Keeping the Faith

The Living Teaching Office of the Catholic Church

The Direction of IntentionMy God, give me the grace

to perform this action with you and through love for you.In advance, I offer to you all the good that I will do

and accept all the difficulty I may meet therein.

St. Ann, Pray for us.St. Francis de Sales, Pray for us

Overview Definitions Basis in Scripture The Church Fathers Infallibility The Conscience Submission of the Will and Intellect

MagisteriumHelpful Definitions

Magisterium: The teaching authority of the Church exercised by the Pope and Bishops

It’s Purpose: To preserve the Deposit of Faith as handed down from Christ to his ChurchLiving Faith – Open to the deepening of understanding of revealed doctrines

The Role of a Bishop:

to teach, to sanctify,to govern

the faithful

MagisteriumHelpful Definitions

Ordinary Magisterium: of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him teach the faithful the truth to believe, the charity to practice, the beatitude to hope forExamples:

The defense of all human life from conception to natural deathThe Social Teaching of the Catholic Church

The rights of workers, the right to just wageThe teaching on Guardian Angels

MagisteriumHelpful Definitions

Extraordinary Magisterium refers to a special exercise of their teaching office by either the Pope and bishops together, or the Pope alone, gives a definitive judgment on something that was once part of the Ordinary Magisterium.Example:

Dogma of the Assumption in 1950Council of Nicea in 325 defined the Divinity and Humanity of Christ in ONE person

The Source of Magisterium Sacred Scripture

“You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt. 16, 1819). At the Last Supper:

“The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.” (Jn. 14, 26). “When the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth” (Jn. 16,13).

St. Paul, knowing that the truth would remain in the Church, speaks of 'the Church of the living God, which upholds the truth and keeps it safe' (1 Tim. 3, 15). Although individuals go astray, therefore, the Church will not. St. Peter in his warning: 'we must be most careful to remember that the interpretation of scriptural prophecy is never a matter for the individual' (2 Pet. 1. 20).

The Understanding of Magisterium The Church Fathers

Fourth Pope, St. Clement, 96 ADInstruction that if these (Bishops) would die, other accredited persons should succeed them in their office

St. Ignatius of Antioch, A.D. 107 exhorts them: 'Follow your bishop, every one of you, as obediently as Jesus Christ followed the Father' (Smyrneans, no. 8).

The Understanding of Magisterium The Church Fathers

St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons “It is necessary to obey the presbyters in the Church-those who possess the succession from the Apostles; those who, together with the succession of the episcopate, have received the certain gift of truth, according to the good pleasure of the Father.” What is meant by succession? The ecclesiastical tradition from the Apostles, and the preaching of the truth that has come down to us.

Dogma of Infallibility

It is a dogma of the Catholic Church that the Church is divinely kept from the possibility of error in her definitive teaching on faith and morals. ( Not Science or Art or Medicine)Pope alone or Pope in college with Bishops, or Ecumenical Council and assent of Pope.Examples:

The Resurrection of Christ (Body and Soul)The Real Presence of Christ in the EucharistTrue Humanity and True Divinity in one Person

InfallibilityOther INFALLIBLE Teachings that are NOT REVEALED in Scripture

Theological conclusions -- A conclusion drawn by applying a truth of reason to a doctrine.

Example—Man's will is free; Christ is true man; therefore Christ's human will was free.

Dogmatic facts -- The truth of certain historical factsExample: Validity of a papal election. Canonization of Saints

Truths of reason or philosophy -- The power of the human mind to know truth, the validity and meaning of concepts such as "nature," "person," "substance”

Example: Life begins at the moment of conception. Marriage between a man and a woman.

What teachings can change because they were never part of

the Magisterium

Practice or DisciplineNumber of candles used at MassAbstain from meat on Fridays during LentWearing Veils in ChurchMarried Clergy Liturgical Laws – Vestments - languageCremation

What teachings can change because they were never part of

the MagisteriumTheological Definitions

LimboUsury (charging interest on money) Separated brethren v. HereticsSlavery (payment for debt / War) Chattel Slavery was Always condemned!Religious Freedom (Religion of the King – Religion of the people)

The Will and the IntellectThe Intellect : Faculty of the Soul which allows us to choose between – to discern between the lesser functions of the Soul

Instinct, emotions, feelings, appetitesThe Will: Highest level of the Soul. It is where consent to something is given.

The Will must be “educated” Knowledge dictates that decisions of the will are based on understanding and information and not on the lesser faculties, i.e.. Emotions or feelings.

Our Conscience"Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey.Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment. For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. His conscience is man's most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths.“ 47 C C C

Our Conscience1782 Man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions. "He must not be forced to act contrary to his conscience. Nor must he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, especially in religious matters."53

1787 Man is sometimes confronted by situations that make moral judgments less assured and decision difficult. But he must always seriously seek what is right and good and discern the will of God expressed in divine law.

Our ConscienceMan has the right to act in conscience and in freedom.Understanding that CONSCIENCE

Can not act contrary to Natural or Divine LawMust be informed by the teachings of Scripture and the Magisterium of the ChurchOne may never do evil so that good may result from it.

Our Submission of our Will and Intellect

Submission (assent) – under the same missionNot blindly submissive (under) to but in full cooperation with.Christians act together. We are not individuals acting alone…we act in Communion with each other

ASSENT REQUIRED These doctrines require of all members of the faithful the assent of theological faith, based on the authority of the Word of God (de fide credendi). Whoever obstinately places them in doubt or denies them falls under the censure of heresy

Examples of what we Submit to:· The Creed and its Christological dogmas· The various Marian dogmas· The doctrine of the institution of the sacraments by Christ and their efficacy with regard to grace· The doctrine of the real and substantial presence of Christ in the Eucharist· The sacrificial nature of the Eucharistic celebration· The foundation of the Church by the will of Christ

Examples of what we Submit to:· The doctrine on the primacy and infallibility of the Roman Pontiff· The doctrine on the existence of original sin· The doctrine on the immortality of the spiritual soul· The immediate recompense after death· The absence of error in the inspired sacred texts· The doctrine on the grave immorality of direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being.

Can a Catholic be dismissive of the Ordinary Magisterium?

The Catechism of the Catholic ChurchApostolic Letters and Papal Encyclicals

Ex. HUMANAE VITAEThe Body of Social TeachingPastoral Exhortations of the United States Catholic Conference of BishopsPastoral Letters from an Individual Bishop

Answer: NO – We are under the same mission