Sixtus IV, 1471-1484

SIXTUS IV 1471-1484

Errors of Peter de Rivo (concerning the Truth of Future Contingencies)¹

[Condemned in the Bull "Ad Christi vicarii," Jan. 3, 1474]

719. (1) When Elizabeth spoke to the Blessed Virgin Mary saying: "Blessed art thou that hast believed because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord" [Luke 1:45], she seemed to intimate that those propositions, namely: "Thou shalt bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus: He shall be great, etc." [Luke 1:31], do not yet contain truth.

720. (2) Likewise, when Christ after His resurrection said: "All things must needs be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the psalms concerning me" [Luke 24:44] seems to have implied that such propositions were devoid of truth.

721. (3) Likewise, when the Apostle said: "For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of things [Heb. 10:1], he seems to imply that the propositions of the Old Law which concerned the future, did not yet contain the prescribed truth.

722. (4) Likewise, that it does not suffice for the truth of the proposition concerning the future, that the thing will be, but there is required that it will be without impediment.

723. (5) Likewise, it is necessary to say one of two things, either that in the articles of faith concerning the future actual truth is not present, or that what is signified in them through divine power could not have been hindered.

They were condemned as "scandalous and deviating from the path of Catholic faith"; they were revoked by the written word of Peter himself.

Indulgence for the Dead

[From the Bull in favor of the Church of St. Peter of Xancto, Aug. 3, 1476]²

723a. In order that the salvation of souls may be procured rather at that time when they need the prayers of others more, and when they can be