Catholic Apologetics Online

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1164. Geiermann, a Catholic writer, says that the Church changed the day in the 4th century at the Council of Laodicea.

You have misunderstood him. The Church then merely gave a special pre* cept ordering the faithful to keep to the Apostolic practice of observing Sunday, But the change was not made in the 4th century for the first time. Thus St. Augustine wrote in the 4th century, "The Apostles and…

You have misunderstood him. The Church then merely gave a special pre* cept ordering the faithful to keep to the Apostolic practice of observing Sunday, But the change was not made in the 4th century for the first time. Thus St. Augustine wrote in the 4th century, "The Apostles and their contemporaries sanctioned the dedication of Sunday to the worship of God." Two centuries before Augustine, Tertullian had written, "We, as Tradition has taught us, observe the day of the Lord's resurrection." St. Justin Martyr, who died in 167 A.D., wrote, "On Sunday we meet to celebrate the Lord's Supper and read the Gospels and Sacred Scripture, the first day on which God changed darkness, and made the world, and on which Christ rose from the dead." Earlier still, St. Ignatius, who died in 107 A.D., says, "If we still live according to the Jewish observances, we confess that we do not accept the grace of Christ. Those who once lived according to the Old Law have come to a new hope, no longer observing the Jewish Sabbath, but the Lord's day on which our Life rose from the dead." Thus Tradition goes back to the indications given in Scripture and recorded above. Yet it is right to say that the Catholic Church changed the day in so far as the Apostles were representatives of that Church; for they, with the authority of Christ, sanctioned the change.

Topic: "Sunday Observance" in Vol 1.

821. Does the New Testament say that Christ instituted this Sacrament?

Not explicitly. But we know that the Apostles conferred the gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands in a sacramental rite distinct from Baptism. Acts VIII., 14-17. They would not have confirmed the faithful by this distinct right unless they had been commissioned to do so…

Not explicitly. But we know that the Apostles conferred the gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands in a sacramental rite distinct from Baptism. Acts VIII., 14-17. They would not have confirmed the faithful by this distinct right unless they had been commissioned to do so by Christ. Christian Tradition and the authoritative teaching of the Catholic Church are absolute guarantees that Confirmation is a genuine Christian Sacrament.

Topic: "Confirmation" in Vol 1.

785. Row do you Drove Mary's bodily assumption into Heaven?

No Christian could dispute the fact that Mary's soul is in Heaven. Christ certainly did not suffer the soul of His own mother to be lost. The doctrine of her bodily assumption after her death is not contained in Scripture, but is guaranteed by Tradition and by the teaching of…

No Christian could dispute the fact that Mary's soul is in Heaven. Christ certainly did not suffer the soul of His own mother to be lost. The doctrine of her bodily assumption after her death is not contained in Scripture, but is guaranteed by Tradition and by the teaching of the Catholic Church. That Scripture omits to record the fact is no argument against it. Omission is not denial. Meantime early Traditions positively record the fact, and negatively we note that, whilst the mortal remains of a St. Peter and of a St. Paul are jealously possessed and honored in Rome, no city or Christian center has ever claimed to possess the mortal remains of Our Lady. Certainly relics of Our Lady would be regarded as having greater value than those of any Saint or Apostle, so nearly was she related to Christ. And it was most fitting that the body of Mary, who had been preserved even from the taint of original sin, should not have been allowed to corrupt After all, it was just as easy for God to take her glorified body to Heaven at once as it will be to take the glorified bodies of all the saved at the last day. However the definite sanction of this doctrine by the Catholic Church is sufficient assurance of the fact.

Topic: "Mary" in Vol 1.

589. You keep insisting, not only upon Tradition, but also upon the teaching authority of your Church. Why follow her interpretations?

Because we cannot safely follow the interpretation given by anybody else. All guides except the Catholic Church confess to being fallible. The Catholic Church alone claims infallibility, and proves her claim. I prefer to follow so sure a guide. Those who refuse to do so are at sixes and sevens…

Because we cannot safely follow the interpretation given by anybody else. All guides except the Catholic Church confess to being fallible. The Catholic Church alone claims infallibility, and proves her claim. I prefer to follow so sure a guide. Those who refuse to do so are at sixes and sevens as to the true meaning of Christianity.

Topic: "The authority of the Catholic Church" in Vol 1.

587. St. Peter condemns Tradition, saying, "You were not redeemed by your vain conversation of the Tradition of your fathers." I. Pet. 1., 18.

This is not a condemnation of Christian Traditions, but of doctrines held by those to whom St. Peter wrote, and handed on to them by human Tradition from their fathers. These were the Traditions Our Lord condemned in Matt. XV., 3.…

This is not a condemnation of Christian Traditions, but of doctrines held by those to whom St. Peter wrote, and handed on to them by human Tradition from their fathers. These were the Traditions Our Lord condemned in Matt. XV., 3.

Topic: "The necessity of Tradition" in Vol 1.

586. St. Paul himself warns us, "Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy and vain deceit; according to the Tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ." Coloss. II., 8.

The text warns us against wrong Traditions, but in no way condemns Traditions which are not merely of human invention, but which are according to Christ. St. Paul does not contradict his own teaching.…

The text warns us against wrong Traditions, but in no way condemns Traditions which are not merely of human invention, but which are according to Christ. St. Paul does not contradict his own teaching.

Topic: "The necessity of Tradition" in Vol 1.

585. Did not Christ blame the Pharisees, saying, "Why do you transgress the commandment of God for your Tradition"? Matt. XV., 3.

He did, but he called it their Tradition, condemning their erroneous and merely human Tradition, not the right Traditions to which, according to St. Paul, we must hold fast. You quote this text merely because it happens to contain the word Tradition, and without any appreciation of its true sense.…

He did, but he called it their Tradition, condemning their erroneous and merely human Tradition, not the right Traditions to which, according to St. Paul, we must hold fast. You quote this text merely because it happens to contain the word Tradition, and without any appreciation of its true sense.

Topic: "The necessity of Tradition" in Vol 1.

584. I do not question Traditions contained in Scripture. I object to the Roman Traditions which are not in Scripture and which are against Scripture.

The Catholic Church rejects all Traditions which are against Scripture. She accepts divine Traditions which are complementary to Scripture, and which are in perfect harmony with the principles taught in Scripture. The Traditions themselves cannot be in Scripture for the Traditional Word of God cannot be the written Word of…

The Catholic Church rejects all Traditions which are against Scripture. She accepts divine Traditions which are complementary to Scripture, and which are in perfect harmony with the principles taught in Scripture. The Traditions themselves cannot be in Scripture for the Traditional Word of God cannot be the written Word of God. But Scripture itself says that Tradition exists, and that it is of equal authority with that written Word of God.

Topic: "The necessity of Tradition" in Vol 1.

583. Then you appeal to Tradition in addition to Scripture?

Yes, and I am quite Biblical in doing so. Christ sent the Apostles to teach all things that He had taught them. In the last verse of his Gospel St. John tells us that not all is written in Scripture. If all is to be taught, and all is not…

Yes, and I am quite Biblical in doing so. Christ sent the Apostles to teach all things that He had taught them. In the last verse of his Gospel St. John tells us that not all is written in Scripture. If all is to be taught, and all is not set down in Scripture, part of Christian doctrine must be elsewhere. Where? St. Paul tells us clearly. "Brethren, stand fast; and hold the Traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our Epistle." II. Thess. II, 14. "Hold the form of sound words whicn you have heard of me in faith." II. Tim. I, 13. "The things thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same commend to faithful men, who shall be fit to teach others also." II. Tim. II, 2. All Christians from the very beginning believed that Christian revelation was contained not only in Scripture, but also in Tradition. Acts II, 42, tells us that "they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles," that is, in the oral teaching of the Apostles which they taught to one another, and handed on to their children. Those who repudiate Tradition have lost the complete doctrine of Christ

Topic: "The necessity of Tradition" in Vol 1.

582. I object to the way you put human Traditions on the same level as Scripture.

As a source of doctrine the Catholic Church relies upon divinely guaranteed Tradition, not upon merely human Tradition. This divine Tradition is the teaching of Christ, given orally to the Apostles and handed down in the Church, although not written in the pages of the New Testament.…

As a source of doctrine the Catholic Church relies upon divinely guaranteed Tradition, not upon merely human Tradition. This divine Tradition is the teaching of Christ, given orally to the Apostles and handed down in the Church, although not written in the pages of the New Testament.

Topic: "The necessity of Tradition" in Vol 1.

577. You speak of the authority of the Church and the weight of Tradition. But I have been taught that Scripture is the only rule of faith.

You have been taught wrongly. Scripture itself denies that it is the only rule of faith. The last verse of St. John's Gospel tells us that not all concerning Our Lord's work is contained in Scripture. St. Paul tells us over and over again that much of Christian teaching is…

You have been taught wrongly. Scripture itself denies that it is the only rule of faith. The last verse of St. John's Gospel tells us that not all concerning Our Lord's work is contained in Scripture. St. Paul tells us over and over again that much of Christian teaching is to be found in Tradition. One who clings to the reading of the Bible only might be able to cite hundreds of texts yet not know Christian doctrine by any means. In fact, the adoption of the Bible only has led to as many opinions as there are men amongst non-Catholics. Finally, Scripture tells us most clearly that the Catholic Church is the rule of faith, that Church which Christ sent to teach all nations and which He commanded men to hear and obey. He who believes in Scripture as his only guide ends by believing in his own mistaken interpretations of the Bible, and that means that he ends by believing in himself.

Topic: "Bible Only a false principle" in Vol 1.

576. Admitting the necessity of guidance, are not our Protestant ministers as capable as Catholic Priests in telling us what Scripture means?

They might be, if Priests had not an infallible Catholic Church to guide them. The Catholic Church rejoices in the special assistance of the Hoiy Spirit, and the Priest has the help of her defined doctrines and the constant Catholic Tradition as a safeguard. But your Protestant ministers do not…

They might be, if Priests had not an infallible Catholic Church to guide them. The Catholic Church rejoices in the special assistance of the Hoiy Spirit, and the Priest has the help of her defined doctrines and the constant Catholic Tradition as a safeguard. But your Protestant ministers do not claim to be spokesmen of an in* fallible Church. On their own principles they have to admit that they are possibly wrong. And as a matter of fact, where all Priests are agreed in the essential teachings of Scripture, your ministers come to all kinds of contradictory conclusions. The unity of teaching among Catholic Priests is a greater indication of capability than the chaos which prevails outside the Catholic Church. But the capability of Catholic Priests has little to do with relative personal attainments. It is derived from the authority of the infallible Catholic Church.

Topic: "Bible Only a false principle" in Vol 1.

370. 1 want proof outside your Catholic Tradition. Does Scripture say that St. Peter was ever in Rome?

Catholic Tradition is not a mere matter of rumor and report. It is down in black and white in documents as historical as any other documents, beginning from the year 97 with the declaration of the fact by Clement. It would not matter if Scripture did not give any evidence…

Catholic Tradition is not a mere matter of rumor and report. It is down in black and white in documents as historical as any other documents, beginning from the year 97 with the declaration of the fact by Clement. It would not matter if Scripture did not give any evidence on this point. However it does. St. Peter ends his first Epistle with the words, "The Church which is in Babylon salutes you, and so doth my son, Mark." All reputable scholars admit that the first Christians called pagan Rome Babylon on account of its vices. St. Peter, therefore, was writing from Rome. St. Paul wrote to the Colossians from Rome, sending the kind wishes of Mark, thus also indicating Mark's presence in Rome.

Topic: "The Pope" in Vol 1.

155. St. Matt. gives 42 generations; St. Luke gives 72. Why?

Neither intended to give all the generations. The present Prince of Wales could say, "I was born of George V., who was descended from Queen Victoria." Another writer could say, "The Prince of Wales was born of George V., who was born of Edward VII., who was born of Queen…

Neither intended to give all the generations. The present Prince of Wales could say, "I was born of George V., who was descended from Queen Victoria." Another writer could say, "The Prince of Wales was born of George V., who was born of Edward VII., who was born of Queen Victoria." Both accounts would be right, although one would be inadequate. Why did St. Matt, choose to give 42 generations only? Because he wrote for the Jews, and wished to show that Christ was the Messiah, the Son of David. In Hebrew David's name consists of three letters, and those letters numerically signify 14. Thus D-V-D have the numerical signifiance of 4-6-4. Following a Jewish custom, St. Matt. gives three times 14, i. e., 42 generations, or the Davidic generation. St. Luke, on the other hand, chose 72, because, having been the companion of St. Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, he wrote for the Gentiles. Jewish Tradition held that there were 72 races of men throughout the world, and St. Luke wished to show that Christ would call all nations to His religion. This may seem complicated to us, but it was not to the Jews of those times.

Topic: "New Testament difficulties" in Vol 1.

Results 1 to 14 of 14.

"The hardest thing to find in the world today is an argument. Because so few are thinking, naturally there are found but few to argue. Prejudice there is in abundance and sentiment too, for these things are born of enthusiasms without the pain of labour. Thinking, on the contrary, is a difficult task; it is the hardest work a man can do - that is perhaps why so few indulge in it."
- Mgsr Fulton Sheen in Preface to Vol 3 (1942)

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