Clearly the person who accepts the Church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the Church teaches

Clearly the person who accepts the Church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the Church teaches

Thomas Aquinas, a prominent theologian and philosopher of the Catholic Church, believed in the importance of the Church as an infallible guide for believers. He argued that the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, possessed the authority to teach and interpret the truths of the faith without error. In his view, accepting the Church as an infallible guide meant submitting one's intellect and will to the teachings of the Church, even when they may seem difficult to understand or accept.

Aquinas believed that the Church's infallibility was rooted in its connection to Christ, who promised to be with his Church until the end of time. He saw the Church as the mystical body of Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit to preserve and proclaim the truths of the faith. For Aquinas, the Church's infallibility was a gift from God, ensuring that believers could trust in the teachings of the Church as being free from error.

In light of this, Aquinas argued that those who accepted the Church as an infallible guide would believe whatever the Church teaches. This was not blind obedience, but rather a recognition of the Church's authority to teach on matters of faith and morals. Aquinas believed that the Church's teachings were grounded in divine revelation and the deposit of faith handed down from the apostles. As such, he saw it as the duty of believers to assent to the teachings of the Church with faith and humility.

However, Aquinas also recognized the importance of reason in understanding and interpreting the teachings of the Church. He believed that faith and reason were not opposed, but rather complemented each other in the search for truth. Aquinas himself was known for his rigorous use of reason in his theological and philosophical writings, seeking to reconcile faith with the insights of human reason.