Sacred Tradition and Councils authoritative alongside Scripture
The Maronite Church holds, with the entire Catholic Church, that divine revelation is transmitted through both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, which together constitute one deposit of faith. The Ecumenical Councils, the consensus of the Fathers, the canons of the Church, and the liturgical tradition are all authoritative expressions of this Tradition.
The Maronite tradition is particularly rich in its liturgical Tradition—the Syriac anaphoras, hymnody (especially the works of St. Ephrem), and canonical writings represent a distinct stream of theological and devotional reflection. Following the Synod of Mount Lebanon (1736), the Maronite Church's canonical and liturgical practices were codified and brought into closer alignment with Roman norms, further integrating it into the broader Catholic Tradition.
Key Distinctions
- Current revelation:
- Sacred Tradition co-authoritative — the living tradition of the Church carries revelation
- Prophetic gifts today:
- charisms present in the Church; institutionally ordered
- Tradition authority:
- Scripture and Sacred Tradition are co-equal sources of revelation
Scripture References
Sources
- Vatican II, Dei Verbum (1965), §§7–10
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§74–100
- Synod of Mount Lebanon (1736)
- Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO, 1990)