The Meaning of Tradition

by Congar, Yves; Woodrow, A. N.; Dulles, Avery Robert Cardinal

• ISBN13: 9781586170219
• ISBN10: 158617021X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-11-30
• Publisher: Ignatius Press

Summary

Some Christians claim to reject Tradition in preference to a supposedly "Bible only" Christianity. Catholics, on the other hand, venerate Tradition, yet often without adequately understanding it. In this masterful book, the great theologian Yves Congar explains why Tradition is an inescapable aspect of a fully biblical Christian faith. He explores the various forms of Tradition and discusses the relationship between Scripture and Tradition, as well as the role of the Magisterium of the Church. The Meaning of Tradition clears up misconceptions held by many Evangelical Christians and even some Catholics on this important subject. Congar's study of Tradition greatly contributed to the teaching of Vatican II and to a deeper appreciation of the Church Fathers. 

Table of Contents

FOREWORD	vii
INTRODUCTION	1	(8)
I. TRADITION AND TRADITIONS	9	(38)
The Primary Meaning, Broad yet Precise	9	(38)
Tradition in the strict sense	13	(2)
Tradition as a means of communication other than by writing	15	(18)
Tradition as a source of knowledge other than Scripture	33	(14)
II. THE SUBJECT OF TRADITION	47	(36)
The Holy Spirit: Transcendent Subject of Tradition	51	(7)
The Church: Visible and Historical Subject of Tradition	58	(25)
The Church is a complex organic reality	58	(6)
The Magisterium of the hierarchy: The chief subject of tradition	64	(8)
The faithful	72	(5)
Living tradition: The Catholic spirit	77	(6)
III. THE CONTENT OF TRADITION: TRADITION AND SCRIPTURE	83	(46)
Scripture and Tradition	85	(27)
Tradition as an original and different means	90	(9)
The respective qualities of Scripture and tradition	99	(3)
Tradition as objectively containing things not contained in Scripture	102	(10)
Tradition as a Development through History	112	(17)
IV. THE MONUMENTS OR WITNESSES OF TRADITION	129	(28)
The Monuments	129	(14)
The liturgy	134	(9)
The Fathers of the Church	143	(8)
Tradition and Its Monuments: Continuity and Separation	151	(6)
CONCLUSION
Tradition at the Center of the Church	157	(5)
The Problem of Tradition Today	162	(9)
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY	171