or anything I may have written. I speak of it now simply for the truth's sake, and for charity, which is always promoted by a clear statement of truth, and never by the confused noise of controversy; and also to justify some of the most eminent defenders of Catholic doctrine, by showing that this terminology is to be found in the writings of many of our greatest theologians.
I may remind you, in passing, that in the Definition not a trace of this formula nor of its component words is to be found.
First, as to the word personal, Cardinal Toletus, speaking of the doctrine of infallibility, says, 'The first opinion is, that the privilege of the Pope, that of not erring in faith, is personal; and cannot be communicated to another.' After quoting our Lord's words, 'I have prayed for thee,' &c. he adds, 'I concede that this privilege is personal.'[1]
Ballerini says, that the jurisdiction of St. Peter, by reason of the primacy, was 'singular and personal' to himself. The same right he affirms to belong also to the Roman Pontiffs, St. Peter's successors.'[2]
This doctrine he explains diffusely.
'This primacy of chief jurisdiction, not of mere order, in St. Peter and the Roman Pontiffs his successors, is personal, that is, attached to their person:
- ↑ 'Prima est quod privilegium Papæ ut in fide errare non possit est personale, nec ipse potest alteri communicare, Luc. xxii.: "Ego rogavi pro te, Petre, et tu aliquando conversus confirma fratres tuos." Ad primum concedo esse illud privilegium personale: ob id communicari non potest.'—Toletus, In Summ. Enarr. tom. ii. pp. 62, 64. Rome 1869.
- ↑ 'Jurisdictio et prærogativæ quæ eidem sedi ab antiquis asse-
