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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Blessings from the 5th Dogma	Philo	Monday, August 2, 2010
Question: Thank you Brother, for the good and prompt anwers on the questions related to the 5th Dogma . Thought that I need to express why it would be good for The Church to declare it as Dogma ; while our Lord has given her to us as our Mother (and such incomprehensible love , to do so !) , Church declaring same could be like a needed invitation from her children,more trust in her role to assume this Motherly authority at a deeper level , since there are many who do not see her so and many could be in conflict with the truth , like expressed in my previous question . Can see how this could also bring about the needed unity among believers and even with nonbelievers , at a miraculous pace even , since the truth of having one common Mother migt sink in better under supernatural grace resulting from such augmented trust and respect for her ! Wondering what the objections could be to declare it as Dogma !
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Philo: To declare a dogma is a very rare thing. A dogma is not a new teaching, but is a formal definition of a teaching that has existed since the beginning of the Church. Thus, the only time a declared dogma is needed is when there is a overwhelming need to declare it due to disputes by theologians, for example, requiring a final clarification of the teaching. The proposed 5th Dogma says nothing new. It can't say anything new since dogma must be teaching that can be traced to the beginning. Dogma will never be declared for "public relations" purposes. The Faithful are already invited by Christ Himself to accept His mother as their own Mother. There is no greater invitation than that which comes from the lips of Jesus Christ personally. To paraphrase the words of Abraham to Lazarus, modified for this topic: "If they will not listen to Christ on the Cross and the teachings of the Church by the Ordinary Magisterium for 2000 years, they will not listen to Church dogma formally declared today." In any event, this issue is, frankly, none of our concern. Only the Pope, or an Ecumenical Council with the ratification of the Pope, can declare dogma. The considerations to make that declaration will not be based on the wishes of the people, but on theology and whether or not there is a need for formal clarification of definitions. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Blessings from the 5th Dogma

Philo

Monday, August 2, 2010

Question:

Thank you Brother, for the good and prompt anwers on the questions related to the 5th Dogma .

Thought that I need to express why it would be good for The Church to declare it as Dogma ; while our Lord has given her to us as our Mother (and such incomprehensible love , to do so !) , Church declaring same could be like a needed invitation from her children,more trust in her role to assume this Motherly authority at a deeper level , since there are many who do not see her so and many could be in conflict with the truth , like expressed in my previous question .

Can see how this could also bring about the needed unity among believers and even with nonbelievers , at a miraculous pace even , since the truth of having one common Mother migt sink in better under supernatural grace resulting from such augmented trust and respect for her !

Wondering what the objections could be to declare it as Dogma !

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Philo:

To declare a dogma is a very rare thing. A dogma is not a new teaching, but is a formal definition of a teaching that has existed since the beginning of the Church. Thus, the only time a declared dogma is needed is when there is a overwhelming need to declare it due to disputes by theologians, for example, requiring a final clarification of the teaching.

The proposed 5th Dogma says nothing new. It can't say anything new since dogma must be teaching that can be traced to the beginning.

Dogma will never be declared for "public relations" purposes. The Faithful are already invited by Christ Himself to accept His mother as their own Mother. There is no greater invitation than that which comes from the lips of Jesus Christ personally. To paraphrase the words of Abraham to Lazarus, modified for this topic: "If they will not listen to Christ on the Cross and the teachings of the Church by the Ordinary Magisterium for 2000 years, they will not listen to Church dogma formally declared today."

In any event, this issue is, frankly, none of our concern. Only the Pope, or an Ecumenical Council with the ratification of the Pope, can declare dogma. The considerations to make that declaration will not be based on the wishes of the people, but on theology and whether or not there is a need for formal clarification of definitions.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum