tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769490.post735765868066293936..comments2023-10-25T08:47:22.101-07:00Comments on Diligite iustitiam: A puzzle regarding Faith and authoritypapabearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12180053825589485150noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769490.post-57788527491255503762008-08-16T11:56:00.000-07:002008-08-16T11:56:00.000-07:00Just as someone who crams the conclusions of geome...<I>Just as someone who crams the conclusions of geometry without knowing how to demonstrate them has no science, but only conclusions that are opinions, so someone who holds to certain doctrines of the Faith, but does not hold them because of the authority of Catholic doctrine does not have the habit of Faith.</I><BR/><BR/>Presumably he believes in the authority of Catholic doctrine because he is moved to do so through grace. But that also presumes that he is moved to believe in the authority of the Church does it not?papabearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12180053825589485150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769490.post-52872399663747472162008-08-16T06:07:00.000-07:002008-08-16T06:07:00.000-07:00The following selection might shed a little light ...The following selection might shed a little light on your question.<BR/><BR/>(De virtutibus, q. 2, a. 13)<BR/><BR/>A habit is constituted by its formal object rather than its material contents. Take away the formal object, and the habit is gone. The formal object of Faith is the First Truth, manifested by the teaching of the Church, just as the formal object of science is the medium of demonstration.<BR/><BR/>Just as someone who crams the conclusions of geometry without knowing how to demonstrate them has no science, but only conclusions that are opinions, so someone who holds to certain doctrines of the Faith, but does not hold them because of the authority of Catholic doctrine does not have the habit of Faith.<BR/><BR/>Anyone who holds any teaching because it is Catholic doctrine assents to all that is contained in Catholic doctrine. Otherwise he would rather be believing in himself than in the doctrine of the Church.<BR/><BR/>Thus it is evident that anyone who obstinately rejects one article of Faith does not have Faith in the other articles. I am talking about Faith which is an infused habit. Such a person would only hold such articles of the Faith as opinions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com