THE following are taken from "Cathedra Petri," a standard work of the Catholic Church, giving "The Titles and Prerogatives of St. Peter and of his See and Successors, as described by the Early Fathers, Ecclesiastical Writers, and Councils of the Church," by Charles F. B. Allnatt:—
"Peter, THE ROCK OF THE FAITH," "THE ROCK OF THE CHURCH," "THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH," "THE ROCK OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH," "UPON WHOM THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS BUILT," "AGAINST WHOM THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL," "UPON HIM [Peter], AS ON THE EARTH, THE CHURCH WAS FOUNDED."
All this is spoken of Peter; but on page 66 of this book the strong statement is made that "what is said of Peter, the popes claim decidedly for themselves," and so we have on the same page Pope Theodore addressed thus: "O HOLY HEAD! . . . ON THEE, AS A FOUNDATION STONE, have the pillars of the church been fixed;" and on pages 56, 57, "Pope Siricius, A.D. 386," said, "I bear the burdens of all who are heavy laden." Then all through the book we have the following titles and prerogatives applied to Peter and his so-called successors:—
"THE KEEPER OF HEAVEN," "KEEPER OF THE GATE OF HEAVEN," "THE PILLAR OF THE FAITH," "THE PRINCE OF THE WHOLE CHURCH," "THE PRINCE OF PRINCES," "THE SHEPHERD OF THE FLOCK," "THOU ART THE ONE SHEPHERD," "THE SHEPHERD OF SHEPHERDS," "THE HEAD OF THE BODY," "THE HEAD OF THE WHOLE FAITH," "THE HEAD OF ALL THE CHURCHES OF GOD," "MOST HOLY AND BLESSED FATHER," "TO THE MOST HOLY APOSTOLIC LORD, AND MOST BLESSED FATHER OF FATHERS," "To Leo, the Pope, the most blessed Lord." "THE VICAR OF CHRIST," "THE PASTOR OF PASTORS," "THOU ART THE CHIEF OF ALL." "St. Bernard, A. D. 1150, thus addresses Pope Eugenius III.: Who art thou?—THE HIGH PRIEST, THE SUPREME BISHOP. THOU ART THE PRINCE OF THE BISHOPS. THOU ART THE HEIR OF THE APOSTLES. THOU ART ABEL IN PRIMACY, NOAH IN GOVERNMENT, ABRAHAM IN THE PATRIARCHAL RANK; IN ORDER, MELCHISEDECH, IN DIGNITY, AARON, IN AUTHORITY, MOSES; SAMUEL IN THE JUDICIAL OFFICE, PETER IN POWER, CHRIST IN UNCTION. THOU ART HE TO WHOM THE KEYS OF HEAVEN ARE GIVEN, TO WHOM THE SHEEP ARE INTRUSTED. . . . THOU ART THE ONE SHEPHERD."
Add to all this the following: "Infallible Pope," "Most Powerful Word," "Chief Pastor and Teacher and Physician of Souls," taken from Monsignor Capel's pamphlet (who was private chaplain to Pope Pius IX.), entitled "The Pope, the Vicar of Christ, the Head of the Church." And this from "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation" (pages 138, 139): "Vicegerent of the Son of God," "Our Lord God the Pope," "Another God upon earth," "King of Kings and Lord of Lords," "The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, The Promised Saviour."
And this from "The Two Republics," page 568: "The Living Christ," "The Voice of God."
Who, after reading all this, can doubt that the Papacy is the "little horn" of Daniel 7, which spake "great words against the Most High," and who in the following blasphemous words has thought to change God's law and set aside his Holy Sabbath day:—
"The Bible says, Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. The Catholic Church says, NO! By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day, and command you to keep holy the first day of the week. And lo! the entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic Church. [Italics mine.]"—Father T. Enright, Css. R. of Redemptorist College, Kansas City, Mo., in American Sentinel, June 1, 1893.
Dear reader, whom do you obey? Whose day do you keep holy? Whose sign or mark do you have? The seventh day is God's sign, or mark of his power in creation. See Ex. 31:17; Eze. 20:20. The first day is the sign or mark of a rival power, i.e., the Papacy, "the man of sin." Again I ask, Whom do you worship or obey? Please read Rev. 14:9-12 and 15:1-3.