Commentary on Catechism of the Catholic Church The Interpretation of the Heritage of Faith

The Deposit of the Faith, or depositum fidei is entrusted by the apostles to the whole Church. By adhering to this heritage, the entire holy people of God united to its pastors or priests remain always faithful to the teachings of the apostles. By this there should be a remarkable harmony between the faithful and the bishops. The task of interpretation has been entrusted to the living, teaching office of the Church alone. Specifically those who possess this teaching office are the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

However, the Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, rather its servant. She teaches only what has been given to her, to the next generation of the Church. All that the Church Magisterium proposes as divine revelation should be traceable to the deposit of faith be it Scripture or Tradition. With Christ’s words, “He who hears you, hears me,” the faithful ought to receive with docility the teachings and directives that the priests give in different forms. The Church Magisterium exercises their teaching authority to the fullest when they define dogmas. Dogmas are truths contained in divine Revelation or truths having a necessary connection with these.

There is an organic connection between the dogmas and the spiritual life. Dogmas enlighten the path of faith and secures it. While an upright life will lead to a docile intellect and heart to welcome the dogmas. There exists a coherency of the dogmas which can be found in the whole of the Revelation of the mystery of Christ. In that coherency there is a hierarchy of truths defined by their relationship to the foundation of the Christian faith, that is the Triune God.

All faithful share in understanding and handing on revealed truth. They are anointed in the Holy Spirit who instructs the faithful and guide them to all truth. The Church as a whole cannot err in matters of belief manifested in the supernatural appreciation of faith or sensus fidei when the bishops to the last faithful express a universal consent in matters of faith and morals. By this appreciation, by the grace of the Holy Spirit of truth, the People unfailingly adheres to this faith, penetrates it more deeply with right judgment, and applies it more fully in daily life.

Due to the grace of the Holy Spirit, the understanding of the faith may grow in the life of the Church. First, through theological contemplation and research which deepens knowledge of revealed truth, from the intimate sense of spiritual realities which believers experience, the sacred Scriptures grow with the one who reads them, and finally the preaching of those in the episcopate who have received the sure charism of truth. Therefore, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, the three pillars that is the Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and Magisterium of the Church are united that they cannot be separated otherwise the whole faith falls apart. Under the guidance of the one Holy Spirit and Triune God, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ringkasan Santo Basilius Agung

Kesaksian Retret Tafsir Mimpi 16-18 Juni 2023

Wahyu tentang Ignas