Sacred Tradition

[kafka]

What is Sacred Tradition?

What is the culmination of Sacred Tradition?

How is Sacred Tradition transmitted?

Is the (for lack of better words) catalogue of Sacred Tradition closed?

[thessalonian]

What is Sacred Tradition?

Sacred tradition is both scripture and the oral teachings of the Church regarding matters of faith and morals. 2 Thes 2:15 says "hold fast to the Traditionssssss you have recieved, whether BY WORD OF MOUTH or in WRITING from us.". Scripture is therefore a tradition. A tradition is teaching that has historical consistency. The the teachings of the Catholic Church have historical legs so to speak. They can be traced back to Christ.

What is the culmination of Sacred Tradition?

The teachings of the Catholic Church.

How is Sacred Tradition transmitted?

Through the magesterium of the Catholic Church by the teaching office granted by Christ of the Popes and Bishops, guided by the Holy Spirit.

Is the (for lack of better words) catalogue of Sacred Tradition closed?

The scriptures tell us that yes, Christ is the culmination of God's revelation. The deposit of faith is not increased or decrease. Having said this we can deepen our understanding of the deposit of faith and expound on the traditions of the Church. This is called development of doctrine. A doctrine in itself.

Some important CCC paragraphs.

83 The Tradition here in question comes from the apostles and hands on what they received from Jesus' teaching and example and what they learned from the Holy Spirit. The first generation of Christians did not yet have a written New Testament, and the New Testament itself demonstrates the process of living Tradition.

Tradition is to be distinguished from the various theological, disciplinary, liturgical or devotional traditions, born in the local churches over time. These are the particular forms, adapted to different places and times, in which the great Tradition is expressed. In the light of Tradition, these traditions can be retained, modified or even abandoned under the guidance of the Church's Magisterium.


77 "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."35 Indeed, "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."36

78 This living transmission, accomplished in the Holy Spirit, is called Tradition, since it is distinct from Sacred Scripture, though closely connected to it. Through Tradition, "the Church, in her doctrine, life and worship, perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that she herself is, all that she believes."37 "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."38

79 The Father's self-communication made through his Word in the Holy Spirit, remains present and active in the Church: "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."39

II. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADITION AND SACRED SCRIPTURE

One common source. . .

80 "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."40 Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ, who promised to remain with his own "always, to the close of the age".41

. . . two distinct modes of transmission

81 "Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit."42

"And [Holy] 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."43

82 As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, "does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence."44

Apostolic Tradition and ecclesial traditions

83 The Tradition here in question comes from the apostles and hands on what they received from Jesus' teaching and example and what they learned from the Holy Spirit. The first generation of Christians did not yet have a written New Testament, and the New Testament itself demonstrates the process of living Tradition.

Tradition is to be distinguished from the various theological, disciplinary, liturgical or devotional traditions, born in the local churches over time. These are the particular forms, adapted to different places and times, in which the great Tradition is expressed. In the light of Tradition, these traditions can be retained, modified or even abandoned under the guidance of the Church's Magisterium.

[kafka]

thanks for the replies Thess. I like a couple of your points. I will try and give my answers within a few days, first I am hoping other people to try and answer them.

The last question is sort of a trick question and warrants a theologically speculative answer.

[cmotherofpirl]

Liturgy is Sacred Tradition.