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In a valid Catholic Tradition we may distinguish four
characteristics:
- Valid Tradition is scriptural.
This
means that it must be based on a correct understanding of the inspired meaning
of scriptural texts. In the history of the Church, such a correct understanding
often went hand in hand with a new awareness of important issues. The new,
correct interpretation of Scripture comes about through the undying activity of
the Holy Spirit in the Church.
- Valid Tradition is informed.
For it to
be informed, the carriers of the Tradition must have correctly understood the
question and the issues that are at stake. As Pope Pius XII stated in Divino
Afflante Spiritu (1943): “There are many matters, especially
historical, which were insufficiently or hardly at all developed by the
commentators of past centuries, because they lacked nearly all information
needful for elucidating them”.
- Valid Tradition can be latent for many
centuries.
The history of the Church demonstrates that we should study the
past carefully. Underneath the practice and hidden under explicit texts, there
may lie a contrary, but valid latent Tradition, a Tradition that is
faithful to the teaching of the Gospel and transmitted through the centuries
without always being explicitly recognised as such.
- Valid Tradition shows development through a dynamic growth.
True Tradition is not static. It
grows; not in the sense that it differs substantially from the inspiration
received from Jesus Christ and the Apostles, but in the sense that many of its
latent implications are gradually realised with the help of the Holy
Spirit.
John Wijngaards
Follow @JohnWijngaards
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