Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: Campion
"Second, baptism does not infuse grace into an infant."

Obviously, that is not our belief. You can hardly expect us to be consistent with beliefs of yours which we reject.

Huh?? That is precisely the RC position.

“The justification of which St. Paul here speaks is the infusion of sanctifying grace which alone renders a person supernaturally pleasing in the sight of God.” “But justification, that is, an infusion of sanctifying grace, cannot be merited by us; it is an entirely gratuitous gift of God.” (from the Douay Bible commentary on Romans 3 and 4)

And from the Catholic Encyclopedia on Justification:

The two elements of active justification, forgiveness of sin and sanctification, furnish at the same time the elements of habitual justification, freedom from sin and holiness. According to the Catholic doctrine, however, this freedom from sin and this sanctity are effected, not by two distinct and successive Divine acts, but by a single act of God. For, just as light dispels darkness, so the infusion of sanctifying grace eo ipso dispels from the soul original and mortal sin. (Cf. Trent, sess. VI, can. xi: "Si quis dixerit, homines justificari vel sola imputatione justitiae Christi, vel sola peccatorum remissione, exclusa gratia et caritate, quae in cordibus eorum per Spiritum Sanctum diffundatur atque illis inhaereat. . ., a.s.")

While in Baptism infants are forthwith cleansed of the stain of original sin without any preparation on their part, the adult must pass through a moral preparation, which consists essentially in turning from sin and towards God.

Someone needs a refresher course.
67 posted on 05/03/2004 2:59:40 PM PDT by topcat54
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies ]


To: topcat54
While in Baptism infants are forthwith cleansed of the stain of original sin without any preparation on their part

Did you miss this part? "Cleansing of the stain of original sin" and "infusion of grace" are two ways of saying the same thing.

The Council of Trent continues:

CANON VI.-If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law do not contain the grace which they signify; or, that they do not confer that grace on those who do not place an obstacle thereunto; as though they were merely outward signs of grace or justice received through faith, and certain marks of the Christian profession, whereby believers are distinguished amongst men from unbelievers; let him be anathema.

Someone needs a refresher course.

You do, in humility.

69 posted on 05/03/2004 3:16:41 PM PDT by Campion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies ]

To: topcat54
Maybe you just misunderstood what I wrote. Here it is again.

tc54> "Second, baptism does not infuse grace into an infant."

me> Obviously, that [i.e., the idea that baptism does not infuse grace into an infant] is not our belief. You can hardly expect us to be consistent with beliefs of yours which we reject.

Read a little more carefully next time.

71 posted on 05/03/2004 3:20:00 PM PDT by Campion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson