St. Boniface I, 418-422

true remission of sins in every sex, age, and condition of the human race. For no one except him who is the servant of sin is made free, nor can he be said to be redeemed unless he has previously truly been a captive through sin, as it is written: "If the Son liberates you, you will be truly free [John 8:36]. For through Him we are reborn spiritually, through Him we are crucified to the world. By His death that bond of death introduced into all of us by Adam and transmitted to every soul, that bond contracted by propagation is broken, in which no one of our children is held not guilty until he is freed through baptism.

ST. BONIFACE I 418-422

The Primacy and Infallibility of the Roman Pontiff¹

[From the epistle (13) "Retro maioribus tuis" to Rufus, Bishop of Thessaly, March 11, 422]

110. (2) . . . To the Synod [of Corinth] . . . we have directed such writings that all the brethren may know . . . that there must be no withdrawal from our judgment. For it has never been allowed that that be discussed again which has once been decided by the Apostolic See.

ST. CELESTINE I 422-432

Reconciliation in the Moment of Death²

[From the epistle (4) "Cuperemus quidem" to the bishops of the provinces of Vienne and Narbo, July 26, 428]

111. (2) We acknowledge that penance is being denied the dying and no assent is given to the ardent wishes of those who at the time of their death desire to come to the assistance of their souls with this remedy. We are horrified, I confess, that anyone is found of such great impiety, that he despairs of the love of God, as if He were not able at any time whatever to hasten to the aid of the one who runs to Him for help and to free from his burden a man endangered by the weight of sins, from which he longs to be liberated. For what else is this, I ask, than to add death to the dying and to kill his soul with one's own cruelty, that it may not be able to be