Catholic Doctrine makes perfect sense. It just makes sense.
Consider Scripture and Tradition. In another post I mentioned how Catholic Tradition is the basis of the New Testament (CCC #83). Here's another example of how difficult it is to understand the New Testament without a solid foundation in Catholic Tradition. Hebrews 13:17:
Hebrews 13:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Protestants and anyone else who relies upon Scripture alone to understand this verse will be baffled. They revile the idea that we should submit to a priest or that we should permit a man to be responsible for our sins.
But what devout Catholic doesn't recognize in this verse the Sacrament of Confession? How can our priests account for our souls if we don't report to them our sins and our contrition? Do we not submit to our priests when we go into the confessional? Do we not obey our priests when they give us the remedy or penance we must accomplish in order to fulfill the requirements of a good confession?
And again, what devout Catholic doesn't recognize here the Priesthood? Do we not submit to and obey our priests? Do they not account for our souls?
Therefore, the Church teaches that we keep Scripture and Tradition.
It just makes sense.
Consider Scripture and Tradition. In another post I mentioned how Catholic Tradition is the basis of the New Testament (CCC #83). Here's another example of how difficult it is to understand the New Testament without a solid foundation in Catholic Tradition. Hebrews 13:17:
Hebrews 13:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Protestants and anyone else who relies upon Scripture alone to understand this verse will be baffled. They revile the idea that we should submit to a priest or that we should permit a man to be responsible for our sins.
But what devout Catholic doesn't recognize in this verse the Sacrament of Confession? How can our priests account for our souls if we don't report to them our sins and our contrition? Do we not submit to our priests when we go into the confessional? Do we not obey our priests when they give us the remedy or penance we must accomplish in order to fulfill the requirements of a good confession?
And again, what devout Catholic doesn't recognize here the Priesthood? Do we not submit to and obey our priests? Do they not account for our souls?
Therefore, the Church teaches that we keep Scripture and Tradition.
It just makes sense.
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