Category Archives: Sacred Scripture and Tradition: Sources of Revelation

The Woman at the Well

29 Thursday Jul 2010

Posted by in Apologetics, Articles Published in Other Venues, Sacred Scripture and Tradition: Sources of Revelation

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(“This is indeed the Saviour of the world.” John 4:42)

Fools miss the sublime truths of Holy Scripture. While the story of Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman is one of the most well known episodes in Holy Scripture, few are they that understand its teachings. Outside the Catholic Church, there are none who understand it properly. Inside the Church, there are precious few that see in it a deep and strong assertion of the truths of the Faith they profess. Still fewer are those who live the lessons disclosed in it. This article, which relies heavily on the commentaries of insightful Catholics – members of the Church Militant or Triumphant — is an attempt to bring those outside the Church in, and those inside to a fuller appreciation of how and to what depth this account is an affirmation of their Faith. Continue reading →

A Better Testament

11 Thursday Jun 2009

Posted by in Apologetics, Articles Published in Other Venues, Sacred Scripture and Tradition: Sources of Revelation, Theology

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“But now [Christ] hath obtained a better ministry, by how much also he is a mediator of a better testament which is established on better promises.” (Heb. 8:6)

The terms “supersessionism” and “replacement theology” are used by Jews and heterodox Christians alike to signify the traditional teaching that the Old Covenant is no longer in effect, but has been surpassed by a superior Covenant, the New Testament in Christ’s Precious Blood. Continue reading →

The Ark of the New Covenant

28 Thursday May 2009

Posted by in Apologetics, Fr. Leonard Feeney, St. Benedict Center, and Friends, Grace, Magisterium, Mariology, Sacred Scripture and Tradition: Sources of Revelation, Theology

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In his Epistle to the Hebrews, St. Paul calls Our Lord the “high Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle” (9:11). Greater than the Israelite priests — those who “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things” —Christ Our Lord has “obtained a better ministry, by how much also he is a mediator of a better testament which is established on better promises” (8:5-6). To St. Paul — and to all other Catholics — the Old Law was both finished and surpassed by the New Law of the Gospel. Continue reading →

The Epistle of Straw

06 Wednesday May 2009

Posted by in Apologetics, Sacred Scripture and Tradition: Sources of Revelation

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“St. James’ Epistle is really an epistle of straw, for it has nothing of the nature of the Gospel about it.” — Martin Luther

That Martin Luther called the Epistle of St. James “an epistle of straw” is a well-known fact. Those just learning it should not be surprised when they read it, though. After all, in making up his new religion, Luther’s ultimate recourse was to his own intellect. About the nicest thing we can say of such a criterion for truth is that it was not given a divine promise of inerrancy. Continue reading →

Lex Orandi Lex Credendi

24 Friday Apr 2009

Posted by in Ecclesiology, Liturgy, Sacred Scripture and Tradition: Sources of Revelation

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This ancient Latin axiom is quoted so often, I thought a little explanation of it on our web site would be helpful. A paraphrase of a longer patristic expression, the phrase means, “the law of praying is the law of believing.”

The Father of the Church who gave us the axiom is St. Prosper of Aquitaine. He coined it in his controversy with the semi-Pelagians, who held that God’s grace was necessary neither for one’s first movement towards conversion nor for final perseverance. Continue reading →