Unity of what is revealed

Moreover, if you are asked to make concessions in just one aspect of faith or morals, don’t be deceived just because the entire content of our religion may not be at stake. The various elements of a particular teaching, both in theory and in practice, are usually intimately connected, united, and dependent on one another, in proportion to the vigour and authenticity of the whole.

Defence of the Faith

It is only an artificial thing that can be dismantled without threatening the whole, and such a thing probably never had any life in it anyway. Generally, lack of unity is found only in things made by human beings. Our faith is divine; it is one as God is One. And this fact entails, as a consequence, that believers either defend all its tenets firmly and consistently or else, sooner or later, they will be forced to renounce it altogether. For it is certain that once a breach has been made in the wall, the whole city is in danger of being surrendered.

Attentive to the Magisterium of the Church

And so you will defend whatever the Church says, for when it comes to divine truths, she is the sole Teacher. And you will do so with your example, with your words, with your writings: with all the honest means at your disposal.

Freedom in matters of opinion

At the same time, inspired by love for everyone’s freedom, you will respect the views of others in matters of opinion or schools of thought. In such matters, as in all other temporal affairs, the Work will never have any collective opinion, unless the Church, as part of her teaching role, has defined one for all the faithful.

Attitude towards those in error

On the other hand, together with holy intransigence, the spirit of the Work of God requires you to be always tolerant, also in a holy way. Being faithful to the truth, safeguarding doctrinal integrity and defending the faith does not mean being sad or dour, nor should it be animated by a desire to destroy those who are mistaken.

Perhaps some do act in this way, but it can’t be our way. We can never “bless” like that poor deranged fellow who, applying Scripture his own way, called down upon his enemies ignis, et sulphur, et spiritus procellarum (Ps 11[10]:6); fire and sulphur and a scorching wind.

Tolerance and intransigence

We don’t seek to destroy anyone. Holy intransigence is not rude or surly intolerance. Nor is it holy unless it is accompanied by holy tolerance. And I would like to add that neither of the two is holy if it does not involve, along with the theological virtues, the exercise of the four cardinal virtues.