Traditional Catholic Teaching - Lesson 1

Lesson 1 - Supplement A

Comments on the Lesson

An intelligent person, whether highly educated or not, might consider it a little demeaning to have to go right back to basics which, so often, we think we know perfectly well. This lesson may appear rather dull and unnecessary. It may help us to know that every Catholic seminarian, studying to be a priest, spends some months probing the questions raised in this lesson. We think it is so well written we wish every Catholic would read it every now and then because of the essential truths it contains. In our world today, whether you live in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, contemporary society seems to negate all belief in and respect for God. For the fist time in the history of humanity, the last 150 – 200 years have given rise to a religion-less society dominating human affairs! Christendom, the long dominance of Christian culture, has all but evaporated. Sadly this is due not only to anti-Christian forces strategically pitched against the Faith, but more especially to the most pathetic in-house auto-demolition programmes which have been carefully generated within Christianity in the last century. A careful examination of most modern "renewal" programmes implemented within Christian denominations shows how much they endorse compromise between the teaching of our Lord in the Gospels, and in his Church. Frankly it is astounding how weak they are and how damaging they have proved to be. Popular in method of presentation and appeal, they have demonstrated by the fruit of their results, that they do not equip Christians to counter pagan culture as it presses in on Christianity and its practice. Do not be surprised therefore, if you are unsettled and find everything around you echoing relentlessly, "There is no such thing as a God! You don't really believe in it anyway, nor do most people; and so what! The world keeps going. Religious stuff has had its day. Its time to move on into a new age of humanity, free from past fears and obligations".

This is scary stuff – but we do not need to be afraid of it. Take a read of the first few chapters of the Book of Genesis some time, and you will find consolation (if not inspiration) in the fact that faith in God is always under attack. Christians can never, never let down their guard. The moment they do, a Trojan Horse slides gracefully into the middle of the sanctuary! And, yes, before long, all hell breaks loose. Take a look at the least to the largest sectors in Christianity and see if you can identify a Trojan Horse — or at least what it has released into the organism it penetrated.

We do have a chance to save the best of our culture, which has been developed on the foundation of the Christian religion, and up to the 16th Century entirely on the Catholic Faith. This lesson gives us all a chance to retrace our steps and make sure we have not lost essential foundation truths without which we may as well throw our lot in with the whole pagan drift of modern western society. It is not too late to protect our heritage despite the weakened state it is now in. We would like to add a note for our Jewish and non-Catholic readers. We cannot talk about traditional Christianity without referring to Judaism and Protestantism; just as members of these movements often find themselves comparing aspects of their faith with Catholicism. Our belief is that we should not hesitate to make these references provided they are offered in a spirit of mutual respect, informed statement and fairness. The writer has, at various stages of the journey of faith, participated in Jewish, Protestant, and modern Catholic worship; finally settling in traditional Latin Catholic culture. These notes are offered to help anyone who chooses to join that culture and participate fully in it. That choice is also open to you.

Keys To Understanding

To conclude our supplementary comments we introduce the first of a series of Gospel Meditations to help you understand key elements touched on in Bishop Dwyer's lesson.

This key meditation could possibly be one of the most important we can offer. It is the account of the incident in which God the Father proclaims the only commandment he was heard to give in the Christian era: "Listen to him!" It is a wonderful antidote to the world's increasing habit of ignoring the voice and teaching of Jesus Christ. We hope you will meditate often on this account and truly seek to "Listen to him!"

End of Lesson 1 Supplement A

Supplement B: "Listen To Him"

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