I forgot the name of this heresy...

[Michael G]

What is the name of the heresy that said that a priest was only able to vailidly celebrate the eucharist if he was in a state of grace, ie. without sin on his soul?

 

[ProScribe]

I'm not sure exactly whichc specific name it is but it sounds like it has something to do with being overtly legalistic. The Church in council decides and records what is heresy.

 

[MKJ]

Are you thinking of Donatism? Maybe not?

 

[Kristos]

the opposite of 'ex opere operato'?

I don't know if it has a name per se. Seems to be asserted by fundamentalists, so maybe it's a sub-category of fundamentalism...

 

[Dark_Lite]

Donatism is probably the one you are looking for.

 

[LinuxLurker01]

Donatism is probably the one you are looking for.

Seconded.

 

[beardedone]

I would maybe say Montanism. After all that is what Tertullian went to when he was seeking a more rigorous Christianity. Although he did end up leaving Montanism to do his own thing when he felt that Montanism had even become to lax.

 

[jckstraw72]

i vote for Donatism

 

[Macarius]

Its Donatism.

 

[Michael G]

Donatism: a schismatic Christian religion (aka HERESY) in northern Africa from the 4th to the 7th century; held that only those who led a blameless life belonged in the church or could administer the sacraments.

 

[Michael G]

Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[christopherdombrowski]

What is the name of the heresy that said that a priest was only able to vailidly celebrate the eucharist if he was in a state of grace, ie. without sin on his soul?

My guess is Donatism and/or Novatianism.

 

[Michael G]

Donatism is what I was thinking of and dealing with. Novatianism is a different monster.

The Novatianists were early Christians following Antipope Novatian, held a strict view that refused readmission to communion of Lapsi, those baptized Christians who had denied their faith or performed the formalities of a ritual sacrifice to the pagan gods, under the pressures of the persecution sanctioned by Emperor Decius, in AD 250. They were declared heretical.

 

[christopherdombrowski]

Donatism is what I was thinking of and dealing with. Novatianism is a different monster.

The Novatianists were early Christians following Antipope Novatian, held a strict view that refused readmission to communion of Lapsi, those baptized Christians who had denied their faith or performed the formalities of a ritual sacrifice to the pagan gods, under the pressures of the persecution sanctioned by Emperor Decius, in AD 250. They were declared heretical.

Actually, generally it is understood that there are great similarities between Novatianism and Donatism to the point where the two are often confused. And I wouldn't be surprised if the Novatianists had held the same sort of ideas about the relationship between grievous sins, the Priesthood, and the validity of Sacraments.

 

[Macarius]

Actually, generally it is understood that there are great similarities between Novatianism and Donatism to the point where the two are often confused. And I wouldn't be surprised if the Novatianists had held the same sort of ideas about the relationship between grievous sins, the Priesthood, and the validity of Sacraments.

They're both part of a rigorist bent of early Christianity, but are generally distinguished as one deals with the validity of the Eucharist, and the other deals with who can partake of the Eucharist (not its validity per-say).

But yes - they pair nicely. Sort of like gnosticism and docetism, or ebionism and judaizing.

 

[Michael G]

The person who raised this question in the first place was clearly a donatist.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

Donatism.

 

[Michael G]

Donatism.

Yes, I already figured that out.

 

[Michael G]

They're both part of a rigorist bent of early Christianity, but are generally distinguished as one deals with the validity of the Eucharist, and the other deals with who can partake of the Eucharist (not its validity per-say).

But yes - they pair nicely. Sort of like gnosticism and docetism, or ebionism and judaizing.

Originally they applied to the sacraments, however a modern twist that I am beginning to see on this is the attitude "if you are not without sin you can not do x for the church." An example of this is "if you are not without sin, you are not worthy to paint icons on the walls of the church." Yes, I have heard that spoken publicly, and while I knew it was an ancient heresy I had forgotten which heresy it actually was.

 

[MKJ]

The person who raised this question in the first place was clearly a donatist.

Didn't you raise it???!!!