scripture, tradition, magisterium

18
Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium Natural Revelation God has revealed Himself in the external world, through our natural reason and conscience. “For all men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know him who exists, nor did they recognize the craftsman while paying heed to his works; but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world. If through delight in the beauty of these things men assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them. And if men were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is he who formed them. For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator.” Wisdom 13:1-5 “Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.” Rom. 1:20

Upload: fatherkline

Post on 21-Oct-2015

209 views

Category:

Documents


9 download

DESCRIPTION

RCIA Power Point

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumNatural RevelationGod has revealed Himself in the external world, through our natural reason and conscience.“For all men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know him who exists, nor did they recognize the craftsman while paying heed to his works; but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world. If through delight in the beauty of these things men assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them. And if men were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is he who formed them. For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator.” Wisdom 13:1-5

“Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.” Rom. 1:20

A Giraffe with its spots and long neck or a skunk with its stripes or a oriole with its bright colors or a sunset-- makes us think of heaven and God who created them.

Page 2: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Divine Revelation:

God telling us about Himself and His will for us through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.Jesus Christ is the fullness of all revelation Divine Revelation, Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition.

Page 3: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumTwo Kinds of Special RevelationPrivate Revelation is a particular revelation to a specific Christian. Beliefs in such revelations is not obligatory for Catholics. An example of private revelation would be the Lourdes Apparitions of the Virgin Mary, or the message of the Sacred Heart received by St. Margaret Mary. While private revelation is (once it has been approved by the Church) valid and truthful, it is not part of the deposit of faith which Catholics must believe and which forms public revelation. Private revelation can never supplant, contradict or replace public revelation – any private revelation must be in accord with the public revelation, or it is clearly false.

“Public” Divine RevelationPublic Revelation (Two Forms); Sacred Scripture & Sacred Tradition.Public revelation of truths to men by God began with Adam and Eve and ended with the death of St. John the Apostle, the last apostle to die. Some revealed truths could never be known by our own abilities, such as knowing that there is a Blessed Trinity, if God had not revealed it.

Page 4: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumTruths of Divine Revelation Found:1.Sacred Scripture2.Sacred Tradition which Includes:Writings of the Fathers of the Church- They were disciples of the apostles, contemporaries of the disciples, or disciples of the disciples. These holy men instructed the Church in years of its first growth. “Christians must be united to the Church of Rome in order to maintain the Apostolic Tradition.” - St. Irenaeus (180- 200AD)Writings of the Doctors of the Church- ecclesiastical writers, noted for their learning and holiness of life, who have by Church authority been proclaimed a title, such that their writings are to be esteemed by the whole Church for the benefit of the faithful. Decrees of the PopesChurch CouncilsLiturgy of the Church found in the Missal and rituals.

Page 5: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

The Deposit of Faith“Tradition and Sacred Scripture are bound closely together and communicate one with the other. Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ. They flow out of the same divine wellspring and together make up one sacred deposit of faith from which the Church derives her certainty about revelation.” (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church #14)

Page 6: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumSola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) is nowhere to be found in the Bible. In fact, scripture proves Tradition. St. Paul said, “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.” (2 Thess 2:15)

But didn’t Jesus also forbid ALL Tradition? No, only human tradition.“(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles [and beds].) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders- but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’ You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!” Mk 7:3-9

Our Lord is condemning “human precepts” and “human tradition”, which results in the Pharisees “setting aside the commandment of God”. He is not speaking of Divine Tradition, which comes from God.

Is the bible the pillar and foundation of Truth? No“the Church is the Pillar and Foundation of Truth.” 1 Tim. 3:15

Page 7: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture“All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16)-The Catholic Church is founded upon Scripture maintaining the 73 Canonical Books as truly inspired by God and “profitable for teaching” (2 Tim 3:16). -These scriptures though written by the hand of man, were inspired by the Holy Spirit and “must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings for the sake of salvation.” (DV 11). -Through Sacred Scripture we come into knowledge of God and His plan for our salvation. The entire collection of books that make up the Holy Bible paint an incredible story of God’s love for us and our salvation history. -The Church recognizes the immense value of scripture and bases its theology on what God has revealed in Scripture (DV 24). -However, God’s word is also contained in the Tradition of the Church and in the living Magisterium which is animated by the Holy Spirit. Scripture alone, or “Sola Scriptura” contradicts what the Lord Himself established, and God has revealed His word and maintained it through the ministry of the Bishops who are the successors of the Apostles (cf. DV Chap II).(More Information See Power Point Books of the Bible)

Page 8: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumJudaism and Chair of Moses- Christians and Chair of PeterThis three pronged authority derives from the Judaism prior to the coming of Christ. The Jews followed the successors of the chair of Moses, with derivative authority coming from Oral tradition and scripture (what we now call the Old Testament). Jeremiah 31:31 prophesizes the end of the ancient Mosaic authority with a convening of a new authority and covenant under the Messiah. Catholics believe this authority of ‘spiritual Semitism’ to now be the chair of Peter. Early Christians relied on the Magisterial authority in the Apostles and the Oral Tradition.Scripture, Tradition and MagisteriumGod provided three gifts that together guarantee we can always know with confidence the truth about God and his plan for us. It is not a question of which gift is more important than the others–rather Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium together form a three-legged stool that is stable and reliable. Upon this stool, the Church can rest. If any of the legs is taken away, the stool collapses, the Church falls, and is fragmented. The council fathers sum it up well in Dei Verbum paragraph 10 "It is clear, therefore, that sacred tradition, Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church, in accord with God's most wise design, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others, and that all together and each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.”What’s Wrong with Scripture, Tradition and Reason? The Anglican View rejects the Magisterium (the need for Church authority). It’s wrong because each person decides for him or herself what is reason. Only the Catholic Church’s Magisterium has the authority to interpret Scripture and Tradition. Eliminating the Magisterium results in making each person their own authority on Scripture and Tradition, which results in an infinite number of ways scripture and tradition are interpreted. So if one’s reason contradicts another’s reason, how does anyone know which reason is correct. This eliminates objective truth. The Holy Spirit cannot and does not tell one person one truth and tell another a different contradictory truth (unreasonable). Only one truth is true and this is why the Magisterium is needed and proof that Christ gave His Church the authority to determine what is true and what is not true.

Chair of Moses Replica from

Chorazin Synagogue

Reason isn’t strong enough to hold the chair.

But Magisterium is.

Page 9: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumRead the Scripture within "the living Tradition of the whole Church".According to a saying of the Fathers, Sacred Scripture is written principally in the Church's heart rather than in documents and records, for the Church carries in her Tradition the livingmemorial of God's Word, and it is the Holy Spirit who gives her the spiritual interpretation of the Scripture (CCC 113)"These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:25-26

Page 10: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumSacred Tradition“But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were everyone of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25-In the wide sense Tradition embraces the whole teachings of the Church including the Bible, since it is only from the Church we have the bible. -In a stricter sense Tradition includes only what was handed down orally from the Apostles.“Therefore the Apostles, handing on what they themselves had received, warn the faithful to hold fast to the traditions which they have learned either by word of mouth or by letter (see 2 Thess. 2:15), and to fight in defense of the faith handed on once and for all (see Jude1:3)

Page 11: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumThere are Two Kinds of TraditionTradition with a capital T and tradition with a small t.

Tradition with a capital T refers to Sacred TraditionCapital T Tradition is composed of the truths passed down by word of mouth, and not written down till after death of Christ’s Apostles and Disciples, principally the Fathers of the Church. These cannot be changed by Church authority.

Tradition with a small t refers to disciplines which we practice, but also beliefs we are not required to believe.Passed down through the centuries, and can be changed by the Church. Examples: priestly celibacy, specified days of fasting and/or abstinence, and kneeling and standing in Church. Other kinds of small traditions include the manner in which a saint may have died or customs like Christmas caroling. It’s a Tradition with a Capital T that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven, which we are required to believe. However, it’s a tradition with a small t, as to whether or not the apostles were present. Some believe they were present when She was assumed, others believed they weren’t present.

Page 12: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumMust Sacred Tradition be Believed as Firmly as the Bible? YESSeveral years passed before the Gospels were written down. In the meantime, Christians depended upon Tradition solely. Tradition is older than the New Testament.Without Tradition we could not know what the bible is. If one rejects Tradition, one cannot know for certain which books are accepted as genuine. The Church in the 4th century, which books were inspired by God and which were not.If the Church teaches any doctrine that cannot be found in Holy Scripture, it will be found in Tradition, and therefore is traceable to the Apostles.

Page 13: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumMagisteriumChrist Left Apostles Everything NeededChrist left the apostles with everything they need to carry on His work. He gave them power to forgive sins Jn 20:22-33, power to re-enact the Last Supper (Lk 22:19), power to govern, when He spoke to Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom, what you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven.” (Matt. 16:19)-All power given to the apostles was to teach and sanctify.

Vatican II taught (Dei Verbum # 10): "The task of authoritatively interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on [Scripture or Tradition], has been entrusted exclusively to the living Magisterium of the Church, whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.“

Page 14: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumMagisterium

Apostolic Succession-He assured the ministry would not die by giving the ministry of Holy Orders (priesthood), which was conferred by the apostles successors and the successor’s after them in one unbroken chain of succession to our present pope and bishops.

In the second Letter to Timothy Paul said, “Follow the pattern of the sound words, which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been trusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells in you.” 2 Tim. 1:13-14

In addition to the duty of the Church to transmit those saving truths of God’s Revelation, it also claims as a matter of right entrusted by Christ Himself, the authority to announce moral principles and to make judgments on human affairs when these are necessary to safeguard the fundamental rights of the human person or to ensure the salvation of their souls.

Page 15: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumMagisterium

-The Magisterium was instituted by Christ to serve the revealed Word of God, not to change it or add to it. Thus the Pope can’t suddenly decide to declare, for example, that there are four persons in the Blessed Trinity. He doesn’t have any such authority.

-The Magisterium of the Church is ultimately about having the authority to determine finally what the Word of God says through Scripture and Tradition.

-The Magisterium of the Catholic Church interprets, guards and preserves the teaching of the Word of God for us with one very important difference: the successors of the apostles receive a charism of truth from the Lord that aids them in their task (note the revelation Peter received in Mat 16:17).

-When the successors of the apostles together with the successor of Peter fully engage their doctrinal authority on a matter of the Word of God, they speak definitively and with God’s authority.

"Now what was handed on by the apostles includes everything which contributes to the holiness of life, and the increase in faith of the People of God; and so the Church, in her teaching, life, and worship, perpetuates and hands on to all generations all that she herself is, all that she believes.“ Dei Verbum #10

Page 16: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumMagisteriumDid God intend the Scriptures to be our only rule of Faith? NOGod intended our rule of faith to be the living voice of the teaching Church. Concepts like the Trinity, and other mysteries receive clarification and illumination through the tradition and the living Magisterium (teaching office of the Church). For example, a Church Council said, Jesus is consubtantial with the Father (one substance), which proves His divinity.

This tradition is referred to in Scripture and is what maintained the early Church before the Gospels were written some years later. “Yet the Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant.”

Page 17: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumThe Magisterium - The Teaching Office of the ChurchChrist promised to protect the teaching of the Church: "He who hears you, hears me; he who rejects your rejects me, he who rejects me, rejects Him who sent me" (Luke 10. 16). The living Magisterium of the Church is composed by the Supreme Pontiff (Pope) as the successor of Peter, the Prince of Apostles, in union with the Bishops as successors of the Apostles. Guaranteed Free From Error in Matters of Faith and MoralsThe teaching of the Magisterium is guaranteed to be free from error in matters of faith and morals by the promise of Christ. Christ’s InfallibilityIt is Christ’s infallibility they are exercising under certain circumstances. Pope’s Infallibility- The Holy Father speaks with the authority and infallibility of Christ when speaking on matters of faith and morals with the intention of making an infallible statement (ex cathedra, literally “from the Chair” of Peter; actually in Peter’s stead). Bishop’s Infallibility- The College of Bishops also enjoys this infallibility, but only when acting together, and in union with the Pope. That is why the pronouncements of ecumenical councils are infallible. When the Pope has not been present at a council, historically the documents were submitted to him for his approval.

Page 18: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium

Scripture, Tradition, MagisteriumOffice of Magisterium ExercisedThe office of the Magisterium is exercised ordinarily when a pope or bishop issues a letter or gives public teaching to instruct and help guide the faithful in matters of faith and morals.It must be accepted by the faithful at a level of religious assent as a sign of obedience to Christ’s Church and respect for the power of the keys given to Peter and passed on to popes and the bishops.

Church is Mother and TeacherWe are sons and daughters of Holy Mother Church. One cannot be Catholic and reject either the Church’s Motherhood or its teaching authority.