The Assembly of the General Council of the Vatican is the greatest and most pregnant event of the last three hundred years. It is naturally, therefore, filling men’s minds whether they will it or not. The Church of God is a perfect kingdom, not of the world, but in it. It is a kingdom of souls, and has a divine mission to gather into itself the whole human race. It has a divine right to whatever is necessary for its perfect organization, and for the fulfillment of its divine mission. As there is no limit in point of time or place to its mission, so there is no exemption to the obedience clue to its authority when once recognized.
The General Council is the reunion in one place of the Apostolate dispersed throughout the world, under the authority and direction of its divinely appointed head, whose office is “to confirm his brethren”, and whose “faith shall not fail.” Human society cannot but be affected by the decisions of the Council. There is great misconception as to the nature of a General Council.
