Alexander VIII, 1689-1691

Errors of the Jansenists¹

[Condemned in a Decr. of the Holy Office, Dec. 7, 1690]

1291. 1. In the state of fallen nature, for mortal [Viva: formale] sin and for demerit that liberty is sufficient by which the mortal sin or demerit was voluntary and free in its cause, namely, in original sin and in the will of Adam sinning.

1292. 2. Although there is such a thing as invincible ignorance of the law of nature, this, in the state of fallen nature, does not excuse from formal sin anyone acting out of ignorance.

1293. 3. It is not permitted to follow a (probable) opinion or among the probables the most probable.²

1294. 4. Christ gave Himself for us as an oblation to God, not for the elect only, but for all the faithful only.

1295. 5. Pagans, Jews, heretics, and others of this kind do not receive in any way any influence from Jesus Christ, and so you will rightly infer from this that in them there is a bare and weak will without any suffi-cient grace.

1296. 6. Grace sufficient for our state is not so much useful as pernicious, so that we can justly pray: From sufficient grace deliver us, O Lord.

1297. 7. Every human act is a deliberate choice of God or of the world; if of God, it is love of the Father; if of the world, it is concupiscense of the flesh, that is, it is evil.

1298. 8. Of necessity, an infidel sins in every act.

1299. 9. In truth he sins who hates sin merely because of its vileness and its inconsistency with nature, without any reference to the offense to God.

1300. 10. The intention with which anyone detests evil and follows after good, merely that he may obtain heavenly glory, is not right nor pleasing to God.

1301. 11. Everything which is not in accordance with supernatural Christian faith, which works through charity, is a sin.

1302. 12. When in great sinners all love is lacking, faith also is lacking; and even if they seem to believe, their faith is not divine but human.

1303. 13. Whoever serves God even in view of an eternal reward, if he lacks charity, is not free from fault, as often as he acts even in view of his eternal reward.

1304. 14. Fear of hell is not supernatural.

1305. 15. Attrition, which is conceived through a fear of hell and punish-