Pius IX, 1846-1878

same books those teachings are stated and defended which are plainly opposed to the Catholic doctrine about the supreme liberty of God, who is free from any necessity whatsoever in creating things.

1656. And also that extremely wicked and condemned doctrine which in Guenther's books rashly attributes the rights of a master both to human reason and philosophy, whereas they should be wholly handmaids, not masters in religious matters; and therefore all those things are disturbed which should remain most stable, not only concerning the distinction between science and faith, but also concerning the eternal immutability of faith, which is always one and the same, while philosophy and human studies are not always consistent, and are not immune to a multiple variety of errors.

1657. In addition, the Holy Fathers are not held in that reverence which the canons of the Councils prescribe, and which these splendid lights of the Catholic Church so altogether deserve, nor does he refrain from the slurring remarks against Catholic Schools, which Our predecessor of cherished memory, PIUS VI, solemnly condemned [see n. 1576].

1658. Nor shall we pass over in silence that in Guenther's books "the sound form of speaking" is completely outraged, as if it were lawful to forget the words of the Apostle Paul [II Tim. 1:13], or those which Augustine most earnestly advised: "It is right for us to speak according to a fixed rule, lest liberty with words give birth to an impious opinion, even about the things which are signified by them"¹ [see n. 1714 a].

Errors of the Ontologists²

[From the decree of the Sacred Office, Sept. 18, 1861, "they cannot be safely taught"]

1659. 1. Immediate knowledge of God, habitual at least, is essential to the human intellect, so much so that without it the intellect can know nothing, since indeed it is itself intellectual light.

1660. 2. That being which is in all things and without which we understand nothing, is the divine being.

1661. 3. Universals considered on the part of the thing are not really distinguished from God.

[Footnote continued from previous page:] and all life, and sense, is the most common in the Church of God, and to many highly approved doctors it seems to be so intimately joined with the dogma of the Church that this is the sole legitimate, true interpretation of it, and hence not without error in faith could it be denied." [Aexq 178; RskRP IV 399; A Franz, I B. Baltzer 40]. Therefore, the Cologne Council says: "There can be no doubt that, according to the mind of the Councils, all the operations of our life are accomplished by the rational soul itself created by God" . . . [CL V 293 b; ACol 32; cf. n. 1911 f.].