The Book of Faith

BOOK III, CHAPTER THREE

ALL HERETICS ARE IN

STATE OF PERDITION

Whosoever revolts, and continues not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. (II St. John 1:9)

If anyone does not profess properly and truthfully all that has been handed down and taught publicly to the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of God, to the last detail in word and intention: let him be anathema. (I Lateran Council)

If anyone does not with mind and lips reject and anathematize all abominable heretics together with their impious writings, even to the single least portion, let such a person be condemned. (Pope St. Martin I)

They have gone forth from us, but were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would surely have continued with us. Whosoever does not continue in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. (St. John I, 2:19; II, 1:9)

Whoever withdraws and departs from the Church will be guilty, even though he has attained grace in the Church. That he will perish will be imputed to himself. (St. Cyprian)

Thou art a God Who hatest all the workers of iniquity: Thou wilt destroy all who speak a lie. (Psalm 5:7)

You heretics are all guilty and wicked by the crime of schism. From this most heinous sacrilege not one of you can say he is innocent. (St. Augustine)

He who to support heresy distorts the Sacred Scriptures from their genuine and true meaning is guilty of the greatest injury to the Word of God; and against this crime we are warned by the Prince of the Apostles: "There are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they also do other Scriptures, to their own destruction" (II Peter 3:16). (Council of Trent)

The unbelief of heretics, who confess their belief in the Gospel and resist that faith by corrupting it, is a more grievous sin than that of the heathens, because the heathens have not accepted the faith in any way at all. Hence, the unbelief of heretics is the worst sin. Speaking absolutely, the unbelief of heretics is worse than that of pagans or Jews. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

The greatest evil existing today is heresy, an infernal rage which hurls countless souls into eternal damnation. (St. John Eudes)

These unfortunate people do not see that, in refusing to submit to the Church, they reduce themselves to believing in nothing. The so-called Reformers have revived ancient heresies, and have sought by false doctrines to destroy the faith of Jesus Christ, and, if possible, to bring all souls with themselves to eternal perdition. (St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori)

Protestantism is the Great Revolt against God. (Ven. Pope Pius IX)

Heretics are Antichrists and adversaries of Christ. (VII Council of Carthage)

Heretics are to be classed with thieves and murderers. (Pope Innocent IV)

Hence, if you fear to leave this Catholic unity outside which there is no salvation, beware of the subtleties of heretics.(Ven Pope Pius IX)

Therefore, let the blind and foolish subtlety of heretical impiety be despised. Whosoever continues in heresy is unpardonable, nor can he ever attain forgiveness. They are falling into that blasphemy which shall never be forgiven, neither in this world nor in the Judgment to come. (Pope St. Leo the Great)

Those who have been detected even by slight proof to have deviated from the doctrine of the Catholic religion ought to fall under the classification of heretic and under the sentences operating against heretics. (Pope Innocent IV)

If anyone holds to a single heresy, he is not a Catholic. (St. Augustine)

What is the use of fighting for many articles of the faith, and to perish for the doubting of a few? He believes no one article of faith who refuses to believe any single one. (St. Edmund Campion)

Against the First Commandment, all those sin who do not have faith. Such sinners are very numerous, for they include all who fall into heresy, all who reject what Holy Mother the Church proposes for our belief. (Catechism of Trent)

Anyone who says "I love God," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar. (Pope St. Gregory the Great)

Those who turn aside unto deceits, the Lord shall number with the workers of iniquity. Thou art a God Who hatest all the workers of iniquity: Thou wilt destroy all who speak a lie. (Psalm 124:5; 5:7)

A man who is a heretic is subverted and sins, being condemned by his own judgment. (St. Titus 3:10-11)

Heresies are embraced only by those who, had they persevered in the faith, would be lost by the irregularity of their lives. (St. Augustine)

What shows me that your life is badly governed? The poison of heresy! You have deserted the light and gone into darkness! I beg that you delay no more, nor kick against the prick of conscience which I know is perpetually tormenting you. Return, return, and do not wait for the rod of justice. For our faults do not pass unpunished, especially those committed against Holy Church. (St. Catherine of Siena)

Many Protestants have almost the same practices as we, only they do not submit to the Holy Father and attach themselves to the true Ark of Salvation. They do not want to become Catholics and unite themselves under the banner of truth wherein alone there is true salvation. Of what avail is it, children, if Protestants lead naturally pure, honest lives, yet lack the Holy Ghost? They may well say: "We do no harm; we lead good lives"; but, if they do not enter the true fold of Christ, all their protestations are in vain. (St. Frances Xavier Cabrini)

People often say, "It is better to be a good Protestant than a bad Catholic." That is not true! That would mean that one could be saved without the true faith. No. A bad Catholic remains a child of the family, although a prodigal; and however great a sinner he may be, he still has a right to mercy. Through his faith, a bad Catholic is nearer to God than a Protestant, for he is a member of the household, whereas the heretic is not. And how hard it is to make him become one! (St. Peter Julian Eymard)

How many are the infidels, heretics, and schismatics who do not enjoy the happiness of the true faith! The earth is full of them, and they are all lost! (St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori)

Therefore, we are right in censuring, anathematizing, abhorring, and abominating the perversity of heart shown by heretics. (St. Augustine)

We excommunicate and anathematize every heresy, condemning all heretics under whatever names they may be known; for, while they have different faces, they are nevertheless bound to each other by their tails. Secular authorities shall be compelled to exterminate all heretics to the best of their ability, and if, from sufficient evidence, it is apparent that a bishop is negligent in cleansing his diocese of heretical wickedness, let him be deposed and another substituted who will confound heretical depravity. But if any of them by damnable obstinacy disapprove, from this very fact let them be regarded as heretics. (IV Lateran Council)

I could go forth all by myself against miserable heretics! (St. Teresa of Avila)

How happy I would have been to fight at the time of the Crusades or, later on, against the heretics! I want to be a warrior, a martyr! Oh! Is it possible I must die in bed? (St. Therese of Lisieux)

A Christian should argue with a blasphemer only by running his sword through his bowels as far as it will go. (St. Louis, King of France)

When a person blasphemes, his mouth should instantly be shut. Strike him in the mouth! Crush it, so that he cannot speak! (St. John Chrysostom)

REFERENCES

BOOK III, CHAPTER THREE

1. I Lateran: HOC

2. Martin I: Canon 18, Lateran Council, DNZ: 271-272

3. Cyprian: Epistle 69:4, CSL:3753

4. Augustine: "Contra Epistolam Parmeniani," Bk. II, ch.2, no. 25; PL 44; idem, no.25, FOC p.177, PL 43:33; CSL vol.LI (1908); "Contra Litter. Petil. Donat.," Bk. II, FOC cf. p.311

5. Trent: "Decree on Edition and Use of the Sacred Books," Session IV, DNZ:786

6. Thomas: STL II-II, Q.10, art.3, ff; art.6

7. John: LSW p.55

8. Alphonsus Maria: cf. TRE ch.16

9. Pius IX: From The Housetops, Still River, MA: 1977, vol. V, p.17, no.1

10. VII Carthage: PL 4:1051; CSL vol.III, Pt.1 (1868); SCN vol. I, p.951; JUR vol.I:600

11. Innocent IV: "Ad Extirpanda," cf. ISABELLA OF SPAIN, Dr. Wm. Thos. Walsh, London: Sheed & Ward, 1935, p.239

12. Pius IX: PTC

13. Leo the Great: Sermon 75, PL 54:400; SS vol.III p.44, no.4

14. Innocent IV: THE REGISTERS OF INNOCENT IV, Berger, Paris: 1881

15. St. Augustine: "On Heresies," no.88; PL 42

16. Edmund: LFS p.176