Tradition vs. Customs

[cowgirl89]

I’m not exactly sure where this belongs- so let me know if it should be moved…but I am still a bit confused about the difference between Tradition and customs of the Church, and was also wondering how the customs(or Traditions ) that take place at Mass came to be (i.e. singing the responsorial Psalms, the sayings/prayers that are recited, all the incense, and special procedures, basically all the stuff that looks really foreign to people visiting from another denomination). Thanks!

 

[1ke]

I’m not exactly sure where this belongs- so let me know if it should be moved…but I am still a bit confused about the difference between Tradition and customs of the Church,

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition together make up the deposit of faith-- the doctrines handed down from Christ.

Those things you term customs, also called traditions with a small “t” are not doctrines on faith and morals.

and was also wondering how the customs(or Traditions ) that take place at Mass came to be (i.e. singing the responsorial Psalms, the sayings/prayers that are recited, all the incense, and special procedures, basically all the stuff that looks really foreign to people visiting from another denomination). Thanks!

Much of our worship elements come to us from our 1st century Jewish roots-- including the chanting of the Psalms, use of incense, candles, etc. The Christians took much of what was already existent in the Jewish synagogue and that became the elements of the Liturgy of the Word. Christ instituted the Eucharist and showed his Apostles how to celebrate it.

Over time prayers, gestures, and responses have become codified through Church documents and are to be followed based on the Church’s legitimate authority over us in such matters.

 

[Genesis315]

We might say sacred Tradition is God’s revelation handed down. The customs are things developed by the Church to express, appreciate, and celebrate those truths. For example, we know prayer is good, but different forms of prayer were developed in the Church to help us draw near to God. The Rosary is a good example of this.

The Sacraments and the Liturgy are not so clear cut–they are a blend of both–one might say their essence is revealed and immutable while other parts vary over time and place, but always with respect to the essence.

For example, the Eucharistic liturgy always and everywhere is the re-presententation of Christ’s sacrifice. It is also the public prayer of the Church. However, the prayers and actions in, say, an Ethiopian liturgy may be different than ordinary form of the Roman liturgy or the Maronite liturgy. But they all are geared to the same act of worship and communion with God through Jesus Christ.