To Hold and Teach the Catholic Faith

The faithful down through the ages have always aspired to know, profess, practice, safeguard and transmit Christ's message to others. History has shown that methods for doing so have enjoyed varying degrees of success along the way. This has certainly been true in our own day and age. Because of a certain de-emphasis on doctrine since Vatican II along with a corresponding decline of emphasis on obedience and holiness of life, we find ourselves witnessing today a great hunger on the part of many for holy wisdom, divine charity, and the Truth that will truly set them free. This book provides an analysis of this issue and provides a theological solution, based on the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, to handing on the truths of the Faith with unwavering fidelity in the third millennium.

Kelly Bowring is presently the Dean of Spiritual Mission and Associate Professor of Sacred Theology at Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville, GA.

Foreword

ix

J. Augustine Di Noia, OP

Preface

xiii

Chapter One: The Doctrinal Crisis in the Church Today

1

(32)

A. Introduction to the Current Issues

1

(7)

B. A Crisis of Doctrine

8

(19)

C. Toward a Solution to the Crisis of Faith

27

(6)

Chapter 2: The Meaning of Sacred Doctrine

33

(26)

A. Teaching Doctrine in the History of the Church

33

(9)

B. The Doctrinal Purpose of the Summa Theologiae

42

(7)

C. Sacra Doctrina in the Summa Theologiae

49

(3)

D. A New Synthesis of Sacra Doctrina

52

(7)

Chapter 3: Sacred Doctrine in Recent Church Teaching

59

(40)

A. Sacred Doctrine in Catechesis and Theology

59

(10)

1. Relation

59

(8)

2. Distinctions

67

(2)

B. The Role of Sacred Doctrine Today

69

(13)

Table 1: The Threefold Order of Truth and Requirements of Obedience Regarding the Doctrines of the Deposit of Faith

79

(3)

C. The Catechism is the Source of Sacred Doctrine

82

(9)

D. Teaching Sacred Doctrine for Conversion to Christ

91

(8)

Chapter 4: A Hermeneutic of Sacred Doctrine for All Times

99

(8)

A. A Theology of Sacred Doctrine: The "Hermeneutic of the Whole"

99

(6)

1. Authentic Plurality, Catholic Pluriformity

100

(3)

2. Comprehensive, Systematic, Integral, Synthesized and Faithful

103

(2)

B. The Hermeneutic of God

105

(2)

Chapter 5: Doctrine and the Evangelist

107

(36)

A. Christ as the Sole Teacher of Sacred Doctrine

107

(4)

B. Catholic Evangelists Must Be Living Witnesses of Christ

111

(13)

1. Living Lives of Prayer and Virtue

111

(2)

2. Imitating the Pedagogy of Christ and of the Apostles

113

(9)

3. Loving with the Love of Christ

122

(2)

C. The Vocation of the Catholic Evangelist

124

(7)

1. The Formation of the Evangelist

125

(2)

2. Experiencing the Triumph of the Cross

127

(4)

Conclusion: Teaching Holy Wisdom with Divine Love and Mercy

131

(12)

Appendix 1: A Survey of Magisterial Support for St. Thomas Aquinas

143

(56)

Appendix 2: Summary of Views of Commentators on Sacra Doctrina, STh I, 1

199

(6)

Bibliography

205

(14)

Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

219

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To Hold and Teach the Catholic Faith

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials