Note 279 — Front matter (continued 10)

Laynez so far succeeded in influencing the papacy by his method of interpreting Scripture, that both the Douay or Roman Catholic Bible and the Rheims Version of the New Testament contain an explanatory note whereby the papal meaning of the words "Feed my sheep" is given as infallibly true. It is there said that by these words Christ conferred upon Peter "the superintendency of all his sheep, and consequently of his whole flock; that is, of his whole Church." This does not go quite to the extent that Laynez did, by converting the word feed into govern, but so nearly so as to make a distinction almost without a difference. The Latin word "pasce" does not mean either to govern or to superintend—nor does the Greek word bὁσκε, but simply to feed. If Christ had intended to say to govern or superintend, he would have employed a word having that signification, which in the Vulgate would be either curatio or procuratio. He meant, therefore, spiritual food only—advice, counsel, instruction—excluding entirely the idea of either governing or superintending the opinions or consciences of any of the flock.