Staying The Course: Upholding the Age-Old Teachings of Catholic Church

Objectives

1. Have a basic understanding of the magisterium of the Catholic Church

2. Uphold the age-old teachings of the Catholic Church and not fall into modernism

3. Become devoted to our Church despite of the imperfections of its leaders and members

Expanded Outline

I. Introduction

The Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship, but to keep her on her course. - St. Boniface

As Catholics of today, we can sometimes take for granted just how amazing our Church is. The beauty of the age-old teachings of the Catholic Church. It has journeyed throughout the past 20 centuries through trial and tribulation with the purpose of bringing God’s people to Heaven. Much can be said about the scandals, controversies, and shortcomings of the people in the Church. But why do we, as Catholics, continue to believe that it is better to stay than leave? The answer is because of the magisterium of the Catholic Church! 

Let’s talk first about the age-old teachings of the Catholic Church.

II. Sources of Teaching Authority 

"Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out from the same divine well-spring, come together in some fashion to form one thing, and move towards the same goal." Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ, who promised to remain with his own "always, to the close of the age" CCC 80

The Catholic Church teaches that there are three sources of authority: 

1. The Magisterium – the teaching authority of the Catholic Church formed of the Pope and Bishops of the Church. 

2. The Sacred Scriptures – the Bible which contains the Word of God, including all the teachings of Christ. 

3. The Apostolic Tradition – the teachings of Christ that were revealed to the apostles and have been passed down as tradition to their successors (bishops). These sources of authority are not taken as individual, but rather are used together in a cohesive manner to understand, interpret, and develop teachings for the Catholic Church.

Thus, the Church can only teach us teachings that do not contradict any of these three sources. Together, these three sources are called the Three-Legged Stool that keeps the Church true. Hence, if there is a teaching, a faith statement, or an interpretation that we read or hear that is contradicting any of these three, then we must be doubtful of it, even if it is being taught by a priest or a bishop. For if a teaching contradicts even just one of the legs of the stool it will not stand up and will have no strength. As baptized Catholics we have the obligation not only to know our faith and its authentic interpretation but also to teach and correct those who do not know.

III. The Barque of St. Peter

Imagine a great and mighty barque (from where the Filipino barko comes from) is being built. The captain, who wishes to provide safe voyage for passengers to paradise, commissions ship builders to create this perfect vessel; it has to be perfect for it is the only one in the whole ocean! As the ship becomes ready to set sail, the captain announces that he is to stay behind and appoints one of the ship builders to become the first mate to lead the barque in his stead. And so the first leader, together with the other officers and passengers, set sail on the sea towards their destination.

And so it has been for our beloved Catholic Church. It has been voyaging through the past two millennia through storms, winds, and rough seas because our Captain, Christ, has commanded us to! He made the perfect ship because He Himself is perfect. He even installed, St. Peter (1st Pope), who together with his officers, the Apostles, have been running the ship as inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

This is the magisterium of the Catholic Church. Christ Himself, our Captain, founded it Himself, installed the leaders Himself, set the destination Himself, and commissioned our journey Himself. The magisterium is the authority of the Church that comes from God alone.

IV. Problems on Board and Modernism

But more than external storms, it is the storms within that threaten the boat. As the leader and officers expire, they are replaced by people they themselves appointed. Some were great leaders who continued the good work of the predecessors. Some were less than great, and even evil, seeking their own good rather than that of the barque. There is enemy within. 

Even the passengers had their own share of bad fruits. Some even elected to create new ships to separate themselves from the mother ship. Over the course of many years, this leads to confusion and is misleading.

Modernism is the great threat to Judeo-Christian truth and culture today, even within our Church. It is desecrating the Temple of God in favor of the temple of man. It is looking to the well-being of man but neglecting the righteousness of God. 

• Modernism to be the overturning of age-old teachings of the Church and infusing them with the culture of the age.  

• Modernism looks to the wisdom of man as against the wisdom of God. As such, man looks to himself and his own achievements for freedom, satisfaction and well-being. But authentic Christians “proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23). Many Christians do not look to a suffering servant and would look to removing all suffering from their lives. They do not see the salvific value of suffering. And they cannot grasp the wisdom of God, which is totally different and even contrary to the wisdom of man.

• What the apostles considered bad are now considered by modernists as good.  For example, active homosexuality is acceptable; same-sex unions can be blessed; Holy Communion is not to be withheld from those in unrepented mortal sin. 

• Modernists talk about a different Jesus, one who loves sinners but does not call out sin, one who is just nice and offends no one, one who does not allow eternal damnation.

• What can we then expect from modernists? They will twist scripture to suit their own narrative, they will tell untruths that contradict age-old Church teachings. 

V. Staying the Course

We should stay on the course and uphold the age-old teachings of the Catholic Church. This is the way to please God and follow His will.  We should not conform to this age, to modernism. As said by St. Paul to the Romans: I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. Rom12:1-2

Despite the storms, waves, and in-fighting, the Catholic Church has stayed strong and true. 

Our response is not to be swayed by modernism or to jump ship, but to STAY! 

1. Submit to the age-old authentic teachings of the Catholic Church and do not be swayed by modernism and other ideologies. Be a faithful member of the Catholic Church. Trust that God is speaking through His Church.

2. Testify the goodness of Christ. Speak up so that other passengers may be reminded of God’s Love! Continue to respond to the call to conversion and evangelization. Speak out to defend the truth with firm faith, founded on love.

3. Accept that we are in imperfect people but God is perfect. Church (and even community) leaders might not be perfect, but the Church’s mission is greater than all of us and cannot be stopped by the actions of mere human individuals. We should focus on God and not on man.

4. Yearn for Heaven. At the end of the day, we’re all here because we wish to be with our Lord in Heaven. Stay, because the destination is worth it. Yearn for Heaven for others, we should not focus only on our own salvation. Let’s win more souls for the Lord.

VI. Conclusion

Mark 4:38-40 “Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

With all the storms rocking our boat (both from within and without), do not be terrified! Jesus, is in fact, with us! Faith is knowing that it is Christ who has sent us, is sustaining us, and is leading us towards a worthwhile destination. If Christ Himself is on our ship, why would we ever think of leaving? Stay on the course! Uphold the age-old teachings of the Catholic Church.

Discussion Questions:

What is the Spirit urging us to do the most in order for us to STAY? (submit, testify, accept, yearn)