The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

;THE SEVEN TESTS. 257knowing, and who is not likely to represent the matter unfairlyfor Rome, or to make the process more difficult andintricate than it really is. Well, then, according to thestatements of the Professor, who is one of the most learnedand accomplished men at Rome, there are seven recjuisitesor essentials by which a bull is to be tested before it isrecognisedas ex cathedra or infallible.*" I. It was necessary, in the first place, that before composingand issuingthe bull, the Pope should have openeda communication with the bishops of the universal Church,"in order to obtain the prayers of the bishops and of theuniversal Church, " that the Holy Spirit might fully andinfallibly guide him, so as to make hisof inspiration.decision the decision" II. It w'as necessary, in the second place, that beforeissuing the bull containing the decision, the Pope shouldcarefully seek all possible and desirable information touchingthe special matter which was under consideration, andwhich was to be the subject of his decision,from those persons who were residing in the district affectedby the decision called in question." III. That the bull should not only be formal, but shouldbe authoritative, and should claim to be authoritative : thatit should be issued not merely as the opinion or judgment ofthe Pope in his mere personal capacity, but as the decisiveand authoritative judgment ofone who was the headof that Church which was the mother and mistress of allChurches." IV. That the bull should be promulgated universallythat is, that the bull should be addressed to all the bishopsof the universal Church, in order that through them itsdc-* It is interesting to observe, that the method of procedure indicated inthese rules appears to have been followed by the present pontiff, in preparingfor his contemplated decision on the subject of the " immaculateconception of the Virgin JIary."S