Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Letters

An explanation of infallibility

byStaff writers
29 August 2004
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

I FEEL I should respond to C.P. Hickey’s letter (CL 22/8/04) re papal infallibility.

When I received my First Holy Communion about 74 years ago in rural Ireland, we learned the faith from the little Penny Catechism.

Incidentally, at that time, the parish church was locked, even the confessionals and staircases, and the pregnant women wore a long black hooded cloak to preserve their modesty.

Now we have a splendid new Catechism, issued by His Holiness 10 years ago.

It is a marvellous thing that both books contain the full truths of the faith except that in the latter, the bones have been fleshed out and explained, and it is lovely and soul-satisfying to read a chapter at any time and meditate on it.

One thing which it stresses is that we all have a duty to spread the faith and I have tried to do this during my long life.

Leaving County Cork at 18, living in England and then in Australia gave plenty of opportunity to do so. We should not keep so wonderful a thing to ourselves, but try to pass it on. Do not keep the holy objects in the bedroom.

The New Catechism explains papal infallibility beautifully. It is true that it is seldom the Holy Father who makes an ex cathedra proclamation by a definitive act, a doctrine of faith and morals.

The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, with the Pope, they exercise the supreme Magisterium, above all, in an ecumenical council.

The Catechism goes on to say, ‘Divine assistance is also given to the successors of the apostles, teaching in communion with the successors of Peter, and in a particular way, the Bishop of Rome, pastor of the whole Church, when, without arriving at an infallible definition, and without pronouncing in a ‘definitive manner’ they propose in the exercise of the ordinary Magisterium a teaching that leads to better understanding of Revelation in matters of faith and morals.

Related Stories

Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

The Church canonises 10 new saints who shared God’s love

Hearts ‘fused’ together living their vocation

‘To this ordinary teaching the faithful ‘are to adhere to it with religious assent’ which, though distinct from the assent of faith, is nonetheless an extension of it.’

I do not know whether this applies to canonised saints, but I am sure that Our Lady and the saints and angels should be venerated for their sanctity and for the help they give us, and for the glory they give to God.

SHEILA WALSH

Gordon Park, Qld

ShareTweet
Previous Post

THE LADYKILLERS

Next Post

Celebrating cultures

Staff writers

Related Posts

Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport
QLD

Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

16 May 2022
The Church canonises 10 new saints who shared God’s love
Vatican

The Church canonises 10 new saints who shared God’s love

16 May 2022
Hearts ‘fused’ together living their vocation
People

Hearts ‘fused’ together living their vocation

15 May 2022
Next Post

Celebrating cultures

Tackling shortage of priests

Visa changes do not go far enough

Popular News

  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Hearts ‘fused’ together living their vocation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Link between porn and partner violence growing

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Church canonises 10 new saints who shared God’s love

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Queensland election: The pro-life political parties committed to abortion law reforms

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport
QLD

Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

by Adrian Taylor
16 May 2022
0

National Volunteer Week (May 16 – 22) is a time to thank the army of volunteers who...

The Church canonises 10 new saints who shared God’s love

The Church canonises 10 new saints who shared God’s love

16 May 2022
Hearts ‘fused’ together living their vocation

Hearts ‘fused’ together living their vocation

15 May 2022
Link between porn and partner violence growing

Link between porn and partner violence growing

14 May 2022
The tangible faith at the Three Saints celebration in Stanthorpe

The tangible faith at the Three Saints celebration in Stanthorpe

13 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping