Where is the history of these supernatural interventions of God and of His revelation to be found?
In particular this history is to be found in the Holy Scriptures or the Bible.
What is meant by the Holy Scriptures or the Bible?
It is a collection of books divided into two groups, which are called the Old and the New Testaments.
Do these books resemble other books?
No, for other books are written by men, whereas these were written by God.
What is meant by saying that these books were written by God?
By this is meant that God is the principal author of these books, and that He chose certain men, as so many instruments, to write them.
Of whatever then is contained in these books God is the author?
Yes, God is the author of all that is contained in these books, that is if we speak of the original autograph written by the holy writers; whereas all copies of this autograph are only divine in their authorship in so far as they conform with the original.
Whenever then we read these books, it is as though we heard God Himself speaking to us?
Yes.
But is it not possible for us to misunderstand the sense of this word of God?
Yes, for there are passages that are obscure.
Why is it that there is obscurity in the Holy Scriptures?
This obscurity is due first of all to the mysteries contained therein, since the Bible treats essentially of truths that God Himself alone knows, such as are beyond the reach of every created mind; this obscurity also arises from the antiquity of these books, which were written primarily for people whose tongue was other than ours and whose lives and customs differed from ours; and, lastly, this obscurity arises from mistakes that have crept either into the copies of the original language, or into the translations made thereof and into the copies of these translations.
Next - The Catechism of the Summa -SECOND SECTION - A DETAILED SURVEY OF MAN'S RETURN TO GOD -II. OF FAITH AND ITS NATURE: OF THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR AN ACT OF FAITH; OF THE "I BELIEVE" AND THE FORMULA OF AN ACT OF FAITH; OF THE SINS OPPOSED TO FAITH: VIZ., INFIDELITY, HERESY. APOSTASY, AND BLASPHEMY (E)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are subject to deletion if they are not germane. I have no problem with a bit of colourful language, but blasphemy or depraved profanity will not be allowed. Attacks on the Catholic Faith will not be tolerated. Comments will be deleted that are republican (Yanks! Note the lower case 'r'!), attacks on the legitimacy of Pope Francis as the Vicar of Christ (I know he's a material heretic and a Protector of Perverts, and I definitely want him gone yesterday! However, he is Pope, and I pray for him every day.), the legitimacy of the House of Windsor or of the claims of the Elder Line of the House of France, or attacks on the legitimacy of any of the currently ruling Houses of Europe.