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benefice, Louis XIV. commanded the bishops and clergy to assemble in 1682. Thirty-four bishops out of a hierarchy of some hundred and twenty assembled. A majority of these not all, for it is known that De Brias, Archbishop of Cambray, resisted passed the four famous Gallican Articles, and published them on the 19th of March.^[1] They were immediately con-

↑ Zaccaria Antifebronius Vindicatus, Dissert V. c. v. 2. Romæ 1848.

The following account, given by Fenelon, respecting the part taken by Bossuet in the Articles of 1682, is too interesting to be omitted:—

'Bossuet, Bishop of Meaux, lately deceased, often narrated to me, before witnesses worthy of confidence, the things which passed in the Assembly of the Gallican Clergy in 1682. The narrative was as follows:

'Choiseul, Bishop of Tournai, had been chosen to draw up the Declaration of the Gallican Clergy on the authority of the Pope. He wrote it, and it was read. At once Bossuet strongly opposed him, because he declared that both the Apostolic See and the Pope personally might fall into heresy. Choiseul answered: Unless you say so, whether you will or no, you necessarily affirm the infallibility of Rome. Bossuet replied: But you cannot deny that the faith of Peter shall never fail in his See. That is clearly proved by the promises; that is most evident from universal tradition. If that be so, Choiseul said, absolute infallibility is ascribed not indeed to the man who sits in the See, but to the See itself. And so it must be admitted that every decree which emanates from the Apostolic See is altogether irreformable, and confirmed by infallible authority.

'Bossuet tried to answer the objection in this way: The faith of this See is indeed indefectible; nevertheless its judgments are not infallible. How do you prove, Choiseul asked, that the faith of this See is indefectible? I prove it, said Bossuet, from the promises of Christ; forasmuch as Christ expressly says, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." This is the faith of Peter, which shall never fail in his See. …

[p56-1] Zaccaria Antifebronius Vindicatus, Dissert V. c. v. 2. Romæ 1848.

The following account, given by Fenelon, respecting the part taken by Bossuet in the Articles of 1682, is too interesting to be omitted:—

'Bossuet, Bishop of Meaux, lately deceased, often narrated to me, before witnesses worthy of confidence, the things which passed in the Assembly of the Gallican Clergy in 1682. The narrative was as follows:

'Choiseul, Bishop of Tournai, had been chosen to draw up the Declaration of the Gallican Clergy on the authority of the Pope. He wrote it, and it was read. At once Bossuet strongly opposed him, because he declared that both the Apostolic See and the Pope personally might fall into heresy. Choiseul answered: Unless you say so, whether you will or no, you necessarily affirm the infallibility of Rome. Bossuet replied: But you cannot deny that the faith of Peter shall never fail in his See. That is clearly proved by the promises; that is most evident from universal tradition. If that be so, Choiseul said, absolute infallibility is ascribed not indeed to the man who sits in the See, but to the See itself. And so it must be admitted that every decree which emanates from the Apostolic See is altogether irreformable, and confirmed by infallible authority.

'Bossuet tried to answer the objection in this way: The faith of this See is indeed indefectible; nevertheless its judgments are not infallible. How do you prove, Choiseul asked, that the faith of this See is indefectible? I prove it, said Bossuet, from the promises of Christ; forasmuch as Christ expressly says, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." This is the faith of Peter, which shall never fail in his See. …

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