Folio 362

Innocent XI, 1676–1689

printed p. 330 · pdf p. 362

Errors on "donated omnipotence" 1

[Condemned in the decree of the Holy Office, Nov. 23, 1679]

1217. 1. God gives us His omnipotence, that we may use it, just as someone gives another a villa or a book.

1218. 2. God submits His omnipotence to us. They are prohibited as at least rash and novel.

Moral Systems 2

[Decree of the Holy Office, June 26, 1680]

1219. In a report of the contents of the letters of Father Gonzales Thirsus directed to His Holiness through Father Laurea of the Society of Jesus, their most blessed Eminences said that the Secretary of State had written to the Apostolic Nuncio of the Spaniards, asking that he inform the said Father Thirsus what His Holiness commanded, after the letter was kindly received and read not without praise; that he himself freely and boldly preach, teach, and defend with his pen the more probable opinion, and not vigorously attack the opinion of those who assert that in the conflict of the less probable opinion with the more probable so recognized and judged, it is lawful to follow the less probable opinion; and to inform him that whatever he shall do and write in favor of the more probable will be pleasing to His Holiness. Let it be enjoined on the Father General of the Society concerning this order of His Holiness, that he not only permit the Fathers of the Society of Jesus to write in defense of the opinion of the more probable and to oppose the opinion of those who assert that in the controversy of the less probable opinion with the more probable so understood and judged, it is allowed to follow the less probable; but, moreover, let him also write to all the universities of the Society that it is the mind of His Holiness that anyone who will may freely write as he pleases in behalf of the more probable opinion and may attack the contrary opinion above mentioned; and let him order them to submit themselves in all things to the orders of His Holiness.3

  1. DuPl III, II 352 b; Viva I 564 a. ↩

  2. Études religieuses 91 (1902 II), 847 f., where the authentic text appears.—Franc. ter Haar, C.SS.R., contends in his book, "Ven. Innocentii PP XI de probabilismo decreti historia" (Tornaci 1904, Casterman) that this decree, disciplinary rather than doctrinal, is prejudicial to "probabilismus"; and others likewise. And on the other hand Aug. Lehmkuhl, S.J., in the work "Probabilismus vindicatus" (Friburgi, 1906, Herder) 78-111 answers that it is not prejudicial to "probabilismus"; and others similarly. ↩

  3. There is added in the copy of the Holy Office: "On the eighth day of July, 1680. When the above-mentioned order of His Holiness was reported to the Father General ↩