Is there a catalog of dogmas, when did the Magisterium of the Church become aware of its authority and when did the Church define the trinitarian dogma

Reverend Father good morning.

How are you doing?

I am bothering you today to ask you two questions concerning dogmas.

The first question is the simpler one:

Is it possible to consult the complete list of all the Dogmas proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church?

The second question is: in the modern age, I know that Dogmas were proclaimed as such by the Pontiffs or by official acts (as when Pius IX proclaimed the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception).

But in ancient times, how did this happen? When an Ecumenical Council defined a dogmatic doctrine, was there an awareness that it was proclaiming a Dogma?  Or was it a process?

And consequently, was there or was there not a precise and official moment when the Trinitarian nature of God was proclaimed as dogma? 

Thank you for your kind answer.

Regards.

Daniele

Priest’s answer

Dear Daniele,

I arrived today at your email of November 21, 2021. I am sorry and apologize for this.

Coming to your questions:

1. Dogmas are issued not only by the supreme pontiff but also by ecumenical councils.

There are many dogmas, meaning, there are many truths of the faith. I don’t know if a catalog of them was ever made. But it does not matter, because it is enough to consult the Denzinger, which is the catalog of all the most important definitions of the Magisterium of the Church.

It should be pointed out that not everything in the Denzinger is dogma, but it is magisterium.

2.  Ever since the Acts of the Apostles, specifically starting from the Council of Jerusalem that was held around the year 49, the apostles and their successors (the bishops) that gathered with Peter have always been conscious of pronouncing binding judgments in matters of faith and morals.

Here is how that first council, where the Apostles united with Peter received divine revelation, expresses itself: “It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities” (Acts 15:28)

3. Biblical scholar Marco Sales observes, “In giving this decree, the Apostles appeal neither to Moses nor to the ancient law, but recognizing themselves as invested with legislative power, they speak and judge in their own name.

Confident, however, of Christ’s promises (Mt 18:18: ‘men, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’) they know that the judgements they pronounce are due to special assistance of the Holy Spirit and are therefore infallible, and they write, ‘it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.‘”

4. The dogma on the Trinity was first exposed in the creed of Athanasius.

Athanasius had already attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 that condemned Arius, who in fact denied the Trinity, asserting that Christ would be God’s chosen creature, but not God.

In contrast, the Nicene-Constantine creed that we recite on Sundays declaims, concerning the Son: “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father”

5. But the first explicit statement of the dogma of the Trinity is found in Athanasius’ creed, which is a very beautiful profession of faith. It is a long text and is in all aspects perfect from a theological point of view.

In the past the priests had to recite it on Sundays at the first hour. It is called the Quicumque creed, because it is the first word with which it begins.

6. This creed is attributed to Athanasius. However, not everyone agrees. Some even attribute it to St. Ambrose.

In any case it is from the late fourth century and was immediately met with great approval.

7. Here are the first expressions of this profession of faith: “

1. Whoever desires to be saved (Quicumque vult salvus esse),* should above all hold to the catholic faith.

2. Anyone who does not keep it whole and unbroken * will doubtless perish eternally.

3. Now this is the catholic faith: * That we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity.

4. Neither blending their persons, * nor dividing their essence.

5. For the person of the Father is a distinct person, the person of the Son is another, * and that of the Holy Spirit still another.

6. But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, *  their glory equal, their majesty coeternal.

7. What quality the Father has, the Son has, * and the Holy Spirit has.

8. The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, * the Holy Spirit is uncreated.

9. The Father is immeasurable, the Son is immeasurable, * the Holy Spirit is immeasurable.

10.The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, * the Holy Spirity is eternal.

11. And yet there are not three eternal beings, *  there is but one eternal being”

With the aspiration to live more and more in communion with the three divine Persons, which is already a foretaste of heaven, I bless you, wish you a peaceful New Year 2023 and remember you in prayer.

Father Angelo

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