Church Fathers, Day 192: St. Vincent of Lerins directs us to follow this rule: universality, antiquity, consen

Follow this rule: universality, antiquity, consent

How do we know what belief is truly Catholic? St. Vincent of Lerins gives us a simple rule to tell us when we’re safely within the bounds of Catholic truth.

In the Catholic Church itself, moreover, we must take all possible care to hold that faith that has been believed in all places, at all times, by all. What is truly and in the strictest sense “Catholic” is—as the name itself and the reason for it tell us—what takes in all universally.

We shall follow this rule if we follow universality, antiquity, consent.

We follow universality if we confess as the true faith that one faith that the whole Church throughout the world confesses.

We follow antiquity if we do not depart in any way from the interpretations that it is obvious were known to be held by our holy ancestors and fathers.

We follow consent in the same way if, in antiquity itself, we keep to the defini­tions and determinations that were agreed on by all, or at least almost all, priests and doctors.

–St. Vincent of Lerins, Commonitory, 6

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I submit my will to the teachings that are truly Catholic?

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, fill my heart with the peace of heaven, and keep me united with all the orthodox bishops, priests, and deacons of the holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

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