Papal Infallibility and the Assumption of Mary
Elements of Papal Infallibility from Pius XII’s dogmatic document “Munificentissimus Deus”
In November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII invoked his authority as the Successor of Peter, defining the dogma of the Assumption of Mary ex cathedra, i.e., infallibly. Note that in Matthew 16:17–19, our Lord established the Church on the rock (Peter), a Church that not even the gates of hell can prevail against it. Our Lord gave Peter the authority of having the keys of heaven, of feeding His flock, and of binding and loosing. Since God is the fullness of Truth, these statements shall always hold true. Because of this, the Holy Spirit always safeguards the Supreme Pontiff, from Peter to Francis, and to the next pontificates until the Second Coming, from error; otherwise, Christ fails to fulfill His promise. This dogma on the Holy Father being preserved from the possibility of error is what we call “papal infallibility”.
When Pope Pius XII proclaimed that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven through the dogmatic document entitled “Munificentissimus Deus”, he exercised his infallibility as the successor of Peter, and thus was safeguarded by the Holy Spirit from any error. However, not all statements of the Pope are infallible. Personal opinions, like the statement of Pope Francis on same-sex civil unions and Pope Paul V’s disagreement with Galileo, are not infallible. When can we say that the Pope is speaking infallibly? In this article, we will study the elements that can be seen in Munificentissimus Deus that made it infallible.
During the First Vatican Council, the Church defined the dogma on infallibility:
“We teach and define that it is a dogma Divinely revealed that the Roman pontiff when he speaks ex cathedra, that is when in discharge of the office of pastor and teacher of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, by the Divine assistance promised to him in Blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer willed that his Church should be endowed in defining doctrine regarding faith or morals, and that therefore such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves and not from the consent of the Church irreformable.” (Pastor Aeternus, Chapter 4)
From this document, we see four elements that should be met for a statement to be infallible. First, the “Roman pontiff (…) speaks ex cathedra, that is, as the pastor and teacher of all Christians.” Second, he must be speaking on matters of faith or morals. Third, this doctrine is required to be held by the whole Church. Fourth, the Holy Father is “defining” the doctrine.
1. Pastor and Teacher of all Christians
In this element, the Pope should speak not by his personal opinion or judgment but as the Supreme Teacher of the universal Church. In apostolic constitutions, like Munificentissimus Deus, the Pope unarguably speaks as a supreme teacher, as a Pope, as the leader of the Catholic Church (not as a private individual).
For example, in paragraph 2, Pope Pius XII said: “Now, just like the present age, our pontificate is weighed down by ever so many cares, anxieties, and troubles, by reason of very severe calamities that have taken place and by reason of the fact that many have strayed away from truth and virtue. Nevertheless, we are greatly consoled to see that, while the Catholic faith is being professed publicly and vigorously, piety toward the Virgin Mother of God is flourishing and daily growing more fervent, and that almost everywhere on earth it is showing indications of a better and holier life. Thus, while the Blessed Virgin is fulfilling in the most affectionate manner her maternal duties on behalf of those redeemed by the blood of Christ, the minds and the hearts of her children are being vigorously aroused to a more assiduous consideration of her prerogatives.”
With this, he fulfilled Christ’s mandate to teach all nations everything he taught His disciples (Mt 28:20).
2. Doctrine of Faith and Morals
For a statement to be infallible, it must be regarding faith and morals. Thus, previous popes’ opposition to Galileo’s and Copernicus’ claims on the solar system are not infallible, since this area is outside of faith and morals.
In Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary, which is a matter of faith that is divinely revealed to the Church through the Scriptures and by the Holy Spirit. In paragraph 44, he said; “we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”
Other examples of divinely revealed matters of faith are the teachings of Jesus found in the Gospels. The Bible itself is part of divine revelation.
Thus, in Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII was speaking on matters of faith.
3. Ab universa Ecclesia tenendam
The above phrase translates literally as “requiring to be held by the universal Church”. All Catholics are obliged to accept and recognize infallible teachings. In defining the dogma on the Assumption, Pope Pius XII fulfilled this element in paragraphs 45 and 47 of Munificentissimus Deus.
“Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith.” (MD 45)
“It is forbidden to any man to change this, our declaration, pronouncement, and definition or, by rash attempt, to oppose and counter it. If any man should presume to make such an attempt, let him know that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.” (MD 47)
4. “Defined”
The term “define” in this usage refers to a teaching being pronounced conclusively and with finality. It should terminate any doubt or controversy that exists regarding the said teaching. As St. Augustine would say “Roma locuta, causa finita est.” (Rome has spoken, the matter is closed)
In Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII proclaimed with finality that the Assumption of Mary is an absolute truth, and so all doubts and disagreements to it must be cast away. This was fulfilled when he said the following in paragraph 44:
“For which reason, after we have poured forth prayers of supplication again and again to God, and have invoked the light of the Spirit of Truth, for the glory of Almighty God who has lavished his special affection upon the Virgin Mary, for the honor of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages and the Victor over sin and death, for the increase of the glory of that same august Mother, and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church; by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” (MD 44)
Furthermore, as stated in section 3 of this article, Pope Pius XII required that the teaching defined should be held by everyone, otherwise, they will be “fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith.” Also, because it has already been defined, “it is forbidden for any man to change or oppose it.”
These paragraphs in Munificentissimus Deus gave a finality to the teaching on the Assumption of Mary.
IN CONCLUSION, we know that a certain teaching was proclaimed infallibly when all the four elements mentioned above are met. All these were satisfied by Munificentissimus Deus. Thus, when Pope Pius XII proclaimed that Mary was assumed body and soul in to heaven in 1950, he was speaking without the possibility of committing error.
REFERENCES:
Harrison, B.W. (1993). The Ex Cathedra Status of the Encyclical Humanae Vitae. Christendom Press, VA.
Pius IX. Pastor Aeternus. Retrieved from https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-ix/it/documents/constitutio-dogmatica-pastor-aeternus-18-iulii-1870.html
Pius XII. Munificentisimus Deus. Retrieved from https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19501101_munificentissimus-deus.html
NB: This story was originally published at www.facebook.com/dcfvanguardsoftruth
