Infallibility

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O.K. from what I understand there are different types of infalibility: Ordinary Magistrum, Extra Ordinary Magistrum, and when the Pope speaks ex-cathedra. Pope Gregory 1 said Mary Magdalin was a prostitute. Did he say this with Ordinary Magistrum. If so does this mean that something the Pope says through the Ordinary Magistrum is not really infalible at all?

Note: Incase someone here doesn't know Mary Magdalin was not the prostitute in Luke(I think that's the right gospil); the Pope made a mistake.

-- Brandon (bubbi_fox15@hotmail.com), March 09, 2001

Answers

Response to Infalibility

Jmj

Hello, Brandon.
I am not familiar with what Pope Gregory I wrote about St. Mary Magalene, and you have not provided a quotation. However, that does not really matter.
The important thing is that it is not accurate to say that "the Pope made a mistake." There is insufficient evidence to state with certainty whether or not St. Mary Magdalene did or did not play multiple roles (one or more being an unnamed prostitute) in the Gospels. I urge you to read the discussion of that subject in this thread.

I have never heard anyone say that a pope (Gregory or otherwise) had made an "ex cathedra," infallible declaration that St. Mary Magdalene was once a prostitute. Therefore, we are not required to believe that "with divine and Catholic faith." Are we required to believe it in any way? I have never been told that we are. The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council, in Lumen Gentium, wrote:
"In matters of faith and morals, the bishops speak in the name of Christ and the faithful are to accept their teaching and adhere to it with a religious assent. This religious submission of mind and will must be shown in a special way to the authentic magisterium of the Roman Pontiff, even when he is not speaking ex cathedra; that is, it must be shown in such a way that his supreme magisterium is acknowledged with reverence, the judgments made by him are sincerely adhered to, according to his manifest mind and will. His mind and will in the matter may be known either from the character of the documents, from his frequent repetition of the same doctrine, or from his manner of speaking."

Thus, Brandon, we have to know more about what the pope said concerning St. Mary Magdalen, in what context, with what emphasis, and with how binding a character. It could be that he was, along with some (but by no means all) of the saints of the Church, expressing a non-binding theological opinion.

Brandon, you wrote: "... from what I understand there are different types of infalibility: Ordinary Magistrum, Extra Ordinary Magistrum, and when the Pope speaks ex-cathedra."
That is almost correct. There is the infallibility of the Ordinary Magisterium (all bishops, including the pope, teaching the same thing). There is the infallibility of the Extraordinary Magisterium of all the bishops, including the pope, declaring a dogma at an ecumenical council. And there is the infallibility of the Extraordinary Magisterium of the pope alone, declaring a dogma "ex cathedra" (from the chair of St. Peter).

St. James, pray for us.
God bless you.
John
PS: I thought I should correct your spelling of four words, so that you will not come up empty if you do some automated searches on the Internet, etc.. It is "gospel," not "gospil." It is "Magisterium," not "Magistrum." It is "infallible" (with three Ls), not "infalible." And it is "Magdalen" or "Magdalene," not Magdalin. (You may even see "Mary of Magdala.")

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), March 10, 2001.


Response to Infalibility

How would you know, Alex? You can't even remember how to spell God's name. Jesus prayed to his Father. He is not a mortal, and didn't need any mortal help. We are. We are aided by the saints; you could be to, but you're anathema. Look up the word. Somebody who preaches a different gospel from the Holy Apostles. Alex Ruiz Jr, anathema and not too bright, either!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), March 12, 2001.

Response to Infalibility

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-- @ (@@@@.@), September 11, 2002.

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