Traditional Catholic Teaching - Lesson 3 Supplement A

Lesson 3 - Supplement A

Comments

Although this series is offered primarily for enquiries into the Catholic Faith, we are conscious that non-Catholic as well as Jewish people and members of other religions are likely to peruse the contents. We are very firmly committed to honouring them for their chosen religious faith and practice. It is our intention to display this in our writing, and to explain carefully anything they might, for whatever reason, find hurtful or even just perplexing in our studies. We may as well agree that the moment one begins commenting on religion or politics, we can expect to "ruffle one another's feathers". This series therefore counts on having the good will of readers so that we can present an explanation on each key topic as best we know how and have them read it in the spirit in which it is written.

This lesson is probably the first where you will meet the clear, straightforward statements the Catholic Church makes about herself. The teaching is in summary form. Any particular belief can be supported by many volumes of ancient and modern manuscripts, which, if you chose, you could examine. In other words, none of the statements in this or subsequent lessons are made with a "take it or leave it" attitude. They are presented humbly with an invitation for you to probe as deeply as you wish when you wish, and to challenge as far as you wish to go. That is your prerogative.

We are sharing with you our priceless treasure which has been entrusted to us to protect and pass on. We ask you to understand that we are aware of the sensitivities you may have, and will present the basics of our Christian Faith as best we know how in the circumstances.

The first lesson on the specific subject of "the Church" (number 3 in our series) introduces the idea very early, that different people, even Christians, believe things which are absolutely the opposite of one another. This means that we will all have to talk very carefully and humbly about what we believe, if others are going to hear properly and adequately what we are actually saying and meaning.

One of the key items of faith which the Church has believed and taught for 2000 years is that when she makes authoritive declarations in matters of faith and morals, that teaching will be guided by the Holy Spirit and never be misled. In that sense, the Church of Jesus Christ is infallible. It has always known that and trusted our Lord's promises.

Another idea Bishop Dwyer includes in his brief overview of the Church is the way we identify the true Church. If anything offends Protestants, it is the reference to the "true Church". This is extremely sad. Members of the ancient Church love the phrase; and part of the reason for that is this promise of Jesus to protect her from errors in her teaching about faith and morals. The phrase "true Church" was not invented as a put down for denominations which split off over the past 500 years. On the contrary, it was a way the Church Universal (the Church Catholic) looked at herself from the earliest time and applied the teaching of our Lord in the Gospels to herself. It was a measure, a standard, a requirement which the Church herself had to meet with absolute fidelity. So earnest was the Church in her rugged history in the battlefield of the pagan world, that the concern for and pursuit of truth in her worship, teaching and service has always remained at the forefront of her mission. From the earliest times the Church has referred to herself as "the true Church". There was no other! It was always a self-disciplining reminder of the sacred responsibility to pass on all that our Lord required her to believe and teach. Only the Church that is true to her mission according to the Lord who commissioned her, could ever claim to serve her Lord in truth. The claim, therefore, of the Catholic Church to be the true Church has always included a qualitative element whereby she constantly examines her teaching, charitable works, worship and government to ensure she is true to the demands of Christ her head. That is a far cry from the common criticism non-Catholics sometimes make of: arrogance, superiority and exclusivity. This issue is one of authenticity, of obedience to the commission of our Lord, not superiority or exclusivity.

This brings us to a final consideration in the study of these lessons. This series is not just a presentation in defence of the 2000 years of the Church's teaching and Christian practice. Every Protestant denomination has produced its own reason for existence and claims to return to the truth from which the Catholic Church has, in their view, departed. Our purpose is not to respond by just answering objections. Very rarely are people these days interested in such replies — their interest is in devising objections and presenting them. We have to leave those whose interest lies there to remain peacefully there and present the Faith as a proclamation of the Christian religion bequeathed by our Lord Jesus Christ.

We also wish to offer some of the keys to understanding our Church, to any person who wishes to take them. We have already offered the first; it is the one and only commandment of God, voiced in the New Testament — "Listen to him!" This is a vital and necessary key. The second we quietly slipped into our commentary was the beautiful attitude of Simon Peter at Caesarea who declared what the Holy Spirit gave him to speak, "You are the Annointed One — you are the Christ". A third is yet another testimony about Jesus from someone else: no less a person than John the Baptist. Here we invite you, when time permits, to meditate on a beautiful account of his proclamation — his "call to arms" — spiritual arms, that is: "Calling In the Desert" (Supplement B).

In this account you will notice how John the Baptist draws from Old Testament prophecy but points forward to the coming of the true Messiah. He defines, in a way, the essential nature and role of the true Saviour: so very different from the image one forms listening to or watching some modern-day media evangelists.

We include this reference to John the Baptist because he serves as a helpful model of how to discern the true path towards God. He drew from the teachings of the Old Testament but he didn't look backwards. The whole of his life in the desert wilderness was a preparation for a great coming. All his preaching pointed towards One who was coming. He called on his listeners to get rid of barriers and distractions — to clear the way for the Lord; and then to let the Lord take "centre stage". He asked no more of his listeners than he had demonstrated in his own life.

We have mentioned this because often people who think they might like to enquire about the traditinal Christian Faith, do so from a very distant and remote position. It is rather like turning a telescope around and looking through it backwards. We all did it as children and found it fun: everything was so small and far, far away: so far it was quaint and fascinating, but unreal! These lessons on the Catholic Faith can be viewed in just the same way - but if they are, they will be of little help to man or beast!

The key to seeing the proper perspective is not to take a historic view backwards down a narow tunnel, but to let yourself go back to the origins of the Faith and watch as it unfolds into new ages of civilisation. Then you will see the Church as it grows in its own understanding of its tough but crucial function. You will see the good and the bad, the divine and the human — but it will be real and it will be true. It will be believable. Without this perspective, we do not think these lessons will be able to clarify issues adequately for you; they may even confuse you. Such are the effects today of hundreds of years of incorrect statements about the Catholic Faith in many inadequately researched documents, that you may have difficulty reading here about the traditional Church. We understand that and will continue to try and explain, using Gospel meditations, how the Church has attempted to perform faithfully the mission passed on to her by our Lord.

This has been a long comment. However, we want you to know that we love to share the treasures of our Faith but equally want to ensure they are understood correctly. There is so much mis-information about traditional Christianity i.e. Catholicism, that for the sake of everyone's spiritual health and wellbeing we wish to provide every opportunity for readers to be relaxed and feel confident they understand what they are reading.

End of Lesson 3 Supplement A

Supplement B "Calling In the Desert"

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