The Term "Magesterium" and Oriental and Byzantine Catholics

[Little_Boy_Lost]

My roman catholic friends use this term a lot, but I know it’s a latin term and is broken down further into ordinary, universal, extraordinary and so forth. How is this to be understood in Oriental or Byzantine terminology? I often hear “according to the Fathers” or “the Church speaks of” in Orthodox circles that sounds similar to how Roman Catholics use Magesterium.

Thanks!

 

[adoglover1956]

My roman catholic friends use this term a lot, but I know it’s a latin term and is broken down further into ordinary, universal, extraordinary and so forth. How is this to be understood in Oriental or Byzantine terminology? I often hear “according to the Fathers” or “the Church speaks of” in Orthodox circles that sounds similar to how Roman Catholics use Magesterium.

Thanks!

I believe magesterium refers to the Churches authority to teach on faith and morals, and it’s authority on faith and morals. Catholic is Catholic…all the Rites observe the same teaching on faith and morals.

 

[Little_Boy_Lost]

I believe magesterium refers to the Churches authority to teach on faith and morals, and it’s authority on faith and morals. Catholic is Catholic…all the Rites observe the same teaching on faith and morals.

Yes, but how is this understood and how is it referred to, either in emphasis in word. I don’t think there is a direct Greek or Syriac word for “Magesterium” or at least I have never heard it.

It’s like theosis. The latin church splices it up into sections like Purgatory, Beautific vision and so forth, and the Greeks refer to the entire climb on the divine ladder as theosis.

 

[TuAutem]

Magister in Latin means “teacher” (διδάσκαλος in Greek), so magisterium just means teaching office. There must be a correct way of saying the same in Greek, although I don’t know what it is. Something like διδασκαλία, presumably, but don’t hold me to that!

 

[Cecilianus]

Personally, I don’t mind the term, because I strive to love the inheritance of the whole Church… both East and West.

Methodologically, it’s not quite as relevant for us, because we are taught the Faith through our Liturgy and the tradition of the Fathers and Elders, whereas the Latins like to be taught the Faith through Papal teachings and the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith and so forth.

I like both.

 

[Formosus]

Personally, I don’t mind the term, because I strive to love the inheritance of the whole Church… both East and West.

Methodologically, it’s not quite as relevant for us, because we are taught the Faith through our Liturgy and the tradition of the Fathers and Elders, whereas the Latins like to be taught the Faith through Papal teachings and the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith and so forth.

I like both.

Well I do not quite see it in such a black and white manner. Yes the west mostly receives its teachings through papal documents, but the Liturgy, both the Mass and the Divine Office, also contains much of the Faith as well (especially the Extraordinary form). Further the Fathers(and Doctors) are held in just as high esteem as they are in the east.

In the east, we do mostly hear about it from the Liturgy and the Fathers, but the Seven Councils could be considered analogous to the papal pronouncements that the of the west.

I’d say the biggest difference between the East and the West is that we do not have some sort of division between teachings akin to extraordinary and ordinary magisterium. But that probably has more to do with the more legal Latin language and culture, then a serious division in the faith. Just my two cents.

 

[Cecilianus]

Well I do not quite see it in such a black and white manner. Yes the west mostly receives its teachings through papal documents, but the Liturgy, both the Mass and the Divine Office, also contains much of the Faith as well (especially the Extraordinary form). Further the Fathers(and Doctors) are held in just as high esteem as they are in the east.

In the east, we do mostly hear about it from the Liturgy and the Fathers, but the Seven Councils could be considered analogous to the papal pronouncements that the of the west.

I’d say the biggest difference between the East and the West is that we do not have some sort of division between teachings akin to extraordinary and ordinary magisterium. But that probably has more to do with the more legal Latin language and culture, then a serious division in the faith. Just my two cents.

Right.

 

[mardukm]

Dear brother Cecilianus,

Personally, I don’t mind the term, because I strive to love the inheritance of the whole Church… both East and West.

Methodologically, it’s not quite as relevant for us, because we are taught the Faith through our Liturgy and the tradition of the Fathers and Elders, whereas the Latins like to be taught the Faith through Papal teachings and the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith and so forth.

I like both.

According to your statements, Liturgy and Tradition would make up what Latins would call “Magisterium” for the Easterns/Orientals.

But it is important to understand that the “Magisterium” is the teaching authority given by God to the Church, as clearly taught in Scripture. We have a living Magisterium - all of us, Eastern, Oriental and Latin - who teach us daily (the Ordinary Magisterium), and who settle contentious issues that arise in the Church (the Extraordinary Magisterium).

The living Magisterium to Easterns and Orientals are properly our bishops and our Synods. These have the exact same function as what the Latins formally call “Magisterium.”

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[twf]

Dear brother Cecilianus,

According to your statements, Liturgy and Tradition would make up what Latins would call “Magisterium” for the Easterns/Orientals.

But it is important to understand that the “Magisterium” is the teaching authority given by God to the Church, as clearly taught in Scripture. We have a living Magisterium - all of us, Eastern, Oriental and Latin - who teach us daily (the Ordinary Magisterium), and who settle contentious issues that arise in the Church (the Extraordinary Magisterium).

The living Magisterium to Easterns and Orientals are properly our bishops and our Synods. These have the exact same function as what the Latins formally call “Magisterium.”

Blessings,
Marduk

Yes brother Marduk is quite correct. For both West and East the magisterium is defined as the “pope and bishops in union with him”…the particular magisterium of an Eastern Church would be the patriarch/head bishop and the synod in union with him. The Latin magisterium is not limited to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - though, as the prefect and secretary of the congregation (as well as other key members) are bishops, they certainly are part of the magisterium, and have been delegated a degree of the Holy Father’s teaching authority.