Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center
Date: Wednesday, 30 Sep 1992 09:50:21 EDT
From: Marty Helgesen <MNHCC@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.catholic
Subject: Sacred Tradition (WAS Re: pre Vat II ?
 <1992Sep28.181651.28451@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>
 <1992Sep29.184718.25657@watson.ibm.com>


You are confusing tradition with Sacred Tradition.  There are tradi-
tions in the Church, and they can be changed, although that should be
done with care, but that is not the same as Sacred Tradition.  Sacred
Tradition is God's revelation, given to the Apostles, that was not
recorded explicitly in the Bible. (Cf. John 20:30-31 and John 21:25)

The Second Vatican Council said in its Dogmatic Constitution on
Divine Revelation:
                                   CHAPTER II

                     THE TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION

           7.God  graciously  arranged  that  the  things  he  had once
  revealed  for  the  salvation  of  all  peoples should remain in their
  entirety,  throughout the ages, and be transmitted to all generations.
  Therefore,  Christ the Lord, in whom the entire Revelation of the most
  high  God  is  summed  up  (cf.  2 Cor. 1:20, 3:16-4, 6) commanded the
  apostles  to  preach the Gospel, which had been promised beforehand by
  the prophets, and which he fulfilled in his own person and promulgated
  with  his  own lips.  In preaching the Gospel they were to communicate
  the  gifts of God to all men.  This Gospel was to be the source of all
  saving truth and moral discipline.[8]  This was faithfully done:  it
  was done  by  the  apostles  who  handed  on, by the spoken word  of
  their preaching, by  the example they gave, by the institutions they
  established,  what they themselves had received ---  whether
  from the lips of Christ, from his way of life and his works, or
  whether they had learned it at the prompting of the Holy Spirit;
  it was done by those apostles and  other men associated with the
  apostles who, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, commit-
  ted the message of salvation to writing.[9]

           In  order  that  the  full and living Gospel might always be
  preserved in the Church the apostles left bishops as their successors.
  They gave them "their own position of teaching  authority."[10]
  This  sacred Tradition, then, and he sacred Scripture  of  both
  Testaments, are like  a  mirror, in which the Church,  during its
  pilgrim journey here  on  earth, contemplates God,  from whom she
  receives everything, until such time as she is brought to see him
  face to face as he really is (cf. Jn. 3:2).

           8.Thus,  the  apostolic  preaching,  which is expressed in a
  special way in the inspired books, was to be preserved in a continuous
  line of succession  until the  end of time.  Hence the apostles, in
  handing on what they themselves had received, warn the faithful to
  maintain the traditions which they had learned either by word of mouth
  or by letter (cf. 2 Th. 2:15); and they warn them to fight hard for
  the faith that had been handed on to them once and for all (cf. Jude
  3).[11]   What was handed on by the apostles comprises  everything
  that  serves to  make the  People  of God live their lives  in
   holiness and increase their faith.  In this way the Church, in her
   doctrine, life and worship,  perpetuates  and transmits to  every
   generation all that she herself is, all that she believes.

           The Tradition that comes from the apostles makes progress in
   the Church, with the help of the Holy Spirit.[12]  There is a growth
   in insight into the realities and words that are being  passed  on.
   This comes about in  various  ways.  It  comes  through the
   contemplation and study of believers who  ponder these  things in
   their hearts (cf. Lk 2:19 and 51).  It comes from the intimate sense
   of spiritual realities which they experience.  And it comes from the
   preaching of those who have received, along with their right of
   succession in the episcopate, the sure charism of truth.  Thus,  as
   the centuries go by, the Church is always advancing towards the
   plenitude of divine truth, until eventually the words of God are
   fulfilled in her.

           The sayings of the Holy Fathers are a witness to the life-
   giving presence of this Tradition, showing how its riches are poured
   out in the practice and life of the Church, in her belief and her

   prayer.   By means of the same Tradition the full canon of the sacred
   books is known to the Church and the holy Scriptures themselves are
   more thoroughly understood  and constantly actualized in the Church./
   Thus God, who spoke in the past, continues to converse with the spouse
   of his beloved Son.   And  the Holy Spirit, through whom the living
   voice of the Gospel rings out in the Church --- and through her in the
   world  ---  leads believers to the full truth, and makes the Word of
   Christ dwell in them in all its richness (cf. Col. 3:16).

       9. Sacred  Tradition and sacred Scripture, then, are bound
   closely  together, and communicate one with the other.  For both of
   them, flowing out from the same divine well-spring, come together in
   some fashion to form one thing, and  move towards the same goal.
   Sacred  Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing
   under the breath of the Holy Spirit.  And Tradition transmits in its
   entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by
   Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the successors
   of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, they may
   faithfully preserve, expound and spread it abroad by their preaching.
   Thus it comes about that the Church does not draw her certainty about
   all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone.  Hence, both
   Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal
   feelings of devotion and reverence.[13]

       10.  Sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture make up a single
   sacred deposit of the Word of God, which is entrusted to the Church.
   By adhering to it the entire holy people, united to its pastors,
   remains always faithful to the teaching of he apostles, to the brother
   hood, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (cf. Acts 2:42 Greek).
   So, in maintaining, practicing and professing the faith that has been
   handed on there should be a remarkable harmony between the bishops and
   the faithful.[14]

       But the  task of giving an authentic interpretation of the
   Word of God, whether in its written form or in  the  form  of
   Tradition,[15] has been entrusted to the living teaching office of
   the Church alone.[16] Its authority in this matter is exercised in the
   name of Jesus Christ.  Yet this Magisterium is not superior to  the
   Word  of God,  but is its servant.  It teaches only what has been
   handed on to it.  At the divine command and with the help of the
   Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication
   and expounds it faithfully.  All that it proposes for belief as
   being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith.

        It is clear, therefore, that, in the supremely wise arrangement
    of God, sacred Tradition, sacred Scripture and the Magisterium of
    the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot
    stand without the others.  Working together, each in its own way under
   the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to
   the salvation of souls.

     ____________________________________________________________________
       9.  Cf.   Council  of  Trent,  loc.  cit.;  First Vatican Council,
           Session  III,  _Dogm. Const.  on the Catholic Faith_, c. 2 (on
           Revelation):  _Denz._ 1787 (3006).

       10.  St.  Irenaeus, _Adv. Haer_., III, 3,1:  PG 7, 848; Harvey, 2,
            p. 9.

       11.  Cf.  Council  of  Nicea  II:   _Denz._ 303 (602).  Council of
            Constantinople IV, Session X, can. 1:  _Denz._ 336 (650-652).

       12.  Cf.  First  Vatican  Council,  _Dogm. Const.  on the Catholic
            Faith_, c.4 (on Faith and Reason):  _Denz._ 1800 (3020).


       13.  Cf.  Council  of  Trent,  Session IV, loc. cit.:  _Denz._ 783
            (1501).

       14.  Cf.  Pius XII, Apost. Const. _Munificentissimus Deus_, 1 Nov.
            1950:   AAS  42 (1950) 756, taken along with the words of St.
            Cyprian  _Epist._ 66, 8; Hartel, III, B, p. 733:  "The Church
            is the people united to its Priest, the flock adhering to its
            shepherd."

       15.  Cf.  First  Vatican  Council,  _Dogm.  Const. on the Catholic
            Faith_, c. 3 (on Faith):  _Denz._ 1972 (301a).


Marty Helgesen
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU