Commonitory

Contents

Translation in progress.

Reading pages: 1–11 · 12–21 · 22–30 · 31–33

1. 1Writing as Peregrinus from a monastery, Vincent explains why he sets down in a 'reminder' what he received from the fathers.
2. 2Vincent's rule: the faith is guarded by Scripture and by the church's tradition, holding what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all.
3. 3How to apply the rule when part of the church, or the whole, is infected by error, or when error appears in antiquity itself.
4. 4The examples of the Donatists and the Arians show the harm done by novelty and the safety of holding to the universal and ancient faith.
5. 5Vincent cites Ambrose on the Arian persecution and praises the confessors who defended the whole church's ancient faith.
6. 6Pope Stephen's resistance to the rebaptism of heretics shows that the church keeps what was handed down and rejects novelty, even when its advocates were great men like Cyprian.
7. 7Heretics shelter under the obscure writings of ancient saints, like Ham exposing Noah; Paul's letters show how gravely changing the faith is condemned.
8. 8Paul's anathema on anyone, even an apostle or an angel, who preaches another gospel shows that the faith once handed down may not be changed.
9. 9Paul's ban on another gospel binds all churches and all ages, against which the Pelagians call for a new faith.
10. 10God permits eminent teachers to introduce novelties in order to test whether his people love him, as Deut 13 teaches.
11. 11Nestorius, Photinus, and Apollinaris illustrate how gifted and admired teachers became a test for the church.
12. 12Vincent summarizes the errors of Photinus on the Trinity, of Apollinaris on Christ's soul and flesh, and of Nestorius on two persons in Christ.
13. 13Against these errors Vincent sets out the catholic faith: in God one substance and three persons, in Christ two substances and one person.
14. 14Christ's 'person' is not a role played like an actor's mask, as the Manichees held, but the Word truly became man.
15. 15The union of God and man in Christ took place at the conception in the Virgin's womb, which is why Mary is truly called Theotokos.
16. 16Vincent recapitulates, anathematizing Photinus, Apollinaris and Nestorius and blessing the church's faith in the Trinity and the one person of Christ.
17. 17Origen, with all his genius, learning, holiness and influence, became the greatest test of the church when he interpreted Scripture in new ways.
18. 18Tertullian, the foremost Latin writer, became a test of the church when he accepted Montanus's prophecies.
19. 19The examples show that God allows teachers to stray in order to test whether his people love him.
20. 20The true catholic prefers the ancient universal faith to any teacher; heresies come so that the approved may be made manifest, and the wavering should return to the church.
21. 21Vincent marvels at those who keep changing the faith, against the Scriptures that forbid moving the ancient landmarks and against Paul's charge to guard the deposit.
22. 22Vincent expounds 'guard the deposit': the faith is something received and to be handed on unchanged, though it may be explained more clearly.
23. 23There is real progress in the church's understanding of the faith, like the growth of a body or a seed, but never a change into something else; councils only define more clearly what was always believed.
24. 24Heresies are always novelties with a known founder, place and date, such as Pelagius, Caelestius, Arius, Sabellius, Novatian and Simon Magus; catholics keep what was handed down.
25. 25Heretics use Scripture constantly, as wolves in sheep's clothing, and are revealed by their new interpretations, as Paul says of false apostles disguised as true.
26. 26The devil quoted Scripture to tempt Christ, and heretics do the same, promising a special grace to their followers.
27. 27Catholics distinguish truth from error in Scripture by interpreting it according to the church's tradition: universality, antiquity, and consent.
28. 28The consent of the fathers is to be used chiefly on the rule of faith and against new heresies, holding what all or most taught and setting aside any one teacher's private opinion.
29. 29Vincent recapitulates his rule and recalls how the Council of Ephesus (431) condemned Nestorius by reading the agreeing opinions of the fathers.
30. 30Vincent lists the ten fathers whose writings were read at Ephesus, from Alexandria, Cappadocia, Rome, Carthage and Milan.
31. 31At Ephesus Cyril and the bishops endorsed Capreolus's plea to keep the ancient faith and reject novelty, against Nestorius's claim to understand Scripture alone.
32. 32Vincent adds the judgments of the Roman bishops Sixtus III and Celestine I against any novelty that attacks the ancient faith.
33. 33Vincent concludes that to reject these decrees is to reject the council, the popes, the fathers, the church and Paul himself; catholics must hold fast the faith of the fathers.