Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 4/15/2004

Question
Hello, I was wondering what Sacred Tradition is and what examples of it would be. And would this be authentic (valid)? The question sounds a little vague, i apologize.  

Answer
                          Peace

Dear Chris


The following is part of a fact sheet of sort Iwrote for a mormon friend. Hopefully it will answer your questions.
                                your servant but His First

                                          george

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Sacred (Apostolic) Tradition: The Testament of Our Fathers


While we must guard against merely human tradition, the Sacred Scripture contains numerous references to the necessity of clinging to Tradition.
Thus Paul tells the Corinthians,

"I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you" (1 Cor. 11:2), and he commands the Thessalonians:

"So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter" (1 Thess. 3:15).

He even goes so far as to order,

"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us" (2 Thess. 3:6).

Also in Acts, Chapter 2:42 we read:

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”(KJV)

To insure that the Sacred (Apostolic) Tradition would be passed down after the deaths of the apostles, St. Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to his fellow Christian and bishop, St. Timothy:

"[W] hat you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2).

In this passage he refers to the first four generations of apostolic succession—his own generation, Timothy's generation, the generation Timothy will teach, and the Generation they in turn will teach. Apostolic Succession will be more fully treated under  “Priesthoods and Authority in the Church”.

Apostolic Tradition is testified to:

In the ancient approved Creeds of the Catholic Church, the Liturgical Books and other approved official prayers of the Catholic Church, and Acts of the Church's Saints and Martyrs, and other records of the Catholic Church that deal with “ Faith and Morals” of the Church in a doctrinal manner that has some degree of universal “approval” from the early years of the Church.


The two big questions that Sacred(Apostolic)Tradition answers is:
 1. Is there such thing as the written Word of God( a bible)?
 2. What books form the Bible?


Other questions included

How does a Christian man and Christian woman become a Christian married couple?

When does human life began?

etc, etc,