I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell;
the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
Amen.
As members of the great community of faith, the communion of saints, whose interests do we have in mind? The community and its mind; its faith and worship? Or, do we have in mind our own interests? If we have in mind the interests of the Church and her faith, that will take humility on our part. Edward Gordon Selwyn rightly said of humility, "It is a Christian quality of paramount importance for the Church's life."
We should not profess "I believe in the communion of saints" and then turn around and seek to promote ourselves, "our" ministry, "our" local church. Independent thought or action has never benefited the well being of the great fellowship of faith we belong to. Individualism did not typify our Lord, the prophets, apostles, church fathers, or doctors of the Church. Humility clothed them; and, it should clothe us as well.
When studying Scripture and seeking to interpret it, we promote individualism by intentionally isolating ourselves from the communion of saints and the catholic faith. Interpreting Scripture not only requires fidelity to the Apostolic Tradition but humility as well. We learn from our Lord that Christians must suppress any desire for individualism and self-promotion. We are called to die to ourselves; die to self-centered living. This applies even to the interpretation of Scripture. Our worship of God and all that it entails should be immersed within the historical-life of the Church and supported by the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
Whose interests do you have in mind? You may reply, "I have the Lord's interest in mind." But if you neglect his Church, his people throughout history, how can you say that you are concerned about God? As the Apostle John says, "we must love the brethren too." And do we love the Church by forgetting her past? Do we love the Church by failing to listen to her; by neglecting to learn from those who have gone on before us? Shall we not sit at their feet and be instructed by them? You might say, "No, I have the Bible and the Holy Spirit! That's all I need." Do you not know that many heretics have said the same? Are you willing to turn your back on the prophets, the apostles, the church fathers, the martyrs, all the faithful throughout redemptive history; even the Lord Himself? Where is your loyalty? Where is your love? Where is your humility?
"Let us note that the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, was preached by the Apostles, and was preserved by the Fathers. On this was the Church founded; and if anyone departs from this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called a Christian."
- St. Athanasius, Letter to Serapion of Thmuis, 359 A.D.
"The Catholic Church is the work of Divine Providence, achieved through the prophecies of the prophets, through the Incarnation and the teaching of Christ, through the journeys of the Apostles, through the suffering, the crosses, the blood and the death of the martyrs, through the admirable lives of the saints. When, then, we see so much help on God's part, so much progress and so much fruit, shall we hesitate to bury ourselves in the bosom of that Church? For starting from the Apostolic Chair down through successions of bishops, even unto the open confession of all mankind, it has possessed the crown of teaching authority."
- St. Augustine, “The Advantage of Believing,” 391 A.D.
In this order, and by this succession, the ecclesiastical tradition from the apostles, and the preaching of the truth, have come down to us. And this is most abundant proof that there is one and the same vivifying faith, which has been preserved in the Church from the apostles until now, and handed down in truth.
– St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book III, Chapter III, 180 A.D.
The heretics follow neither Scripture nor tradition.
– St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book III, Chapter II, 180 A.D.
The truth is to be found nowhere else but in the Catholic Church, the sole depository of apostolical doctrine. Heresies are of recent formation, and cannot trace their origin up to the apostles.
– St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book III, Chapter IV, 180 A.D.
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.
– Second Thessalonians 2:15-17 (50 or 51 A.D.)
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