Is Feeneyism Catholic? - Society of St. Pius X

72 IS F EENEYISM C ATHOLIC?
not, indeed, in the nature of sign, but in the baptismal effect.
Consequently they are not sacraments.
Ad 3: Damascene enumerates certain figurative Baptisms.
For instance, “the Deluge” was a figure of our Baptism, in respect
of the salvation of the faithful in the Church; since then “a
few...souls were saved in the ark [Vulg.: ‘by water’],” according
to I Pt. 3:20. He also mentions “the crossing of the Red Sea”:
which was a figure of our Baptism, in respect of our delivery
from the bondage of sin; hence the Apostle says (I Cor. 10:2)
that “all...were baptized in the cloud and in the sea.” And again
he mentions “the various washings which were customary under
the Old Law,” which were figures of our Baptism, as to the
cleansing from sins: also “the Baptism of John,” which prepared
the way for our Baptism.
Whether the Baptism of Blood is the most excellent of
these? (Summa Theologica, III, Q.66, A.12)
Obj. 1: It seems that the Baptism of Blood is not the most
excellent of these three. For the Baptism of Water impresses a
character; which the Baptism of Blood cannot do. Therefore the
Baptism of Blood is not more excellent than the Baptism of Water.
Obj. 2: Further, the Baptism of Blood is of no avail without
the Baptism of the Spirit, which is by charity; for it is written (I
Cor. 13:3): “If I should deliver my body to be burned, and have
not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” But the Baptism of the
Spirit avails without the Baptism of Blood; for not only the martyrs
are saved. Therefore the Baptism of Blood is not the most
excellent.
Obj. 3: Further, just as the Baptism of Water derives its efficacy
from Christ’s Passion, to which, as stated above (A.11), the
Baptism of Blood corresponds, so Christ’s Passion derives its efficacy
from the Holy Ghost, according to Heb. 9:14: “The
Blood of Christ, Who by the Holy Ghost offered Himself unspotted
unto God, shall cleanse our conscience from dead
works,” etc. Therefore the Baptism of the Spirit is more excellent
than the Baptism of Blood. Therefore the Baptism of Blood is
not the most excellent.
On the contrary, Augustine (Ad Fortunatum) speaking of the
comparison between Baptisms says: “The newly baptized confesses
his faith in the presence of the priest; the martyr in the
presence of the persecutor. The former is sprinkled with water,