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Offline Lover of Truth

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Non-Catholic Liars
« on: March 26, 2014, 07:17:30 AM »
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  • Did the Brother's Dimond think none their following would realize they leave out the bolded part of the quote out?

    The state of infants who die without Baptism has long been one of the knottier problems of theology. If there were not a constant tradition in the Fathers that the Gospel message of "Unless a man be born again et reliqua" is to be taken absolutely, it would be easy to say that our Savior simply did not see fit to mention the obvious exceptions of invincible ignorance and physical impossibility. But the tradition in fact is there; and it is likely enough to be found so constant as to constitute revelation. The Church has always admitted Baptism of desire as a rescuing factor, when the desire is a personal and conscious one on the part of the one desiring Baptism for himself, as in the case of a catechumen.

    They really have some gall using this quote against BOD while gutting the first and last sentence of it.  Incredible!
    "I receive Thee, redeeming Prince of my soul. Out of love for Thee have I studied, watched through many nights, and exerted myself: Thee did I preach and teach. I have never said aught against Thee. Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views. If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world." Saint Thomas Aquinas the greatest Doctor of the Church


    Offline bowler

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    « Reply #1 on: March 26, 2014, 08:19:51 AM »
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  • Quote from: Lover of Truth
    Did the Brother's Dimond think none their following would realize they leave out the bolded part of the quote out?

    The state of infants who die without Baptism has long been one of the knottier problems of theology. If there were not a constant tradition in the Fathers that the Gospel message of "Unless a man be born again et reliqua" is to be taken absolutely, it would be easy to say that our Savior simply did not see fit to mention the obvious exceptions of invincible ignorance and physical impossibility. But the tradition in fact is there; and it is likely enough to be found so constant as to constitute revelation. The Church has always admitted Baptism of desire as a rescuing factor, when the desire is a personal and conscious one on the part of the one desiring Baptism for himself, as in the case of a catechumen.

    They really have some gall using this quote against BOD while gutting the first and last sentence of it.  Incredible!


    You posted no reference to the original source, and no reference to the Dimond's book and page where they use the quote. It may be that your source is lying. When you make an unsubstantiated accusation like this, it is slander. It is obvious that you despise the Dimond's, control your emotions and do your homework before you go posting headlines.

    You are for sure slandering them in the title of your thread by calling them non-Catholic. It's ironic that you consider baptized Catholics (Dimonds and Novus Ordo Catholics) to be non-Catholics, but you consider unbaptized persons who have no explicit belief in Christ to be members of the Church, hence Catholics.


    Offline Ladislaus

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    « Reply #2 on: March 26, 2014, 08:49:04 AM »
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  • Quote from: Lover of Truth
    The Church has always admitted Baptism of desire as a rescuing factor, when the desire is a personal and conscious one on the part of the one desiring Baptism for himself, as in the case of a catechumen.


    You conveniently ignore this past as a condemnation of your heretical Faith of Desire.

    Offline Ladislaus

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    « Reply #3 on: March 26, 2014, 08:54:24 AM »
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  • Quote from: Lover of Truth
    The state of infants who die without Baptism has long been one of the knottier problems of theology. If there were not a constant tradition in the Fathers that the Gospel message of "Unless a man be born again et reliqua" is to be taken absolutely, it would be easy to say that our Savior simply did not see fit to mention the obvious exceptions of invincible ignorance and physical impossibility. But the tradition in fact is there; and it is likely enough to be found so constant as to constitute revelation. The Church has always admitted Baptism of desire as a rescuing factor, when the desire is a personal and conscious one on the part of the one desiring Baptism for himself, as in the case of a catechumen.

    They really have some gall using this quote against BOD while gutting the first and last sentence of it.  Incredible!


    Dimonds admit that Father Jurgens later rejects this quote. Nevertheless, the second sentence has absolutely NOTHING to do with the first about infants.  "Invincible ignorance and physical impossibility" have absolutely nothing to do with the "state of infants", and so it's obvious that Father Jurgens has disgressed into a statement of principle for adults.  It was a flow of consciousness to a related point and not a logical continuity and reference to "state of infants".

    I invite you to call out Father Laisney's lie that that was not "one dissenting voice" among the Church Fathers, and his convenient use of ellipses in quotations.


    Offline Ladislaus

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    « Reply #4 on: March 26, 2014, 08:57:36 AM »
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  • From the Dimonds book on EENS:

    Quote
    Fr. William Jurgens ... believes in baptism of desire.



    Offline crossbro

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    « Reply #5 on: March 26, 2014, 10:29:11 AM »
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  • Jesus stated that the unbaptized go to hell. Call Jesus a liar all you want too. Provide me the quote where Jesus says unbaptized infants go to heaven then we will talk.

    Peter Dimond stated in one of his videos that he did not believe in limbo but that he believed that babies go to a part of hell where there is no fire.

    Offline Lover of Truth

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    « Reply #6 on: March 26, 2014, 11:45:44 AM »
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  • Quote from: Ladislaus
    Quote from: Lover of Truth
    The state of infants who die without Baptism has long been one of the knottier problems of theology. If there were not a constant tradition in the Fathers that the Gospel message of "Unless a man be born again et reliqua" is to be taken absolutely, it would be easy to say that our Savior simply did not see fit to mention the obvious exceptions of invincible ignorance and physical impossibility. But the tradition in fact is there; and it is likely enough to be found so constant as to constitute revelation. The Church has always admitted Baptism of desire as a rescuing factor, when the desire is a personal and conscious one on the part of the one desiring Baptism for himself, as in the case of a catechumen.

    They really have some gall using this quote against BOD while gutting the first and last sentence of it.  Incredible!


    Dimonds admit that Father Jurgens later rejects this quote. Nevertheless, the second sentence has absolutely NOTHING to do with the first about infants.  "Invincible ignorance and physical impossibility" have absolutely nothing to do with the "state of infants", and so it's obvious that Father Jurgens has disgressed into a statement of principle for adults.  It was a flow of consciousness to a related point and not a logical continuity and reference to "state of infants".

    I invite you to call out Father Laisney's lie that that was not "one dissenting voice" among the Church Fathers, and his convenient use of ellipses in quotations.



    They admit after they get caught.  Quite convenient to leave out.  If you want to debate the issue I can give you a slew of other quotes where they conveniently leave out parts of quotes that undermine their false position.  Please don't get your Catholicism from them?  They are untrained  AND deceitful.  A bad combination.
    "I receive Thee, redeeming Prince of my soul. Out of love for Thee have I studied, watched through many nights, and exerted myself: Thee did I preach and teach. I have never said aught against Thee. Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views. If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world." Saint Thomas Aquinas the greatest Doctor of the Church

    Offline bowler

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    « Reply #7 on: March 26, 2014, 11:52:40 AM »
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  • Quote from: Lover of Truth
     If you want to debate the issue I can give you a slew of other quotes where they conveniently leave out parts of quotes that undermine their false position.  


    Why don't you provide just ONE example, this one. You have not provided anything but unsubstantiated slander here, read below:

    Quote from: bowler
    Quote from: Lover of Truth
    Did the Brother's Dimond think none their following would realize they leave out the bolded part of the quote out?

    The state of infants who die without Baptism has long been one of the knottier problems of theology. If there were not a constant tradition in the Fathers that the Gospel message of "Unless a man be born again et reliqua" is to be taken absolutely, it would be easy to say that our Savior simply did not see fit to mention the obvious exceptions of invincible ignorance and physical impossibility. But the tradition in fact is there; and it is likely enough to be found so constant as to constitute revelation. The Church has always admitted Baptism of desire as a rescuing factor, when the desire is a personal and conscious one on the part of the one desiring Baptism for himself, as in the case of a catechumen.

    They really have some gall using this quote against BOD while gutting the first and last sentence of it.  Incredible!


    You posted no reference to the original source, and no reference to the Dimond's book and page where they use the quote. It may be that your source is lying. When you make an unsubstantiated accusation like this, it is slander. It is obvious that you despise the Dimond's, control your emotions and do your homework before you go posting headlines.

    You are for sure slandering them in the title of your thread by calling them non-Catholic. It's ironic that you consider baptized Catholics (Dimonds and Novus Ordo Catholics) to be non-Catholics, but you consider unbaptized persons who have no explicit belief in Christ to be members of the Church, hence Catholics.


    Offline Lover of Truth

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    « Reply #8 on: March 26, 2014, 12:00:56 PM »
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  •  Allow me to start with the first really persuasive seeming quote, for it appears to speak directly to the question of Baptism of Desire. This quote, from St. John Chrysostom, appears in Section 6, on page 21 of Peter Dimond's "Outside the Catholic Church There is Absolutely No Salvation" (hereinafter to be referred to as "the Treatise"):

        For the Catechumen is a stranger to the Faithful… One has Christ for his King; the other sin and the devil; the food of one is Christ, of the other, that meat which decays and perishes… Since then we have nothing in common, in what, tell me, shall we hold communion?… Let us then give diligence that we may become citizens of the city above… for if it should come to pass (which God forbid!) that through the sudden arrival of death we depart hence uninitiated [unbaptized], though we have ten thousand virtues, our portion will be none other than hell, and the venomous worm, and fire unquenchable, and bonds indissoluble.

        How impressive that must be! Here is an ancient Church Father being quoted as saying that even a catechumen (unbaptized) with ten thousand virtues who dies as such must necessarily go to Hell. Does this not prove their claim, or at least show that St. John Chrysostom here has explicitly denied a belief in BOD?

        Ahh, but notice the ellipses. There's something missing.

        What is missing from such a selective quotation is the overall context in which the saint preaches on the sacrament of Baptism, and in the relevant paragraph herein he emphasizes the duty to pursue this course. Looking at the quote in context it becomes quite clear that there are those who become catechumens, but then remain thus long after they have otherwise qualified for water Baptism into the Church, and for no good reason. After all, less persecution would fall on the catechumen who, being such can easily renounce the Lord and then repent of it later, but all still before being baptized. Others may well still have had a life enslaved to some sin they were unwilling to give up, and at least respectful of the fact that they would have to give up their sin once baptized. And those who tarry thus are no better off in the Judgment than those who remain wholly in the world.

            Let us then who have been deemed worthy of such mysteries show forth a life worthy of the Gift, that is, a most excellent conversation; and do ye who have not yet been deemed worthy, do all things that you may be so, that we may be one body, that we may be brethren. For as long as we are divided in this respect, though a man be father, or son, or brother, or anything else, he is no true kinsman, as being cut off from that relationship which is from above. What advantages it to be bound by the ties of earthly family, if we are not joined by those of the spiritual? what profits nearness of kin on earth, if we are to be strangers in heaven? For the Catechumen is a stranger to the Faithful. He has not the same Head, he has not the same Father, he has not the same City, nor Food, nor Raiment, nor Table, nor House, but all are different; all are on earth to the former, to the latter all are in heaven. One has Christ for his King; the other, sin and the devil; the food of one is Christ, of the other, that meat which decays and perishes; one has worms' work for his raiment, the other the Lord of angels; heaven is the city of one, earth of the other. Since then we have nothing in common, in what, tell me, shall we hold communion? Did we remove the same pangs, did we come forth from the same womb? This has nothing to do with that most perfect relationship. Let us then give diligence that we may become citizens of the city which is above. How long do we tarry over the border, when we ought to reclaim our ancient country? We risk no common danger; for if it should come to pass, (which God forbid!) that through the sudden arrival of death we depart hence uninitiated, though we have ten thousand virtues, our portion will be no other than hell, and the venomous worm, and fire unquenchable, and bonds indissoluble. But God grant that none of those who hear these words experience that punishment!

        So there it is in no uncertain terms. It is not catechumens in general (all) whom he has spoken of as being necessarily damned if they have the misfortune to die as such, but only those who needlessly tarry as such, perhaps presuming on their close association with the Church, perhaps even as a benefactor thereof, as being sufficient for salvation. Indeed, down through the ages the Church has long had any number of "fellow-travelers" who have said kind things of the Church or been friendly and even (at times) helpful, and yet have always stopped short of actually converting and joining Her.

        But this distinction is carefully concealed in the quote as given in the Treatise. To paraphrase and adapt some words from a later part of this selfsame Treatise (pages 82-83), "the words 'How long do we tarry over the border, when we ought to reclaim our ancient country?' are removed by Peter Dimond and replaced with ellipses (…).

    Griff Ruby
    "I receive Thee, redeeming Prince of my soul. Out of love for Thee have I studied, watched through many nights, and exerted myself: Thee did I preach and teach. I have never said aught against Thee. Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views. If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world." Saint Thomas Aquinas the greatest Doctor of the Church

    Offline Lover of Truth

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    « Reply #9 on: March 26, 2014, 12:20:12 PM »
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  • In bold below is what Dimond leaves out in his book "There is absolutely no ,Salvation Outside the Church, that is the reference for the quotes:

    St. Gregory nαzιanz, 381 AD: "Of those who fail to be baptized some are utterly animal and bestial, according to whether they are foolish or wicked. This, I think, they must add to their other sins, that they have no reverence for this gift, but regard it as any other gift, to be accepted if given them, or neglected if not given them. Others know and honor the gift; but they delay, some out of carelessness, some because of insatiable desire. Still others are not able to receive it, perhaps because of infancy, or some perfectly involuntary circuмstance which prevents them from receiving the gift, even if they desire it… I think that the first will have to suffer punishment, not only for their other sins, but also for their contempt of Baptism. The second group will also be punished, but less because it was not through wickedness as much as through foolishness that they brought about their own failure. The third group will be neither glorified nor punished by the just Judge; for though unsealed they are not wicked. They are not so much wrong-doers as persons who have suffered a loss… If you were able to judge a man who intends to commit murder, solely by his intention and without any act of murder, then you could likewise reckon as baptized one who desired Baptism, without having received Baptism. But, since you cannot do the former, how can you do the latter? I cannot see it. If you prefer, we will put it like this: if in your opinion desire has equal power with actual Baptism, then make the same judgment in regard to glory. You will then be satisfied to long for glory, as if that longing itself were glory. Do you suffer any damage by not attaining the actual glory, as long as you have a desire for it?"
    "I receive Thee, redeeming Prince of my soul. Out of love for Thee have I studied, watched through many nights, and exerted myself: Thee did I preach and teach. I have never said aught against Thee. Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views. If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world." Saint Thomas Aquinas the greatest Doctor of the Church

    Offline Lover of Truth

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    « Reply #10 on: March 26, 2014, 12:30:00 PM »
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  • Again they leave out the following in BOLD:

    Pope Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus, 1336, ex cathedra, on the souls of the just receiving the Beatific Vision: "By this edict which will prevail forever, with apostolic authority we declare: That according to the common arrangement of God, souls of all the saints who departed from this world before the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ; also of the holy apostles, the martyrs, the confessors, virgins, and the other faithful who died after the holy baptism of Christ had been received by them, in whom there was nothing to be purged, when they departed, nor will there be when they shall depart also in the future; or if then there was or there will be anything to be purged in these when after their death they have been purged; and the souls of children departing before the use of free will, reborn and baptized in that same baptism of Christ, when all have been baptized, immediately after their death and that aforesaid purgation in those who were in need of a purgation of this kind, even before the resumption of their bodies and the general judgment after the ascension of our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, into heaven, have been, are, and will be in heaven, in the kingdom of heaven and in celestial paradise with Christ, united in the company of the holy angels, and after the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ have seen and see the divine essence by intuitive vision, and even face to face, with no mediating creature..."

    What this shows here is that this is not a reference to being after their own personal baptism in water, but rather after the Law of Baptism had been received "by them" (the Church) and under its auspices, for the Pope compares them not to those who are unbaptized (after the Law of Baptism, i. e. the New Covenant) but to those who died before the Law of Baptism (before the passion of Christ, i. e. the Old Covenant). The infants (mentioned later in the quote) are of course a different and separate case, for indeed they must be baptized in water to attain the Beatific Vision, and hence specifically spoken here as having been "baptized in that same baptism of Christ," for in their case the only way to comply to the Law of Baptism would be baptism in water. Indeed the omission of any mention of their own being baptized (as there is for the infants) is clearly and consciously meant to allow that some small number of them had not been baptized in water though they are in no way any less blessed under the Law of Baptism.

    Griff Ruby
    "I receive Thee, redeeming Prince of my soul. Out of love for Thee have I studied, watched through many nights, and exerted myself: Thee did I preach and teach. I have never said aught against Thee. Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views. If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world." Saint Thomas Aquinas the greatest Doctor of the Church


    Offline Lover of Truth

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    « Reply #11 on: March 26, 2014, 12:44:17 PM »
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  • More left out by Dimond in bold:

    Fr. Michael Müller, C.SS.R., The Catholic Dogma, pp. 217-218, 1888: "The Rev. N. Russo and S. O. seem not to see the difference between saying: Inculpable ignorance will not save a man, and inculpable ignorance will not damn a man. Each assertion is correct, and yet there is a great difference between the two. It will be an act of charity to enlighten them on the point in question.

       Inculpable or invincible ignorance has never been and will never be a means of salvation. To be saved, it is necessary to be justified, or to be in the state of sanctifying grace. In order to obtain sanctifying grace, it is necessary to have the proper dispositions for justification; that is, true divine faith in at least the necessary truths of salvation, confident hope in the divine Saviour, sincere sorrow for sin, together with the firm purpose of doing all that God has commanded, etc. Now, these supernatural acts of faith, hope, charity, contrition, etc., which prepare the soul for receiving sanctifying grace, can never be supplied by invincible ignorance; and if invincible ignorance cannot supply the preparation for receiving sanctifying grace, much less can it bestow sanctifying grace itself. 'Invincible ignorance,' says St. Thomas Aquinas, 'is a punishment for sin.' (De Infid. q. x., art. 1.) It is, then, a curse, but not a blessing or a means of salvation.

       But if we say that inculpable ignorance cannot save a man, we thereby do not say that invincible ignorance damns a man. Far from it. To say, invincible ignorance is no means of salvation, is one thing; and to say, invincible ignorance is the cause of damnation is another. To maintain the latter, would be wrong, for inculpable ignorance of the fundamental principles of faith excuses a heathen from the sin of infidelity, and a Protestant from the sin of heresy; because such invincible ignorance, being only a simple involuntary privation, is no sin.

       Hence Pius IX. said 'that, were a man to be invincibly ignorant of the true religion, such invincible ignorance would not be sinful before God; that, if such a person should observe the precepts of the Natural Law and do the will of God to the best of his knowledge, God, in his infinite mercy, may enlighten him so as to obtain eternal life; for, the Lord, who knows the heart and thoughts of man will, in his infinite goodness, not suffer any one to be lost forever without his own fault.'

       Almighty God, who is just and condemns no one without his fault, puts, therefore, such souls as are in invincible ignorance of the truths of salvation, in the way of salvation, either by natural or supernatural means.


    Can anyone assert with a strait face that the Dimonds do not take quotes out of context in order to convince their readers to think as they do?  They quote people that teach the opposite of what they teach but take out the parts that contradicts their heresies.  

    "I receive Thee, redeeming Prince of my soul. Out of love for Thee have I studied, watched through many nights, and exerted myself: Thee did I preach and teach. I have never said aught against Thee. Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views. If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world." Saint Thomas Aquinas the greatest Doctor of the Church

    Offline Lover of Truth

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    « Reply #12 on: March 26, 2014, 12:48:01 PM »
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  • What they are doing is maliciously misrepresenting the actual content of the magisterial declarations. Even where the quotes are correctly given (but as I have shown in each of my installments, quite a number of quotes have in fact been selectively mutilated), they are surrounded with various "spin" put on them with the clear and express intent to inject into them meanings they plainly do not themselves contain. For example, it is not hard to find declarations to the effect that baptism is necessary for salvation. But no amount of any such declarations will ever amount to the altogether different and larger claim that the Sacrament of Baptism is always necessary for salvation in every individual case, no matter how unusual or exceptional. In doing this, the words (duly bracketed, so at least if the reader looks them up he won't expect the words to be in the original docuмent itself since they are not) "[the Sacrament]" are inserted into the Treatise's quote of the Council of Trent, Session 7, Canon 5, no less that 13 times! ("If anyone says that baptism [the Sacrament] is optional, that is, not necessary for salvation (John. 3:5): let him be anathema.") Only 4 times is this particular canon of the Council of Trent allowed to speak for itself without that openly deceptive insertion: "If anyone says that baptism is optional, that is, not necessary for salvation (John. 3:5): let him be anathema."
    "I receive Thee, redeeming Prince of my soul. Out of love for Thee have I studied, watched through many nights, and exerted myself: Thee did I preach and teach. I have never said aught against Thee. Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views. If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world." Saint Thomas Aquinas the greatest Doctor of the Church

    Offline Lover of Truth

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    « Reply #13 on: March 26, 2014, 12:53:14 PM »
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  • Of the Doctors of the Church, no one (at least of anything like a Catholic frame of mind) could ever deny that St. Thomas Aquinas is the greatest, even the "Angelic Doctor," a title given to no other. And needless to say, he too has weighed in at some length upon the Baptism of Blood and Desire issue. As I have done before, I prefer to present his comments at some length, so that one may see the most crucial quotes in their true context, and understand them as much as possible, in the sense he originally intended. Then I will explore the manner in which tiny portions are quoted or misquoted in the Treatise so as to create a false impression.

        For those not familiar with the Summa Theologica, I should tell you that it takes a format somewhat strange to modern readers, but once one sees what the format actually is, one sees the same format being repeated in cookie-cutter-like fashion in the Sainted Doctor's entire Summa. In writing the Summa, it was his goal to make even the most subtle and abstruse doctrinal concepts accessible to the ordinary reader. The format, once one get's used to it, is actually quite nice and makes for interesting reading regarding whatever question is being addressed.

        Each numbered "Article" starts with a Title, framed in the manner of a question (much like found in many catechisms today such as the Baltimore Catechism, and also the Radio Replies series). Then there comes a numbered series of "Objections" to the Catholic position (usually about three but sometimes more and rarely, fewer). These objections may be culled from casual questions heard in the street, the writings of heretics or various other heterodox or unorthodox persons, or even from rival schools of theological thought or saintly writings that have been decided against. Some may even have been posited by himself in a hypothetical fashion, e. g. "What if somebody were to ask…," or "I suppose somebody could say..." After the objections comes an "On the contrary" in which the standard Church position, culled from the Fathers, the Popes and Councils, or catechisms, or other contemporary sources of doctrinal teaching is then given. This is the Church's standard "position" regarding the question, as was commonly given in his own day. Following that St. Thomas adds his own further commentary and enlargement of the Church's position with his "I answer that" in which he discusses the question more thoroughly but still in general terms. At the last comes his "Replies to Objections" in which he directly addresses the various objections, item by item, in a numbered series in which the numbers match the number assigned to the objection being responded to.

        There are three such articles which directly address the issues pertinent to BOB and BOD, plus several others which also have some bearing on this issue. I start here with the main three articles, one at a time, in full:

    St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica III, Q. 66: Article 11. Whether three kinds of Baptism are fittingly described--viz. Baptism of Water, of Blood, and of the Spirit?
    Objection 1. It seems that the three kinds of Baptism are not fittingly described as Baptism of Water, of Blood, and of the Spirit, i.e. of the Holy Ghost. Because the Apostle says (Ephesians 4:5): "One Faith, one Baptism." Now there is but one Faith. Therefore there should not be three Baptisms.

    Objection 2. Further, Baptism is a sacrament, as we have made clear above (Question 65, Article 1). Now none but Baptism of Water is a sacrament. Therefore we should not reckon two other Baptisms.

    Objection 3. Further, Damascene (De Fide Orth. iv) distinguishes several other kinds of Baptism. Therefore we should admit more than three Baptisms.

    On the contrary, on Hebrews 6:2, "Of the doctrine of Baptisms," the gloss says: "He uses the plural, because there is Baptism of Water, of Repentance, and of Blood."

    I answer that, As stated above (Question 62, Article 5), Baptism of Water has its efficacy from Christ's Passion, to which a man is conformed by Baptism, and also from the Holy Ghost, as first cause. Now although the effect depends on the first cause, the cause far surpasses the effect, nor does it depend on it. Consequently, a man may, without Baptism of Water, receive the sacramental effect from Christ's Passion, in so far as he is conformed to Christ by suffering for Him. Hence it is written (Apocalypse 7:14): "These are they who are come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb." In like manner a man receives the effect of Baptism by the power of the Holy Ghost, not only without Baptism of Water, but also without Baptism of Blood: forasmuch as his heart is moved by the Holy Ghost to believe in and love God and to repent of his sins: wherefore this is also called Baptism of Repentance. Of this it is written (Isaiah 4:4): "If the Lord shall wash away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall wash away the blood of Jerusalem out of the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning." Thus, therefore, each of these other Baptisms is called Baptism, forasmuch as it takes the place of Baptism. Wherefore Augustine says (De Unico Baptismo Parvulorum iv): "The Blessed Cyprian argues with considerable reason from the thief to whom, though not baptized, it was said: 'Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise' that suffering can take the place of Baptism. Having weighed this in my mind again and again, I perceive that not only can suffering for the name of Christ supply for what was lacking in Baptism, but even faith and conversion of heart, if perchance on account of the stress of the times the celebration of the mystery of Baptism is not practicable."

    Reply to Objection 1. The other two Baptisms are included in the Baptism of Water, which derives its efficacy, both from Christ's Passion and from the Holy Ghost. Consequently for this reason the unity of Baptism is not destroyed.

    Reply to Objection 2. As stated above (Question 60, Article 1), a sacrament is a kind of sign. The other two, however, are like the Baptism of Water, not, indeed, in the nature of sign, but in the baptismal effect. Consequently they are not sacraments.

    Reply to Objection 3. Damascene enumerates certain figurative Baptisms. For instance, "the Deluge" was a figure of our Baptism, in respect of the salvation of the faithful in the Church; since then "a few . . . souls were saved in the ark [Vulgate: 'by water'," according to 1 Peter 3:20. He also mentions "the crossing of the Red Sea": which was a figure of our Baptism, in respect of our delivery from the bondage of sin; hence the Apostle says (1 Corinthians 10:2) that "all . . . were baptized in the cloud and in the sea." And again he mentions "the various washings which were customary under the Old Law," which were figures of our Baptism, as to the cleansing from sins: also "the Baptism of John," which prepared the way for our Baptism.

        I cannot imagine a more clear and explicit description of BOB and BOD exactly as the Church has always taught, but nowhere quite so clear as here. And this is in the words of probably the greatest Doctor of the Church. One should think that this alone should be the end of any denials of BOB and BOD, and the writer of the Treatise to be at quite a loss to deal with this. As it is, his response is quite disingenuous, actually going so far as to try to slur the good name and orthodoxy of the Sainted Doctor.

        Latching on to nothing more than one tiny extract from the above, he attempts to "prove" that St. Thomas Aquinas taught the absurdity of "three baptisms," as if he were somehow unaware that there is only "one faith, one baptism." See here with what brutality he tortures the words of the Angelic Doctor:

    In Summa Theologica III, Q. 66, Art. 11, St. Thomas tries to explain his belief in baptism of desire and blood. He tries to explain how there can be "three baptisms" (water, blood and desire) when St. Paul declares in Ephesians 4:5 that there is only one. He says:
    "The other two Baptisms are included in the Baptism of Water, which derives its efficacy, both from Christ's Passion and of the Holy Ghost."
    With all due respect to St. Thomas, this is a feeble attempt to answer the objection as to how there can be "three baptisms" when God reveals that there is only one. It is feeble because St. Thomas says that the other two baptisms, desire and blood, are included in the baptism of water; but this is false.
        But having now seen the quote in full, can you not see that the whole absurd notion of "three baptisms" is introduced, not by St. Thomas himself, but by his Objector(s), the first two of which are raising exactly the same false claim that Fr. Feeney and Peter Dimond and others like them today, who deny BOB and BOD, always raise. In no way is the Angelic Doctor endorsing here their claim to BOB and BOD making for "three baptisms" as though the well-known fact of there being only "one faith, one baptism" would refute BOB and BOD. In only two places (once in his "I answer that" and once in his "Reply to objection 1") does St. Thomas use the word "baptisms" with the plural with regards to directly addressing the absurd claim of the objector who so used the plural. In a third place (in his "Reply to objection 2") he deliberately omits the word but merely says "The other two" but omitting the word "baptisms" to avoid repeating such a sacrilege a third time. It is exactly as if he meant to put quotation marks around the phrase (but in the 1200's writers didn't do this sort of thing) exactly as Fr. François Laisney of the SSPX does in his article about the three errors of those who follow Fr. Feeney. Properly, if this had been a common practice in his day, the sentence quoted in the Treatise should have read, "The other two 'Baptisms' are included in the Baptism of Water…"

        More importantly, St. Thomas has here acknowledged the Scripture regarding "one faith, one baptism" and in no way repudiated it, even while responding to the objection that introduced this scriptural passage. So it is useless to speculate "what St. Thomas would have said if he had lived until the dogmatic Council of Vienne in 1311" since he clearly showed here no need to wait until that Council to be aware of that dogmatic fact. He would have maintained exactly the same teaching, and with exactly the same wording. Hence it is possible (and certain in the next section) that he would only have employed the plural word "baptisms" as a shorthand for "modes of receiving the one baptism." And the plural of baptism could also refer to separate baptismal events, as for example "We had two baptisms today. We baptized Jim and then we baptized Suzan." (And that's if he actually did say "baptisms" since, for all I know, it is even possible that the translation may have been somewhat sloppy here.) The third objection regarding multiple baptisms (namely of John, or of the Flood, etc.) has no bearing on the question of BOB and BOD, but rather shows an opposite error also possible in this area, together with the Saint's response to it. I included it here only for completeness.

        And what problem has the author of the Treatise with St. Thomas' statement to the effect that the "other two" are included in the Baptism of Water? He continues, "One who receives baptism of water doesn't receive baptism of desire and baptism of blood, even according to the baptism of desire advocates. Therefore, it is false to say, as St. Thomas does, that the other two baptisms are included in the baptism of water; they most certainly are not." Well excuse me, but there is not a single "baptism of desire advocate" who would dare to deny what St. Thomas has taught here, for it is in fact quite obvious that the "other two" most certainly are included in the Baptism of Water. How so? Desire is included in that there must be a desire to be baptized on the part of the person (or of their parents and godparents on their behalf in the case of infants) to be baptized, else the Church will not baptize the person. So right there is the desire. And the Sacrament of Baptism derives its efficacy from the merits of the Passion of Christ, thus uniting the baptismal candidate with our Lord's own martyrdom.

    "I receive Thee, redeeming Prince of my soul. Out of love for Thee have I studied, watched through many nights, and exerted myself: Thee did I preach and teach. I have never said aught against Thee. Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views. If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world." Saint Thomas Aquinas the greatest Doctor of the Church

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    « Reply #14 on: March 26, 2014, 12:54:45 PM »
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  •  We are then (in the Treatise) treated to not just one but two repetitions of Peter Dimond's distortion of Pope Paul III, The Council of Trent, Can. 5 on the Sacrament of Baptism in which he inserted the words, "[the Sacrament]" so as to distort the plain meaning of the text (as I explained in the previous installment), as if that is supposed to refute St. Augustine's words (quoted by St. Thomas as an "On the contrary" in Article 2 of Q. 68) to the effect that it seems that some must have been saved without the sacrament itself. But the Sainted Doctor of the Church is by no means through discussing BOB and BOD:

    St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica III, Q. 66: Article 12. Whether the Baptism of Blood is the most excellent of these?
    Objection 1. It seems that the Baptism of Blood is not the most excellent of these three. For the Baptism of Water impresses a character; which the Baptism of Blood cannot do. Therefore the Baptism of Blood is not more excellent than the Baptism of Water.

    Objection 2. Further, the Baptism of Blood is of no avail without the Baptism of the Spirit, which is by charity; for it is written (1 Corinthians 13:3): "If I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." But the Baptism of the Spirit avails without the Baptism of Blood; for not only the martyrs are saved. Therefore the Baptism of Blood is not the most excellent.

    Objection 3. Further, just as the Baptism of Water derives its efficacy from Christ's Passion, to which, as stated above (Article 11), the Baptism of Blood corresponds, so Christ's Passion derives its efficacy from the Holy Ghost, according to Hebrews 9:14: "The Blood of Christ, Who by the Holy Ghost offered Himself unspotted unto God, shall cleanse our conscience from dead works," etc. Therefore the Baptism of the Spirit is more excellent than the Baptism of Blood. Therefore the Baptism of Blood is not the most excellent.

    On the contrary, Augustine (Ad Fortunatum) speaking of the comparison between Baptisms says: "The newly baptized confesses his faith in the presence of the priest: the martyr in the presence of the persecutor. The former is sprinkled with water, after he has confessed; the latter with his blood. The former receives the Holy Ghost by the imposition of the bishop's hands; the latter is made the temple of the Holy Ghost."

    I answer that, As stated above (Article 11), the shedding of blood for Christ's sake, and the inward operation of the Holy Ghost, are called baptisms, in so far as they produce the effect of the Baptism of Water. Now the Baptism of Water derives its efficacy from Christ's Passion and from the Holy Ghost, as already stated (11). These two causes act in each of these three Baptisms; most excellently, however, in the Baptism of Blood. For Christ's Passion acts in the Baptism of Water by way of a figurative representation; in the Baptism of the Spirit or of Repentance, by way of desire. but in the Baptism of Blood, by way of imitating the (Divine) act. In like manner, too, the power of the Holy Ghost acts in the Baptism of Water through a certain hidden power. in the Baptism of Repentance by moving the heart; but in the Baptism of Blood by the highest degree of fervor of dilection and love, according to John 15:13: "Greater love than this no man hath that a man lay down his life for his friends."

    Reply to Objection 1. A character is both reality and a sacrament. And we do not say that the Baptism of Blood is more excellent, considering the nature of a sacrament; but considering the sacramental effect.

    Reply to Objection 2. The shedding of blood is not in the nature of a Baptism if it be without charity. Hence it is clear that the Baptism of Blood includes the Baptism of the Spirit, but not conversely. And from this it is proved to be more perfect.

    Reply to Objection 3. The Baptism owes its pre-eminence not only to Christ's Passion, but also to the Holy Ghost, as stated above.

        In that article St. Thomas makes the case that BOB (specifically) is actually of greater merit than Baptism in Water, despite the fact that it does not impart the sacramental character. Notice that BOB was so solidly founded that it wasn't even a question as to whether it exists, but only whether the merits of BOB were superior to the merits of either BOD or Baptism of Water. Perhaps if St. Thomas were writing this today, with Fr. Feeney's teachings known, he would have to have added an "Objection 4. Baptism of Blood would be of no avail whatsoever because 'unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'" Somehow I just can't see his hypothetical "Reply to Objection 4.," being "Oh my God! I never thought of that. Maybe there is no Baptism of Blood or of Desire."
    "I receive Thee, redeeming Prince of my soul. Out of love for Thee have I studied, watched through many nights, and exerted myself: Thee did I preach and teach. I have never said aught against Thee. Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views. If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world." Saint Thomas Aquinas the greatest Doctor of the Church