Church, even than those over which the Sovereign Pontiffs in person had presided, the supreme legislative and executive authority of the Vicar of Jesus Christ. It was directed in all its sessions by his guidance. It was closed and confirmed by him. The execution of its decrees rested in his hands. The reigning Pontiff, Pius IV., by three supreme Pontifical acts, provided: First, that all ecclesiastical prescriptions and customs contrariant to its decrees should be null and void. Secondly, that no prescription or custom thenceforward should ever acquire force against the Council of Trent. Thirdly, that no one, under pain of excommunication, should interpret its decrees; reserving all interpretation to himself and his successors.[1]
The supreme authority of the successor of Peter over the Church can hardly be more visibly proved than by the fact that of the Councils claiming to be General, eighteen are approved as such, eight are condemned and annulled, six are partly approved and partly annulled; and this by the sole authority of the Roman Pontiff.[2]
With these principles before us, we shall be better able to appreciate the facts of this time, and to dispose of certain popular misunderstandings, which have been laid down with great confidence, and with claims to superior knowledge. We are told that the holding of a General Council was not the spontaneous intention
