The transmission of sacred teachings
At the time of Jesus' ascension into heaven, he had instructed his Apostles to go about the world and spread the Word of God. Jesus wanted to make sure that all would know the word of God and all of its Traditions. One of the four marks of the Church: Apostolicity states that the line of bishops are of a direct line of succession from the Apostles. Bishops are meant to be the safeguards of Sacred Tradition and the teachings of God. Dei Verbum also states that the Magisterium-- the Church's teaching authority-- is not above the word. With Sacred Tradition combined with Sacred Scripture, the teachings of the Church true, they are not independent.
|
The Role of the lay church
Dei Verbum states that Laymen and women are meant to be servants to the Word of God. It is not only the responsibility of the person to uphold the word of God, but we must also be an instrument of transmission in revealing to others the mission of God.