The Last Things

(1) In the present order of salvation, death is a punishment for sin.

(2) All human beings subject to original sin are subject to the law
of death.
(3) The souls of the just which in the moment of death are free
from all guilt of sin and punishment for sin, enter into Heaven.
(4) The bliss of Heaven lasts for all eternity.
(5) The degree of perfection of the Beatific Vision granted to the
just is proportioned to each one's merit.
(6) The souls of those who die in the condition of personal griev-
ous sin enter Hell.
(7) The punishment of Hell lasts for all eternity.
(8) The souls of the just which, in the moment of death, are bur-
dened with venial sins or temporal punishment due to sins,
enter purgatory.
(9) At the end of the world Christ will come again in glory to pro-
nounce judgement.
(10) All the dead will rise again on the last day with their bodies.
(11) The dead will rise again with the same bodies as they had on
earth.
(12) Christ, on His second coming, will judge all men.
————————————————————————
Usual Censures For Errors
The following from Ludwig Ott: Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma
(1) Heresy
(2) Proximate to Heresy
(3) Suspect of Heresy
(4) Erroneous Proposition
(5) False Proposition
(6) Temerarious Proposition
(7) Offensive To Pius Ears
(8) Proposition Badly Expressed
(9) Captious Propositions (Intentional Ambiguity)
(10) Proposition Exciting Scandal

32 1
 Levels of Certainty in Theology: Theological Notes
The breakdown that follows draws heavily on the work of Fr. Sisto Cartechini, S.J., adapted from Extreme Unction/Anointing of Sick
sspx.org/en/news-events/news/what-are-theological-notes-28450
(1) Dogmas: The highest degree of certainty. They are of divine faith. A (1) Extreme Unction or anointing of the sick is a
contrary proposition is heresy against divine faith.
(2) Doctrines of Ecclesiastical Faith: Not been directly revealed by God, true and proper Sacrament instituted by Jesus
but which are closely linked to Divine revelation and have been infallibly
proposed by the Church (de fide ecclesiastica). A Contrary proposition is heresy Christ.
against ecclesiastical faith.
(3) Truths of Divine Faith: Revealed by God but not formally promulgated (2) The remote matter of Extreme Unction is oil.
as such by the Church in a special act. A contrary proposition is an error in
Faith. (3) The form consists in the prayer of the priest for
(4) Teachings Proximate to the Faith (sententia fidei proxima, are generally
held by theologians as truths of Revelation, but have not been formally the sick person which accomplishes the anoint-
promulgated as such by the Church. A contrary proposition is proximate to error.
(5) Promoting Heresy: Certain propositions might not be directly in contra- ing.
diction with a dogma but lead to a practical denial or abandonment of it. This
note applies more to a practical teaching than a theoretical one. (4) Extreme Unction gives the sick person sanctify-
(6) Theologically Certain Teachings (sententia fidei pertinens, i.e., theologice
certa): Church has not yet pronounced, but are logical conclusions drawn ing grace in order to arouse and strengthen him.
from a proposition that is Divinely revealed and another which is historically
certain. certain. A contrary proposition is an errors in theology. (5) Extreme Unction effects the remission of griev-
(7) Catholic Doctrine: A truth taught by Ordinary Magisterium, but not
intimately connected with revelation. A Contrary proposition is temerarious. ous sins still remaining and of venial sins.
(8) Common teachings (sententia communis) are truths unanimously held
by theologians, derived from revealed truth, but by more than one step of (6) Extreme Unction sometimes effects the restora-
reasoning. A Contrary proposition is temerarious.
(9)Teachings that are Safe: been affirmed in doctrinal decrees of Roman tion of bodily health, if this be of spiritual ad-
Congregations. A Contrary proposition is unsafe, or temerarious. vantage.
(10) Teachings that are “Very Common: the best founded theological opin-
ions on a disputed subject. There is no censure attached to contradiction.
(11) Less Certain Opinions: Classed as probable, more probable, or well-
(7) Only Bishops and priests can validly administer
founded (sententia probabilis, probabilior, bene fundata). Pious opinions (sententia Extreme Unction.
pia) are considered in agreement with the consciousness of the Faith in the
Church. The lowest degree of certainty is opinio tolerata, weakly founded but
tolerated by the Church. There are no censures attached to contradicting such
(8) Extreme Unction can be received only by the
opinions. Faithful who are seriously ill.
——————————————————————————————-
The following from Ludwig Ott: Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma
(1) Immediately Revealed Truths (fides divina & fides catholica)
(2) Catholic Truths (fides ecclesiastica)
(3) Teaching proximate to faith
(4) Teaching pertaining to the faith
(5) Common Teaching
(6) Theological Opinions of lesser grades of certainty
The remaining sections of this booklet are adapted from
theworkofgod.org/dogmas.htm

2 31
 Holy Orders The Unity & Trinity of God
(1) Holy Order is a true and proper Sacrament which
was instituted by Jesus Christ. (1) God, our Creator and Lord, can be known with
certainty, by the natural light of reason from cre-
(2) The consecration of priests is a Sacrament. ated things.
(3) Bishops are superior to priests. (2) God's existence is not merely an object of ration-
al knowledge, but also an object of supernatural
(4) The Sacrament of Order confers sanctifying faith.
grace on the recipient.
(3) God's Nature is incomprehensible to men.
(5) The Sacrament of Order imprints a character on
(4) The blessed in Heaven possess an immediate in-
the recipient. tuitive knowledge of the Divine Essence.
(6) The Sacrament of Order confers a permanent (5) The immediate vision of God transcends the nat-
spiritual power on the recipient. ural power of cognition of the human soul, and
is therefore supernatural.
(7) The ordinary dispenser of all grades of Order,
both the sacramental and the non-sacramental, is (6) The soul, for the immediate vision of God, re-
quires the light of glory.
the validly consecrated Bishop alone.
(7) God's Essence is also incomprehensible to the
blessed in Heaven.
Matrimony (8) The divine attributes are really identical among
themselves and with the Divine Essence.
(1) Marriage is a true and proper Sacrament institut-
ed by God. (9) God is absolutely perfect.

(2) From the sacramental contract of marriage (10) God is actually infinite in every perfection.
emerges the Bond of Marriage, which binds both (11) God is absolutely simple.
marriage partners to a lifelong indivisible com-
munity of life. (12) There is only one God.

(3) The Sacrament of Matrimony bestows sanctify-

ing grace on the contracting parties.
30 3
 The Unity & Trinity of God Penance & Confession

(13) The one God is, in the ontological sense, the true (16) The principal effect of the Sacrament of Penance
God. is the reconciliation of the sinner with God.
(14) God possesses an infinite power of cognition. (17) The Sacrament of Penance is necessary for salva-
(15) God is absolute veracity. tion to those who, after Baptism, fall into griev-
ous sin.
(16) God is absolutely faithful.
(18) The sole possessors of the Church's Power of
(17) God is absolute ontological goodness in Himself Absolution are the bishops and priests.
and in relation to others.
(19) Absolution given by deacons, clerics or lower
(18) God is absolute moral goodness or holiness. rank, and laymen is not Sacramental Absolution.
(19) God is absolute benignity. (20) The Sacrament of Penance can be received by
(20) God is absolutely immutable. any baptised person who, after Baptism, has com-
mitted a grievous or a venial sin.
(21) God is eternal.
(21) The Church possesses the power to grant Indul-
(22) God is immense or absolutely immeasurable.
gences.
(23) God is everywhere present in created space.
(22) The use of Indulgences is useful and salutary to
(24) God's knowledge is infinite. the Faithful.
(25) God's knowledge is purely and simply actual.
(26) God's knowledge is subsistent.
(27) God knows all that is merely possible by the
knowledge of simple intelligence.
(28) God knows all real things in the past, the present
and the future.
4 29
 Penance & Confession The Unity & Trinity of God

(29) By the knowledge of vision, God also foresees

(9) By virtue of Divine ordinance, all grievous sins the future free acts of rational creatures with in-
according to kind and number, as well as those fallible certainty.
circumstances which alter their nature, are sub-
ject to the obligation of confession. (30) God's Divine Will is infinite.

(10) The confession of venial sins is not necessary (31) God loves Himself of necessity, but loves and
but is permitted and is useful. wills the creation of extra-divine things, on the
other hand, with freedom.
(11) All temporal punishments for sin are not always
remitted by God with the guilt of sin and the (32) God is almighty.
eternal punishment. (33) God is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth.
(12) The priest has the right and duty, according to (34) God is infinitely just.
the nature of the sins and the ability of the peni-
(35) God is infinitely merciful.
tent, to impose salutary and appropriate works
for satisfaction. (36) In God there are three Persons, the Father, the
Son and the Holy Ghost. Each of the three Per-
(13) Extra-sacramental penitential works, such as the
sons possesses the one (numerical) Divine Es-
performance of voluntary penitential practices
sence.
and the patient bearing of trials sent by God,
possess satisfactory value. (37) In God there are two internal divine processions.
(14) The form of the Sacrament of Penance consists (38) The Divine Persons, not the Divine Nature, are
in the words of Absolution. the subject of the internal divine processions (in
the active and in the passive sense).
(15) Absolution, in association with the acts of the
penitent, effects the forgiveness of sins. (39) The Second Divine Person proceeds from the
First Divine Person by generation, and therefore
is related to Him as Son to Father.
28 5
 The Unity & Trinity of God Penance & Confession

(40) The Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and (1) The Church has received from Christ the power
from the Son as from a single principle through a of remitting sins committed after Baptism.
single spiration. (2) By the Church's Absolution sins are truly and
(41) The Holy Ghost does not proceed through gen- immediately remitted.
eration but through spiration. (3) The Church's power to forgive sins extends to all
(42) The relations in God are really identical with the sin without exception.
Divine Nature. (4) The exercise of the Church's power to forgive
(43) The Three Divine Persons are in one another. sins is a judicial act.

(44) All the ad extra activities of God are common to (5) The forgiveness of sins which takes place in the
the three Persons. Tribunal of Penance is a true and proper Sacra-
ment, which is distinct from the Sacrament of
Baptism.
(6) Extra-sacramental justification is effected by per-
fect sorrow only when it is associated with the
desire for the Sacrament (votum sacramenti).
(7) Contrition springing from the motive of fear is a
morally good and supernatural act.
(8) The Sacramental confession of sins is ordained
by God and is necessary for salvation.

6 27
 Holy Eucharist God the Creator

(17) In the Sacrifice of the Mass, Christ's Sacrifice on (1) All that exists outside God was, in its whole sub-
the Cross is made present, its memory celebrated, stance, produced out of nothing by God.
and its saving power applied.
(2) God was moved by His goodness to create the
(18) In the Sacrifice of the Mass and in the Sacrifice world.
of the Cross the Sacrificial Gift and the Primary
(3) The world was created for the glorification of
Sacrificing Priest are identical; only the nature
God.
and the mode of the offering are different.
(4) The Three Divine Persons are one single, com-
(19) The Sacrifice of the Mass is not merely a sacri-
mon principle of creation.
fice of praise and thanks-giving, but also a sacri-
fice of expiation and impetration. (5) God created the world free from exterior com-
pulsion and inner necessity.
(6) God has created a good world.
(7) The world had a beginning in time.
(8) God alone created the world.
(9) God keeps all created things in existence.
(10) God, through His Providence, protects and
guides all that He has created.
(11) The first man was created by God.
(12) Man consists of two essential parts - a material
body and a spiritual soul.

26 7
 God the Creator Confirmation

(13) The rational soul per se is the essential form of (1) Confirmation is a true Sacrament properly so-
the body. called.
(14) Every human being possesses an individual soul. (2) Confirmation imprints on the soul an indelible
(15) God has conferred on man a supernatural desti- spiritual mark, and for this reason, cannot be re-
ny. peated.
(16) Our first parents, before the fall, were endowed (3) The ordinary minister of Confirmation is the
with sanctifying grace.
Bishop alone.
(17) In addition to sanctifying grace, our first parents
were endowed with the preternatural gift of bod-
ily immortality.
(18) Our first parents in Paradise sinned grievously
through transgression of the Divine probation-
ary commandment.
(19) Through sin our first parents lost sanctifying
grace and provoked the anger and the indigna-
tion of God.
(20) Our first parents became subject to death and to
the dominion of the devil.
(21) Adam's sin is transmitted to his posterity, not by
imitation but by descent.
(22) Original sin is transmitted by natural generation.
(23) In the state of original sin man is deprived of
sanctifying grace and all that this implies, as well
as of the preternatural gifts of integrity.

8 25
 Baptism God the Creator

(1) Baptism is a true Sacrament instituted by Jesus (24) Souls who depart this life in the state of original
Christ. sin are excluded from the Beatific Vision of God.

(2) The materia remota of the Sacrament of Bap- (25) In the beginning of time God created spiritual
essences (angels) out of nothing.
tism is true and natural water.
(26) The nature of angels is spiritual.
(3) Baptism confers the grace of justification.
(27) The evil spirits (demons) were created good by
(4) Baptism effects the remission of all punishments God; they became evil through their own fault.
of sin, both eternal and temporal. (28) The secondary task of the good angels is the
(5) Even if it be unworthily received, valid Baptism protection of men and care for their salvation.
imprints on the soul of the recipient an indelible (29) The devil possesses a certain dominion over
spiritual mark, the Baptismal Character, and for mankind by reason of Adam's sin.
this reason, the Sacrament cannot be repeated.
(6) Baptism by water (Baptismus fluminis) is, since
the promulgation of the Gospel, necessary for
salvation.
(7) Baptism can be validly administered by anyone.
(8) Baptism can be received by any person in the
wayfaring state who is not already baptised.
(9) The Baptism of young children is valid and licit.

24 9
 God the Redeemer The Sacraments

(1) Jesus Christ is true God and true Son of God. (10) The validity and efficacy of the Sacrament is in-
dependent of the minister's orthodoxy and state
(2) Christ assumed a real body, not an apparent body. of grace.
(3) Christ assumed not only a body but also a ration- (11) For the valid dispensing of the Sacraments it is
al soul. necessary that the minister accomplish the Sacra-
(4) Christ was truly generated and born of a daugh- mental sign in the proper manner.
ter of Adam, the Virgin Mary. (12) The minister must have the intention of at least
(5) The Divine and human natures are united hypo- doing what the Church does.
statically in Christ, that is, joined to each other in (13) In the case of adult recipients moral worthiness
one Person. is necessary for the worthy or fruitful reception
(6) In the hypostatic union each of the two natures of the Sacraments.
of Christ continues unimpaired, untransformed,
and unmixed with each other.
(7) Each of the two natures in Christ possesses its
own natural will and its own natural mode of op-
eration.
(8) The hypostatic union of Christ's human nature
with the Divine Logos took place at the moment
of conception.
(9) The hypostatic union was effected by the three
Divine Persons acting in common.
(10) Only the second Divine Person became Man.
10 23
 The Sacraments God the Redeemer

(1) The Sacraments of the New Covenant contain (11) Not only as God but also as man Jesus Christ is
the grace which they signify, and bestow it on the natural Son of God.
those who do not hinder it.
(12) The God-Man Jesus Christ is to be venerated
(2) The Sacraments work ex opere operato, that is, with one single mode of worship, the absolute
the sacraments operate by the power of the com- worship of latria which is due to God alone.
pleted sacramental rite.
(13) Christ's Divine and human characteristics and
(3) All the Sacraments of the New Covenant confer activities are to be predicated of the one Word
sanctifying grace on the receivers. Incarnate.
(4) Three Sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation, and (14) Christ was free from all sin, from original sin as
Holy Orders, imprint a character, that is an indel- well as from all personal sin.
ible spiritual mark, and, for this reason, cannot be
(15) Christ's human nature was passable.
repeated.
(16) The Son of God became man in order to redeem
(5) The sacramental character is a spiritual mark im-
men.
printed on the soul.
(17) Fallen man cannot redeem himself.
(6) The sacramental character continues at least un-
til the death of the bearer. (18) The God-man Jesus Christ is a high priest.

(7) All Sacraments of the New Covenant were insti- (19) Christ offered Himself on the Cross as a true and
tuted by Jesus Christ. proper sacrifice.

(8) There are seven Sacraments of the New Law. (20) Christ by His sacrifice on the Cross has ran-
somed us and reconciled us with God.
(9) The Sacraments of the New Covenant are neces-
sary for the salvation of mankind. (21) Christ, through His passion and death, merited
award from God.
22 11
 God the Redeemer The Catholic Church

(22) After His death, Christ's Soul, which was separat- (17) The Church founded by Christ is holy.
ed from His Body, descended into the under-
(18) The Church founded by Christ is catholic.
world.
(19) The Church founded by Christ is apostolic.
(23) On the third day after His death, Christ rose glo-
riously from the dead. (20) Membership of the Catholic Church
is necessary for all men for salvation.
(24) Christ ascended body and soul into Heaven and
sits at the right hand of the Father.

The Communion of Saints

(1) It is permissible and profitable to venerate the
Saints in Heaven, and to invoke their interces-
sion.
(2) It is permissible and profitable to venerate the
relics of the Saints.
(3) It is permissible and profitable to venerate imag-
es of the Saints.
(4) The living faithful can come to the assistance of
the souls in Purgatory by their intercessions.
12 21
 The Catholic Church The Mother of the Redeemer

(8) The Pope possesses full and supreme power of (1) Mary is truly the Mother of God.
jurisdiction over the whole Catholic Church, not
(2) Mary was conceived without the stain of original
merely in matters of faith and morals, but also in
sin. Mary is the Immaculate Conception.
Church discipline and in the government of the
Church. (3) Mary conceived by the Holy Ghost without the
cooperation of man.
(9) The Pope is infallible when he speaks ex cathe-
dra. (4) Mary bore her Son without any violation of her
virginal integrity.
(10) By virtue of Divine right, the bishops possess an
ordinary power of government over their dioces- (5) After the birth of Jesus, Mary remained a Virgin.
es. (6) Mary was assumed body and soul into Heaven.
(11) Christ founded the Catholic Church.
(12) Christ is the Head of the Catholic Church.
(13) In the final decision on doctrines concerning
faith and morals, the Catholic Church is infallible.
(14) The primary object of the Infallibility is the for-
mally revealed truths of Christian Doctrine con-
cerning faith and morals.
(15) The totality of the Bishops is infallible, when
they, either assembled in general council or scat-
tered over the earth propose a teaching of faith
or morals as one to he held by all the faithful.
(16) The Church founded by Christ is unique and one.
20 13
 God the Sanctifier The Catholic Church
(1) There is a supernatural intervention of God in
the faculties of the soul, which precedes the free
act of the will. (1) The Catholic Church was founded by the God-
Man Jesus Christ.
(2) There is a supernatural influence of God in the
faculties of the soul which coincides in time with (2) Christ founded the Catholic Church in order to
man's free act of will. continue His work of redemption for all time.

(3) For every salutary act, internal supernatural (3) Christ gave His Church a hierarchical constitu-
grace of God (gratia elevans) is absolutely neces- tion.
sary. (4) The powers bestowed on the Apostles have de-
(4) Internal supernatural grace is absolutely neces- scended to the Bishops.
sary for the beginning of faith and salvation. (5) Christ appointed the Apostle Peter to be the first
(5) Without the special help of God, the justified of all the Apostles and to be the visible Head of
cannot persevere to the end in justification. the whole Catholic Church, by appointing him
immediately and personally to the primacy of ju-
(6) The justified person is not able for his whole life risdiction.
long to avoid sins, even venial sins, without the
special privilege of the grace of God. (6) According to Christ's ordinance, Peter is to have
successors in his Primacy over the whole Catho-
(7) Even in the fallen state, man can, by his natural lic Church and for all time.
intellectual power, know religious and moral
truths. (7) The successors of Peter in the Primacy are the
Bishops of Rome.
(8) For the performance of a morally good action,
sanctifying grace is not required.

14 19
 God the Sanctifier God the Sanctifier
(9) In the state of fallen nature, it is morally impos-
sible for man without supernatural Revelation, to
(26) Grace can be increased by good works. know easily, with absolute certainty, and without
(27) The grace by which we are justified may be lost, admixture of error, all religious and moral truths
and is lost by every grievous sin. of the natural order.

(28) By his good works, the justified man really ac- (10) Grace cannot be merited by natural works ei-
quires a claim to supernatural reward from God. ther de condigno or de congruo.

(29) A just man merits for himself through each good (11) God gives all the just sufficient grace for the ob-
work an increase of sanctifying grace, eternal servation of the divine commandments.
life (if death finds him in the state of grace) and (12) God, by His eternal resolve of Will, has prede-
an increase in heavenly glory. termined certain men to eternal blessedness.
(13) God, by an eternal resolve of His Will, predes-
tines certain men, on account of their foreseen
sins, to eternal rejection.
(14) The human will remains free under the influence
of efficacious grace, which is not irresistible.
(15) There is grace which is truly sufficient and yet
remains inefficacious.

18 15
 God the Sanctifier God the Sanctifier
(16) The causes of Justification. (17) The sinner can and must prepare himself by the
(Defined by the Council of Trent) : help of actual grace for the reception of the
grace by which he is justified.
 The final cause is the honour of God and
of Christ and the eternal life of men. (18) The justification of an adult is not possible with-
out faith.
 The efficient cause is the mercy of God.
(19) Besides faith, further acts of disposition must be
 The meritorious cause is Jesus Christ, who
present.
as mediator between God and men, has
made atonement for us and merited the (20) Sanctifying grace sanctifies the soul.
grace by which we are justified.
(21) Sanctifying grace makes the just man a friend of
 The instrumental cause of the first justifi- God.
cation is the Sacrament of Baptism. Thus
(22) Sanctifying grace makes the just man a child of
it defines that Faith is a necessary precon-
God and gives him a claim to the inheritance of
dition for justification (of adults).
heaven.
 The formal cause is God's Justice, not by
(23) The three Divine or theological virtues of faith,
which He Himself is just, but which He
hope and charity are infused with sanctifying
makes us just, that is, Sanctifying Grace.
grace.
(24) Without special Divine Revelation no one can
know with the certainty of faith, if he be in the
state of grace.
(25) The degree of justifying grace is not identical in
all the just.

16 17