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Theologian Fr. Christian Pesch (d. 1925) Admits St. Thomas Erred On The Immaculate Conception
Below is a passage (translated from Latin) from pre-Vatican II theologian Fr. Christian Pesch, S.J. (1835-1925) on the issue of whether St. Thomas Aquinas contradicted the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. Fr. Pesch correctly acknowledged that St. Thomas contradicted the Immaculate Conception in the sense in which it was later defined by the Church. Pesch even calls it “desperate” to claim that St. Thomas was not wrong on this point. This issue is relevant to properly understanding the Magisterium. It reinforces the point that the teaching of saints and theologians (including a great saint such as St. Thomas) is not equivalent to the teaching of the Magisterium or the Chair of St. Peter. Here’s what Pesch wrote in a work published in 1908:
Fr. Christian Pesch (1835-1925), S. J., De Deo Creante (ed. 3., 1908), tract. 1. sect. 4, a. 4, prop. 33, #s 327 et 339 et 186: “In the school of the Dominicans Blessed Albert the Great taught that it was of the faith that the Blessed Virgin, following her contraction of original sin, was sanctified in the womb before her birth (III. Sent. Dist. 3. A. 4); but concerning the day or the hour no one knows except through revelation; except that it is more probable to expect that grace would be conferred shortly after animation rather than long after. But whether in this matter St. Thomas followed his teacher is still a disputed question… Nevertheless, I think that I should say it seems to me certain that St. Thomas denied the Immaculate Conception in that sense in which it was later defined by the Church… It cannot be denied – according to the position that St Thomas often propounds in his discourses when specifically treating of this topic – that the Blessed Virgin, in the first instant of the infusion of her soul, actually contracted Original Sin; but that shortly afterwards she was sanctified by grace.”
“The passage [of St. Thomas] is in itself so clear that the exegetical attempt to remove from this passage the acknowledgment of Original Sin in the Blessed Virgin is a desperate act!”
We have a video that discusses St. Thomas’ writing on this matter. It shows that St. Thomas was wrong on the issue: https://vaticancatholic.com/immaculate-conception-st-thomas-aquinas/ For example, St. Thomas wrote:
St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae Pt. III, Q. 27, A. 2, Reply to Objection 2: “If the soul of the Blessed Virgin had never incurred the stain of original sin, this would be derogatory to the dignity of Christ, by reason of His being the universal Savior of all.”
St. Thomas’ statement was obviously incorrect, as it contradicts the dogma of the Immaculate Conception as it would be subsequently defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854. St. Thomas made other statements to the same effect. The quote from Fr. Pesch above powerfully supports what we covered in the video. This is important to acknowledge because 1) it once again highlights the distinction between the teaching of theologians and the Magisterium; and 2) there are some “traditionalist” speakers and writers who to this day stubbornly insist that St. Thomas was not even wrong on the matter! They make this desperate claim because to admit that St. Thomas erred on this matter would destroy their incorrect understanding of what constitutes magisterial teaching. However, since they make this claim after the dogma was defined in 1854, their stubborn defense of a position that contradicts the dogma actually implicates them in heresy on the matter.
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