Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/410

 it." (Matt.  xvi.  17,  18.)  Observe,  1.  Christ  gives  him  a name  suitable  to  his  office.  2.  Upon  him  He  founds His  Church  militant,  and  appoints  him  the  visible  head. 3.  He  promises  infallibility  to  this  Church,  so  that  the gates  of  hell  shall  never  prevail  against  it.  4.  He  promises him  the  keys  of  the  kingdom  of  Heaven;  that  is, the  key  of  knowledge,  to  determine  matters  of  faith without  error,  and  the  key  of  power  to  remit  sin.  Rejoice  for  these  privileges  granted  to  the  chief  pastor,  for your  particular  good,  and  the  general  good  of  the  whole Church.

III. In what  a  miserable  state  are  those  who  deny  the supremacy of  St.  Peter,  and  will  not  build  upon  the  rock, which cannot  fail,  but  ground  their  hopes  of  eternal  salvation on  the  sand  of  their  own  private,  fallible,  and treacherous judgments! Endeavor as  much  as  you  can to bring  all  men  to  this  rock  of  salvation;  at  least  pray, that all  may  acknowledge  the  one  Shepherd,  and  be members  of  the  one  sheepfold;  but  first  prepare  yourself by solid  virtue.

I. After  St.  Peter's  confession  of  his  Master's  divinity, our Lord  charged  His  disciples  that  they  should  tell  no one  that  He  was  Jesus  the  Christ  (Matt.  xvi.  20),  both  to give  us  an  example  of  great  humility  and  to  avoid  ostentation. Besides, the  proper  time  for  the  revelation  of this  mystery,  had  not  yet  arrived. Immediately afterward He  began  to  treat  of  His  passion. " From  that time  forth  Jesus  began  to  show  His  disciples,  that  He