CONTENTS. First thought of holding an .Ecumenical Council proposed by Pius IX.-Commission given to certain Cardinals.—Their answers. Commission of Direction. Cardinals and Theologians, Roman and Foreign.-Interrogatories to the Bishops. Their Answers.-True motive of the Vatican Council an adequate remedy to the disorders, intellectual Eighteenth Centenary of St. Peter's Martyrdom.—The assem- blage of 500 Bishops in Rome a powerful cause of the Defini- tion. First announcement of the Future Council.-Address of the Bishops.-Council of Florence.-Historical outline of the Infallibility.-Bull of Indiction, June 29, 1868.—Con- spiracy against the Council.—Diplomatic agitation.-Prince Hohenlohe.-Commission of Direction.-Partition of work. --Letters to the Bishops of the Oriental Churches, and to the new Catholic bodies of the West.-Constitution to re- Opening of the Council, Dec. 8, 1869.—Bishop Fessler.-Car- Pius IX.-Schema on the Church of Christ.-Petitions for and against the introduction of the Infallibility.—Reasons for and against.-Conclusion of the Majority.-Petition granted. Chapter on Infallibility, added to the Scheme on March 7, 1870.-Synopsis of the First Constitution on Discussion of the Schema on the Church.-On the Infallibility. -Sixty-four Speakers.-A hundred inscribed to speak on General Discussions.—Five Special Discussions still to come. -Closing of General Discussion.-Amendments, and final vote in General Congregation on July 13th. - Protest of Cardinal Presidents.-Fourth Public Session, July 18th.— First Constitution on the Church of Christ passed and con- firmed by the Pope.—Franco-German war broke out on the next day. Opposition in the Council.-Exultation and dis- appointment of the world.-Defeat of rationalistic intrigues by Bishops of Rottenburg and Mayence.-Freedom of the Council. Archbishops of Paris and of Cologne.-Tumults and tragedies in the Council.—Cardinal Vitelleschi, Pom- The Text of the Definition of the Infallibility of the Roman Pontiff.-What it does not mean.-What it does mean.— Apotheosis. Deification. Divine Attributes. - Divine Nature, and other absurdities.-Decree of the Council of Florence.-Evidence of Original MS.-Reasons for the re- modelling of the Constitution, and for its speedy discussion. --Consequences imputed to the Council.-Failure of Old Catholic Schism.-True effects of the Council, like those of The True Story of the Vatican Council. CHAPTER I. THE ORIGIN AND MOTIVE OF THE VATICAN COUNCIL. FEW centuries since the Christian era have seen events of greater magnitude or more far-reaching in consequence, than the age in which we live. It has seen the extinction in 1806 of the Holy Roman Empire, the heir and representative of the Cæsars; The rise and fall of two Empires in France; the setting up of two French republics; the overthrow of more dynasties, and the abdication of more kings, than any former age. It is, characteristically, the century of revolution. It has seen great wars which shook the whole of Europe from Madrid to Moscow; and lately two great empires overthrown in a few weeks or in fewer months. It sees now a German Emperor and a king of Italy. Once it has seen the head of the Christian Church carried away prisoner into France, once driven by bloodshed out of Rome, and now we see him stripped of all the world can A clutch; twice it has seen Rome seized and held. These are not common events. Finally, after a lapse of three hundred years, it has seen an Ecumenical Council, and it has occupied itself profusely and perpetually about its acts, its liberty, and its decrees. Few events of the nineteenth century stand out in bolder relief, and many will be forgotten when the Vatican Council will be remembered. It will mark this age as the Council of Nicea and the Council of Trent now mark in history the fourth and the sixteenth centuries. Therefore it will not perhaps be without use, nor, it may be, without interest, if we review its history. The title prefixed to these pages implies that many stories of the Vatican Council have been published which are not true. It is not my intention to enumerate them. As far as I am able I shall avoid reference to them. My purpose is to narrate the history of the Council, simply and without controversy, from authentic sources. In the present chapter I shall narrate only the origin of the intention to convoke the Council. Hereafter I hope to show what were the antecedents of the Council and their effect upon it; then I will endeavour to explain its acts, and lastly to trace out the effects which have followed from it. I. In the year 1873 Pius the Ninth gave com |