Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church.

The quote by Thomas Aquinas, "Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church," emphasizes the importance of continuity and consistency in faith. Aquinas is urging believers to recognize that their faith is the same as that of the ancients, meaning the early Christians and Church Fathers. By maintaining this connection, the unity of the Church is preserved; to reject it, he warns, would cause division and undermine the very foundation of the Christian community.

As one of the most influential theologians of the Middle Ages, Thomas Aquinas believed deeply in the value of tradition and the teaching authority of the Church. His writings, particularly in Summa Theologica, often stressed that Christian doctrine develops over time but remains rooted in the truths handed down by the early Church. This quote reflects Aquinas’s conviction that doctrinal unity is essential for the Church’s strength and spiritual health.

The phrase "dissolve the unity of the Church" highlights the consequences of breaking away from the shared beliefs of the past. For Aquinas, unity was not simply organizational but also doctrinal, grounded in a common heritage of teachings that connect Christians across generations. Denying that present-day faith aligns with that of the early Church risks creating fragmentation and confusion.

Ultimately, Aquinas’s words call for fidelity to the unchanging truths of the Christian faith as handed down through tradition. By affirming this continuity, believers not only preserve the integrity of their beliefs but also sustain the unity of the Church as a whole. This principle remains a cornerstone of Catholic theology even today.