Dei Filius I: On God, Creation, and Providence

Dei Filius I:On God, Creation, and Providence Rudi A. Te Velde In this essay, I want to share my impressions of the first chapter dogmatic constitution Vatican I. It begins its declaration basic truths Christian faith in a language which is similar, probably intended be that solemn confession faith: "The holy, catholic, apostolic, Roman church believes acknowledges there one true living creator lord heaven earth."1 reminds one, some formulations, Nicene Creed, but with remarkable difference: here, text constitution, object formulated as proposition about God's existence.2 What said not, for example, "I believe Father almighty"; Church holds it exists God. One can notice subtle shift from proclamation (rational) truth. The Pope, gathered all bishops Church, declares doctrinal statement directed, by implication, against those who dare deny existence opening sentence 1 corresponds canon, says that, "if anyone denies [End Page 823] things visible invisible: let him anathema."3 Thus "one, God" biblical exists, truth, consequence, opposed thesis atheism false must rejected. Who asserting truth? speaking authority? leaves no doubt subject. entitled speak authority matters faith, because apostolic. speaks, person pope, legitimate successor St. Peter, granted her God himself through his Son Jesus Christ. preface preceding appointed "mother mistress nations." Hence: She never cease witnessing truth . declaring it, she knows these words were directed her: "My spirit upon you, have put your mouth, shall not depart out mouth time forth evermore" (Is 59:21).4 This gives sitting chair "teaching defending Catholic condemning erroneous doctrines."5 And thing declared, part Church's task proclaim nations, assert error atheism. important understand genre constitution. document pope together bishops, expounds tenets teaching. purpose reaffirm doctrine, clarify fundamentals message world. A may occasioned actual developments world society, speaks standpoint eternity. case Filius, addressee mid-nineteenth century, dominance scientific reason, materialism, naturalism, atheism, unimportantly, current forms idealistic pantheism (Georg Hegel, Friedrich Schelling, influence German Idealism general); what especially stands 824] view supernatural religion being irrational. For wants reclaim reason overcome disastrous gap between (modern) rationality. double program underlying constitution—teaching doctrines—reminds Summa contra gentiles [SCG] Thomas Aquinas.6 The...