Hermitage Note - Our Need For Sound Doctrine

It seems that practically every page I’ve turned these past few days have, somewhere in them, either used the word doctrine, talked about doctrine, or insinuated doctrine.

I started slowly reading Saint Cyril’s Catechetical Lectures a few days ago. It is going to take a long time to read through these lectures. [In reading these lectures, I cannot help but to be reminded of our own time as catechumens when we were going through RCIA before being received into the Church at the Easter Vigil in 2007.] Saint Cyril of Jerusalem was born in 313 and died in 386. In 350 he succeeded Maximus as Bishop of Jerusalem. Cyril was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1883 by Pope Leo XII.

Saint Benedict does not specifically mention Saint Cyril’s writings. I feel certain though that Cyril’s Catechetical Lectures are included in Benedict’s approved list of reading material for his disciples. Saint Benedict writes, "But for anyone hastening on the to perfection of monastic life, there are the teachings of the Holy Fathers, the observance of which will lead him to the very heights of perfection." [Holy Rule 73:2]

Tonight’s reading of Saint Cyril caused these words to enter into my mind and heart through the avenue of my eye-gate.

Attend closely to the catechisings, and though we should prolong our discourse, let not your mind be wearied out. For you are receiving armour against the adverse power, amour against heresies, against Jews, and Samaritans, and Gentiles. You have many enemies; take to you many darts, for you have many to hurl them at: and you have need to learn how to strike down the Greek, how to contend against heretic, against Jew and Samaritan. And the armour is ready, and most ready the sword of the Spirit: but thou also must stretch forth your right hand with good resolution, that you may war the Lord’s warfare, and overcome adverse powers, and become invincible against every heretical attempt.

Saint Cyril places a tremendous emphasis on systematic doctrinal teaching as the course for catechumen desiring to be baptized and enter the Church, insisting that, without knowing and implementing sound doctrine, catechumen would be ill-prepared to meet the enemy of their eternal souls on the battlefield of life.

I am also making my way through the Baltimore Catechism No. 2 as part of my personal cultivation.

I like catechisms. Especially the older ones that made great use of the age-old practice of learning by rote where questions are asked and answers are given. I am convinced that every Catholic family should have a set of the Baltimore Catechism [1,2,3, and 4] and use it as the first line of instruction for their children who are, most of them, being groomed and indoctrinated in modern secular schools that make no apology for being opposed to the historical moral teachings of the Church. Every Catholic, for that matter, would benefit from acquainting themselves with the doctrinal content of the old Baltimore catechism.

I find it more than interesting that in my systematical reading today about the Fourth Commandment, the catechism addresses the place of bishops, pastors, magistrates, teachers, and other lawful superiors.

Parents, as seen in the light of the Fourth Commandment are due our love, honor, and obedience. The Church, in the collective understanding of her Magisterium, extends this precept to the place of bishops, pastors, magistrates, teachers, and other lawful superiors. The Baltimore Catechism further asserts that the duty of parents and superiors is to take good care of all under their charge and give them proper direction and example. In this, the Fourth Commandment forbids all disobedience, contempt, and stubbornness toward our parents or lawful superiors.

Some argue that the old Baltimore Catechism is no longer valid, that Vatican II changed a lot of the “old” beliefs held by the Church over the many centuries before the Church came to her senses and began moving toward more modern and liberal understandings of things. This is a terrible assumption and dangerous thinking. Especially considering that the most current Catechism supports the validity of what is being taught in the Baltimore Catechism regarding the Fourth Commandment. [See Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2197 – 2200]

I downloaded a new app to my Kindle this afternoon. It was free so the price was certainly right. It is a Catholic Bible app that allows me to take and save notes on what I’m reading. I spent a little time trying it out to get familiar with. I selected the New Testament, scrolled through the Books, and selected First Timothy for no particular reason.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the commandment of God our Saviour, and of Christ Jesus our hope: To Timothy, his beloved son in faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Lord. As I desired thee to remain at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some not to teach otherwise, Not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies: which furnish questions rather than the edification of God, which is in faith. Now the end of the commandment is charity, from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and an unfeigned faith. From which things some going astray, are turned aside unto vain babbling: Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither the things they say, nor whereof they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully: Knowing this, that the law is not made for the just man, but for the unjust and disobedient, for the ungodly, and for sinners, for the wicked and defiled, for murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For fornicators, for them who defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and whatever other thing is contrary to sound doctrine, Which is according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which hath been committed to my trust. [I Timothy 1:1-11]

I made this note in the notepad that is integrated into the app: Doctrine is an essential part of our Christian faith. An Orthodox/Catholic faith cannot long survive without an emphasis on sound doctrine.

I have to add that, without sound doctrine, what we then set ourselves up to become is authorities unto ourselves knowing better than God and the ones whom he has established as guides.