Chapter II. On the necessity of theological faith

Notions. A twofold necessity of faith is distinguished: the necessity of habitual faith or of the virtue of faith, and the necessity of actual faith or of the act of faith. Each must be treated separately. Faith, both habitual and actual, can be necessary either by necessity of means or by necessity of precept. Necessity of means, which sometimes is better called necessity for obtaining the end, is an absolute condition without which some end cannot be obtained. Therefore if such a means is lacking (whether culpably or inculpably), the end is in no way obtained. Thus the eye is necessary for seeing, the soul is necessary for human life, grace for eternal life, etc. - Necessity of precept follows from the special precept of a legitimate superior and is indeed a condition attached to some means for obtaining the end, but not so absolutely that without such a means the end can in no way be obtained. Thus, e.g., the reception of the Eucharist is necessary for having eternal life by necessity of precept laid down by Christ, but eternal life can sometimes be obtained even without the real reception of the Eucharist, e.g. by infants. Ignorance or moral impossibility usually excuses from those means which are necessary by necessity of precept.

We divide the present chapter into two articles: 1. on faith necessary by necessity of means; 2. on faith necessary by necessity of precept.