Posted on 07/17/2014 9:34:10 AM PDT by Teófilo
Brethren, Peace be with you!
From time to time I have discussed here the role of the faithful of the whole Church in receiving, proclaiming, and in a certain sense, "sanctioning" the faith of the Church.
I receive with great joy the news that the Holy See has published a new document about this issue of the "sensus fidei" titled: Sensus Fidei in the Life of the Church.
I believe this document will serve a twofold purpose: First, the document will help us frame our discussions with our Sister Churches in the Eastern Orthodox communion for whom "active reception" of conciliar decisions are definitive in the dogmatic progress of the Church and, second: make the job of internal dissenters in the Catholic Church more difficult, as they always appeal to the sensus fidei to justify their non-Catholic solutions to Catholic problems.
I urge to access and read Sensus Fidei in the Life of the Church. Here's its Table of Contents for your reference:
a) Faith as response to the Word of God2. The development of the idea, and its place in the history of the Church
b) The personal and ecclesial dimensions of faith
c) The capacity of believers to know and witness to the truth
a) Patristic period
b) Medieval period
c) Reformation and post-Reformation period
d) 19th century
e) 20th century
1. The sensus fidei as an instinct of faith
2. Manifestations of the sensus fidei in the personal life of believers
1. The sensus fidei and the development of Christian doctrine and practice
a) Retrospective and prospective aspects of the sensus fidei2. The sensus fidei and the magisterium
b) The contribution of the laity to the sensus fidelium
a) The magisterium listens to the sensus fidelium3. The sensus fidei and theology
b) The magisterium nurtures, discerns and judges the sensus fidelium
c) Reception
a) Theologians depend on the sensus fidelium4. Ecumenical aspects of the sensus fidei
b) Theologians reflect on the sensus fidelium
1. Dispositions needed for authentic participation in the sensus fideiConclusion
a) Participation in the life of the Church2. Applications
b) Listening to the word of God
c) Openness to reason
d) Adherence to the magisterium
e) Holiness – humility, freedom and joy
f) Seeking the edification of the Church
a) The sensus fidei and popular religiosity
b) The sensus fidei and public opinion
c) Ways of consulting the faithful
PING!
Sensus fidei (sense of the faith), also called sensus fidelium (sense of the faithful) when exercised by the body of the faithful as a whole, is “the supernatural appreciation of faith on the part of the whole people, when, from the bishops to the last of the faithful, they manifest a universal consent in matters of faith and morals” [Wikipedia]
A Wascally Evangelical, I’d say “almost.” If in place of “faith and morals” one put “direct reliant and trusting relationship to the Lord and the fruits thereof” you’d get the Reformation concept of this same thing. Might sound like a quibble to Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians, but it drills down to the quintessence of what being a Christian is. Sometimes the church concept of faith reduces to embracing a set of doctrines for the sake of something less than the Lord, and that is wrong in any context.
This could take days to go through..... cool! :)
“Sometimes the church concept of faith reduces to embracing a set of doctrines for the sake of something less than the Lord, and that is wrong in any context.”
Embracing doctrines for the sake of the Supernatural Bride of Christ is not wrong.
I would like to expand your statement of "Embracing doctrines for the sake of the Supernatural Bride of Christ is not wrong." to include that embracing doctrines allows us to understand and to expand our relationship with the Supernatural Bide of Christ as well as her Bride Groom.
“I would like to expand your statement of “Embracing doctrines for the sake of the Supernatural Bride of Christ is not wrong.” to include that embracing doctrines allows us to understand and to expand our relationship with the Supernatural Bide of Christ as well as her Bride Groom.”
Thank you.
Just helping to cover the bases. I typed Bide instead of Bride. For the record. :)
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