Source: #STS [[Sacrae Theologiae Summa]]: 1a t.1, t.2 b.1-2 (pp. 12-197) ***Fundamental Theology***: The science of the *foundations of the faith*. (T. l c. l n . 35-37) - Three aspects: - Knowledge of the credibility and of the necessity (*credenditas*) of faith. - Knowledge of the existence of this infallible and authentic Magisterium as the guardian of the revealed word of God. - Knowledge of the sources from which the Magisterium draws its truths and the knowledge of the matter used in arguing. - a quasi *bridge between Philosophy and dogmatic Theology*. - internal, primary, positive and more comprehensive purpose of this discipline (cf. "Apologetics") ***Theological Notes:*** (*STS* 1a, p.6) From highest to lowest - *Divine faith* (*de fide divina*): what is contained in the word of God written or handed down. - Opposite is: *an error in faith (error in fide)*. - *Divine and catholic faith (de fide divina et catholica)*: what is contained in the word of God written or handed down *and* is proposed by the Church either by a solemn judgment or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium to be believed as divinely revealed. - Opposite is: *heresy*. - *Defined divine and catholic faith (de fide divina et catholica definita)*: what is contained in the word of God written or handed down *and* is proposed by the Church by a solemn judgment, that is, by the infallible Magisterium, exercised in an extraordinary way, either in an ecumenical council or by the Roman Pontiff speaking “ex cathedra” and to be believed as divinely revealed. - Opposite is: *heresy*. - N.B. Even the Chapter Titles in Trent and [[Vatican I]] are considered as true definitions. - *Proximate to faith (fidei proximo)*: a truth that by an almost unanimous agreement of theologians is contained in the word of God written or handed down. - Opposite is: *proximate to error* or *heresy.* - *Faith based on the authority of the Church (fides ecclesiastica)*: a truth not formally revealed, which is proposed infallibly by the Magisterium of the Church. - Opposite is: *error in ecclesiastical faith*. - Those who do not admit there is such a thing as ecclesiastical faith give a different theological note for such a truth. - *Catholic doctrine (doctrina catholica)*: a truth that is taught in the whole Church, but not always proposed infallibly. - Opposite is: *error in catholic doctrine*. - e.g.: what the Roman Pontiffs wish to teach explicitly in encyclical letters. - *Theologically certain (theologice certa)*: a truth that in the theological schools is certainly recognized as necessarily connected with revealed truths; this connection can be either virtual or presupposition or final. - Opposite is: *error in theology*. - *A doctrine to be so held that its contrary is temerarious (doctrina it a tenenda, ut contraria sit temeraria)*: a truth proposed by the Roman Congregations, which proposition however does not enjoy the special approbation of the Roman Pontiff. - *Common and certain in theology (communis et certa in theologia*): what by the common agreement of theologians is taught in the schools as well founded. - Opposite is: *false in theology, temerarious.* - *Probable (probabilis)*: a theological opinion with a lesser grade of certainty. - Ott subdistinguishes: - *probabilior:* more probable. - *probabilis:* probable. - *bene fundata:* well-founded. - *senentia pia:* pious opinion. Regarded as being in agreement with the consciousness of Faith of the Church. - *opinion tolerata:* weakly founded, but tolerated by the Church. - *Ludwig Ott*: With regard to the doctrinal teaching of the Church it must be well noted that not all the assertions of the Teaching Authority of the Church on questions of Faith and morals are infallible and consequently irrevocable. Only those are infallible which emanate from General Councils representing the whole episcopate, and the Papal Decisions Ex Cathedra (cf. D 1839). The ordinary and usual form of the Papal teaching activity is not infallible. Further, the decisions of the Roman Congregations (Holy Office, Bible Commission) are not infallible. *Nevertheless,* normally they are to be accepted with an inner assent which is based on the high supernatural authority of the Holy See (*assensus internus supernaturalis, assensus religiosus*). The so-called "silentium obsequiosum," that is "reverent silence," does not generally suffice. By way of exception, the obligation of inner agreement may cease if a competent expert, after a renewed scientific investigation of all grounds, arrives at the positive conviction that the decision rests on an error.