Sola Fides vs Salve Gratias: Saved By Grace! Part 1

JMJ

Protestants believe that we are saved by Faith Alone (Sola Fides), even though the 'alone' part was added by Luther.

What do Catholics believe?

I had heard Steve Wood of Family Life International mention (https://www.dads.org), in response to Protestants, that we are saved by Grace and I realized that I didn't know enough about this topic. So I dusted of my electronic copy of Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma writtne by Ludwig Ott and dove into a study.

All quotes are from Ott's discussion on the Salvation

So I can now report that, yes the correct Catholic answer is that we are saved by Grace and the core seems to be the following:

The source of the Subjective Redemption is the Triune God.

Since however, the communication of grace is a work of the Divine Love, it is “appropriated" to the Holy Ghost, i.e., to the Personal Divine Love.
Nevertheless it is effected by the Three Persons in common.
The Subjective Redemption, however, is not the work of God alone.
By reason of the fact that God has endowed human nature with reason and free will, Justification requires the free cooperation of men (D 799).
The unfathomable mystery of the doctrine of grace lies in this intimate mutual co-operation of Divine power and human freedom.
The final object of the Subjective Redemption is the Beatific Vision.

The causal chain of salvation is founded on the Vicarious Atonement made by Our Lord Jesus Christ in His death on the cross. As stated above the subjective redemption is not the work of God alone, as there is the mutual cooperation in the act due to our free-will.

So yes, we are not saved by Faith Alone as the protestants want to believe, but at the core by the Grace provided by God and our cooperation with that Grace.

I get the sense that I've just touched the surface of this topic and will do a follow-up article when time allows.

The full map is attached below.

P^3

Comments

The Curious Case of Steve Skojec and the Dangers of Deep Diving into the Crisis Sub-Titled: The Failings of Others

+ JMJ It's been a while now since Steve Skojec sold 1P5 and abandoned the Catholic Faith. I've been a 'Trad' since 1982 and in those 40+ years I seen this death-spiral before with a similar end point. It seems that anyone who jumps into the fray unprepared for the enormous task of righting wrongs will, eventually, become discouraged by not the task but the people who surround them. I remember when Skojec complained of the treatment his family received from a traditional priest. This seems to have been the start of the end for him. So what can we learn from the likes of Steve Skojec, Michael Voris (maybe?), Louie Verrecchio, Gerry Matatix and other celebrity Catholics? Probably quite a lot about what not to do. First, don't burn out on the crisis? When you burn out, on work or anything else, little things assume a more greater importance than they are due. This is one of my 'canary in the coal mine' signals that I've been stretching myself too th...

Communique about Avrille Dominicans - SSPX.org

+ JMJ Having completed the review of the 'Avrille' perspective, this communique from the French District Superior is perfectly timed. I believe that the 'resistance' has lost rationality and further argumentation simply results in their holding on to their false ideal all the more firmly. Pray much ... First, for them to acquiesce to the grace of humility in order to obtain a clear perspective on the principles involved. Second, that we may remain faithful to the Church, and Her Dogmas, Doctrines and Principles. Lest we become that which against we strove ... P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.org

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

A Reply to Martin Blackshaw’s FLAWED Remnant article titled: FLAWED: SSPX Advice on Abortion-tainted Vaccines

+ JMJ An article has appeared in the Remnant (link to article) and I am afraid that there are a number of flaws in it that need to be addressed. The author, Martin Blackshaw, believes that both the Church and the SSPX are misapplying the principle of Moral Theology called 'Cooperation In Evil'. Unfortunately, Mr. Blackshaw rests most of his arguments on citing authors that support his position, without considering the possibility that they are wrong. This highlights a key factor in this crisis: ignorance of the faith and its application . I don't am not singling out Mr. Blackshaw for this criticism, I have observed that it applies to laity and religious, superior and subject a like. No one seems immune in this enduring crisis, myself included. I further believe that this ignorance is why so many Catholics, both traditional and non, rely on their gut feeling or "Catholic conscience" for charting their way through this crisis of the faith. While...

Magisterium and Levels of Assent

+ JMJ Understanding the levels of assent to be given to the teachings of the Church is a critical success factor in walking the knife's edge during this crisis of the Church. The levels of assent are generally associated with the theological grades of certainty, which are not surprisingly mirrored by the censures for contravening the teachings of the various levels.

Tradicat

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