Forming the Intellect: Foundational Dogmatic and Moral Theology
Matthew Bellisario O.P. 2020
Man and the Intellect
Man was created by God in His image, the Imago Dei. This primarily refers to the two powers of the soul known as the intellect and the will. Our intellect is informed by the five senses which impress images or phantasms upon our memory. The ability of man to grasp principles, understand reality, reflect and deliberate on what he has learned and put them into free action towards an end is unique among all creatures. Unlike the brute animals which can perceive things in their sense memory and act according to instinct, man can uniquely reflect on what he learns. The great Thomistic theologian Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange tells us, “…human reason does not seize only facts. It seizes also the raisons d’etre of facts-it seizes the why,” Man is able to grasp objective universals by means of his intellect. This means that the intellect does not determine what is true, but discovers what is true.
The intellect is not found materially in the body per se as in the brain, but as a spiritual power of the soul which is united to the body to which the brain communicates. This is an important distinction between the materialist philosophical proposal and that of an Aristotelian/Thomistic philosophical proposal. Although the material brain is integral to the intellect, the intellect does not cease to be after the body dies. During our worldly life, the intellect is like a sponge that is being bombarded by the senses. So it is important to properly form the intellect so we know how to properly digest, sort through and interpret all of the information we take in. In other words, we need to know how to properly digest all that we ingest. Why do we have this ability?
Dr. Alfred J. Freddoso offers insight, "On the side of practical reason, the powers of intellective understanding and willing transform our ‘animal’ activities into potential paths toward genuine beatitude — or toward perdition, as the case may be. Within certain limits, we are able to plan our lives, to adopt ends, to choose suitable means to those ends, and to try (at least) to integrate our lives into unified virtuous wholes. Unlike Arnie (Non-intellectual animals), we are not constrained to act immediately or by instinct on our feelings, but are instead able to resist those feelings, or to control them, or even to habituate them."
Choosing Proper Literature
One fact about our age is that we have incredible access to Catholic literature. We have access to a large corpus of writings that those in the past never dreamed of. We can fit an entire library on a thumb drive. This access contains both a positive and negative element; the positive, we have access to a large amount of information, and the negative, we have access to a lot of information. We have a lot of information to sort through. It is then important to scrutinize what books we will read so as not to waste valuable time, but even more, so that we may not buy into today's false philosophical and theological errors. There is a quote I like to reference when discussing what literature we are to choose so that we may properly form our intellect. The great Henry Edward Cardinal Manning (1808-1892) once wrote, “Evil men, evil lives, evil examples, spread a moral pestilence openly and powerfully; but nothing spreads falsehood and evil more surely and deeply than a bad book. A bad book is falsehood and sin in a permanent and impersonal form; all the more dangerous because disguised, and tenacious in its action upon the soul.” I think we should keep this quote at the forefront of our minds when we are choosing what reading material we are going to ingest. whether it be in print or digital form.
In this day and age, there are more “Catholic” books being published than ever before. In addition to the many Catholic publishers, there is a massive market being developed in self-publishing. With the aid of social media, one can now publish their own book at minimal cost and distribute it far and wide. In the past, a Catholic could somewhat rely on the Imprimi Potest, Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat which declared the work free of error with proper permission to be printed. Of course, these declarations are only as good as the bishop or theologian signing off on them. Since the Second Vatican Council, the importance of these declarations in the publication of Catholic books has decreased immensely and some bishops even refuse to grant them in their diocese. Most Catholic books today are published without these approvals, and those that do have them are sometimes questionable. Given these facts, we as laity must approach our choice of books with extreme caution.
Much of this process depends on each person and where they are in their knowledge of the Catholic faith. New converts or those not well-studied need to be very concerned in determining what to read in regard to dogmatic and moral theology. Sadly in today's church climate much of what was probably given to them during the RCIA process in the average Catholic parish was erroneously or ambiguously presented. It is very important for every Catholic to have a basic knowledge of the faith from a dogmatic and moral standpoint. Of course, these two are intimately intertwined. Dogmatic theology focuses on the doctrines of the faith while moral theology focuses on how we live that faith in order to please God. The Catholic Encyclopedia tells us, “The subject-matter of dogmatic theology is those doctrines which serve to enrich the knowledge necessary or convenient for man, whose destination is supernatural. Moral theology, on the other hand, is limited to those doctrines which discuss the relations of man and his free actions to God and his supernatural end, and propose the means instituted by God for the attainment of that end.” On this basic level then all Catholics must build upon.
Foundations of Dogmatic and Moral Theology
For new Catholics, or even those wanting a refresher on the basics, it is my personal recommendation to start with two books on dogmatic theology. The first being the ‘Catechism of the Council of Trent’ also known as the 'Roman Catechism', and the second being ‘Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine’ by Archbishop Michael Sheehan. The Catechism of the Council of Trent will offer a secure doctrinal foundation to build upon and the second book will fill in the gaps where modern moral questions are concerned. While both of these books also touch on moral theology, these two works alone if well studied will provide all of the basic dogmatic teachings of the Catholic faith in a clear and precise manner. If it were up to me, I would use these two books in every RCIA program and not much else. Much confusion today would be eliminated if every Catholic took the time to study them.
In the realm of moral theology, there are a few “go-to” books for basic instruction. I would recommend them in this order. The first is ‘Right and Reason’ by Fr. Austin Fagothey, the second, ‘The Last Superstition’ by Edward Feser and finally ‘The Teleological Grammar of the Moral Act’ by Dr. Steven A. Long. Right and Reason is a fairly easy read and presents an overview of Catholic moral theology from a Thomistic perspective. It is a solid easily accessible foundational work much like a high school textbook. It offers great explanations as to why the Church teaches what it teaches much of it being from a philosophical viewpoint. The second book, ‘The Last Superstition’ is a great work to see how the basic principles of morality work from an Aristotelian Thomistic perspective. Through many examples, Feser lays out how moral principles play out in the real world. Although its primary purpose was to oppose the new atheism, the content is worth far more. It is especially valuable in understanding the Church’s teachings on sexual morality. No Catholic library should be without this book. It also is not a hard book to read but keep your colored pencil nearby because you are going to want to underline and make notes for later reference.
Finally, the most advanced of these books is Dr. Long’s ‘The Teleological Grammar of the Moral Act.’ Be prepared to put your study cap on for this one. Although not a large book, it is not an easy read, but you get out of it what you put into it. This is not bedtime reading. In this book, you will learn how to address complex moral situations. For example, you will learn the difference between self-defense and punishment and the proper understanding of the principle of double effect. This knowledge comes at a price. If you are not familiar with Thomistic theological/philosophical terms, read it next to your computer or phone to look up words and terms so you can grasp what is being conveyed. Once you put the effort in to read this book you will find it much easier to read other Thomistic works. It is truly worth every hour that you put into it. If you study these three books you will not be fooled by the modernist moral theology that is being peddled far and wide now in the Church. You will understand what the Church teaches and why concerning the most important moral questions.
Summary
The failure to build on a solid foundation of dogmatic and moral theology leads to a crumbling house of confusion, apathy, heresy and ultimately hell. It is imperative then that every Catholic uses resources such as these to build upon so that it becomes easy to spot "Catholic" books that deviate from the basics of the faith. Otherwise, it is easy to get off track. The intellect must be formed properly so that we act properly in response to God’s call in our lives. Our intellectual formation affects how we view the world and how we choose to act within the world in relation to God and our fellow man. There is nothing more important than this, so it must be with great care that we approach the literature that we consume. A great friend of mine who was a priest of many years told me that all Catholics are obliged to learn and continue to learn about their Catholic faith. Nothing is truly more important because we are learning how to love God by doing so!
In addition to dogmatic and moral theology, it is also important to read books focused on spiritual perfection as well as perennial philosophy. These works can also offer us help in living a life that is pleasing to God. In my next post, I will point out some classic spiritual works that are very beneficial in leading us from the beginning stages of the spiritual life to hopefully an advanced union with God. In my third installment, I will take a look at some foundational philosophical works.
Matthew Bellisario O.P. 2020
Man and the Intellect
Man was created by God in His image, the Imago Dei. This primarily refers to the two powers of the soul known as the intellect and the will. Our intellect is informed by the five senses which impress images or phantasms upon our memory. The ability of man to grasp principles, understand reality, reflect and deliberate on what he has learned and put them into free action towards an end is unique among all creatures. Unlike the brute animals which can perceive things in their sense memory and act according to instinct, man can uniquely reflect on what he learns. The great Thomistic theologian Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange tells us, “…human reason does not seize only facts. It seizes also the raisons d’etre of facts-it seizes the why,” Man is able to grasp objective universals by means of his intellect. This means that the intellect does not determine what is true, but discovers what is true.
The intellect is not found materially in the body per se as in the brain, but as a spiritual power of the soul which is united to the body to which the brain communicates. This is an important distinction between the materialist philosophical proposal and that of an Aristotelian/Thomistic philosophical proposal. Although the material brain is integral to the intellect, the intellect does not cease to be after the body dies. During our worldly life, the intellect is like a sponge that is being bombarded by the senses. So it is important to properly form the intellect so we know how to properly digest, sort through and interpret all of the information we take in. In other words, we need to know how to properly digest all that we ingest. Why do we have this ability?
Dr. Alfred J. Freddoso offers insight, "On the side of practical reason, the powers of intellective understanding and willing transform our ‘animal’ activities into potential paths toward genuine beatitude — or toward perdition, as the case may be. Within certain limits, we are able to plan our lives, to adopt ends, to choose suitable means to those ends, and to try (at least) to integrate our lives into unified virtuous wholes. Unlike Arnie (Non-intellectual animals), we are not constrained to act immediately or by instinct on our feelings, but are instead able to resist those feelings, or to control them, or even to habituate them."
Choosing Proper Literature
One fact about our age is that we have incredible access to Catholic literature. We have access to a large corpus of writings that those in the past never dreamed of. We can fit an entire library on a thumb drive. This access contains both a positive and negative element; the positive, we have access to a large amount of information, and the negative, we have access to a lot of information. We have a lot of information to sort through. It is then important to scrutinize what books we will read so as not to waste valuable time, but even more, so that we may not buy into today's false philosophical and theological errors. There is a quote I like to reference when discussing what literature we are to choose so that we may properly form our intellect. The great Henry Edward Cardinal Manning (1808-1892) once wrote, “Evil men, evil lives, evil examples, spread a moral pestilence openly and powerfully; but nothing spreads falsehood and evil more surely and deeply than a bad book. A bad book is falsehood and sin in a permanent and impersonal form; all the more dangerous because disguised, and tenacious in its action upon the soul.” I think we should keep this quote at the forefront of our minds when we are choosing what reading material we are going to ingest. whether it be in print or digital form.
In this day and age, there are more “Catholic” books being published than ever before. In addition to the many Catholic publishers, there is a massive market being developed in self-publishing. With the aid of social media, one can now publish their own book at minimal cost and distribute it far and wide. In the past, a Catholic could somewhat rely on the Imprimi Potest, Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat which declared the work free of error with proper permission to be printed. Of course, these declarations are only as good as the bishop or theologian signing off on them. Since the Second Vatican Council, the importance of these declarations in the publication of Catholic books has decreased immensely and some bishops even refuse to grant them in their diocese. Most Catholic books today are published without these approvals, and those that do have them are sometimes questionable. Given these facts, we as laity must approach our choice of books with extreme caution.
Much of this process depends on each person and where they are in their knowledge of the Catholic faith. New converts or those not well-studied need to be very concerned in determining what to read in regard to dogmatic and moral theology. Sadly in today's church climate much of what was probably given to them during the RCIA process in the average Catholic parish was erroneously or ambiguously presented. It is very important for every Catholic to have a basic knowledge of the faith from a dogmatic and moral standpoint. Of course, these two are intimately intertwined. Dogmatic theology focuses on the doctrines of the faith while moral theology focuses on how we live that faith in order to please God. The Catholic Encyclopedia tells us, “The subject-matter of dogmatic theology is those doctrines which serve to enrich the knowledge necessary or convenient for man, whose destination is supernatural. Moral theology, on the other hand, is limited to those doctrines which discuss the relations of man and his free actions to God and his supernatural end, and propose the means instituted by God for the attainment of that end.” On this basic level then all Catholics must build upon.
Foundations of Dogmatic and Moral Theology
For new Catholics, or even those wanting a refresher on the basics, it is my personal recommendation to start with two books on dogmatic theology. The first being the ‘Catechism of the Council of Trent’ also known as the 'Roman Catechism', and the second being ‘Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine’ by Archbishop Michael Sheehan. The Catechism of the Council of Trent will offer a secure doctrinal foundation to build upon and the second book will fill in the gaps where modern moral questions are concerned. While both of these books also touch on moral theology, these two works alone if well studied will provide all of the basic dogmatic teachings of the Catholic faith in a clear and precise manner. If it were up to me, I would use these two books in every RCIA program and not much else. Much confusion today would be eliminated if every Catholic took the time to study them.
In the realm of moral theology, there are a few “go-to” books for basic instruction. I would recommend them in this order. The first is ‘Right and Reason’ by Fr. Austin Fagothey, the second, ‘The Last Superstition’ by Edward Feser and finally ‘The Teleological Grammar of the Moral Act’ by Dr. Steven A. Long. Right and Reason is a fairly easy read and presents an overview of Catholic moral theology from a Thomistic perspective. It is a solid easily accessible foundational work much like a high school textbook. It offers great explanations as to why the Church teaches what it teaches much of it being from a philosophical viewpoint. The second book, ‘The Last Superstition’ is a great work to see how the basic principles of morality work from an Aristotelian Thomistic perspective. Through many examples, Feser lays out how moral principles play out in the real world. Although its primary purpose was to oppose the new atheism, the content is worth far more. It is especially valuable in understanding the Church’s teachings on sexual morality. No Catholic library should be without this book. It also is not a hard book to read but keep your colored pencil nearby because you are going to want to underline and make notes for later reference.
Finally, the most advanced of these books is Dr. Long’s ‘The Teleological Grammar of the Moral Act.’ Be prepared to put your study cap on for this one. Although not a large book, it is not an easy read, but you get out of it what you put into it. This is not bedtime reading. In this book, you will learn how to address complex moral situations. For example, you will learn the difference between self-defense and punishment and the proper understanding of the principle of double effect. This knowledge comes at a price. If you are not familiar with Thomistic theological/philosophical terms, read it next to your computer or phone to look up words and terms so you can grasp what is being conveyed. Once you put the effort in to read this book you will find it much easier to read other Thomistic works. It is truly worth every hour that you put into it. If you study these three books you will not be fooled by the modernist moral theology that is being peddled far and wide now in the Church. You will understand what the Church teaches and why concerning the most important moral questions.
Summary
The failure to build on a solid foundation of dogmatic and moral theology leads to a crumbling house of confusion, apathy, heresy and ultimately hell. It is imperative then that every Catholic uses resources such as these to build upon so that it becomes easy to spot "Catholic" books that deviate from the basics of the faith. Otherwise, it is easy to get off track. The intellect must be formed properly so that we act properly in response to God’s call in our lives. Our intellectual formation affects how we view the world and how we choose to act within the world in relation to God and our fellow man. There is nothing more important than this, so it must be with great care that we approach the literature that we consume. A great friend of mine who was a priest of many years told me that all Catholics are obliged to learn and continue to learn about their Catholic faith. Nothing is truly more important because we are learning how to love God by doing so!
In addition to dogmatic and moral theology, it is also important to read books focused on spiritual perfection as well as perennial philosophy. These works can also offer us help in living a life that is pleasing to God. In my next post, I will point out some classic spiritual works that are very beneficial in leading us from the beginning stages of the spiritual life to hopefully an advanced union with God. In my third installment, I will take a look at some foundational philosophical works.
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