09 Scripture, Tradition and The Magisterium (2) – Fr. Maxwell, MC

In this episode we welcome Fr. Matthew Maxwell. We will discuss in detail the meaning of the Sacred Tradition of the Church, the Sacred Scriptures, and the role of the Magisterium of the Church.

Apostolic Tradition: Jesus Christ did not write a “text book” to transmit the revealed truths to all men, but instead established His Church on St. Peter and the Apostles, and entrusted to them the responsibility of passing on all those truths (the “Deposit of Faith”) to all generations through history, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Sacred Tradition is the transmission of the Deposit of Faith by the Apostles to their successors “by the spoken word of their preaching, by the example they gave, by the institutions they established, what they themselves had received.” (Dei Verbum 7)

Sacred Scripture: Some of the Apostles, and their immediate disciples put into writing—under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit—what they gathered from the life and teaching of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. Sacred Scripture contains and transmits infallibly everything that God wanted to communicate to men about the truths necessary for salvation. The Canon of Scripture is the entire list of books recognized by the Church as “inspired” by God. (Dei Verbum 11)

The Magisterium of the Church is the “teaching authority” given by Christ to St. Peter, the Apostles and their successors. The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ" (DV 10). The Church puts forth the teachings of Christ through dogmas, symbols of Faith, Encyclicals, Documents of Councils of Bishops (like the Council of Trent, or the Second Vatican Council) and Catechisms.

After discussing these points, Fr. Matthew will give us the story of how he discerned his call to be a Priest in Miles Christi, and some other fun facts!

All these topics can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 74 to 141.

Besides, one of the Church Fathers, Tertullian, witnesses clearly to the truth of the Apostolic Tradition as a source of revelation, in one of his writings, which you can find in the Second Reading of the Office of Readings for the Feast of Sts. Philip and James (May 3). The quote is from his “Treatise On the Prescription of Heretics” (Cap. 20:1-9:21,3; 22,8-10: CCL 1, 201-204). It can be found here: https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/tradition-of-the-apostles-tertullian/ 

Email us at info@forcollegecatholics.org with any feedback, shout-outs, or questions you might have!

Podcast Website: www.forcollegecatholics.org

Miles Christi Religious Order www.mileschristi.org

Intro music from www.pond5.com

Recorded at the Miles Christi Family Center, South Lyon, Michigan

Gear used

- Mic: Shure MV7 Dynamic Microphone & ATR 2100-XLR

- Recorder: ZOOM H6 Portable Recorder

- Software: Adobe Audition