re: #124 yma o hyd

Erm, ‘ex cathedra’ - thats what it is?
Isn’t that a catheter, or what?
What?

HELP!

ex. Latin preposition meaning “out of”. The idea actually implies “motion out of”. However, this is is Classical Latin. Mediaeval Latin (whence Ecclesiastical Latin) was a good deal rougher grained. Thus ex in Ecclesiastical Latin can be used to mean “From”. The preposition ex takes the ablative. The ablative of Cathedra is Cathedra. Hence Ex Cathedra = From the Chair (in Ecclesiastical Latin; for Cicero, it would have meant = [getting] out of the chair). As a student of Classical Languages, the phrases Ex Ufficio (same principle) and Ex Cathedra always make me pause for a moment of orientation as their modern meaning is almost opposite to what an classical Greek/Roman would have understood.

The phrase “Ex Cathedra” in Ecclesiastical terminology refers to the privilege of the pope of speaking infallibly on matters of morals and dogma. Basically, when the Pope pronounces ex cathedra (here cathedra is referring to the Papal Throne, i.e. the Papal Office) that x is a sin, then he is infallibly right. Likewise, when he pronounces ex cathedra that x is an essential element of belief which a Catholic must assent to, then he is infallibly right. The Ex Cathedra privilege is used very sparingly. The most recent one that I know of is the establishment of the Marian Dogma of the Assumption in 1950.

NB. Apparently, Church Councils can exercise infallibility too. How and in what circumstances, I don’t know.