What is Catholic teaching?

And why should I care?

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I know someone who, when they returned to the Catholic Church, decided to try adhering to and obeying Church teaching rather than rejecting it without trying it. They further resolved to pray for understanding for parts of the teaching that they didn't understand or that seemed to them to be backward and stupid. And an interesting thing happened. The more they learned about Church teaching--and, honestly, the more they got to know Jesus--the more the teaching made sense, and the more freedom they could see within the structure.

Church teaching can seem like a cross to bear, particularly when viewed from the perspective of today's individualistic and relentlessly secular culture. Consider it to mean the body of work consisting of Scripture and Tradition, the content of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the documents of the Second Vatican Council and other councils, and the many books authored by saints and others that together serve to help us understand what we need to do to follow the will of God, and, by doing so, to love Him. For God created us out of love and created us to love Him; but he took a giant risk in that He also created us as free persons who can choose whether to love Him. He loves us infinitely, and in His power could have chosen to force us to love Him. But He did not.

Sacred Scripture means the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. It is entirely possible to come to know God and Jesus by reading the Bible and you will often find it on any list of how to grow in holiness: get to know God and Jesus. And the way to do that is through Sacred Scripture. As the Catechism says, "Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit." (CCC 81)

What about Tradition? Jesus entrusted the handing on of his teaching and example to his apostles, who then passed it on to others, always under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The apostles appointed bishops as their successors, who then appointed other bishops, and so on, down to now, so that we can in fact trace the line of teaching all the way back to Jesus. "This living transmission, accomplished in the Holy Spirit, is called Tradition, since it is distinct from Sacred Scripture, though closely connected to it." (CCC 78).

So what? Take heart. You can trust what the Church teaches, both Scripture and Tradition. The wealth of Church teaching, its authenticity, and its direct connection back to Jesus Christ have brought many into or back into the Catholic Church. As my friend could tell you, within that framework of Scripture, Tradition, and the saints can be found both a deeper appreciation for the tender and unfailing love of God and the joy that comes from bearing the cross and following Jesus.