Rather than applying an arbitrary 5 year rule to everyone, we must apply prudence case by case. But we should all follow what St Thomas says in his letter to Brother John on how to study: Do not spend time on things beyond your grasp.

Fascinating that though the Summa contains no formal treatise on the Church, the outlines of one can be seen throughout—esp. in the treatises on grace, faith, and the sacraments. Later Thomists, reading the saint closely, made explicit what he had left implicit about the Church.

"In and throughout all things, I determined to follow St Thomas, as he followed the Fathers." Domingo Banez OP

If the Church neglected her duties towards the poor and diverted resources meant for the poor to adorn her churches with gold, then there would be a problem. But the Church, the mother of the poor, has not neglected those duties. So it's not an either/or situation.

For instance, the state should render worship to the one God, suppress falsehoods about the divine nature (e.g. pantheism and polytheism), and uphold the natural moral law by legislating in accordance with it. All of this is required even in the absence of divine revelation.

Since by natural reason alone we know of God's existence, something of His nature and activity, and the principal precepts of His moral law, including the precept of worship, it follows that the temporal power, even without divine revelation, has natural duties towards God.

We should always bear in mind that sacred theology is not merely a science, although it is a true science, it is something higher and nobler: it is divine wisdom. Theology gives man the deepest knowledge of his final, supernatural end, and stirs and directs him to attain it.

"If the Church is independent of the State, so far as she is a messenger from God, therefore, should the State come into her communion, it is plain that they must at once change hostility into submission." St John Henry Newman, doctor ecclesiae

In the super-analogy of faith, a concept derived from creatures is applied to God on the basis of ontological similitude, it is then purified of the limitations in its created realisations by means of negation, and finally pushed to the point of perfection by means of eminence.

The Church has explicitly taught that Mary is not entitled to the title priest (sacerdos), as she did not offer the sacrifice of satisfaction, which was offered by the only high priest and saviour of men, her divine son, Jesus Christ.

God is neither internally or externally compelled to redeem fallen man. Thus the redemption is a free act of infinite divine love and mercy. Redemption is a "Mystery of the divine will, which He has made known to us according to His good pleasure" (Eph. 1:9).

Kirk could have been invincibly ignorant and died in the state of grace as a result of perfect charity, but could he really be a martyr? In addition to odium fidei, there must be voluntary acceptance of death. @EamonnClark this is your area - any thoughts?

Salvation consists in the union of the created person with God—his ultimate fulfilment. This union is interpersonal. It presupposes and indeed requires that God's personality first be manifested and then attained by the creature as someone known and loved. Jean-Herve Nicolas OP

A proper understanding of Trinitarian theology depends especially on two principles: appropriation and the unity of divine operations ad extra. Ignorance of these key principles is the root of so much confusion about the Trinity and its relation to creatures.

"Even the heretic Oecolampadius esteemed neglect of devotion in any one to the Mother of God as a certain sign of reprobation." (St. Alphonsus)

While I don't think a formal definition is by any means imminent, I believe the doctrine of the co-mediatrix and redemptrix is eminently definable. As Fr Ott notes:

An Iranian convert to Catholicism, Andreas (his baptismal name), who was just a few days away from his confirmation in the Catholic Church, reposed in the Lord yesterday due to a car accident. Please pray for him and his family.

“The more the world seeks to bury the Church, the more she rises — for her roots are in heaven. They may tear down our churches, but not the Church; they may silence the bells, but not the voice of faith that speaks within the heart. Christ said: ‘The gates of hell shall not

The title co-redemptrix has been used by various popes since Pius X. It has a very precise theological meaning. Mary's cooperation in the work of redemption is mediate and remote, and in no way implies an equality between Christ and Mary in redemptive activity.

"If the future is to belong to democracy, an essential part in its achievement will have to belong to the religion of Christ and to the Church, the messenger of our Redeemer's word, which is to continue His mission of saving men." Pius XII