Opening Prayer
Deliver me, Lord, from the pride of being “self-taught” in the mysteries of Thy Word. I petition for the humility to rely on the commentaries of the holy teachers of old rather than the “hornets” of novel interpretation. Help me to recognize that the saints of the past possessed a holiness of life and a spirit that far surpass my own.
I petition Thee for the grace to interpret Thy Word according to the mind of the Church, staying within the safety of the Catholic faith. Let me not be misled by those who dispute the ancient fathers and fail to agree even among themselves. Keep me stable in the great dogmas that have stood the test of ages.
Amen.
Matthew 5:13-19
13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men. 14You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. 16So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 17Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. 19He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
St. Thomas More
St. Thomas More critiques those who “boast that they are self-taught” regarding the Bible. He points out that the Church Fathers were men of “no less talent” and far more “holiness of life” than modern innovators. This “Science of the Saints” is found within the Mystical Body. Authentic interpretation is linked to the Eucharist, the “marvelous Banquet” where the saints’ wisdom is the food. By rejecting “self-taught” novelties, we remain “conquered by none” within the Catholic Faith.
More notes that “self-taught” theologians “fail to agree among themselves,” whereas the Universal Church remains stable. He argues that those who ignore the “ancient fathers” will sprout up like “hornets,” leading only to dispute rather than the peace of Christ.
“Without even referring to the commentaries of the holy teachers of old, they claim that when they read all that the ancient fathers confessed they found difficult, these ‘self-taught’ men discover it to be clear.”
— St. Thomas More
Mary and the Magisterium
Mary is the “Mother of the Church” who is always with Jesus. She leads us to the mind of the Church rather than “private tastes and fancies”. The Magisterium, specifically the Office of the Bishop, ensures we follow the “Apostles.” The Bishop preserves the unity of the Church by relying on the holy teachers of old, just as Mary pondered the mysteries within the blessed society of heaven.
- Am I careful not to follow naively those self-appointed teachers who seek an audience through novel ideas?
- Do I trust the "holy teachers of old"?
Closing Prayer
Father, grant me humility to recognize that I’m not always able to interpret the Scripture rightly on my own.
Amen.
