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The Commonitorium

St. Vincent of Lérins · c. 434 AD

2h 29m read
Nicene

Vincent's famous treatise establishing criteria for distinguishing authentic Catholic tradition from heretical innovation, containing the Vincentian Canon: 'quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus creditum est.'

Table of Contents

1The Object of the Following Treatise2A General Rule for distinguishing the Truth of the Catholic Faith from the Falsehood of Heretical Pravity3What is to be done if one or more dissent from the rest4The evil resulting from the bringing in of Novel Doctrine shown in the instances of the Donatists and Arians5The Example set us by the Martyrs, whom no force could hinder from defending the Faith of their Predecessors6The example of Pope Stephen in resisting the Iteration of Baptism7How Heretics, craftily cite obscure passages in ancient writers in support of their own novelties8Exposition of St. Paul's Words, Gal. i. 89His warning to the Galatians a warning to all10Why Eminent Men are permitted by God to become Authors of Novelties in the Church11Examples from Church History, confirming the words of Moses,--Nestorius, Photinus, Apollinaris12A fuller account of the Errors of Photinus, Apollinaris and Nestorius13The Catholic Doctrine of the Trinity and the Incarnation explained14Jesus Christ Man in Truth, not in Semblance15The Union of the Divine with the Human Nature took place in the very Conception of the Virgin. The appellation “The Mother of God.”16Recapitulation of what was said of the Catholic Faith and of divers Heresies, Chapters xi-xv17The Error of Origen a great Trial to the Church18Tertullian a great Trial to the Church19What we ought to learn from these Examples20The Notes of a true Catholic21Exposition of St. Paul's Words.--1 Tim. vi. 2022A more particular Exposition of 1 Tim. vi. 2023On Development in Religious Knowledge24Continuation of the Exposition of 1 Tim. vi. 2025Heretics appeal to Scripture that they may more easily succeed in deceiving26Heretics, in quoting Scripture, follow the example of the Devil27What Rule is to be observed in the Interpretation of Scripture28In what Way, on collating the consentient opinions of the Ancient Masters, the Novelties of Heretics may be detected and condemned29Recapitulation30The Council of Ephesus31The Constancy of the Ephesine Fathers in driving away Novelty and maintaining Antiquity32The zeal of Celestine and Sixtus, bishops of Rome, in opposing Novelty33The Children of the Catholic Church ought to adhere to the Faith of their Fathers and die for it