Q U I C K S C A N

What is Sacred Tradition?
What are the Scriptures?
What does the magisterium do?

by Friar Jim Van Vurst, O.F.M.

Chapter II of Part I of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) explains one of the most important aspects of our Catholic faith: divine revelation. We are interested, not in human wisdom, but in the way in which God’s truth comes to us (CCC, #74-131). Just how do we know what God has revealed to us as we journey on earth, destined for eternity with God? If it is just guesswork, or what we personally think God is teaching, then we are in great danger of missing the truth. Fortunately, God has guided us with two sources of divine revelation: Sacred Tradition and the Scriptures. These two sources are equal in importance. You can’t have one or the other alone to know divine revelation; you need both.

What is Sacred Tradition?

Sacred Tradition is the truth that was revealed to the apostles as they accompanied Jesus and witnessed him teach and preach. This began when they were infused with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday. They were enabled to see and understand Jesus in ways they were previously blind to. Teaching about Jesus was done through word of mouth (oral tradition) through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent to guide the apostles in their missionary efforts (Jn 16:12-15). Sacred Tradition is direcly linked to the important mark of the Church that I talked about last month: The Church is apostolic.

The preaching of the apostles and their disciples occurred for many years, even decades, before the New Testament was written. Paul’s writing began 20 years after Jesus’ resurrection. The Gospels were not written down until between 20 and 40 years after that. In other words, there were no New Testament Scriptures in the beginning of the Church. Truth was revealed by God through the authentic teaching of the apostles and their disciples, and this became what the Church refers to as Sacred Tradition. You can imagine, with so little means of communication in those days, how easily false teachings could spring up as Christian communities spread.

One final point: Sacred Tradition differs from traditions that are made by the Church, such as fasting and abstinence during Lent, liturgical rules, rites and rituals. These can and have changed over the centuries. It is only this foundational Sacred Tradition of the Church (along with Scripture) that will never change.

What is Sacred Scripture?

Sacred Tradition is only one source for the truths God has revealed to us. In time as apostolic and Sacred Tradition grew, the Holy Spirit inspired some men (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to write down the story of Jesus (the Gospels) and others (Paul, Peter, James, Jude and John) to write letters (Epistles), which were passed around the first-century Christian communities and dealt with doctrine, discipline and Church structure. These Scriptures were indeed the revealed Word of God written in human language.

What does the magisterium do?

From the very beginning of its history, the Church Jesus established on earth had two sources of God’s revelation: Sacred Tradition and the Scriptures. All the divine truths the Church teaches are based on both sources. These divine truths include what we believe about Jesus, the Trinity, Eucharist, etc. Most of these are summed up in the Nicene Creed, which we profess each Sunday at Mass.

On occasion you may hear people object that some doctrines are not in the Bible (e.g., purgatory, the Immaculate Conception). The truth is that the foundations of these doctrines do find support in the Scriptures. This is where the magisterium (the Church’s teaching role) steps in. For example, the 1854 encyclical Ineffabilis Deus by Pius IX  has 16 Scripture references supporting the doctrine of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. It is the Church’s teaching role, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to draw from the Tradition and the Scripture the fuller teaching of  God’s revelation. We know that there has been no new public, or universal, revelation since the death of John the Apostle. However, God continues to reveal himself to various peoples in various ways, because we will never fully exhaust God’s revelation of all truth (CCC, #66).

Friar Jack’s Inbox

Readers respond to Friar Jack’s musings on “St. Francis Xavier (1542-1591): Great Missionary to the Orient.”

Dear Friar Jack: I am a Syrian Catholic from Kerala, India. I had the God-given opportunity to pray by the side of the body of St. Francis Xavier during the last two expositions at Goa, the first time with my parents and the second time with my wife and children. Your letter brought back the pious memories of the great saint. Joy Abraham

Dear Joy Abraham: I was pleased to hear that you had the opportunity to be present at the side of the body of St. Francis Xavier during two expositions of his body. Within the past year (2006), by the way, we had a young Jesuit priest from India (Father Vinayak Jadav, S.J.) serving as an intern for several months at our editorial offices here at St. Anthony Messenger in Cincinnati, Ohio. He told us about the great crowds that come to the church of the Good Jesus in Goa where the incorrupt body of St. Francis is enshrined and where periodic public expositions of his body take place. He also expressed great enthusiasm about being present at such expositions and celebrations. Thank you very much for sending an e-mail from India telling us about your experiences. Friar Jack

Dear Friar Jack: I really enjoyed the feature on St. Francis Xavier. I didn't know that he and St. Ignatius knew each other for such a long time and that their homes were so close. I went to Marquette University in Milwaukee and after I earned three degrees there I felt very kindly toward the now vanishing Jesuits, an interesting bunch. When I am being recruited for a retreat by a parish member there, if it's to be directed by a Jesuit, I'll go. Thank you for this latest item about Francis Xavier.  Ruth

Dear Ruth: Your enthusiasm about retreats directed by Jesuits does not surprise me. The Jesuit Order continues to be a great gift to the Church in many, many ways! (They’re not vanishing, by the way, though their numbers in the U.S. are smaller these days.) Let me take this opportunity to wish you and others who have sent e-mails to me, as well as all of you who read Friar Jack’s E-spirations, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May our Savior’s peace and healing love be with all of you! Friar Jack

Send your feedback to friarjack@americancatholic.org.

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