Divine Revelation
Why do Catholics follow Sacred Tradition as well as the Bible?
Scripture and Apostolic Tradition transmit the one Word of God entrusted to the Church.
The short answer
Jesus taught the apostles and commissioned them to hand on the Gospel. Some apostolic teaching was written as Scripture, and some was transmitted through the Church's living preaching, worship, and practice. Catholics receive both as flowing from the same divine source.
A closer look
The New Testament itself tells Christians to hold fast to apostolic traditions received by word or by letter. The first Christians lived the faith before the New Testament was complete, and the Church had to discern which writings truly belonged to the apostolic canon.
Sacred Tradition is not every custom that develops over time. It is the apostolic faith handed on in the Church under the Holy Spirit. The Magisterium serves this Word by preserving and interpreting it; it is not above the Word of God.
Open the Bible
Scripture to explore
The Church's teaching
Catechism and Church witness
Bring it into prayer
A moment with God
Holy Spirit, open my mind to the Scriptures and keep me rooted in the faith handed down by the apostles. Give your Church humility and wisdom to guard your Word faithfully. Amen.