versing with others, they must use the word Catholic, or they will not be understood.” De vera Religione, c. vii. T. i. p. 752.—Among the many considerations that bind me to the Church, “is the name of Catholic, which, not without reason, in the midst of so many heresies, this Church alone has so retained,[1] that, although all heretics wish to acquire the name, should a stranger ask where the Catholics assemble, the heretics themselves will not dare to point out any of their own places of meeting” Contra Ep. Fundam. c. iv. T. viii. p. 153.
Conference of Carthage, L. C.—In this Conference, held in 411, to terminate the long-existing schism between the Donatists and the Catholics, the main question to be decided was: Where was the Catholic Church? The Donatists allowed, that that was it, which was spread throughout the world. It remained, therefore, to be shewn which party was united to all other Churches; and this the Catholics easily proved to be on their side. In this conference the great St. Augustin manifested his learning and his eloquence, and above all his zeal for the Unity of the Church; when the two hundred and eighty-six Catholic bishops, with one voice, offered to resign their sees to the Donatists, would these return to the Church, and the measure be agreeable to the people. Conc. Gen. T. ii. p. 1463.
At what time, to this primitive appellation of Catholic, was superadded that of Roman, is of little moment: suffice it, that the thing itself was at all times implied; that is, communion with the See of Rome, was at all times deemed essential, and the primacy of its Bishops acknowledged.
- ↑ Tenet ipsum Catholicæ nomen, quod sic ista Ecclesia sola obtinuit, &c.
nicatio, quæ Catholica est, et Catholica nominatur, non solum a suis, verum etiam ab omnibus inimicis.
