July 27, 2005
God willing, by the grace of Almighty God, I would bravely face a firing squad rather than deny the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church and Sacred Scripture which is held as the word of God. However, when it comes to other things like the reality of angel’s wings and the almost incredible legends of some ancient and obscure saints – well, for these – no. While I won’t deny the possibility of some things, I don’t have to die for them.
Quite often, non-Catholics can become quite confused, perhaps even angry when we say that God reveals Himself to us through the Bible – and Tradition. Some of you who are familiar with apologetics, or the study or practice of proving the truths of the Faith, know that one of the chief tenets of the Protestant Reformation was “sola scripture”, or “only Scripture”. Maybe if Martin Luther was from the Bronx he would say, “everytings in da book”. This is the reason why Catholics continually hear the same refrain. “Show me where praying to Mary and the saints is in the Bible”.
Part of our difficulty is explaining the difference between “Tradition” and “traditions”. The first is an authentic conduit of Divine Revelation which does not contradict, but compliments and completes the Word of God. The word “tradition” means, “to pass or hand something to another”. On the teaching of the Holy Eucharist, Saint Paul’s first letter to the Church in Corinth, Chapter 11, verse 23: “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you…” He then presents the reasons why Christians should celebrate the Eucharist worthily. Not only is the Holy Eucharist spoken about “in da book”, the practice of Christians celebrating the “breaking of the bread” predates the writing of certain parts of the New Testament! This is but one example of Sacred Tradition.
Now, traditions (lower case “t”) are customs that have emerged in certain eras and cultures that are expressions of religious belief. Although not Divinely inspired like Sacred Scripture, traditions should nourish, strengthen, and point to Biblical truths. But let’s be honest, this does not always happen, oftentimes because of a lack of proper instruction. When ignorance of true religion and cultural devotion meet – watch out – there can be problems up ahead!
If you’re from a Mediterranean background, pinning dollar bills and kissing a statue of Saint Anthony at a street festival held in his honor may appear odd to others, but you say, “If it was good enough for grandma, it’s good enough for me – besides I may get lucky at the blackjack table!” Then there is the practice of burying a statue of Saint Joseph in the front lawn to guarantee a quick closing on the house, hanging rosaries on the clothesline to forestall a storm on the day of the parish picnic, or wearing a scapular as “fire insurance” – folks, do know all this stuff makes a Southern Baptist’s blood really boil!
Now, such religious naiveté and ignorance is also alive and well outside of the Catholic faith. In fact, it’s a part of every religion where people want not only to love and obey God; they want to control Him also. Such manipulation is pagan at best and fits squarely in the corner with idolatry. No novena in the world is strong enough to bend the arm of the Almighty. It is rather faith that God calls us to – faith, which makes God’s perfect will our own.
It is the teaching of the Church that we are called to believe in everything handed on to us by the Bible and Tradition. This is the “cake” – everything else is but cream. So, if you express your faith in ways which are born of custom and culture, make sure your devotion doesn’t distract and divert yourself and others from what is most important, namely, giving yourself totally to God and His holy will. Don’t go to the lions defending some private revelation or curious devotion, but for Christ and His Church...? For the Sacred Bible and Sacred Tradition, may God give us the grace to desire a thousand deaths!
Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR
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