But this isn't what the early church fathers taught nor what the Church says it teaches. Scripture is infallible. All other writings are not so. You could argue that the Church is the only ones who can correctly interpret what the infallible scriptures says. But then that begs the question as to how they can come up with their various notions of Mary, the Eucharist, relics, etc. when there is none of this in scripture.
The fact is the Catholic Church has included works of other authors that was not considered infallible-relying upon documents subject to error, to justify erroneous positions. It would be the same as if Augustine quoted Jerome giving it the same status as the infallible scriptures. This would never have occured to them.
Many beliefs of the Church existed from the time of Jesus, and preceded the Scriptures, in many cases by 150 or 200 years. You say that the Eucharist is not in Scripture. We say it is and have the verses that we use to justify it.
The fact is the Catholic Church has included works of other authors that was not considered infallible-relying upon documents subject to error, to justify erroneous positions. It would be the same as if Augustine quoted Jerome giving it the same status as the infallible scriptures. This would never have occured to them.
Individual works of Church Fathers which do not meet the Magisterial approval are not considered infallible. Works that are approved are brought into the Church and considered part of the Church. Jerome was correct in many ways, as well. That does not mean that all Jerome was correct.