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The Five Solae (Catholic Style)
In discussing Sola Fide with Protestants, I have seen reference to the following quote (though I cannot source it directly to Martin Luther). The point of this post is that when you nuance the solae appropriately with scripture and tradition, it becomes the Catholic Magisterial position. The half-truths of Protestantism become the full-truths of Catholicism:1. Sola Fide by faith aloneThis is a rejection works salvation that many accuse Catholics of believing.Protestant Proof Text:Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Rom 3:27-28).Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:1)For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).Rather, faith alone saves, but a faith that saves is never alone (for it is formed by works of love).Catholic Scriptural Nuances:And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Cor 13:2).For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love (Gal 5:6).What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead. (Jas 2:14; 26).Sacred Tradition:Just as faith without works is dead, so the reverse is also true. Therefore let integrity in faith shine forth along with the glories of upright living. (Cyril of Alexandria AD444, Letters 55.2)Each thing works through its form. Now faith works through charity. Therefore the love of charity is the form of faith. (Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae II-II.4.3).James is talking here about faith after baptism, for a faith without works can only make us more guilty of sin, seeing that we have received a talent but are not using it profitably. The Lord himself demonstrated the need for works after baptism by going into the desert to do battle with the devil. (Mt 4:1-11) Paul also exhorts those who have entered into the mystery of faith to strive to enter his peace, (Heb 4:4) as if faith by itself were not enough. Holiness of life is also necessary, and for that great efforts are required. (Oecumenius, Commentary on James).Magisterial Teaching:The gift of faith remains in one who has not sinned against it. But faith apart from works is dead: when it is deprived of hope and love, faith does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living member of his Body (CCC 1815).But whereas the Apostle saith, that man isjustified by faith,andfreely,those words are to be understood in that sense which the perpetual consent of the Catholic Church hath held and expressed; to wit, that we be therefore said to bejustified by faith, because faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation, and the root of all justification;without which it is impossible to please God, and to come unto the fellowship of His sons; but we are therefore said to be justifiedfreely, because none of those things which precede justification, whether faith or works, merit the grace itself of justification. For,if it be a grace, then is it no more by works, otherwise,as the same Apostle saith,grace is no more grace. (Council of Trent VI.8.).2. Sola Scriptura by Scripture aloneThis is a rejection of the infallible authority of the Church in teaching the meaning of scripture.Protestant Proof Text:All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17)Rather, scripture alone is God-breathed, but a Scripture that is God breathed is never alone (for it is complemented by Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium).Catholic Scriptural Nuances:So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter (2 Thes 2:15)But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you (John 14:26).if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in Gods household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. (1 Tim 3:15).So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. (2 Peter 3:15-16)So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, Do you understand what you are reading? And he said, How can I, unless some one guides me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. (Acts 8:30-31).Sacred Tradition:Concerning the teachings of the Church, whether publicly proclaimed (kerygma) or reserved to members of the household of the faith (dogmata), we have received some from written sources, while others have been given to us secretly, through apostolic tradition. Both sources have equal force in true religion. No one would deny either source no one, at any rate, who is even slightly familiar with the ordinances of the Church. If we attacked unwritten customs, claiming them to be of little importance, we would fatally mutilate the Gospel, no matter what our intentions or rather, we would reduce the Gospel teachings to the bare words (Basil of Caeserea, AD375 On the Holy Spirit 66)Magisterial Teaching:It is clear, therefore, that sacred tradition, Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church, in accord with Gods most wise design, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others, and that all together and each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit contribute effectively to the salvation of souls (Dei Verbum II.10).3. Sola Gratia by Grace AloneThis is a rejection of the Catholic view that we participate with Gods grace through a synergy, or cooperation.Protestant Proof Text:For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of Godnot because of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9)Rather, grace alone saves, but the grace that save is never alone (for it initiates cooperation and transformation in the life of the sinner).Catholic Scriptural Nuances:As Gods co-workers we urge you not to receive Gods grace in vain. (2 Cor 6:1)Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Phil 2:12-13).Sacred Tradition:We should not suppose, because he said, For it is God that works in you both the willing and the doing, that he has taken away free will. For if that were so he would not have said above Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For when he bids them work, it is agreed that they have free will. But they are to work with fear and trembling so that they will not, by attributing the good working to themselves, be elated by the good works as though they were their own (Augustine, AD 430 On Grace and Free Will 21)Magisterial Teaching:The preparation of man for the reception of grace is already a work of grace. This latter is needed to arouse and sustain our collaboration in justification through faith, and in sanctification through charity. God brings to completion in us what he has begun, since he who completes his work by cooperating with our will began by working so that we might will it: Indeed we also work, but we are only collaborating with God who works, for his mercy has gone before us. It has gone before us so that we may be healed, and follows us so that once healed, we may be given life; it goes before us so that we may be called, and follows us so that we may be glorified; it goes before us so that we may live devoutly, and follows us so that we may always live with God: for without him we can do nothing' (CCC 2001).[This synod] furthermore declares, that, in adults, the beginning of the said Justification is to be taken from the preventinggrace of God, through Jesus Christ, that is to say, from His vocation, by which, without the existence of any merits on their parts, they are called; that so they, who through sins were turned away from God, may, through His quickening and assisting grace, be disposed to turn themselves unto their own justification, by freely assenting to, and co-operating with that said grace: so that, while God toucheth the heart of man by the illumination of the Holy Ghost, neither is man himself utterly inactive while he receives that inspiration, inasmuch as he is also able to reject it; yet is he not able, without the Grace of God, by his own free will to move himself unto justice in His sight. Whence, when it is said in the sacred writings:Turn ye unto me, and I will turn unto you,we are admonished of our liberty: when we answer;Turn thou us, O Lord, unto thee, and we shall be turned, we confess that we are prevented by the grace of God. (Council of Trent VI.5).4. Solus Christus through Christ aloneThis is a rejection of the Catholic mediation of the priests, saints, and the Church.Protestant Proof Text:For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time. (1 Tim 2:5-6).Rather, Christ alone is the sole mediator between God and man, but Christ is never alone (for he, who is consubstantial with the Father and the Holy Spirit, draws us sacramentally into his one body, one priesthood, and one mediation).Catholic Scriptural Nuance:I and the Father are one (John 10:30).But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27).You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5).For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one bodyJews or Greeks, slaves or freeand all were made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Cor 12:12-13).Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave meto be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God,so that the Gentiles might become an offeringacceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:15-16).Sacred Tradition:Wherever the bishop appears, let the congregation be there also. Just as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.(Ignatius of Antioch AD107, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, 8 )Magisterial Teaching:Christ, the one Mediator, established and continually sustains here on earth His holy Church, the community of faith, hope and charity, as an entity with visible delineation through which He communicated truth and grace to all (Lumen Gentium 8 ).Marys function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. But the Blessed Virgins salutary influence on men ... flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends entirely on it, and draws all its power from it. No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways among his creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source. (CCC, Paragraph 970)5. Soli Deo Gloria to the Glory of God alone This is a rejection of the veneration of the saints.Protestant Proof Text:To him be glory forever. Amen (Rom 11:36)I am theLord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. (Isa 42:8).Rather, glory to God alone, but the Glory of God is never alone (as it is super-abundant, sanctifying, and ultimately glorifying the saints who are duly venerated to His Glory).Catholic Scriptural Nuance:The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God (Rom 8:17-19).I do notask for these only, but also for thosewho will believe in me through their word,that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, thatthey also may be inus, so that the worldmay believe that you have sent me.The glory that you have given meI have given to them,that they may be one even as we are one,I in them and you in me,that they may become perfectly one,so that the world may know that you sent me andloved them even asyou loved me (Jn 17:20-23).Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7).My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-49)Sacred Tradition:To the saints honour must be paid as friends of Christ, as sons and heirs of God: in the words of John the theologian and evangelist, As many as received Him, to them gave He power to became sons of God. So that they are no longer servants, but sons: and if sons, also heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ: and the Lord in the holy Gospels says to His apostles, Ye are My friends (John of Damascus, ~AD740 Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book IV, Concerning the honour due to the Saints and their remains. Ch XV)Magisterial Teaching:This Sacred Council accepts with great devotion this venerable faith of our ancestors regarding this vital fellowship with our brethren who are in heavenly glory or who having died are still being purified; and it proposes again the decrees of the Second Council of Nicea, the Council of Florence and the Council of Trent For all of us, who are sons of God and constitute one family in Christ, as long as we remain in communion with one another in mutual charity and in one praise of the most holy Trinity, are corresponding with the intimate vocation of the Church and partaking in foretaste the liturgy of consummate glory (Lumen Gentium VII.51).
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