MARY, OUR MOTHER

CHAPTER XXVI: TWO HEARTS OF WIT & WISDOM

The doubter says: "All we need is the Bible--why do we need TRADITION? The Bible is enough! - - - (Once again--here is a short Catholic Evidence Guild platform answer.)
In the Acts of the Apostles, 8. Chapter--30. Verse we read:
"Phillip, running up, heard the Ethiopian, a eunuch--reading (the Scriptures) the prophet Isaias and he said: "Dost thou understand what thou art reading?"
But the Ethiopian said: "Why, how can I, unless someone shows me." And he asked Phillip to sit with him and to explain it."
Indeed there are many things in Scripture, which are difficult to understand, some of it seemingly contradictory--it takes a teacher to EXPLAIN! - - -
We know that St. John the Evangelist--who wrote the 4th Gospel--lived to a very ripe old age. His disciple was St. Polycarp, who was faithfully with St. John for scores of years in his apostolic preaching and teaching.
Now it's self evident that St. Polycarp, hearing for--many years the same sermons and explanations given by St. John, that he would know, remember, verbatim, which the Apostle repeated so many times in his journeys.
NOW--St. Polycarp wrote down many things in his apostolic work. These writings are not, of course, the Bible, however these writings are the beginning of TRADITION--explaining many things which the Bible does not fully explain.
And so, the writings of 'the Doctors of the Church' throughout these many centuries--expounding, explaining the Bible and it's teachings--this is the TRADITION of the Church. Therefore--our Faith is based on the BIBLE & TRADITION!
Tradition is simply the handing down of beliefs, customs, etc. from generation to generation to this day. - - -

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