DEFENDING ST. PETER THE FIRST POPE AGAINST AN ANTI-CATHOLIC, Part 7 The Supreme Pontiff not Pontifex Maximus

St. Peter the Apostle, The First Pope and Bishop of Rome

Fr. Abe, CRS said...

[6. Peter never took to himself the title "PONTIFIX MAXIMUS" as all the popes willingly accept, as seen by the initials P.M. after their names in the Vatican.]

YOU ARE LYING HERE. THE OFFICIAL TITLE OF THE POPE IS NOT PONTIFEX MAXIMUS BUT SUMMUS PONTIFEX OR IN ENGLISH SUPREME PONTIFF NOT THE GREATEST PONTIFF. THE TITLE MAXIMUS PONTIFEX BELONGS TO THE PAGAN SYSTEM UNDER THE CAESARS:

Ancient Rome

There were four chief colleges of priests in ancient Rome, the most illustrious of which was that of the pontifices. The others were those of the augures, the quindecimviri sacris faciundis, and the epulones. The same person could be a member of more than one of these groups. Including the pontifex maximus, who was president of the college, there were originally three or five pontifices, but the number increased over the centuries, finally becoming 16 under Julius Caesar. By the third century B.C., the pontiffs had assumed control of the state religious system. [see "Pontiff" in Wikipedia]

THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. THE PONTIFEX MAXIMUS IS THE TITLE OF THE PAGAN ROMAN EMPERORS WHO SERVED AS THE HIGH PRIESTS OF THE ROMAN GODS AND GODDESSES. THE TITLE SUPREME PONTIFF SIMPLY SHOWS THAT AMONG THE CHRISTIAN BISHOPS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THE POPE IS THE LEADER OR THE HIGHEST IN RANK.

[This was a title of the pagan Roman Emperors from Juluis Caesar's time on.]

THE PONTIFEX MAXIMUS IS PAGAN IN ORIGIN BUT THE SUMMUS PONTIFEX IS CHRISTIAN IN ORIGIN. DON'T CREATE HISTORICAL DISTORTION.

[It means "Chief Bridge Maker between earth and heaven."]

LIAR. PONTIFEX MAXIMUS MEANS THE GREATEST OR THE BEST PONTIFF. YOUR ASSERTION IS BASED ON FOLK ETYMOLOGY: "The English term derives through Old French pontif from Latin pontifex, a word commonly held to come from the Latin root words pons (bridge) + facere (to do, to make), and so to have the literal meaning of "bridge-builder". This may be only a folk etymology, but it may also recall antique tasks and magic rites associated with bridges." [Wikipedia]

OUR TERMINOLOGY IS NOT BASED ON PAGANISM BUT ON CHRISTIAN USE OF THE TERM. THE TITLE PONTIFEX IS NOT EXCLUSIVE OF THE PAGANS IT IS A TITLE LIKE 'KING' AND OTHER TITLES. IT CAN BE USED FOR RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND THE CHRISTIANS OF THE 3RD AND 4TH CENTURIES OF CHRISTIANITY USED THAT TITLE FOR THEIR BISHOPS AND POPES.

[This is a name of blasphemy for a man to take, and Peter never saw himself as such. Jesus Christ is the only Bridge Maker between earth and heaven. John 1:51.]

JESUS IS THE ONLY MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. THAT IS WHY WE DO NOT TEACH THAT THE POPE IS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. WE CALL THE POPE VICAR OF CHRIST WHICH MEANS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRIST AS PETER WAS AFTER THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD JESUS. WE NEVER CALL THE POPE A 'BRIDGE'. PLEASE STOP SINGING 'BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER' IN YOUR MIND SO THAT YOUR DELUSIONS WILL CEASE.

August 25, 2010 11:51 AM