Hierarchy of Catholic Doctrines

Understanding Dogmas, Doctrines, and Infallibility

A Comprehensive Guide for Catholic Adult Faith Formation

All dogmas marked [D] with Council sources and dates

Introduction

This document provides a complete hierarchical framework of Catholic doctrines, showing how all Catholic teachings relate to and flow from four foundational dogmas. Understanding this architecture is essential for effective catechesis because it reveals why certain doctrines must be taught before others.

How to Use This Document

Key to Symbols:

[D] = DOGMA - Solemnly defined by ecumenical councils or popes speaking ex cathedra. Requires divine and Catholic faith. Denial constitutes heresy.

NO [D] = DOCTRINE - Taught authoritatively, requires religious submission of intellect and will. May be infallible through ordinary magisterium even without solemn definition.

The Complete Hierarchy of Catholic Doctrines

The following presents all Catholic doctrines in hierarchical order, from the four foundational dogmas through first-order and second-order doctrines that logically flow from them.

FOUNDATION LEVEL - The Bedrock Dogmas

These are the ultimate foundations from which all other doctrines flow. All are solemnly defined dogmas requiring divine and Catholic faith.

1. THE INCARNATION [D]

"The Word became flesh" (John 1:14)

• Hypostatic Union [D] - Chalcedon 451: Two natures (divine + human), One Person

• Theotokos (Mary Mother of God) [D] - Ephesus 431: Mary is mother of divine Person

• Christ truly God and truly Man [D]

What flows from Incarnation:

2. THE TRINITY [D]

One God in Three Persons

• Consubstantial (Homoousios) [D] - Nicaea 325, Constantinople 381: Son is SAME divine substance as Father

• Filioque [D] - Spirit proceeds from Father AND Son

• Perichoresis - Mutual indwelling of Three Persons

What flows from Trinity:

3. DIVINE REVELATION THROUGH CHURCH

God reveals Himself through Scripture + Tradition, interpreted by Magisterium

A. SOURCES OF REVELATION

• Canon of Scripture [D] - Trent Session 4, 1546

• Sacred Tradition [D] - Trent Session 4

• Scripture + Tradition together [D]

B. WHO INTERPRETS REVELATION

• Church alone interprets [D] - Trent Session 4

• Apostolic Succession [D]

• Magisterium (Teaching Authority)

• Papal Infallibility [D] - Vatican I, 1870

• Church indefectible [D]

What flows from this:

4. GRACE AS REAL TRANSFORMATION

Grace truly changes us, not just legal fiction

TRENT ON JUSTIFICATION (1547) - Multiple Canons [D]

• Infused Righteousness [D]

• Sanctifying Grace [D]

• Faith + Works necessary [D] - Trent Canon 11

• Free will cooperates with grace [D] - Trent Canon 4

• Can lose grace through mortal sin [D]

What flows from this:

FIRST-ORDER DOCTRINES

Flow directly from the four foundations

From Incarnation → Sacramental Principle

God works through physical matter (extension of Incarnation)

• Seven Sacraments [D] - Trent Session 7: Christ instituted exactly seven sacraments

• Real Presence [D] - Trent Session 13: Christ truly, really, substantially present in Eucharist

• Mass as Sacrifice [D] - Trent Session 22: Same sacrifice as Calvary, re-presented not repeated

• Church as Body of Christ [D] - Church is Christ's continuing presence on earth

From Trinity → Communion and Grace

• Communion of Saints [D] - Church Militant, Suffering, Triumphant united

• Intercession of Saints - Saints in heaven can intercede for us

• Procession of Grace - Grace flows from Father through Son by Spirit

From Grace as Real → Merit and Sanctification

• Merit of Good Works [D] - Trent Session 6: Works done in grace have supernatural value

• Purgatory [D] - Florence 1439, Trent 1563

• Prayers for the Dead - We can help souls in purgatory

• Indulgences [D] - Trent

From Church Authority → Specific Moral Teachings

• Natural Law - Knowable by reason: Universal moral principles written on heart

• Intrinsic Evil - Some acts always wrong: Examples: abortion, contraception, adultery

• Church can teach definitively on morals - Not just faith, but also morals

SECOND-ORDER DOCTRINES

Flow from first-order doctrines

From Sacramental Principle → How Sacraments Work

• Ex Opere Operato [D] - Trent on Sacraments

• Transubstantiation [D] - Trent Session 13, Canon 2

• Concomitance [D] - Whole Christ present under each species

• Indelible Character [D] - Trent

Individual Sacraments (All [D])

• BAPTISM [D]

• CONFIRMATION [D]

• EUCHARIST [D]

• RECONCILIATION/CONFESSION [D]

• ANOINTING OF THE SICK [D]

• HOLY ORDERS [D]

• MATRIMONY [D]

From Real Presence → Eucharistic Practices

• Eucharistic Adoration - Worship of consecrated host

• Tabernacle reservation - Reserved sacrament for sick and adoration

• Reception requirements - Must be in state of grace (no mortal sin)  1 Cor 11

From Purgatory → Helps for the Dead

• Mass offered for the dead • Prayers for souls in purgatory • Indulgences applied to the dead • Suffrages (good works for the dead)

MARIAN DOGMAS [D] - Special Category

All four are solemnly defined dogmas requiring divine and Catholic faith

1. Theotokos (Mother of God) [D] - Ephesus 431

2. Perpetual Virginity [D] - Constantinople II 553

3. Immaculate Conception [D] - Pope Pius IX, 1854

4. Assumption [D] - Pope Pius XII, 1950

MARY'S ROLE (not dogmas, but authoritative teaching):

ESCHATOLOGY (Last Things)

• Resurrection of the Body [D] - All major creeds: Our bodies will be raised and glorified

• Particular Judgment - Immediately after death: Each soul judged individually

• General Judgment - At end of time: Christ returns, judges all humanity

• Heaven [D]

• Hell [D]

• Purgatory [D] - Florence 1439, Trent 1563

SIN AND MORALITY

• Original Sin [D] - Trent Session 5

• Mortal vs. Venial Sin [D]

• Seven Capital Sins

• Moral Theology

THEOLOGICAL TERMS (Technical Vocabulary)

• In Persona Christi - Priest acts as Christ 

• Consubstantial (Homoousios) [D] - Same substance as Father 

• Perichoresis - Mutual indwelling of Trinity 

• Filioque [D] - Spirit proceeds from Father and Son 

• Theosis/Divinization - Becoming partakers of divine nature 

• Satisfaction - Temporal punishment after sin forgiven 

• Supererogation - Works beyond minimum required 

• Merit - Supernatural value of good works done in grace 

• Anathema - Formal condemnation/excommunication 

• Subsidiarity - Principle of Catholic social teaching

Understanding Dogmas, Doctrines, and Infallibility

This is the crucial distinction that most Catholics misunderstand.

The Key Question

What does "Can be infallible without solemn definition" mean?

There are TWO ways the Church teaches infallibly:

1. Extraordinary Magisterium → Creates DOGMAS [D]

Formal, solemn definitions:

• Pope speaking ex cathedra (from the chair) • Ecumenical councils solemnly defining • Uses formal language: "We define and declare..." • Often includes "Let him be anathema"

Examples:

These get marked [D] because they're solemnly defined.

2. Ordinary Universal Magisterium → Can Also Be INFALLIBLE

Taught consistently, universally, but NOT formally defined:

• Bishops throughout the world • In communion with the Pope • Teaching the same thing consistently • As requiring definitive assent • Over long period of time

Examples:

Male-only priesthood:

Immorality of direct abortion:

Contraception is immoral:

The Key Insight

• Infallible dogmas [D] (solemnly defined)

• Infallible doctrines (taught universally but not solemnly defined)

• Non-infallible authoritative teaching (still requires assent)

Hierarchy of Authority

LEVEL 1: Infallible Dogmas [D]

LEVEL 2: Infallible Ordinary Magisterium (no [D])

LEVEL 3: Definitive but not revealed as infallible

LEVEL 4: Authentic but non-infallible teaching

Why This Matters for Catechesis

Common Catholic confusion:

"If it's not a dogma, I don't have to believe it"

WRONG! Many infallible teachings are NOT dogmas.

The problem:

• People think dogmas = complete list of infallible teachings • So they reject male priesthood, contraception teaching, etc. • Because "it's not a dogma"

The truth:

• Dogmas are the formally defined infallible teachings • But the Church teaches many other things infallibly • Through ordinary universal magisterium • These DON'T get the [D] label because not solemnly defined • But they're still infallible and required belief


Vatican I Clarification

Vatican I (1870) made this explicit:

"Further, all those things are to be believed with divine and Catholic faith which are contained in the Word of God, written or handed down, and which the Church... proposes for belief as having been divinely revealed... either by:

1. A solemn judgment [Extraordinary Magisterium → Dogmas]

2. OR by her ordinary and universal teaching authority [Ordinary Magisterium → can be infallible without being dogma]"


Practical Examples Comparison

Has [D] - Solemnly Defined Dogma:

• Transubstantiation (Trent explicitly defined it) • Immaculate Conception (Pius IX formally defined it) • Assumption (Pius XII formally defined it)

No [D] - But Still Infallible:

• Male-only priesthood (never solemnly defined, but infallibly taught) • Immorality of direct abortion (consistently taught universally) • Impossibility of women's ordination (infallible per JPII, but not formally defined)

No [D] - Authoritative but debated if infallible:

• Contraception immorality (taught authoritatively, possibly infallible) • Many specific moral applications • Some prudential judgments


WITHOUT foundations, second-order doctrines make no sense.

This is why catechesis crisis exists - teaching conclusions without teaching premises.


SUMMARY: The Architecture

FOUNDATION (4 pillars):

FIRST-ORDER (flow directly from foundations): • Sacramental principle • Seven sacraments • Church structure • Merit and purgatory

SECOND-ORDER (flow from first-order): • Ex opere operato • Transubstantiation • Indelible character • Specific sacramental practices

SPECIAL CATEGORIES: • Marian dogmas (4) • Eschatology (Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, Resurrection) • Sin and morality


KEY FOR CATECHESIS

[D] = DOGMA - Solemnly defined, requires divine and Catholic faith. Denial = heresy

NO [D] = DOCTRINE - Taught authoritatively, requires religious assent. Can be infallible without solemn definition

RELATIONSHIP: All dogmas are doctrines, but not all doctrines are dogmas. All require belief, but dogmas require the highest level of assent.