Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church has 255 infallible dogmas, which are considered to be expressions of objective truths that do not change. Dogma, derived from the Greek word 'dokein', was first used by Vincent of Lérins in 450 CE, referring to what all, everywhere, and always believed. Dogmas are issued by Ecumenical Councils, and Popes have rarely issued dogmas outside of these councils. The last two dogmas were pronounced by Popes Pius IX and Pius XII in 1854 and 1950, respectively, concerning the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Dogmas | 255 |
| First Council to quote from Commonitory | First Vatican Council |
| Year of the First Council to quote from Commonitory | 1870 |
| Last two Dogmas | Immaculate Conception, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Popes who pronounced the last two Dogmas | Pope Pius IX, Pope Pius XII |
| Years the last two Dogmas were pronounced | 1854, 1950 |
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What You'll Learn
There are at least 255 Catholic dogmas
Dogma, in the context of Catholic theology, refers to the revealed truths of the faith that are proposed or defined by the Church. These dogmas are considered to be expressions of objective truths that are unchanging and eternal. The term "Dogma Catholicum" was first used by Vincent of Lérins in the 5th century, referring to the beliefs held by all Catholics everywhere and at all times.
Over time, Ecumenical Councils and Popes have proclaimed various dogmas, such as the Immaculate Conception of Mary in 1854 and the Assumption of Mary into heaven in 1950. The First Vatican Council emphasised the perpetual nature of these dogmas, stating that once declared, their meaning must be retained without deviation.
Some examples of Catholic dogmas include the belief in the Trinity, the sinlessness of the Virgin Mary, the necessity of baptism, and the evil of divorce. Additionally, the Church's teachings about the Saviour, the sacraments, and Papal Infallibility are also considered dogmas.
The dogmas of the Catholic Church provide a foundation for its theology and serve as a guide for its followers, emphasising the importance of adhering to these unchanging truths.
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Dogmas are truths revealed by God
The concept of dogma has two elements: the public revelation of God, which is divine revelation as contained in sacred scripture (the written word) and sacred tradition, and a proposition of the Catholic Church, which not only announces the dogma but also declares it binding for the faith. Dogmas are truths that are revealed by God formally but only implicitly. They are dogmas in the strict sense when proposed or defined by the Church. For example, the doctrines of Transubstantiation, Papal Infallibility, the Immaculate Conception, and the Church's teaching about the Savior and the sacraments.
The Catholic Church holds that the understanding of scripture continues to deepen and mature over time through the action of the Holy Spirit in the history of the Church and in the understanding of that faith by Christians, while staying identical in essence and substance. The history of dogmas is the history of the Church in its struggle to preserve the purity of the faith in the face of errors and heresies. Dogmas are not abstract formulas but living truths that invite us into a deeper relationship with God. They call us to delve into the mystery of faith, to grow in virtue, and to live in communion with the Church.
Dogmas are truths that are considered to be expressions of objective truths that do not change. They are not new but explications of existing faith. Implicit truths are specified as explicit, as was done in the teachings on the Trinity by the ecumenical councils.
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Dogmas are decided by Ecumenical Councils
The Catholic Church holds that dogmas are truths that have been infallibly defined by the Church's Magisterium to be divinely revealed. The term "Dogma Catholicum" was first used by Vincent of Lérins in 450 CE, referring to "what all, everywhere and always believed". In 565 CE, Emperor Justinian declared the decisions of the first ecumenical councils as law, as they were considered "true dogmata" of God.
The concept of dogma has two elements: the public revelation of God and a proposition of the Catholic Church. The public revelation of God is the divine revelation contained in sacred scripture and sacred tradition. The proposition of the Catholic Church is when the Church announces and declares a dogma binding for the faith. This can occur through an ex cathedra decision by a Pope or a definitive statement made by an Ecumenical Council. Ecumenical Councils have issued many dogmas, especially in the early Church, such as those formulated at Ephesus and Chalcedon, up until the Council of Trent. Later dogmas, such as the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary, express the greatness of God in binding language.
The Church's Magisterium asserts that it exercises the authority it holds from Christ when it defines dogmas. This involves proposing, in a form obliging Catholics to an irrevocable adherence of faith, truths contained in divine Revelation. The faithful are only required to accept a teaching as dogma if the Catholic Church clearly and specifically identifies them as such. Dogmas are considered to be expressions of objective truths that do not change. However, the understanding of scripture is believed to deepen and mature over time through the action of the Holy Spirit in the history of the Church and in the understanding of that faith by Christians.
Dogmas are distinct from doctrines, which are infallible teachings that must be believed but do not have the specific and exact words and sequence of words found in dogmas. Only the meaning or content of doctrines is absolutely decided upon, whereas dogmas have both a fixed definitive content and formulation.
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The Pope has the power to declare a dogma
The Pope does have the power to declare a dogma. When the Pope speaks ex cathedra, which means "from the chair", he is defining something that all Catholics are to believe. This authority is granted to St. Peter by Jesus in Matthew 16:17-19. For the Pope to speak infallibly or ex-cathedra, three conditions must be met:
- The Pope must speak on a subject of faith or morals.
- He must speak as the Vicar of Christ and to the whole Church.
- He must indicate by using certain words, such as "we define", "we proclaim", etc., that he intends to speak infallibly.
The Pope's power to declare a dogma is based on the doctrine of infallibility, which states that the Pope, as the head of the Catholic Church, is preserved from the possibility of error when defining a doctrine regarding faith or morals. This doctrine was formally defined in 1870 by the First Vatican Council, which declared that:
> We teach and define that it is a dogma Divinely revealed that the Roman pontiff when he speaks ex cathedra, that is when in discharge of the office of pastor and doctor of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, by the Divine assistance promised to him in Blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer willed that his Church should be endowed in defining doctrine regarding faith or morals, and that therefore such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves and not from the consent of the Church irreformable.
The doctrine of infallibility is based on the idea of papal supremacy, which holds that the Pope, as the successor to St. Peter, has the final authority to define the beliefs and doctrines of the Catholic Church. This power is referred to as speaking ex cathedra and is considered to be a charism entrusted by Christ to the Pope as the "head of the college of bishops".
While the Pope has the power to declare a dogma, it is rare for a Pope to do so outside of an Ecumenical Council. In recent times, there have only been two instances of Popes declaring dogmas outside of an Ecumenical Council: the Immaculate Conception of Mary in 1854 by Pope Pius IX and the Assumption of Mary into heaven in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. In both cases, the Popes consulted with bishops worldwide before proclaiming these dogmas.
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Dogmas cannot change or evolve
Dogmas are Catholic teachings that are considered to be expressions of objective truths that do not change. The Catholic Church holds that the content of a dogma has a divine origin, and once declared by the Church, its meaning is to be perpetually retained. This belief is based on the idea that God does not change, and therefore, God's divine revelation also remains the same.
The immutability of dogmas is a concept that has been emphasized by various Catholic figures. Pope Pius X, for instance, required bishops, priests, and other religious authorities to swear the Oath Against Modernism, which included a rejection of the idea that dogmas evolve and change their meaning. The oath stated:
> "The purpose of this is, then, not that dogma may be tailored according to what seems better and more suited to the culture of each age; rather, that the absolute and immutable truth preached by the apostles from the beginning may never be believed to be different, may never be understood in any other way."
This notion of dogma immutability is further supported by the belief that with Christ and the Apostles, revelation was complete. Any dogmas issued after the death of the apostles are considered explications of existing faith, clarifying and expounding on what was already believed. Vincent of Lérins, in the 5th century, wrote that while there should be progress within the church, it should be a growth in understanding without altering the faith itself.
The First Vatican Council, in its dogmatic constitution Dei Filius, affirmed the permanence of dogmas, stating that there must never be a deviation from the established meaning of sacred dogmas. This was further emphasized by the Second Vatican Council in Lumen Gentium.
In summary, the Catholic Church upholds the belief that dogmas are unchanging and immutable. Any attempts to alter the meaning of dogmas are seen as contradicting the very nature of divine revelation and the unchanging nature of God. The Church views dogmas as eternal truths that are to be perpetually upheld and understood as they were originally revealed.
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Frequently asked questions
There are at least 255 infallible dogmas of the Catholic faith.
Some examples of Catholic dogma include the doctrines of Transubstantiation, Papal Infallibility, the Immaculate Conception, and the Sacraments.
The term "Dogma Catholicum" was first used by Vincent of Lérins in 450 CE, referring to "what all, everywhere, and always believed."
Ecumenical Councils issue dogmas, often formulated against specific heresies. Many early dogmas were formulated by the Ecumenical Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon.
