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Question

Dear Father Angelo,

Can you explain to me what Semi-Pelagianism is?

It is not clear to me whether it is an heretical position or if it’s up for public theological debate.

I know that the Dominicans and the Jesuits had differing opinions on this, is that right?

May God bless you

Alessandro

Answer

Dear Alessandro,

1. In order to say what Semi-Pelagianism is, it is necessary to bring back to mind what Pelagianism is.

Well, Pelagianism is the doctrine formulated by Pelagius (IV century) according to which good deeds are sufficient in order to have faith, to be in communion with God and to enter Heaven.

According to Catholic doctrine on the other hand, in order to have faith, which is a supernatural adherence to God, it is necessary to be moved by God’s grace first.

In the same way, sanctifying grace is necessary to go to Heaven.

Only grace puts us into proportion with the supernatural order, with the world of God.

2. Semi-Pelagianism is a mitigated form of Pelagianism which sprung from some things Saint Augustine said before he became a Bishop about the beginning of faith and good will.

Simply put: God would give grace to those who have the good will to receive it.

According to Catholic theology on the other hand, even the good will to embrace a truth of the supernatural order needs the aid of grace.

Therefore such good will is already a result of precursory grace.

Saint Augustine, already at the end of his life, was informed about this new heresy by two good lay people: Prosper of Aquitaine and Hilary and he wrote two books against it.

3. The main points of the Semi-Pelagian heresy are these:

First, grace is not needed for the beginning of faith and sanctification. Grace is only necessary to complete both;

Second, God gives us grace according to our merits and our positive disposition to receive it;

Third, final perseverance is the fruit of our merits.

4. Thanks to Cesarius of Arles, in 529 there was a council at Orange (Arausicanum II) where the condemnation of Pelagianism by the preceding councils was reiterated and the new heresy was also condemned.

According to Saint Augustine’s doctrine it was defined that:

First, grace is always necessary for every act, even an initial act, of the supernatural life;

Second, grace is absolutely gratuitous and God distributes it freely;

Third, without grace it is not possible to persevere in good deeds until unto death and therefore to conquer eternal life.

5. During the theological disputes among Dominicans and Jesuits of the 17th Century, some Dominicans accused the Jesuits of being Semi-Pelagians.

However, the Pope forbade them from doing so. So I will also end it here. 

I wish you every good from the resurrected Lord, I remember you in prayer and bless you.

Father Angelo