriarchofAntiochmajority,Hassun,PatriarchoftheArmenians.Switzerland:minority,BishopGreithofStGallmajority,BishopMermillodofGeneva.ImportantchampionsofthedefinitionfromthecountrieswhichsentnomembersoftheminoritywereArchbishopDechampsofMechlin,Belgium,andBishopPayyRicoofCuenca,Spain.

(3)ChangeofProcedure:theHallofAssemblyReducedinSize

VariousmemorialswerenowsenttheHolyFatherpetitioningfornewrulesofdebateforthesakeofacorrespondingprogressintheproceedingsofthecouncil.Consequently,theconciliarprocedurewasmoreexactlydefinedbytheDecree"Apostolicislitteris",issuedon20Feb.,1870.AccordingtothisDecree,anymemberofthecouncilwhowishedtoraiseanobjectiontothedraftunderdiscussionwastosendinhisproposedamendmentsinwriting,inorderthattheymightbethoroughlyconsideredbytherespectivedeputation.Inthegeneralcongregationthediscussionofadraftasawholewasalwaystoprecedethediscussionoftheindividualpartsofthedraftofadecree.Themembersofadeputationreceivedtherighttospeakinexplanationorcorrectionwhennotonthelistofspeakers.Speakerswhowanderedfromthesubjectweretobecalledbacktoit.Ifasubjecthadbeensufficientlydebatedthepresident,onthemotionofatleasttenmembersofthecouncil,couldputthequestionwhetherthecouncildesiredtocontinuethediscussionornot,andthenclosethedebateatthewishofthemajority.Althoughtheserulesmadeforanevidentimprovement,stilltheminoritywasnotsatisfiedwiththem,especiallyinsofarastheycontemplatedapossibleshorteningofthedebates.Theyexpressedtheirdissatisfactioninseveralpetitionswhich,however,hadnosuccess.Ontheotherhand,everyeffortwasmadetosatisfyanothercomplaintwhichhadreferencetothebadacousticsofthecouncilhail.Between22Feb.and18March,thatisbetweenthetwentyninthandthirtiethsessionsofthegeneralcongregation,thecouncilhallwasreducedaboutonethirdinsizefortheuseofthegeneralcongregations,sothatthefatherswhowerethusbroughtclosertogethercouldunderstandthespeakersbetter.Thehallwasrestoredtoitsoriginalsizeforeachofthepublicsessions.

(4)CompletionoftheFirstConstitution



TheinterruptionthuscausedwasusedbythedeputationonFaithtorevisethedraftoftheDecree"Dedoctrinacatholica"inaccordancewiththewishesofthegeneralcongregation.On1March,BishopMartinofPaderbornlaidbeforethedeputationthefirstpartoftherevision,theworkofFatherJosephKleutgen,S.J.*Itconsistedofanintroductionandfourchapterswiththecorrespondingcanons.Afteranexhaustivediscussioninthedeputation,itwasreadytobedistributedtothefathersofthecouncilon14Marchastheactual"Constitutiodefidecatholica".Areportinwritingwasalsoaddedbythedeputation.ArchbishopSimorofGrangavetheoralreporton18Marchinthethirtiethgeneralcongregation.Thedebatebeganonthesameday,andwasclosedafterseventeensessionson19April,inthefortysixthgeneralcongregation.Overthreehundredproposedamendmentswerebroughtupanddiscussed.Althoughmanyobjectionsweremadebybothsides,yetthenewrulesofproceduremadepossiblearelativelysmoothcoursetothedebates.TheonlydisturbingincidentwasthepassionatespeechofBishopStrossmayerofDiakovron22Marchinthethirtyfirstgeneralcongregationitcalledforthastormofindignationfromthemajority,whichfinallyforcedthespeakertoleavethetribune.On24April,thefirstConstitution,"Defidecatholica",wasunanimouslyadoptedinthethirdpublicsessionbythe667fatherspresent,andwasformallyconfirmedandpromulgatedbythepope.

Thequestionofpapalinfallibility

(1)MotionscallingforandopposingDefinition

TheopponentsofinfallibilityconstantlyassertthatthepopeconvokedthecounciloftheVaticansolelytohavepapalinfallibilityproclaimed.Everythingelsewasmerelyanexcuseandforthesakeofappearances.Thisassertioncontradictstheactualfacts.Notasingleoneofthenumerousdraftsdrawnupbythepreparatorycommissionboreonpapalinfallibility.OnlytwoofthetwentyoneopinionssentinbytheRomancardinalsmentionedit.Itistruethatalargenumberoftheepiscopalmemorialsrecommendedthedefinition,butthesewerenottakenintoconsiderationinthepreparationsforthecouncil.Itwasnotuntilthecontestoverpapalinfallibilityoutsideofthecouncilgrewconstantlymoreviolentthatvariousgroupsofmembersofthecouncilbegantourgeconciliardiscussionofthequestionofinfallibility.ThefirstmotionforthedefinitionwasmadeonChristmas,1869,byArchbishopDechampsofMechlin.HewassupportedbyalltheotherBelgianbishops,whopresentedaformalopinionoftheUniversityofLouvain,whichculminatedinapetitionforthedefinition.TheactualpetitionforthedefinitionwasfirstcirculatedamongthefathersofthecouncilonNewYear'sDay,1870.Severalpetitionsfromsmallergroupsalsoappeared,andthepetitionssoonreceivedaltogetherfivehundredsignatures,althoughquiteanumberofthefriendsofthedefinitionwerenotamongthenumberofsubscribers.Fiveopposingmemorialscirculatedbytheminorityfinallyobtained136names.Uponthis,earlyinFeb.,thecongregationforpetitionsunanimously,withexceptionofCardinalRauscher,requestedthepopetoconsiderthepetitionfordefinition.PiusIXwasalsoinfavourofthedefinition.Thereforeon6March,thedraftof



theDecreeontheChurchofChrist,whichhadbeendistributedamongthefatherson21Jan.,wasgivenanewtwelfthchapterentitled"RomanumPontificeminrebusfideietmorumdefiniendiserrarenonposse"(TheRomanPontiffcannoterrindefiningmattersoffaithandmorals).Withthisthematterdroppedagaininthecouncil.

(2)TheAgitationOutsidetheCouncil

Thepetitionsconcerninginfallibilitycalledforthoncemoreoutsidethecouncilalargenumberofpamphletsandinnumerablearticlesinthedailypapersandperiodicals.AboutthistimetheFrenchOratorianGratryandArchbishopDechampsofMechlinopposedeachotherincontroversialpamphlets.AletterpublishedbyCountMontalemberton27Feb.,1870,inwhichhespokeofanidolwhichhadbeenerectedintheVatican,attractedmuchattention.InEngland,NewmangaveanxiousexpressionofhisfearsastothebadresultsofthedeclarationofinfallibilityinaletterwritteninMarch,1870,tohisbishop,UllathorneofBirmingham.ThemostextremeopponentwasProfessorDllingerofBavaria.Inhis"RmischeBriefevomKonzil",publishedinthe"AllgemeineZeitung"andissuedinbookform(Munich,1870),underthepseudonymof"Quirinus",heusedinformationsenthimfromRomebyhispupils,JohannFriedrichandLordActon.Intheselettershedideverythinghecouldbydistortingandcastingdoubtsuponfacts,byscornandridicule,toturnthepublicagainstthecouncil.Thiswasespeciallysoinanarticleof19Jan.,1870,inwhichheattackedsoseverelytheaddressoninfallibility,whichhadjustbecomeknown,thatevenBishopKettelerofMainz,anoldpupilofDllinger'sandamemberoftheminority,protestedpubliclyagainstit.TheGovernmentsofthedifferentcountriesalsotookmeasuresonthesubjectofinfallibility.Assoonastheoriginaldraftofthedecree"Deecclesia"withitscanonswaspublishedinthe"AllgemeineZeitung",CountvonBeust,ChancellorofAustria,sentaprotestagainstittoRomeon10Feb.,1870,whichsaidthattheAustrianGovernmentwouldforbidandpunishthepublicationofalldecreesthatwerecontrarytothelawsoftheState.TheFrenchministerofforeignaffairs,Daru,alsosentathreateningmemorandumon20Feb.Hedemandedtheadmissionofanenvoytothecouncil,andnotifiedtheotherGovernmentsofhisstepsinRome.Austria,Bavaria,England,SpainandPortugaldeclaredtheiragreementwiththememorandum.ThepresidentofthePrussianministry,Bismarck,wouldnotchangehisattitudeofreserve,notwithstandingtheurgencyofvonArnim,theambassadoratRome.On18April,theleaderoftheagitation,CountDaru,retiredfromhispostintheministry.ThepresidentoftheFrenchministry,Ollivier,assumedchargeofforeignaffairshewasdeterminedtoleavethecouncilfree.

(3)TheDebatesintheCouncil

Inthemeantimethebishopsoftheminorityinthecouncilhadconstantlysoughttoblockthematter,andespeciallytoexertinfluencetothisendonCardinalBilio,thepresidentofthedeputationonfaith.Ifthemembersofthemajorityhadnoturgedthefulfilmentwiththesameperseverance,papalinfallibilitywouldneverhavereacheddebate.Finally,on29



April,duringthefortyseventhgeneralcongregation,thepresidentinterruptedtheseconddebateonthesmallerCatechismbytheannouncementthatassoonaspossiblethefathersshouldreceiveforexaminationthedraftofaConstitution,"DeRomanoPontifice"whichwouldcontainthedogmaoftheprimacyandoftheinfallibilityofthepope.ForthispurposethedeputationonfaithhadalteredtheeleventhandtwelfthchaptersoftheolddraftoftheConstitution"Deecclesia".On9Mayitwasdistributedamongthefathersinprintedformasthe"Constitutioprimadeecclesia",consistingof4chaptersand3canons.Forafullmonth(13May13June)thegeneraldebateoverthedraftasawholewascarriedoninfourteengeneralcongregations,andsixtyfour,mostlyverylong,speechesweredelivered.Thefollowingspecialdebatesovertheseparatechaptersandcanonslastedmorethanamonth.Notlessthanahundredspeakerstookpartinthediscussions,whichwerecarriedonfrom6Juneto13July,in22congregations.Mostofthespeecheswereonthefourthchapter,whichtreatedpapalinfallibility.Themostprominentspeakersoftheminoritywere:FrenchDarboy,Ginoulhiac,MaretGermanHefele,Ketteler,DinkelAustrianRaucher,Schwarzenberg,StrossmayerUnitedStatesofAmericaandCanadaVrotandConnolly.ArchbishopKenrickofSt.Louis,wholosthisopportunitytospeakbytheclosingofthegeneraldebate,publishedinpamphletformhis"Concioinconciliohabenda,atnonhabita".OntheotherhandtheconciliarspeechpublishedunderthenameofBishopStrossmayerisaforgeryperpetratedbyanapostateAugustinianmonkfromMexico,JosAgostinodeEscudero,whowastheninItaly(cf.GranderathKirchIII,189).ThemajoritywerechieflyrepresentedbytheFrenchmembersofthecouncilPieandFreppeltheBelgianmember,DechampstheEnglishmember,ManningtheIrish,CullentheItalianmembers,GastaldiandValergatheSpanishmember,PayayRicotheAustrian,GassertheGermanmembers,MartinandSenestreytheAmericanmember,Spalding.SeveralmembersoftheminorityasKenrick,Bauseher,Hefele,Schwarzenberg,andKetteler,discussedthequestionofinfallibilityinpamphletsthattheyindividuallyissued,towhichnaturallythemajoritywerenotslowtoreply.Themostimportantoftheseanswerswasthe"Animadversionesoftheconciliartheologian,W.Wilmers,S.J.,inwhichthewritingsofthelastfouroftheantagonistsjustmentionedwere,insuccession,thoroughlyconfuted.ScarcelyinanyparliamenthaveimportantmatterseverbeensubjectedtoasmuchdiscussionaswasthequestionofpapalinfallibilityintheVaticanCouncilinthecourseoftwomonthsallthereasonsproandconhadbeenagainandagaindiscussed,andonlywhathadbeenalreadyoftensaidcouldnowberepeated.Consequentlyintheeightysecondgeneralcongregationheldon4July,mostofthosewhostillhadtherighttospeak,notonlyofthemajority,butalsooftheminority,renouncedtheprivilege,andthecardinalpresidentwasable,amidgeneralapplause,toclosethedebates.

(4)FinalVotingandDefinition

Thetimeoftheeightythird,eightyfourth,andeightyfifthgeneralcongregationswasalmostentirelyoccupiedwiththereportsofthedeputationonfaithconcerningthelasttwo



chapters.ThereportofPrinceBishopGasseronthefourthchapterwasaverynotableone.Intheeightyfifthgeneralcongregationheldon13Julyageneralvotewastakenontheentiredraft.Therewerepresent601fathers.Ofthese451votedplacet,62placetjuxtamodum(conditionalaffirmative),88nonplacet.OftheNorthAmericanbishopsonly7votednonplacetthesewereKenrick,Vrot,Domenec,Fitzgerald,MacQuaid,MacCloskey,andMrac.BishopFitzgeraldstillvotednonplacetinthefourthpublicsession,whileonthisoccasionBishopDomenecvotedplacet.Theotherfivedidnotattendthissession.Intheeightysixthgeneralcongregationthefatherscondemned,onthemotionofthepresident,twoanonymouspamphletswhichcalumniatedthecouncilinthecoarsestmanner.One,entitled"CequisepasseauConcile",culminatedintheassertionthattherewasnofreedomofdiscussionatthecouncil.Theother,"LadernireheureduConcile",repeatedalltheaccusationsthattheenemiesofthecouncilhadraisedagainstit,andexhortedthebishopsoftheminoritytostandfirmandcourageouslyvotenonplacetinthepublicsession.OnaccountofthewarwhichthreatenedtobreakoutbetweenGermanyandFrance,anumberoffathersofbothopinionshadreturnedhome.ShortlybeforethefourthpublicsessionalargenumberofthebishopsoftheminorityleftRomewiththepermissionofthedirectingofficersofthecouncil.Theydidnotopposethedogmaofpapalinfallibilityitself,butwereagainstitsdefinitionasinopportune.OnMonday,18July,1870,onedaybeforetheoutbreakoftheFrancoGermanWar,435fathersofthecouncilassembledatSt.Peter'sunderthepresidencyofPopePiusIX.Thelastvotewasnowtaken433fathersvotedplacet,andonlytwo,BishopAloisioRiccioofCajazzo,Italy,andBishopEdwardFitzgeraldofLittleRock,Arkansas,votednonplacet.DuringtheproceedingsathunderstormbrokeovertheVatican,andamidthunderandlightningthepopepromulgatedthenewdogma,likeaMosespromulgatingthelawonMountSinai.

TheCouncilfromthefourthpublicsessionuntiltheprorogation

Atthecloseoftheeightyfifthgeneralcongregationa"Monitum"wasreadwhichannouncedthatthecouncilwouldbecontinuedwithoutinterruptionafterthefourthpublicsession.Still,themembersreceivedageneralpermissiontoleaveRomeforsomemonths.Theyhadonlytonotifythesecretaryinwritingoftheirdeparture.By11Nov.,St.Martin'sday,allweretobebackagain.Somanyofthefathersmadeuseofthispermissionthatonlyafewmorethan100remainedatRome.Naturallythesecouldnottakeupanynewquestions.Consequentlythedraftofthedecreeonvacantepiscopalsees,whichhadbeenamendedinthemeantimebythedeputationofdiscipline,wasagainbroughtforward,anddebatedinthreefurthergeneralcongregations.Theeightyninth,whichwasalsotobethelast,washeldon1Sept.On8Sept.thePiedmontesetroopsenteredtheStatesoftheChurchatseveralpointsonTuesday,20Sept.,alittlebeforeeighto'clockinthemorning,theenemyenteredRomethroughthePortaPia.ThepopewasaprisonerintheVatican.Hewaitedamonthlonger.Hethenissuedon20Oct.theBull,"PostquamDeimunere",whichproroguedthecouncilindefinitely.ThisdaywasthedayafteraPiedmontesedecreehadbeenissuedorganizingthePatrimonyofPeterasaRomanprovince.AcircularletterissuedbytheItalianminister,ViscontiVenosta,on22



Oct.,toassurethecouncilofthefreedomofmeeting,naturallymetwithnocredence.AveryremarkableletterwassentfromLondononthesamedaybyArchbishopSpaldingtoCardinalBarnabo,prefectofthePropagandaatRome.Inthisletterhemadetheproposition,whichmettheapprovalofCardinalCullen,ArchbishopManning,andArchbishopDechamps,tocontinuethecouncilintheBelgiancityofMechlin,andgavetenreasonswhythiscityseemedsuitableforsuchsessions.Unfortunatelythegeneralconditionofaffairswassuchthatacontinuationofthecouncilevenatthemostsuitableplacecouldnotbethoughtof.

Acceptanceofthedecreesofthecouncil

Afterthecouncilhadmadeitsdecisioneveryonenaturallylookedwithinteresttothosemembersoftheminoritywhohadmaintainedtheiroppositiontothedefinitionofinfallibilityuptothelastmoment.Wouldtheyrecognizethedecisionofthecouncil,or,astheenemiesofthecouncildesiredwouldtheypersistintheiropposition?Asamatteroffact,notasingleoneofthemwasdisloyaltohissacredduties.Aslongasthediscussionslastedtheyexpressedtheirviewsfreelyandwithoutmolestation,andsoughttocarrythemintoeffect.Afterthedecision,withoutexception,theycameovertoit,Thetwobishopswhoon18Julyhadvotednonplacetadvancedtothepapalthroneatthesamesessionandacknowledgedtheiracceptanceofthetruththusdefined.TheBishopofLittleRocksaidsimplyandwithtruegreatness,"HolyFather,nowIbelieve."Itisnotpossibleinthisbriefspacetomentiontheaccessionofeachmemberoftheminority.AsconcernsthemembersfromNorthAmericawhoareofspecialinteresthere,BishopVrotofSt.AugustinegavehisadhesiontothedogmawhilestillatRomeinaletteraddressedon25Julytothesecretaryofthecouncil.BishopMracofSaultSaintMariesenthisdeclarationofadherenceatthelatestbyJan.,1872.AyearlaterBishopDomenecofPittsburghdidthesame.In1875BishopMacQuaidofRochester,ifnotearlier,announcedhisadherencetothedogmabyitsformalandpublicpromulgation.WhenArchbishopKenrickofSt.Louisreturnedtohisdioceseon30Dec.,1870,hemadeanaddressatthereceptiongivenhim,inwhichhefirstgavethereasonsthathaddecidedhispositionatthecouncilaslong,asthequestionwasopentodiscussion,andthenclosedwiththedeclarationthat,nowthecouncilhaddecided,hesubmittedunconditionallytoitsdecree.Heexpressedhimselfsimilarlyinaletterof13Jan.,1871,totheprefectofthePropaganda.WhenLordActonquestionedthearchbishopinregardtohissubmission,thelatterrepliedbyalongletterdated29March,1871,whichshows,itmaybe,acertaindiscontent,butwhichclearlyconfirmedhisbeliefintheinfallibilityofthepope.InthesamewaythedistinguishedFrenchmenandEnglishmenwho,outsideofthecouncil,hadexpressedopinionsantagonistictothepromulgationofinfallibility,e.g.Gratry,Newman,Montalembert,andfinally,asitappears,Acton,alsosubmittedafterthedecisionhadbeenmade.Ontheotherhand,inGermanyanumberofProfessorDllinger'sadherentsapostatisedfromtheChurchandformedthesectofOldCatholics.Dllingeralsoapostatized,without,however,connectinghimselfwithanyotherdenomination.InSwitzerlandtheopponents



ofthecouncilunitedinasectcalledChristianCatholics.Outsideofthese,howevertheCatholicsoftheentireworld,bothclergyandlaity,acceptedthedecisionofthecouncilwithgreatjoyandreadiness.AfterthecloseoftheFrancoGermanWartheGermanGovernmentmadethedogmaofinfallibilitytheexcuseforwhatiscalledtheKulturkampf.Yetthebishopsandpriestswerereadytobearlossofproperty,imprisonment,andexileratherthanbedisloyaltoanypartoftheirecclesiasticalduties.TheAustrianGovernmenttooktheopportunityofferedbythedefinitiontorelieveitselffromuncomfortableobligations,anddeclaredthat,astheothercontractingpartyhadchanged,theConcordatwiththeRomanSeewasannulled.ExceptinginafewSwisscantons,thepromulgationofthedecisionofthecouncildidnotencounteranyactualdifficultieselsewhere.

Theresults

Incomparisonwiththelargescopeofthepreparationsforthecouncil,andwiththegreatamountofmateriallaidbeforeitfordiscussioninthenumerousdraftsandproposals,theimmediateresultofitslaboursmustbecalledsmall.Butthecouncilwasonlyinitsbeginningswhentheoutbreakofwarbroughtittoasuddenclose.Itisalsotrueasisknown,thatreasonswithinthecouncilpreventedalargerresultfromitssessions.ThusitwasthatintheendonlytwonotverylargeConstitutionscouldbepromulgated.If,however,thecontentsofthesetwoconstitutionsbeexaminedtheirgreatimportanceisunmistakable.Thecontentsmeetinastrikingmannertheneedsofthetimes.

A.ThedogmaticConstitutionontheCatholicFaithdefendsthefundamentalprinciplesofChristianityagainsttheerrorsofmodernRationalism,Materialism,andatheism.InthefirstchapteritmaintainsthedoctrineoftheexistenceofapersonalGod,WhoofHisownfreevolitionfortherevelationofHisperfection,hascreatedallthingsoutofnothing,Whoforeseesallthings,eventhefuturefreeactionsofreasonablecreatures,andWhothroughHisProvidenceleadsallthingstotheintendedend.ThesecondchaptertreatsthenaturalandsupernaturalknowledgeofGod.ItthendeclaresthatGod,thebeginningandendofallthingscanalsobeknownwithcertaintybythenaturallightofreason.Itthentreatstheactualityandnecessityofasupernaturalrevelation,ofthetwosourcesofRevelation,Scriptureandtradition,oftheinspirationandinterpretationoftheHolyScripture.Thethirdchaptertreatsthesupernaturalvirtueoffaith,itsreasonablenesssupernaturalness,andnecessity,thepossibilityandactualityofmiraclesasaconfirmationofDivineRevelationandlastly,thefoundingoftheCatholicChurchbyJesusChristastheGuardianandHeraldofrevealedtruth.Thefourthchaptercontainsthedoctrine,especiallyimportanttoday,ontheconnectionbetweenfaithandreason.Themysteriesoffaithcannot,indeed,befullygraspedbynaturalreason,butrevealedtruthcannevercontradictthepositiveresultsoftheinvestigationofreason.Contrariwise,however,everyassertionisfalsethatcontradictsthetruthofenlightenedfaith.Faithandtruelearningarenotinhostileoppositiontheyrathersupporteachotherinmanyways.Yetfaithisnotthe



sameasaphilosophicalsystemofteachingthathasbeenworkedoutandthenturnedovertothehumanmindtobefurtherdeveloped,butithasbeenentrustedasaDivinedeposittotheChurchforprotectionandinfallibleinterpretation.When,therefore,theChurchexplainsthemeaningofadogmathisinterpretationistobemaintainedinallfuturetime,anditcanneverbedeviatedfromunderpretenceofamoreprofoundinvestigation.AtthecloseoftheConstitutiontheopposingheresiesarerejectedineighteencanons.

B.TheotherdogmaticConstitutionisofequal,ifnotgreater,importanceitisthefirstontheChurchofChrist,or,asitisalsocalledinreferencetoitscontents,onthePopeofRome."TheintroductiontotheConstitutionsaysthattheprimacyoftheRomanpontiff,onwhichtheunity,strength,andstabilityoftheentireChurchrests,hasalwaysbeen,andisespeciallynow,theobjectofviolentattacksbytheenemiesoftheChurch.Thereforethedoctrineofitsorigin,constantpermanence,andnaturemustbeclearlysetforthandestablished,aboveallonaccountoftheopposingerrors.ThusthefirstchaptertreatsoftheestablishmentoftheApostolicprimacyinthepopesofRome.Eachchaptercloseswithacanonagainsttheopposingdogmaticopinion.ThemostimportantmatteroftheConstitutionisthelasttwochapters.Inthethirdchapterthemeaningandnatureoftheprimacyaresetforthinclearwords.TheprimacyofthePopeofRomeisnomereprecedenceofhonour.Onthecontrary,thepopepossessestheprimacyofregularlyconstitutedpoweroverallotherChurches,andthetrue,direct,episcopalpowerofjurisdiction,inrespecttowhichtheclergyandfaithfulofeveryriteandrankareboundtotrueobedience.Theimmediatepowerofjurisdictionoftheindividualbishopsintheirdioceses,therefore,isnotimpairedbytheprimacy,butonlystrengthenedanddefended.ByvirtueofhisprimacythepopehastherighttohavedirectandfreerelationswiththeclergyandlaityoftheentireChurch.Nooneispermittedtointerferewiththisintercourse.ItisfalseandtoberejectedtosaythatthedecreesissuedbythepopefortheguidanceoftheChurcharenotvalidunlessconfirmedbytheplacetofthesecularpower.Thepopeisalsothesupremejudgeofallthefaithful,towhosedecisionallmattersunderexaminationbytheChurchcanbeappealed.Ontheotherhand,nofurtherappeal,noteventoanecumenicalcouncil,canbemadefromthesupremedecisionofthepope.Consequentlythecanonappendedtothethirdchaptersays:"When,therefore,anyonesaysthatthePopeofRomehasonlytheofficeofsupervisionorofguidance,andnotthecompleteandhighestpowerofjurisdictionovertheentireChurchnotmerelyinmattersoffaithandmorals,butalsoinmatterswhichconcernthedisciplineandadministrationoftheChurchthroughouttheentireworld,orthatthepopehasonlythechiefshare,butnottheentirefullnessofthishighestpower,orthatthishispowerisnotactualandimmediateeitheroverallandindividualChurches,oroverallandindividualclergyandfaithful,lethimbeanathema."

Thefourthchapter,lastly,containsthedefinitionofpapalinfallibility.First,allthecorrespondingdecreesoftheFourthCouncilofConstantinople,680(SixthEcumenical),oftheSecondCouncilofLyons,1274(FourteenthEcumenical)andoftheCouncilof



Florence,1439(SeventeenthEcumenical),arerepeatedandconfirmed.Itispointedout,further,thatatalltimesthepopes,intheconsciousnessoftheirinfallibilityinmattersoffaithforthepreservationofthepurityoftheApostolictradition,haveactedasthecourtoflastinstanceandhavebeencalleduponassuch.ThenfollowstheimportanttenetthatthesuccessorsofSt.PeterhavebeenpromisedtheHolyGhost,notforthepromulgationofnewdoctrines,butonlyforthepreservationandinterpretationoftheRevelationdeliveredbytheApostles.TheConstitutioncloseswiththefollowingwords:"Faithfullyadhering,therefore,tothetraditioninheritedfromthebeginningoftheChristianFaith,we,withtheapprobationofthesacredcouncil,forthegloryofGodourSaviour,fortheexaltationoftheCatholicreligion,andthesalvationofChristianpeoples,teachanddefine,asaDivinelyrevealeddogma,thattheRomanpontiff,whenhespeaksexcathedra,thatis,whenhe,intheexerciseofhisofficeasshepherdandteacherofallChristians,byvirtueofhissupremeApostolicauthority,decidesthatadoctrineconcerningfaithormoralsistobeheldbytheentireChurchhepossesses,inconsequenceoftheDivineaidpromisedhiminSt.Peter,thatinfallibilitywithwhichtheDivineSaviourwishedtohaveHisChurchfurnishedforthedefinitionofdoctrineconcerningfaithormoralsandthatsuchdefinitionsoftheRomanpontiffareofthemselves,andnotinconsequenceoftheChurch'sconsent,irreformable."

WhatisgivenaboveisessentiallythecontentsofthetwoConstitutionsoftheVaticanCouncil.Theirimportmaybebrieflyexpressedthus:inoppositiontotheRationalismandFreethinkingofthepresentdaythefirstConstitutiongivesauthoritativeandclearexpressionofthefundamentalprinciplesofnaturalandsupernaturalunderstandingofrightandtruefaith,theirpossibility,necessity,theirsources,andoftheirrelationstoeachother.Thusitofferstoallofhonestintentionaguideandafirmfoothold,bothinsolvingthegreatquestionoflifeandinalltheinvestigationsoflearning.ThesecondConstitutionsettlesfinallyaquestionwhichhadkeptthemindsofmendisturbedfromthetimeoftheGreatSchism,andtheCouncilofConstance,andmoreespeciallyfromtheappearanceofthefourGallicanarticlesof1682,thequestionoftherelationbetweenthepopeandtheChurch.AccordingtothedogmaticdecisionoftheVaticanCouncil,thepapacyfoundedbyChrististhecrownandcentreoftheentireconstitutionoftheCatholicChurch.ThepapacyincludesinitselftheentirefullnessofthepowerofadministrationandteachingbestowedbyChristuponHisChurch.ThusecclesiasticalparticularismandthetheoryofnationalChurchesareforeveroverthrown.Ontheotherhand,itisextravagantandunjusttosaythatbythedefinitionoftheprimacyofjurisdictionandoftheinfallibilityofthepopetheecumenicalcouncilshavelosttheiressentialimportance.Theecumenicalcouncilshaveneverbeenabsolutelynecessary.EvenbeforetheVaticanCounciltheirdecreesobtainedgeneralcurrencyonlythroughtheapprovalofthepope.Theincreasingdifficultyoftheirconvocationastimewentonisshownbytheintervalofthreehundredyearsbetweenthenineteenthandtwentiethecumenicalcouncils.Thedefinitionsofthelastcouncilhave,therefore,broughtaboutthealleviationthatwasdesirableandthenecessarylegalcertainty.Apartfromthis,however,thehierarchyunitedwiththepopein



ageneralcouncilis,nowasformerly,themostcompleterepresentationoftheCatholicChurch.

Lastly,asregardsthedraftsandpropositionwhichwereleftunsettledbytheVaticanCouncil,anumberofthesewererevivedandbroughttocompletionbyPiusIXandhistwosuccessors.Tomentionafew:PiusIXmadeSt.JosephthepatronsaintoftheUniversalChurchon8Dec.,1870,thesameyearasthecouncil.Moralandreligiousproblems,whichitwasintendedtolaybeforethecouncilfordiscussion,aretreatedintheencyclicalsofLeoXIIIontheoriginofthecivilpower(1881),onFreemasonry(1884),onhumanfreedom(1888),onChristianmarriage(1880),etc.LeoXIIIalsoissuedin1900newregulationsregardingtheindexofforbiddenbooks.FromthebeginningofhisadministrationPiusXseemstohavehadinviewinhislegislativelaboursthecompletionofthegreattasksleftbytheVaticanCouncil.Themoststrikingproofsofthisare:thereformoftheItaliandiocesanseminaries,theregulationofthephilosophicalandtheologicalstudiesofcandidatesforthepriesthood,theintroductionofonecatechismfortheRomanchurchprovince,thelawsconcerningtheformofritualforbetrothalandmarriage,therevisionoftheprayersoftheBreviary,and,aboveall,thecodificationofthewholeofmoderncanonlaw.

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Sources

(1)ArchivesoftheVaticanCouncil:AllofficialpapersrelatingtothepreparationsfortheVaticanCouncil,itsproceedings,andtheacceptanceofitsdecrees,havebeenpreservedintheVaticanPalace,intworoomswhichweresetapartforthem.Thespeechesmadeatthegeneralcongregationsexistinshorthandnotesandhandwritinginaddition,PiusIXalsoarrangedtohavethemprinted,ThefirstfourfoliovolumeswereissuedbytheVaticanPressin18758,thefifthandfinalvolumeappearedin1884.Aboutadozencopiesofeachvolumeareinthearchives.(2)CollectionsofOfficialDocuments:CECCONI,StoriadelConcilioecumenicoVaticanoscrittasuidocumentioriginali.Antecedenti,I(Rome,1873),II,inIIIpts.(Rome,1879)FRIEDRICH,DocumentaadillustrandumConciliumVaticanum(IIpts.,Nrdlingen,i871).FRIEDBERG,SammlungderAktenstckezumerstenvatikanischenKonzilmiteinemGrundrissderGeschichtedesselben(Tbingen,1872)MARTIN,OmniumConciliiVaticaniquaeaddoctrinametdisciplinampertinentdocumentorumcollectio(Paderborn,1873)themostcompletecollectionisActaetdecretasacrosanctioecumeniciConciliiVaticani,ed.SCHNEEMANANDGRANDERATH(Freiburg,1892)thiscollectionisintheCollectioLacensisvolVII.Thedecreesoftheeounciihave



oftenbeenpublishedasatRomebythePropaganda,atFreiburg.andRatisbon.(3)HistoricalAccounts:(a)Catholic:bythesecretaryofthecouncil,FESSLER,DasvatikanischeConcilium,dessenusereBedeutungundinnereVerlauf(Vienna,1871)MANNING,TheTrueStoryoftheVaticanCouncil(London,1877)OLLIVIER.L'gliseetl'tatauconcileduVatican(2vols.,Paris,1879)GRANDERATHANDKIRCH,GeschichtedesvatikanischenKonzilsvonseinererstenAnkndigungbiszuseinerVertagung,nachdenauthentischenDokumenten(3vols.,Freiburg,1903and1906)FROND,ActesethistoireduconcileoecumniquedeRome(8vols.,Paris,1869),numerousillustrationsGRANDERATHinWETZERANDWELTE,Kirchenlexikon,s.v.Vatican.Concil.(b)NonCatholic:FRIEDRICH,TagebuchwhrenddesvatikanischenKonzilsgefhrt(2nded.,Nrdlingen,1873)IDEM,GeschichtedesvatikanischenKonzils(3vols.,Bonn,187787)MOZLEY,LettersfromRomeontheOccasionoftheEcumenicalCouncil18691870(2vols.,London,1891)MIRBTinRealencyklopdiefrprotest.Theol.,s.v.Vatican.Concil.Inaddition,consultthebiographiesofthemostdistinguishedmembersofthecouncil.Themostimportantworksandpamphletsthatappearedduringthecouncilarementionedinthecourseofthearticle.(4)ExplanationsoftheDecreesoftheCouncil:GRANDERATH,Constitutionesdogmaticoes.oecumen.ConciliiVaticani,explicat(Freiburg.1892)VACANT,EtudesthologiquessurlesconstitutionsduconcileduVatican(2vols.,Paris,1895).

Aboutthispage

APAcitation.Kirch,J.(1912).VaticanCouncil.InTheCatholicEncyclopedia.NewYork:RobertAppletonCompany.RetrievedJune6,2015fromNewAdvent:http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15303a.htm

MLAcitation.Kirch,Joseph."VaticanCouncil."TheCatholicEncyclopedia.Vol.15.NewYork:RobertAppletonCompany,1912.6Jun.2015.

Transcription.ThisarticlewastranscribedforNewAdventbyDouglasJ.Potter.DedicatedtotheSacredHeartofJesusChrist.

Ecclesiasticalapprobation.NihilObstat.October1,1912.RemyLafort,S.T.D.,Censor.Imprimatur.+JohnCardinalFarley,ArchbishopofNewYork.

Contactinformation.TheeditorofNewAdventisKevinKnight.Myemailaddressiswebmasteratnewadvent.org.Regrettably,Ican'treplytoeveryletter,butIgreatlyappreciateyourfeedbackespeciallynotificationsabouttypographicalerrorsandinappropriateads.