“Outside the Church there is no salvation” (extra ecclesiam nulla salus) is a doctrine of the Catholic Faith that was taught By Jesus Christ to His Apostles, preached by the Fathers, defined by popes and councils and piously believed by the faithful in every age of the Church. Here is how the Popes defined it:
“There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved.” (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)
“We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)
“The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.” (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)
But man, following the example of his natural father, Adam, often disobeys the authority of God. The fact that the doctrine had to be thrice defined itself proves the Church’s paternal solicitude in correcting her erring children who fall into indifferentism. The first goal of Saint Benedict Center’s doctrinal Crusade is to defend this doctrine. We present here a selection of various articles written for that end.
Here are some recommended starting points on this all-important subject:
The Popes on Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus
The Fathers of the Church on Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus
Doctrinal Summary
Sentimental Theology
Pelagius Lives
Our Status in the Church (focusing on the doctrinal stance of Saint Benedict Center and the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary)
Façade of the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran, photo by Livioandronico2013 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Liberal theologians for a long time have been attempting to foist upon docile Catholics the idea that the theological expression baptism of desire is an unassailable doctrine approved by the highest Church authority and taught officially by the Solemn Magisterium. … Continue reading
After being confronted with the clear teaching of Trent on the necessity of faith for justification and the sacraments for salvation, the Liberal theologian will proceed to question the degree of necessity of the Sacrament of Baptism for Salvation. After … Continue reading
Anyone familiar with the history of the Church knows that not all of the Pontiffs were holy men, and that several were negligent in their duties, especially in their supreme duty to keep inviolate the depositum fidei which was given … Continue reading
In reply to the question concerning the salvation of aborted infants by virtue of a vicarious “baptism of desire” on the part of their parents or by “baptism of blood” on either their part or “on the part of the … Continue reading
(From Brownson’s Quarterly Review for April, 1874) Editor’s Introduction: Orestes A. Brownson (1803-1876) will always be remembered as one of the most prolific American converts to the Catholic Church. Brownson had already achieved notoriety as an essayist and lecturer when … Continue reading
Let us examine how “the Church over the centuries” has explained the dogma, Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus. This study will not only give us the “context of the entire teaching of the Church on this matter,” but will also enable … Continue reading
This article consists of a few loose ends: (1) a book review, (2) a letter to an editor, and (3) another book review. All are closely related in subject matter. 1. A Book Review The Incarnation and Hilton’s Spirituality, by … Continue reading
The mission of the Catholic Church is a clear and simple one: to exhaust Herself for the salvation of souls. “Go ye therefore into all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and of the … Continue reading
One of the common objections that we hear concerning the Dogma is this one: What about all those ignorant natives in the wilderness (or in a desert, or an island; or in Tibet, or China or Siberia. . .) who … Continue reading
This article appeared in abridged form in a small Catholic archaeological journal Ancient Man, Information Exchange , Volume 7, 1989, Tekakwitha Institute, Woodbridge, Virginia. The salvation of the American Indians before Pentecost, the birthday of the Catholic Church, has never … Continue reading
Editor’s Introduction: This “Doctrinal Summary” is an appendix to a work to be published at a future date: Father Feeney’s Doctrinal Case. The work is intended as a supplement to the larger volume by Brother Thomas Mary, They Fought the … Continue reading
This article was published in February, 1987 as a Res Fidei monograph. The Verbum in question (#24) is no longer available online. However, the offending article can be read here.
(written in 1974) The Dogma of Salvation Under Attack The doctrinal crusade of Saint Benedict Center dates back to the early 1940’s when we began to attack, albeit in their incipient form, the very evils that conservative Catholics are so … Continue reading
The Popes through the centuries have defended the doctrine “outside the Church there is no salvation.” Here is small reference of their teachings on the matter: Ordinary Magisterium Pope Pelagius II (A.D. 578 – 590): “Consider the fact that whoever … Continue reading
[This article was published in February, 1987 as a Res Fidei monograph. The Verbum in question (#24) is no longer available online. However, the offending article can be read here .]
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