assent of the whole brotherhood (i.e. episcopate) that He might show that it (the dogma) truly proceeded from Himself, that what had been first confirmed by the first See of all, the judgment of the whole Christian world received; that in this also the members should be in accordance with the head." Therefore, in the judgment of S. Leo, by the influx of the head of the Church, that is, of the Pope, into the Council, it decides infallibly, so as to oblige (the faithful); and the confirming of the judgment of Councils is proof that they have not erred, but have spoken by the dictate of the Holy Ghost.'[1] 'This uninterrupted practice (of asking confirmation) signifies that the whole Church well knows that from the head the influx (of infallible truth) descends into the members. And thus it is, that if the decrees of faith made in Councils are infallible, so as to oblige the faithful to belief, they should know that it comes principally from the head, infallibly attesting that the Councils have been directed by the Holy Spirit.'[2]
In proof and exemplification of this influx of the infallible direction of the head in General Councils, Brancatus de Lauræa gives the following:
The Council of Nice was presided over by the Roman legates, and confirmed by S. Sylvester.[3]
The Council of Constantinople was guided in its
