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[TO THE BISHOPS OF THESSALY]
LETTER OF BONIFACE I
MARCH 11, 422 [excerpt] |
The universal ordering of the Church at its birth took its origin from the office of blessed Peter, in which is found both its directing power and its supreme authority. From him as from a source, at the time when our religion was in the stage of growth, all churches received their common order. . . . So it is clear that this church is to all churches throughout the world as the head is to the members, and that whoever separates himself from it becomes an exile from the Christian religion, since he ceases to belong to its fellowship.
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BONIFACE I
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