Pete Burds said that we can have a tendency to reduce Catholicism to being just a moral compass. We can think that there’s a “bunch of old guys sitting in their ivory tower, trying to annoy me, keeping me from what I want to do on a Saturday night.” But he insists that Catholicism is more than that. It’s about a person, Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Light. Jesus actually intended to establish a church. And his love for the Church can be compared to a husband’s love for his wife. He loved it enough to die for it. He told us Peter that he was the rock, and “upon this rock I will build my church.” A succession of Popes have followed Peter for 2000 years.
Pete said, “Anything the Church teaches is actually because the Gospel reveals it. It’s not just made up stuff.” There are three sources the Church uses to form it’s teachings:
- Scripture
- Tradition
- Magisterium
The Magisterium is formed from 2000 years of official teachings from the Popes and Bishops through the years. When it comes to whatever question you have about Catholicism, Pete quotes St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, “A thousand difficulties, doesn’t make a doubt.” If you struggle with a Church teaching, look for the answer. Pete said we shouldn’t give up and walk away from our faith, but encouraged us to seek to find the answer. Pete said his own faith was built by seeking answers to his questions.
Pete addressed various questions he has heard from teens about Church teaching. Be sure to listen to the full audio clip of this talk at the top of this blog for the Questions and Answers. He wrapped up with a reminder to seek the Truth with any question you have and pray for an open heart to hear the Truth.
Quotables
“A thousand difficulties doesn’t make a doubt.” – Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman
“Anything the Church teaches is actually because the Gospel reveals it.”
“If you struggle with a Church teaching, look for the answer.”
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