Lesson 6 - Supplement A

Comments

Introduction

The compiler of this web site material was not a "cradle Catholic", and grew up in both State Church and Non Conformist forms of Protestantism, finally becoming an ordained minister in one of them. This Lesson 6 on Tradition and the Bible is therefore at the very heart of what is so different between traditional Christianity and that which evolved out of the so-called Reformation. The following comments are offered to complement Bishop Dwyer's wonderful lesson, and to highlight some of the beautiful treasures discovered by those who return to the "ancient paths".

1. Tradition: the Real Meaning

The very Word "tradition" underpins the concept of an unbroken link with the "original". The prefix "tra" comes from the Latin "trans" i.e., across. The rest of the word comes from the Latin "dare / datum" – to give. So the word conveys the idea of giving across time — passing on down the generations. As non-Catholics, we were filled (especially during ministry training) with ridiculous and biased beliefs that R.C. tradition was a deadly, dull, monotonous, restrictive, ritualistic (in every worst meaning of the word) and repressive aspect of the "old" un-reformed Church. Those of us who crossed the threshold into the traditional Church and became Catholics found to our eternal gratitude that the meaning of "tradition" in the Church is exactly the opposite. We rejoice that because of the loyalty of many traditional Christians who went before us, often heroic loyalty to the point of martyrdom, we can now enjoy the privilege of the fullness of the Christian Faith passed faithfully down to us, entrusted to our care, in all its beautiful purity. We believe we have found the pearl of great value and were pleased to sell everything to obtain it. That was our choice, and we are glad we made it.

2. The "Real Presence " of Christ in Scripture

If you were to view some of the big-time media Protestant evangelists preaching you would hear them repeat often the phrase, "The Bible says…" That they quote the Bible as their authority is fine, but their manner of doing it betrays an attitude towards the Bible which Catholics find reprehensible. They see the Bible rather like a mechanic's manual in black and white which you quote and interpret superficially just as the words give it. We consider this a denigration of the Word of God — an abuse of Holy Scripture.

For us the Holy Bible is the Living Word. Everything in it points to our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a sense of the real presence of Christ in the Bible, complementing the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament — the Word made flesh. (See Lesson 10)

When we read the Scriptures during the service of Holy Mass, this is done with great ceremony, devotion, and dignity. When it comes to the reading of the Gospel, we all stand and face the Book which is incensed and kissed with love and warmth. This is nothing less than love for the living Christ, present in his Holy Scriptures.

Catholics undertake Bible Study, of course, but we have a special love for meditating on the Gospels. This is called, "Lectio Divina" – Divine Reading literally, but reading in the Biblical sense, i.e. meditation on the living Word to understand it — to hear God — to hear the Word behind or within the words, and to obey! We accompany each of these lessons with a meditation on a Gospel passage suitable for Lectio Divina. Our section "Bible Reflection" will help you "do" Lectio Divina, a form of meditation totally suited to family settings, small groups, or individual use.

3. An Interesting Comparison

At the time of the Reformation, altars were swept away and huge pulpits were put in their place. The Word of God was meant to replace all the "Romish hocus-pocus". When the writer became a Catholic Christian he was warned how Catholics know little about the Bible and, no wonder, he was told; they seldom read it! Experience soon showed that, after a planned evaluation and analysis, the Catholic form of worship contained about (roughly) four times as much Scripture as the various Protestant services. Interestingly Catholic worship contained also about seven or eight times as much prayer. Non-Catholic worship was taken up principally with the minister talking about Scripture; or more often than not, talking about his sermon topic and sprinkling his comments with short Bible quotes. We look on this as a major weakness and flaw in Protestantism.

On looking back, those of us who were previously ordained but became Catholic, truly wonder why Protestants so aggressively claim they "know" Scripture better and think they use it as their sole authority. We wonder how we could have been ordained with such an inadequate understanding of the real depth of Biblical knowledge. We do not discredit reputable Protestant institutions of learning — but our experience of some of them is that they are in no position to teach such incorrect and unsustainable opinions on the traditional Catholic Church and its use of Holy Scripture. Their statements do not bear up to scrutiny. Catholics can be proud of how the Church has upheld and safeguarded the Holy Bible over the past two millennia. They can also be grateful as to how the Church has used Scripture and made its spiritual treasures available to all who cared to partake of them.

See the following Appendicies:

Catholic Veneration of the Bible
Formation of the New Testament
Apocryphal Books
Sole Rule of Faith?

Conclusion

In presenting this series of lessons for our Catholic as well as non-Catholic readers, we wish to be respectful of other denominations, but feel compelled to resist strongly those notions and criticisms we believe arise out of ignorance or prejudice. We are staggered at how uninformed many Protestants are about Catholic culture and practice. We find it almost unbelievable how otherwise mature and reasonable people can make such ridiculous statements about Catholic spirituality which betray an attitude of entrenched bigotry.

In Supplement B we offer a Gospel meditation which is one of the great moments in the establishment of the Church as the extension of Christ in time and space. This meditation underpins the importance of the Church passing on all that our Lord taught us to believe and do. As we know, only some of this was recorded in the New Testament Scriptures (John 21: 25). So much was left to the oral tradition of the early Church to pass on down to future generations, and this is what we mean by tradition: the "teaching authority of the Church", which was entruested with the full deposit of the Christian Faith.

End of Lesson 6 Supplement A

Appendix: "Catholic Veneration Of The Bible"

Appendix: "The Formation Of The New Testament"

Appendix: "Apocryphal Books"

Appendix: "Sole Rule Of Faith"

Supplement B "The Great Commission"

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