What does sacred mean catholic

Instead of seeing these lesser sacred persons, places, and things as dim reflections of the infinite holiness of God, we might see them and treat them as if they were sacred in and of themselves. We could slip into idolatry. A fear of this kind of superstition is what, centuries ago, inspired the fierce anti-Catholicism of the Puritans.

They had little or no use for the Virgin Mary or the saints or popes or crucifixes or religious statues or stained-glass windows. They felt that there are only two holy things: God and the Bible, the latter being holy not in itself but because it shows us how to be in touch with the former. Many of the Catholic reforms, both formal and informal, made in the post-Vatican II period were, I submit, motivated by a kind of Catholic Puritanism.

Reformers felt that much of popular Catholicism had degenerated into superstition. By getting rid of, or at least by downplaying, the myriad of other-than-God sacred things, it would be easier for Catholics to focus on the one and only essentially holy thing, God. This reform may have worked for some people, but, by and large, it has been a failure.

God alone is not easily known, not easily sensed, not easily experienced. Except for a small number of mystics and semi-mystics, most of us will not be able to experience God directly. We will experience him, if we experience him at all, through his myriad of sacred reflections. Get rid of those reflections and you run the risk of getting rid of God. Click Here to Learn More. How We Serve Safe Environment. More Resources Staff Directory. The realities and events of which it speaks can also be signs of the divine plan.

There are three spiritual senses of Scripture: The allegorical sense. The moral sense. The events reported in Scripture ought to lead us to act justly. Imagine the children are bishops, and the original sentence is the great oral deposit of faith — everything that Jesus did, said and taught.

As the truths of the of the faith are handed on from Bishop to Bishop, from Pope to Pope, in a living and sacred way, imagine the Holy Spirit whispering in each of their ears, confirming the message they have heard, resulting in the final transmission being preserved perfectly intact by the Holy Spirit. This is what Catholics call Apostolic Succession, and it is how the Church has preserved all the teachings of Jesus right from the time of the Apostles to the present day.

Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit that is the great preserver of truth. The Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 gives us a perfect example of this concept in action and represents how the Church has worked over the centuries. So let me give a brief snapshot from Sacred Scripture itself as to how this could actually work. The writings of the Early Church Fathers are literally packed with quotes confirming the absolute necessity and doctrinal certainty of Sacred Tradition, but St.

But let me close with one of my favorite verses of Scripture. Pope Francis prepares for Canadian journey of reconciliation. Lewis, Tolkien, and Chesterton in a personally significant faith journey. Catholic video series picks up where religious education left off.

You Might Also Like. Father Deacon Andrew Bennett in his Oct. For a detailed study please refer to "Catechism of the Catholic Church" pages A question often asked has to do with the relationship between Sacred Tradition and Scripture.

A few examples of beliefs and practices which do have their basis in Scripture would include the following: The Apostles' Creed, an early summary of important Christian beliefs. The role of bishops, priests, and the Pope in Christian ministry. The authority of the Pope--the belief that the Pope cannot teach falsely when he speaks officially as head of the Church on matters of faith and morals. Our understanding of the Sacraments and their place in Christian life.