The rite of baptism performed by the Church, in water, is the perfect means of salvation for both adults and children. Vienne did not say the only means.
The decree is clear: ALL who are baptized in Christ are baptized in natural water, according to the form of the Church.
So you are saying that someone can be saved who is NOT baptized in Christ - not baptized according to the matter and form laid out in this decree.
The faith the catechumen begs of the Church is not the faith to believe, but the faith which contains the truth, the Catholic faith. They beg of the church to give to them this truth, and, as has been historically noted and agreeable to tradition of the church, a period of teaching and preparation precedes baptism. Additionally, this explains why the faith must be united with charity and hope. This faith, the Catholic faith, without hope and charity, will afford you nothing. Proclaiming to be Catholic without practicing Catholicism, in a sense.
One may believe by natural reason, but without supernatural faith there is NO divine charity, which alone can produce perfect contrition in a soul. The faith that catechumens beg of the Church is the faith that SAVES.
No other means of entering the Catholic Church has ever been declared by God than the sacrament of baptism. It is a dogma that all who die outside the Catholic Church go to hell (as Florence says). They must be baptized before the end of their lives.
No other means of cleansing original sin has ever been declared by God than the sacrament of baptism, and it is a dogma that all who die in original sin go to hell (as Florence says). They must be baptized before the end of their lives.
Florence, ex cathedra: ...But the souls of those who depart this life in actual mortal sin, or in original sin alone, go down straightaway to hell...
St. Mark 16:16: "He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned."
Notice, with careful reading of all the Canons of Baptism, several are dealing specifically with the rite of baptism, as performed by the Church... I assert that this deals specifically with the rite of baptism as it is to be performed by the Church.
VERY GOOD!!! I assert that you are RIGHT!!!
Now apply that to all the Canons!
Canon 2: "If any one saith, that true and natural water is not of necessity for baptism, and, on that account, wrests, to some sort of metaphor, those words of our Lord Jesus Christ; Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost; let him be anathema."
Canon 5: "If any one saith, that baptism is free, that is, not necessary unto salvation; let him be anathema."
The rite of the sacrament of baptism employed by the Church, according to the correct matter and form, IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION!
True. Pay close attention to the words used, specifically 'preserved', which, when understood properly, assumes that one has already entered into the Church. This fit's in perfectly with the tradition of the Church for those who leave the truth of Catholicism for something else.
No, it's not preserve, it's persevere. And you cannot persevere in something if you never partake of it in the first place.
Topic: The Absolute necessity of Water Baptism (Read 62120 times)