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Author Topic: Did the Council of Trent (and Pope St. Pius V) teach Baptism of Desire?  (Read 2724 times)

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Re: Did the Council of Trent (and Pope St. Pius V) teach Baptism of Desire?
« Reply #30 on: February 26, 2021, 11:21:10 AM »
Saying "BOD is objectively heretical" would be like saying "the Immaculate Conception is objectively heretical" before it was formally defined. The Church had clearly shown it favor for many centuries before explicitly and formally defining it and closing the question. A similar thing happened here. BOD has already been taught by the Ordinary and Universal Magisterium, and is irreformable doctrine.

You are confused about what constitutes the Universal and Ordinary Magisterium.  It is only in effect when the pope and the bishops together consistently teach a proposition as being divinely revealed.  BOD has never been taught as something divinely revealed by any pope ever.  Your highest hope for proving that a pope taught it is the Council of Trent S6, C4.  But the words "in voto" do not necessarily connote BOD and in fact can easily be referring to the necessity of desiring to receive the sacrament which is a condition of validity.  If the pope had meant BOD, he would have described it in more depth as he did with the Sacrament of Penance.  So your best hope turns out to be nothing but smoke.  You try to keep the focus on the highly doubtful definition of BOD you imagine to be in Trent but you fail to acknowledge Trent's dogma that the Sacrament of Baptism is an absolute necessity of means for salvation.  That is De Fide as every Catholic theologian without exception admits.

Offline Ladislaus

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Re: Did the Council of Trent (and Pope St. Pius V) teach Baptism of Desire?
« Reply #31 on: February 26, 2021, 11:44:32 AM »
I don't need to explain or justify myself to you, Ladislaus. You always do this when you run out of arguments, and can't stick to the topic.

I've not attacked Fr. Feeney. You're just misinformed on that point. I specifically said I have no objection to St. Benedict's Centre's doctrinal position.

I specifically attacked the Dimonds, who I consider to hold manifestly heretical opinions both in the open Ecclesia-Vacantism they promote, and in heretically claiming that BOD is "heresy". They are neo-Jansenists and the Doctors fought the Jansenist heresy, when it arose, with untiring efforts.

Of course you don't need to justify yourself to me.  But since you're tussling online, I'm going to call you out.

+Fellay's stated views are much more harmful (and materially heretical) than anything a Feeneyite believes.  I also don't believe that Dimond opinion is heretical, nor do the vast majority of the theologians surveyed by Father Cekada.  But +Fellay's opinion IS, directly contradicting several dogmatic definitions.  One could make a case that the Dimonds are schismatic by considering believers in BoD to be heretical, but that's a separate issue, and I myself have argue against them on that particular point.  And their alleged "ecclesia-vacantism" is not heretical, despite your bogus syllogisms claiming that it is.  We've gone through pages of material discussing it.

So if you're truly sincere about this subject, then you'd spend more time going after them than the Dimonds.


Re: Did the Council of Trent (and Pope St. Pius V) teach Baptism of Desire?
« Reply #32 on: February 27, 2021, 01:30:08 AM »
Quote from: Clemens Maria
Quote from: Clemens Maria You are confused about what constitutes the Universal and Ordinary Magisterium.  It is only in effect when the pope and the bishops together consistently teach a proposition as being divinely revealed.  BOD has never been taught as something divinely revealed by any pope ever.
I answered this on the other thread for e.g. by citing Fr. Adolphe Tanqueray on the Ordinary Universal Magisterium: "290 Bishops teach the flock entrusted and subject to them by means of catechisms, by synodal directives, mandates, and in public sermons. If it is evident from these docuмents that some doctrine is being set forth universally as an object of faith, then nothing else is required for this doctrine to be accepted de fide. Bishops spread throughout the world, but with the Roman Pontiff forming one Corporate Body, are infallible when declaring a teaching on faith or morals."

Next, your statement that BOD has not been taught as divinely revealed by any Pope ever is incorrect. Pope Leo XIII approved the Baltimore Catechism and that Catechism presents BOD as divinely revealed, as already shown: "A. We know that baptism of desire or of blood will save us when it is impossible to receive the baptism of water, from Holy Scripture, which teaches that love of God and perfect contrition can secure the remission of sins ; and also that Our Lord promises salvation to those who lay down their life for His sake or for His teaching."

And I also showed the numerous Popes who have praised St. Alphonsus - a Bishop and member of the Teaching Church - and his work teaching BOD was de fide and the teaching of Council of Trent. "“No ecclesiastical writer has ever received more direct, positive and formal approbation than that accorded by the Holy See to the moral writings of this Doctor of the Church. While still alive, four Popes expressed their admiration of his prudent doctrine. (…) In 1831, Pope Gregory XVI enhanced this approbation when he decreed that professors of theology could safely teach any opinion of St. Alphonsus, and that confessors, without weighting reasons, could safely follow him – simply on the fact that St. Alphonsus said so. Each of the thirteen predecessors of Pius XII in the chair of Peter has in some way or another recommended, approved or exalted the ‘Moral Theology’ of the Patron of confessors." https://www.goodcatholicbooks.org/alphonsus/alphonsus-facts.html Bishops etc taught this in their seminaries for generations, and it is where the Doctor teaches that BOD is de fide in virtue of Trent.

Even Ladislaus said it would be a blemish on the Church's Mark of Holiness if She declared as Doctor one who taught error as de fide. But it's worse than with the Dimonds. For they claim what he taught as de fide is heresy.

1. Please answer these questions in order. I cited Pope St. Pius V's teaching in the Roman Catechism, I don't want to post it again here. The Dimonds admit this Catechism contradicts their idea. Do you agree that it teaches Baptism of Desire? Do you not see the intrinsic absurdity - not to mention heresy - of believing the Church in Her Catechism contradicted a dogma She had just officially defined? Imagine the Church releasing a Catechism after declaring the Immaculate Conception, and teaching the opposite. Also, if someone contradicted what Trent taught on Transubstantiation after Trent, Catholics would say he is a heretic. So why don't you condemn Pope St. Pius V as a heretic here? Because you know if you did so, you would only condemn yourself as a heretic, since it is heretical to say a Canonized Saintly Pontiff was a heretic. Pope St. Pius X also taught Baptism of Desire in his Catechism, and the Dimonds claim that Catechism "word-for-word" contradicts their understanding of dogma. So, by Dimondite sedevantism, why wasn't H.H. a heretic too?

2. Next, the true understanding of Baptism's necessity is that Baptism is necessary in fact or in desire - as the Church teaches in Canon Law. Do you deny this? This is the dogma, not your private understanding of it. Otherwise, the Church has officially taught Heresy against Her own dogmas for centuries. So either condemn all the Popes, Doctors and Saints who taught Baptism is necessary in re or in voto (like St. Robert) was the teaching of Trent, or admit you can't condemn us Catholics who follow their teaching. Ladislaus loves to quote Msgr. Fenton saying "Christ's disciples enjoy infallible security in the Church to such an extent that they can never be brought to the point of ruining themselves spiritually by their obedience" (paraphrase). So what happened to that here? Also, I proved it from Trent, when it said Baptism is necessary just as Penance is necessary. But Penance, as even the Dimonds and you concede, is necessary in re or in voto. Therefore, so is Baptism necessary in re or in voto, as St. Robert says is the authentic teaching of the Council of Trent. What is your response to that? "Thus also the Council of Trent teaches that Baptism is necessary in fact or in desire (in re vel in voto)."

Pope St. Pius X also teaches this understanding, that BOD can supply Baptism's necessity, and so does Dr. Ludwig Ott teach the same.

SBC: "That august synod, in its Decree on Justification, defined that the state of justification can only be conferred by the sacrament of baptism in re or in voto — in actual reception or in vowed intent to receive. (Session VI, c. IV)" Not even Fr. Feeney denied this.

The Dimonds are wrong. I accept SBC's theological position that everyone who receives Baptism of Desire will also receive Baptism of Water before they die, as a permissible theological position, and even a probable one. But I condemn Dimondism as heresy, as the Popes have already said it is safe to do, in saying any Catholic, even without knowing reasons, can safely follow St. Alphonsus' opinion. 

3. As for Jansenism, Baius was a Jansenist and his opinions were condemned by Pope St. Pius V. It is a logical implication of those condemnations, as the Catholic Encyclopedia explains, that Baptism of Desire is true Doctrine. "The baptism of desire (baptismus flaminis) is a perfect contrition of heart, and every act of perfect charity or pure love of God which contains, at least implicitly, a desire (votum) of baptism ... The same doctrine is taught by Pope Innocent III (cap. Debitum, iv, De Bapt.), and the contrary propositions are condemned by Popes Pius V and Gregory XII, in proscribing the 31st and 33rd propositions of Baius." Do you disagree with this?

The Popes also praise St. Alphonsus for fighting Jansenism. Jansenists denied sufficient grace was given to all. St. Alphonsus, and all Thomists on the Grace controversy, teach that it is. As applied to the salvation issue, God gives all sufficient grace to attain salvation.

Pope Ven. Pius XII also taught that an act of love of God or contrition can supply the absence of Baptism for adults. The list is endless.

As for Ecclesia-Vacantism, we'll discuss that in its proper place, the Apostolicity thread, later on. Some SVs argue SVism doesn't necessitate EVism. That's not what the Dimonds argue, nor did they become EVs recently. They've argued for a long time, like at least 10 years, that the entire jurisdictional hierarchy defected, and that therefore there are no more Successors to the Apostles. A manifest heresy, and a purely Protestant one, that the Catholic Church has ceased to be Apostolic. But that discussion is for elsewhere.

Re: Did the Council of Trent (and Pope St. Pius V) teach Baptism of Desire?
« Reply #33 on: February 28, 2021, 03:44:02 PM »
I answered this on the other thread for e.g. by citing Fr. Adolphe Tanqueray on the Ordinary Universal Magisterium: "290 Bishops teach the flock entrusted and subject to them by means of catechisms, by synodal directives, mandates, and in public sermons. If it is evident from these docuмents that some doctrine is being set forth universally as an object of faith, then nothing else is required for this doctrine to be accepted de fide. Bishops spread throughout the world, but with the Roman Pontiff forming one Corporate Body, are infallible when declaring a teaching on faith or morals."

And yet, you don't accept the doctrines of religious liberty, ecuмenism and fraternity as well as practical universal salvation as taught universally by the Novus Ordo hierarchy.  What's your excuse?  Don't try to hold me to a higher standard than you hold yourself.  If you have good reason not to embrace the Novus Ordo religion, you should assume I have good reason as well.

Next, your statement that BOD has not been taught as divinely revealed by any Pope ever is incorrect. Pope Leo XIII approved the Baltimore Catechism and that Catechism presents BOD as divinely revealed, as already shown: "A. We know that baptism of desire or of blood will save us when it is impossible to receive the baptism of water, from Holy Scripture, which teaches that love of God and perfect contrition can secure the remission of sins ; and also that Our Lord promises salvation to those who lay down their life for His sake or for His teaching."

There's no evidence that they are proposing BOD as divinely revealed.  They only propose that some aspects of justification are divinely revealed.  But it is a catechism and even with papal approval their application of these divinely revealed aspects of justification applied to BOD does not rise to the level of magisterial teaching.  But what do you care?  You believe that dogmas can be interpreted to mean the opposite of their literal meaning.  Baptism is absolutely necessary as a necessity of means for salvation.  De Fide.  No problem for you, you believe that means that people can be saved without baptism.

2. Next, the true understanding of Baptism's necessity is that Baptism is necessary in fact or in desire - as the Church teaches in Canon Law. Do you deny this? This is the dogma, not your private understanding of it. Otherwise, the Church has officially taught Heresy against Her own dogmas for centuries. So either condemn all the Popes, Doctors and Saints who taught Baptism is necessary in re or in voto (like St. Robert) was the teaching of Trent, or admit you can't condemn us Catholics who follow their teaching. Ladislaus loves to quote Msgr. Fenton saying "Christ's disciples enjoy infallible security in the Church to such an extent that they can never be brought to the point of ruining themselves spiritually by their obedience" (paraphrase). So what happened to that here? Also, I proved it from Trent, when it said Baptism is necessary just as Penance is necessary. But Penance, as even the Dimonds and you concede, is necessary in re or in voto. Therefore, so is Baptism necessary in re or in voto, as St. Robert says is the authentic teaching of the Council of Trent. What is your response to that? "Thus also the Council of Trent teaches that Baptism is necessary in fact or in desire (in re vel in voto)."

Here is the crux of the issue.  You claim that the Sacrament of Baptism is a necessity for salvation "in fact or in desire".  But you believe along with all theologians including St Thomas and St Alphonsus that BOD is NOT the SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM.  It does not confer on the recipient the grace of baptism.  It only confers on the recipient the grace of justification.  So by definition, BOD does not confer the graces which are necessary for salvation.  If you stopped calling it Baptism of Desire and instead called it Justification By Desire, it would probably be more clear.  The Council of Trent didn't teach that justification alone is necessary for salvation.  It taught that baptism is necessary as a necessity of means for salvation.  This is De Fide.  Look in Ott or any other theology manual.  And even the idea that one could be justified outside the sacramental system of the Catholic Church is heretical.  The sacraments in general are necessary for salvation (De Fide, Council of Trent).  Also Pope Leo the Great taught dogmatically that justification cannot be obtained separate from the water of baptism.  You have to be baptized in order to be justified since the promulgation of the Gospel.

The problem with your conception of BOD as it relates to the Sacrament of Baptism is that you relegate the grace of the baptismal character indelibly imprinted on the soul, the grace of incorporation into the Mystical Body of Christ, and the grace of the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins to unimportant and unnecessary graces which can safely be dispensed with or ignored.  The Council of Trent says otherwise.

The other stuff you mentioned are just gratuitous assertions on your part.  I'll ignore them.