The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.certain points of Catholic doctrine against the insidious attacks of heretics, they are more carefullystudied, they become more clearly understood, theyare more earnestly inculcated ; and so the very questions raised by heretics give occasion to a more thorough knowledge of the subject in -question."Let us illustrate this. In the Apostolic revelationand preaching, some truths might have been contained implicitly, e. g., in the doctrine that graceisnecessary for every salutary work, it is implicitlyasserted that the assistance of grace is required forthe inception of every good and salutary work.This was denied by the semi-Pelagians, and theirerror was condemned by an explicit definition.Andso in other matters, as the rising controversies ornew errors gave occasion for it, there were moreexplicit declarations of what was formerly implicitlybelieved.In the doctrine of the supreme power ofPeter, as the visible foundation of the Church, wenave the implied assertion of many rights and dutieswhich belong to the centre of unity. In the revelation of the supereminent dignity and purity of theBlessed Virgin, there isimplied her exemption fromoriginal sin, etc., etc.So, too, in the beginning, many truths might havebeen proposed somewhat obscurely or less clearly;they might have been less urgently insisted upon,because there was no heresy, no contrary teachingto render a more explicit declaration necessary.1 De Civitate Dei, Lib. 16, Cap. ii.,No. 1.