Opening Prayer
I petition for the grace to fortify my belief through the authority of both Scripture and the Tradition of the Catholic Church. Because Thy Word is capable of many interpretations, I ask for the “universal rule” of Tradition to distinguish Thy truth from the variety of errors that rise up in every age.
I petition Thee for the grace to follow the standards of universality, antiquity, and consent. Help me to remain sound and complete in the faith by following the common understanding of the saints. In the midst of contradictions, let the rule of the Prophets and Apostles be my guide, protecting me from the frauds of those who would lead me astray.
Amen.
Luke 10:16-20
16He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me. 17And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying: Lord, the devils also are subject to us in thy name. 18And he said to them: I saw Satan like lightning falling from heaven. 19Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall hurt you. 20But yet rejoice not in this, that spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice in this, that your names are written in heaven.
St. Vincent of Lérins
St. Vincent of Lérins explains that “owing to the depth of Holy Scripture,” people interpret it in “as many ways as there are interpreters.” Thus, we must join “the authority of the Church’s interpretation” to the Bible. This Church Father insight ensures the Mystical Body remains “sound and complete.” This Tradition is lived out in the Liturgy, particularly in the “Mass of the early Christians”, where the “True Body and Blood” are recognized according to “Apostolic traditions.” We must fortify our belief through the Catholic Tradition.
Vincent of Lérins argues that the “rule for the right understanding of the Prophets and the Apostles” must be framed by the “Catholic tradition.” He warns that without this “standard,” Scripture is “capable of as many interpretations as there are interpreters.”
“Whether I or anyone else should wish to detect the frauds… we must—with the Lord helping—fortify our own belief in two ways: first, by the authority of the Scripture, and then, by the Tradition of the Catholic Church.”
— St. Vincent of Lérins
Mary and the Magisterium
Mary is the “Mother of the recreated world” who is the “aqueduct” of these traditions. The Magisterium, through the Pope and Bishops, preserves the “Apostolic traditions” against “innovators”. They are the “stewards of the mysteries”. Mary, as the “Mirror of Virtue”, helps us continue “sound and complete” in the faith that she first nurtured in the Christ-child.
- Have I sometimes found myself confused by contradictory interpretations of the Bible?
- Do I realize that Sacred Tradition is the necessary "rule" for understanding?
Closing Prayer
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for the great gift of your inspired Scriptures; and thank you for the gift of your Church’s authoritative Tradition.
Amen.
