Some of our readers have asked for a thread on the meaning of ‘Tradition’ – so here it is!
A favourite method of ours is the Question and Answer format, so what could be better than to follow the Questions and Answers given on the subject in the Catechism of Pope St Pius X?
Q. Where are the truths which God has revealed contained?
A. The truths which God has revealed are contained in Holy Scripture and in Tradition.
Q. What is Holy Scripture?
A. Holy Scripture is the collection of books written under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, by the Prophets and the Hagiographers, the Apostles and the Evangelists. These books have been received by the Church as inspired.
[...]
Q. Can there be any error in Holy Scripture?
A. There cannot be any error in Holy Scripture since indeed it is inspired by God. The Author of all of the books is God Himself. This does not prevent that in copies and translations that have been made, some errors on the part of the copyists or translators may have crept into it.
[...]
Q. Through which means can we know the true meaning of the Holy Scripture?
A. We can only know the true meaning of Holy Scripture through the Church’s interpretation, because she alone is secure against error in that interpretation.
[...]
Q. What is meant by Tradition?
A. Tradition is the non-written word of God, which has been transmitted by word of mouth by Jesus Christ and by the apostles, and which has come down to us through the centuries by the means of the Church, without being altered.
Q. Where are the teachings of Tradition kept?
A. The teachings of Tradition are kept chiefly in the Councils’ decrees, the writings of the Holy Fathers, the Acts of the Holy See and the words and practices of the sacred Liturgy.
Q. What importance must we attach to Tradition?
A. We must attach to Tradition the same importance as the revealed word of God which Holy Scripture contains.
Note:
The Ordinary Magisterium of the Church must of its nature be universal. It is properly called the Ordinary and Universal Magisterium (as opposed to the Extraordinary Magisterium, exercised, for example, in the solemn definitions of papal infallibility), and as such must be universal both over time and space: thus, its teaching is only infallible when it represents not only what the bishops say today, but what they have always said: semper et ubique – always and everywhere.
http://www.catholic.com/library/Apostolic_Tradition.asp
Click on ‘comments’ to share your thoughts or to ask a question on this important topic.
