Sacred TraditionTradition is Democracy for the

Dead – G.K. Chesterton

Big T and Little t Big T refers to tradition that is taken

to be not open to reform, it cannot change. It is part of the deposit of faith, also sometimes called “dogma”.

Little t refers to practices that can change.• For many years the mass was offered in

Latin throughout the world.• The Second Vatican Council opened the

door for mass in the vernacular, or local languages.

Tradition – Its Origins Some scholars suggest that the foundation

for tradition is found in Genesis, in the Creation story.

Adam was informed by God, not to eat of the tree. Eve was not created at this point.

The presumption is that Eve was told by Adam. (when confronted she did not say, “nobody told me!”

She was informed by the word of another (tradition)

Tradition - Big T Many people get confused over this

distinction. Simply these teachings would be held consistently from the beginning of the Church, some examples:• The Real Presence of the Eucharist• The Mystery of the Holy Trinity• The Incarnation – The Word became flesh• The basic elements of the Mass• The Structure of Pope, Bishops, Priests and

Deacons

“tradition” - Little t These would be things that could change

and have not been consistently the practice of the early church, some examples:• The language used during the liturgical rites• The Liturgical calender – feast days can change• The practice of celibacy for those considering

priesthood – in the eastern church men can be married BEFORE ordination, but bishops still are celibate. Some clergy converts are married and still in communion with Rome.

• The way the pope is elected or selected

Revelation and Tradition Recall that God’s Revelation comes to

the Church through both the Sacred Scriptures and Sacred Tradition (codified in the statements of Church Councils and the writings of the early Church, known as the “Fathers of the Church”.

The Bible and Tradition A comparison

• KingJ ames :5 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

• New Revised Version: 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings[

a] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

• New American Bible: Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.

The Church Councils accepted in the East and West

Jerusalem ~ 60 AD• See Acts and

Galatians Nicea 325 AD

• homoousious Constantinople

Iu381• Holy Spirit is 3rd

person Ephesus 431 AD

Theotokos Chalcedon 451

• Divine/Human natures

Contantinople II 553• Confirmed 4 councils

Constantinople III 680• Two wills of Christ

Nicea II• Iconoclasts

Constaninople IV 869• Condemned

irregular council

Church Councils - West Lateran I – 1123

• Investiture controversy

Lateran II – 1139• Correcting errors

Lateran III - 1179• Albigenses and

Waldenses Lateran IV -1215

• Marks high point in Middle ages

Lyon I – 1245• Deposed Frederick II

and called for Crusade Lyon II – 1274

• Papal elections, briefly united East & West

Vienne 1311-1313• Avignon – Knights

Templar Constance 1414-

1418• Great Schism

Church Councils West (cont)

Basle-Ferrara-Florance 1431-1439• Governance

Lateran V 1512-1517• Dealing with turmoil

in Germany – Luther Trent 1545-1563

• Dealing with the Reformation – From it came the Catechism of the Council of Trent

Vatican I 1869-1870• Papal Infallibility

Vatican II • Pastoral Council –

published several “Dogmatic Constitutions and proclaimed Church’s “self-understanding”

Levels of Church Teaching Councilor Teaching (Apostolic Constitutions Apostolic Exhortations Declarations Decrees (Decretum) Papal Encyclicals Instructions issued by congregations Institutes (Instiutio) Moto Propio Dubia (Doubts or questions) Pastoral Letters (issued by bishop conference. Local bishops issue letters binding on their diocese Guidelines issued by committees or sub-committees

of the National Conference of Bishops

Conclusion We are not alone, we strive to

interpret the Scriptures in the context of 2000 years of lived tradition.

Our faith never contradicts the Sacred Scriptures, but certainly give more specifics than the Sacred Scriptures can provide.

The Church guides the human family and God’s gift to the human family.