EXACT definition of Sacred Tradition

[goldenchild17]

In a discussion I said: "why Scripturally is it any less than Scripture?"

He said: "In that case, what exactly is Tradition? I can't answer that until I have a precise definition."


So I need the exact definition of what constitutes Holy Tradition, what is referred to as the infallible teaching of Holy Tradition.

[StColette]

Found this in the Ref Section [url="http://www.rosary-center.org/ll47n4.htm"]http://www.rosary-center.org/ll47n4.htm[/url]
It may help some in explaining what exactly Sacred Tradition is. Well, it'll explain it better than I can lol

[Fides_et_Ratio]

I love the Catechism

(from the Glossary of the CCC)

"TRADITION: the living transmission of the message of the Gospel in the Church. The oral preaching of the Apostles, and the written message of salvation under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (Bible), are conserved and handed on as the deposit of faith through the apostolic succession in the Church. Both the living Tradition and the written Scripture have their common source in the revelation of God in Jesus Christ (75-82). The theological, liturgical, disciplinary, and devotional traditions of the local churches both contain and can be distinguished from this apostolic Tradition (83)."

[Fides_et_Ratio]

Here's another question:

what are some examples of Tradition? I was trying to think of some to explain to a friend the other day, but couldn't come up with any...

[phatcatholic]

[url="http://www.therealpresence.org/dictionary/tdict.htm"]Pocket Catholic Dictionary[/url][list][b]TRADITION[/b]. Literally a "handing on," referring to the passing down of God's revealed word. As such it has two closely related but distinct meanings. Tradition first means all of divine revelation, from the dawn of human history to the end of the apostolic age, as passed on from one generation of believers to the next, and as preserved under divine guidance by the Church established by Christ. Sacred Tradition more technically also means, within this transmitted revelation, that part of God's revealed word which is not contained in Sacred Scripture. Referring specifically to how Christian tradition was handed on, the Second Vatican Council says: "It was done by the apostles who handed on, by the spoken word of their preaching, by the example they gave, by the institutions they established, what they themselves had received – whether from the lips of Christ, from His way of life and His works, or whether they had learned it by the prompting of the Holy Spirit" (Constitution on Divine Revelation, II, 7). (Etym. Latin traditio, a giving over, delivery, surrender; a handing down: from tradere, to give up.)
[/list]

[goldenchild17]

Okay, but what EXACTLY makes up Tradition. How is the magisterium, the councils, all of that to be explained exact but short?

[Apotheoun]

In Eastern Christian theology Tradition is all that has been revealed; in other words, the sacred scriptures form a part of Tradition, as do the apostolic customs (both theological and liturgical), and the Church herself. As far as the conciliar definitions are concerned, they are particular expressions of the already existing Tradition of faith, and so they too form a part of Sacred Tradition.

[Quietfire]

Oral teachings.

Oral teachings of the apolstles have been handed on from generation to generation, through the Popes and bishops of the Catholic Church. These are called the Traditions of the Church. And thus...Tradition.

Traditions dating from Christ or his apostles and the Bible are equally important as sources of divine truths. We must draw upon both of them for a full knowledge of Christ and his teachings. In fact, many parts of the Bible would be difficult to understand correctly if we did not have Tradition to guide us in interpreting them.

Incidentally, since the Reformation, with so many denominations outside of Catholicsm, it is no wonder why there are so many "interpretations" of the Bible. For one who has no proper understanding of a particular chapter, verse, text or what not...one would be inclined to "interpret" it as they sit fit.

This is simply not the case with the Church. Since she has written, compiled, and spread the teachings of Christ with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are assured that what she says is true. There are many things taught that are not explicit in Scripture, but since this has been handed down through Tradition (oral teachings from Christ and his apostles) we know they are True.


Do Dat help?

Pax

[StColette]

[quote name='Fides_et_Ratio' date='Jul 20 2005, 09:59 AM']Here's another question:

what are some examples of Tradition? I was trying to think of some to explain to a friend the other day, but couldn't come up with any...
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[/quote]

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary Queen of Heaven
The role of bishops, priests, and the Pope in Christian ministry.
Our understanding of the Sacraments and their place in Christian life.

Some Sacred Traditions also have Biblical basis of course