PURGATORY tradition of the Fathers, taught, in sacred Councils, and from the consent of the Church, irreformable. [Chap. 4.] with the approval of the Sacred Council, teach and efficacy of the Apostolic office is so urgently needed, safed to link with the supreme pastoral office. religion, and the salvation of Christian peoples, We, authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or DOCTRINE OF PURGATORY 77 concerning faith and morals ; and hence, that such defini- sider it in every way necessary to affirm solemnly the from the beginning of the Christian faith, for the glory Whence, faithfully cleaving to the tradition received infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed tions of the Roman Pontiff are of themselves, and not of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme Apostolic not a few are found who belittle its authority, we con- define that it is a dogma divinely revealed : that the assistance promised him in blessed Peter, he has that that his Church should possess in defining doctrine of God our Saviour, the exaltation of the Catholic prerogative which the only-begotten Son of God vouch- Spirit, has, from the sacred writings and the ancient say, when, in exercise of the office of Pastor and Teacher Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is to Whereas the Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy morals to be held by the whole Church, by the divine