The Magisterium The Teaching Office of the Catholic

The Magisterium The Teaching Office of the Catholic Church St. Peter RCIA Team Lesson 11 3 Dec 20 1

Agenda What is the Magisterium? Upon whose authority does it act? What does it do? Why can’t we just read Scripture and decide for ourselves what is right? How does the Magisterium apply to me? Tradition rium Scri ptur iste Mag e Deposit of Faith 2

What is the Magisterium? Magisterium- the word Derived from Latin magister, which originally meant the office of a president, chief, director, superintendent, etc. (in particular, though rarely, the office of tutor or instructor of youth, tutorship, guardianship) or teaching, instruction, advice. Related term: "disambiguation. " 3

The Magisterium in the Context of the Church "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. " This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome. (CCC 85) "Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith. “ (CCC 86) The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him. (CCC 100) 4

Upon whose authority does it act? All authority comes from God Human society can be neither well-ordered nor prosperous unless it has some people invested with legitimate authority to preserve its institutions…(CCC 1897) Every human community needs an authority to govern it. The foundation of such authority lies in human nature… (CCC 1898) The authority required by the moral order derives from God: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resist what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (CCC 1899, Rom 13: 1 -2 & 1 Pet 2: 13 -17) 5

Upon whose authority does it act? Before Christ left this Earth, he prepared his apostles with everything they would need to carry out their ministry: He gave them special insights to the Gospel (Mt 10: 40 -42; Mk 4: 34) He gave them the power to reenact the Last Supper and turn bread and wine into His Body and Blood (Mt 26: 26 - 30) He gave them the power to forgive sins (Jn 20: 22 -23) He gave them the power to govern (Mt 16: 19) 6

Upon whose authority does it act? St. Paul: “…the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth. . ” (2 Tim 4: 3 -4) Only the Church is authorized to proclaim sound teaching that is the truth 7

What does the Magisterium do? Interprets the Word of God (CCC 85) Defines dogmas (truths contained in Divine Revelation or having a necessary connection, in a form obliging Christians to adhere) (CCC 88) Ordinarily seen when the Pope or bishop issues a letter or public teaching to instruct and help guide the faithful in matters of faith and morals in order to: Preserve God’s people from deviations and defections and to guarantee them the objective possibility of professing the true faith without error (CCC 890) 8

Papal Infallibility CCC 888 -892 The gift of the Holy Spirit that protects the Pope and bishops in communion with him from teaching error in matters of FAITH and MORALS Does not mean the Pope is perfect or divine Does not mean every word the Pope says is true Does not mean the Pope is without sin Does mean that in virtue of his office, when as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful, he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith and morals it is infallibly correct and must be adhered to with the obedience of faith. (CCC 891) 9

Why can’t we just read Scripture and decide for ourselves? "But as the Church was to last to the end of time, something more was required besides the bestowal of the Sacred Scriptures. It was obviously necessary that the Divine Founder should take every precaution, lest the treasure of heavenlygiven truths, possessed by the Church, should ever be destroyed, which would assuredly have happened, had He left those doctrines to each one's private judgment. It stands to reason, therefore, that a living, perpetual "magisterium" was necessary in the Church from the beginning, which, by the command of Christ himself, should besides teaching other wholesome doctrines, give an authoritative explanation of Holy Writ, and which being directed and safeguarded by Christ himself, could by no means commit itself to erroneous teaching" Encyclical On the Church in Scotland by Pope Leo XIII, 1898 10

How does the Magisterium apply to me? The Church is charged with teaching the Truth even when people don’t want to hear it and distort it- think contraception, abortion, pornography, homosexuality, same sex marriage, female priests, human dignity (selling aborted babies’ organs), etc. St. Paul warns against people who teach something different than the Church (1 Tim 6: 3 -5) You cannot believe what you want and call it the Truth is from God, the Magisterium teaches that Truth infallibly 11

Teaching Authority This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him (MT 17: 5) Father Son “…the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation Of truth. ” (1 Tim 3: 15) I will ask the Father, and He will give you Another Advocate to be with you always, The Spirit of Truth…(Mt 14: 16 -17) Catholic Church Magisterium You are Peter and upon this Then: Peter and the Apostles rock I will build my church (MT 16: 18 -19) Now: Pope and Bishops Deposit of Faith (Scripture and Tradition) Truth Doctrine Dogma Wrong The truth will set you free. (Jn 8: 32) Right Truth enables us to overcome sin 12