Folio 110

Council of Orange II, 529

printed p. 78 · pdf p. 110

186. Can. 13. The restoration of free will. Freedom of will weakened in the first man cannot be repaired except through the grace of baptism; "once it has been lost, it cannot be restored except by Him by whom it could be given. Thus Truth itself says: If the Son liberates you, then you will be truly free" [John 8:36; St. Prosper].1

187. Can. 14. "No wretched person is freed from misery, however small, unless he is first reached by the mercy of God" [St. Prosper],2 just as the Psalmist says: Let thy mercy, Lord, speedily anticipate us [Ps. 78:8]; and also: "My God, His mercy will prevent me" [Ps. 58:11].

188. Can. 15. "From that which God fashioned, Adam was changed by his own iniquity, but for the worse. From that which injustice has effected, the faithful (man) is changed by the grace of God, but for the better. Therefore, the former change was (the result) of the first transgression, the latter according to the Psalmist is the change of the right hand of the Most High [Ps. 76:11]" [St. Prosper].3

189. Can. 16. "Let no one glory in that which he seems to possess, as if he did not receive (it), or think that he has received (it) for this reason, because the sign appeared from without, either that it might be read, or sounded that it might be heard. For thus says the Apostle: If justice (is) through the law, then Christ died for nothing [Gal. 2:21]: ascending on high he led captivity captive, he gave gifts to men [Eph. 4:8; cf. Ps. 67:19]. Whoever has, has from Him, but whoever denies that he has from Him, either does not truly possess, or that, which he possesses, is taken away from him [Matt. 25:29]" [St. Prosper].4

190. Can. 17. "Worldly desire creates the fortitude of the Gentiles, but the charity of God, which is diffused in our hearts, not by free will, which is from us, but by the Holy Spirit, which is given to us [Rom. 5:5] produces the fortitude of the Christians" [St. Prosper].5

191. Can. 18. "That grace is preceded by no merits. A reward is due to good works, if they are performed; but grace, which is not due, precedes, that they may be done" [St. Prosper].6

192. Can. 19. "That no one is saved except by God's mercy. Even if human nature remained in that integrity in which it was formed, it would in no way save itself without the help of its Creator; therefore, since without the grace of God it cannot guard the health which it received, how

  1. Thoughts taken from St. Augustine, Sent. 152; from Augustine's "City of God" 14, 11, 1 [ML 45, 1871 f.; resp. 41, 418]. ↩

  2. Ibid., Sent. 211 [ML 45, 1876]. ↩

  3. Ibid., Sent. 225; from St. Aug., Enarr. in ps., serm. 1, 2 [ML 45, 1878;—36, 841]. ↩

  4. Ibid., Sent. 259; from St. Aug., De spiritu et litt. 29, 50 [ML 45, 1880;—44 231]. ↩

  5. Ibid., Sent. 295; from St. Aug., Opus imperf. c. Iulian. 1, 83 [ML 45, 1884;—45, 1104]. ↩

  6. Ibid., Sent. 297; from St. Aug., Opus imperf. c. Iulian. 1, 133 [ML 45, 1885;—45, 1133]. ↩