The Biblical Basis of Catholic ‘Fittingness’

Michie · Oct 14, 2023

‘It was fitting,’ said St. Anselm, ‘that the Virgin should be resplendent with a purity greater than which none under God can be conceived.’

Protestant anti-Catholic polemicist Eric Svendsen, who fancies himself an expert on Catholic Mariology, wrote in his doctoral dissertation from 2000:

Post-Tridentine Catholic theology “went so far as to develop arguments from ‘fittingness,’ ... This ‘fittingness’ argument is usually traced to Duns Scotus [c. 1265-1308]. Excesses such as this lent credibility to the Protestant charge that Catholics ‘divinized’ Mary in an idolatrous way.”

Svendsen was probably referring to a piece by Duns Scotus (1266-1308) entitled, On the Fittingness of the Immaculate Conception. But Duns Scotus in his first paragraph of this treatise, cited St. Anselm (c. 1033-1109): “It was fitting that the Virgin should be resplendent with a purity greater than which none under God can be conceived.” In any event, it was actually the writers of the New Testament who thought in these terms:

Hebrews 2:10 (RSV) For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Hebrews 7:26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
Matthew 3:15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
1 Corinthians 11:13 Judge for yourselves; is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
Ephesians 5:3-4 But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints. Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead, let there be thanksgiving.
Colossians 3:18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as is fitting …
1 Timothy 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time.
1 Timothy 6:15 and this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
Titus 1:3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by command of God our Savior …

Dictionary.com defines “fitting” as “suitable or appropriate; proper or becoming.” Thesaurus.comprovides 21 synonyms for “fitting” including “apt,” “proper,” “correct,” “desirable” and “seemly.” We see that supposedly exclusively Catholic “fittingness” is a frequent and explicit biblical teaching, and that Catholic thinking is thoroughly, comprehensively and deeply biblical. Hence, Blessed Pope Pius IX, in declaring the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary in 1854 (Ineffabilis Deus), expressed these explicitly biblical terms (four times):

And indeed it was wholly fitting that so wonderful a mother should be ever resplendent with the glory of most sublime holiness and so completely free from all taint of original sin that she would triumph utterly over the ancient serpent.

Continued below.