faith is that given to the Apostles and passed on to the whole Church
through the succession of bishops. The succession of the Bishops of Rome
is outlined because of her primacy (potior principalitas) due to being
founded by Sts. Peter and Paul. Rome’s doctrine passed on from the time of
St. Peter is conclusive proof of Christian faith. The principles St. Irenaeus
established concerning the doctrinal authority of the Church, and of Rome
in particular, amount also to a refutation in advance of future heresies:
“When, therefore, we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek
among others the truth which is easily obtained from the Church.
For the Apostles, like a rich man in a bank, deposited with her
most copiously everything which pertains to the truth; and
everyone whosoever wishes draws from her the drink of life. For
she is the entrance to life, while all the rest are thieves and robbers.
That is why it is surely necessary to avoid them, while cherishing
with the utmost diligence the things pertaining to the Church, and
to lay hold of the tradition of truth...In the Church, God has placed
apostles, prophets and doctors, and all the other means through
which the Spirit works; in all of which none have any part who do
not conform to the Church. On the contrary, they defraud
themselves of life by their wicked opinion and most wretched
behavior. For where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and
where the Spirit of God, there the Church and every grace (3, 3,
1).”
The office of Peter, Papal succession, and the preservation of Apostolic
tradition:
“The successions of the bishops of the greatest and most ancient
Church known to all, founded and organized at Rome by the two
most glorious Apostles, Peter and Paul, that Church which has the
tradition and the faith which comes down to us after having been
announced to men by the Apostles. For with this the whole world;
and it is in her that the faithful everywhere have maintained the
Apostolic tradition... The blessed Apostles (Peter and Paul), having
founded and built up the Church (of Rome), they handed over the
office of the episcopate to Linus. Paul makes mention of this Linus
in the Epistle to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus; and after
him, in the third place from the Apostles, Clement was chosen for
the episcopate…In this order, and by the teaching of the Apostles
handed down in the Church, the preaching of the truth has come
down to us (3, 3, 2-3).”
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