Short
Profession Of Faith For Theologians
According
To
The
Notae Theologice
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he theologian, as well as seminary professors, is accustomed to reciting the Profession of Faith of Pius IV (with its subsequent additions given by Bl. Pope Pius IX) and the Oath Against Modernism at least an annual or bi-annual basis. But it is also edifying to take a smaller profession daily or weekly in order to reorient oneself to why the theologian “does theology” and keep him centered on the path of orthodoxy.
A deep and profound interior life is also essential for the theologian and the mini-Profession will aide in this as well. As Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange relates in regards to the moral life of the theologian:
“There are some men who prefer the plains, but others are more attracted by the mountains: “Wonderful is the Lord on high.” (Ps. 92: 4.) So the good theologian must daily breathe the mountain air and (1) derive from the Apostle’s Creed an abundance of spiritual nourishment for himself, and also, (2) at the end of the Mass, from the Prologue of St. John’s Gospel, which is, as it were, the synthesis of all Christian revelation. Daily, in like manner, (3) he must live his life on a higher plane, directed by the Lord’s Prayer, the beatitudes, and the Sermon on the Mount in its entirety, which is a synthesis of all Christian ethics in its wondrous elevation.”
And Fr. Garrigou continues this thought elsewhere:
“And we cannot reach this fullness of perfection in the Christian life unless our lives are profoundly influenced by the mystery of the Incarnation in its redemptive aspect and by the Eucharist, and unless, by faith, enlightened by the gifts of wisdom and understanding, we penetrate these mysteries and taste their sweetness. For this, indeed, the study of theology is of great help provided it be properly directed, not for the satisfaction we get from it, but for the purpose of knowing God better and for the salvation of souls.
Thus these beautiful words of the Vatican Council [I] become increasingly possible of verification in us: “Reason, enlightened by faith, when it seeks earnestly, piously, and calmly, attains by a gift of God some, and that a very fruitful, understanding of mysteries; and this both from the analogy of those things which it naturally knows, and from the relations which the mysteries bear to one another and to the last end of man.”15 [Denz. No. 1796]
The study of sacred theology, which sometimes is hard and arduous, though fruitful, thus disposes our minds for the light of contemplation and of life, which is, as it were, an introduction and a beginning of eternal life in us.”[1]
May
this Short Profession of Faith aide the theologian and seminary professor in their
work as hunter of souls for the glory of God.
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believe everything the Roman Catholic Teaches and assent to everything the Roman Catholic Church requires assent for.
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believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
I.
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believe in the Deposit Faith (Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition). I believe and assent to everything contained in the Loci Theologici. I believe in all the Creeds & Doctrines contained in the Enchiridion Symbolorum (Denzinger). I believe everything contained in the Profession of Faith of Pope Pius IV (with the additions added by Pope Bl. Pius IX); and I believe everything contained in the Oath Against Modernism and assent to all its condemnations; I believe all Dogmas[2] of the Roman Catholic Church, all Doctrines[3] that must be held with Ecclesiastical Faith of the Roman Catholic Church, I believe all truths Divine Faith[4] of the Roman Catholic Church, all things Proximate to the Roman Catholic Faith;[5] All things Theologically Certain[6] in the Roman Catholic Faith; All Catholic Doctrines[7] authentically taught by the Ordinary Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church; I believe all propositions that are held to be Certain[8] in Roman Catholic Theology; I believe all propositions that are held be Safe[9] in Roman Catholic Theology and I assent to the Doctrinal Decrees of the Roman Congregations.
II.
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also assent to the Very Common or Commoner
opinions even though there is no censure nor effect of denial
attached to these propositions. I also assent to the Probable opinions
even though there is no censure nor effect of denial attached to
these propositions.
[1] Reginald
Garrigou-Lagrange O.P., The One God: a commentary on the first part of St.
Thomas’ Theological Summa. trans. Dom Bede Rose O.S.B. B. Herder Book Co,
London 1943, 31-37.
[https://wmreview.co.uk/2021/10/14/garrigou-lagrange-theology-and-the-interior-life/]
[2] Censure Attached To Contradictory Proposition: Heresy. Effects Of Denial: Mortal sin committed directly against the virtue of faith, and, if the heresy is outwardly professed, automatic excommunication is incurred and membership of the Church forfeited. Remarks: A dogma can be proposed either by a solemn definition of pope or council, or by the Ordinary Magisterium, as in the case of the Athanasian Creed, to which the church has manifested her solemn commitment by its long-standing liturgical and practical use and commendation.
[3] Censure Attached To Contradictory Proposition: Heresy against ecclesiastical faith. Effects Of Denial: Mortal sin directly against faith, and, if publicly professed, automatic excommunication and forfeiture of membership of Church. Remarks: It is a dogma that the Church’s infallibility extends to truths in this sphere, so one who denies them denies implicitly a dogma or Divine faith.
[4] Censure Attached To Contradictory Proposition: Error (in faith). Effects Of Denial: Mortal sin directly against faith, but no loss of Church membership. May incur a canonical penalty.
[5] Censure Attached To Contradictory Proposition: Proximate to error. Effects Of Denial: Mortal sin indirectly against faith.
[6] Censure Attached To Contradictory Proposition: Error (in theology). Effects Of Denial: Mortal sin against faith.
[7] Censure Attached To Contradictory Proposition: Temerarious. Effects Of Denial: Mortal sin indirectly against faith. Remarks: The expression Catholic doctrine is sometimes applied to truths of a higher order also, but never of a lower one. In some cases the appropriate censure may be graver than “temerarious.”
[8] Censure Attached To Contradictory Proposition: Temerarious. Effects Of Denial: Usually, mortal sin of temerity. Remarks: Proportionately grave reason can sometimes justify an individual who has carefully studied the evidence in dissenting from such a proposition; since it is not completely impossible for all the theological schools to err on such a matter, although it would be highly unusual and contrary to an extremely weighty presumption.
[9] Censure Attached To Contradictory Proposition:
Unsafe/temerarious. Effects
Of Denial: Mortal sin of disobedience and perhaps imprudence. Explanation: Affirmed in doctrinal
decrees of Roman Congregations. Remarks:
Exterior assent is absolutely required and interior assent is normally
required, since, though not infallible, the Congregations possess true
doctrinal authority and the protective guidance of the Holy Ghost.
