Tradition, who gets to have it?

 In Church circles these days, one hears a lot of discussion about tradition, with particular emphasis on liturgical tradition and its effects on popular piety and faith.  The Latin Mass loving Roman Catholic faithful seemingly lead the charge in this, dedicating documentaries, podcasts, art; all for the sake of promoting a return to the traditions of holy faith, as known by our forefathers.   That being said, it is unfortunate that a number of the same Roman Catholic faithful seem to think that they somehow are the sole proprietors of sacred tradition; hardly surprising in light of numerous papal documents claiming so over the years.  

Holy Tradition though is not the sole property of the Roman Church, nor is it only to be found within the confines of Rome; Holy Tradition can be found in all churches which maintain a line of patrimony to the first apostles.  These churches are those with historical ties to western or eastern Christianity, and come from them; in the form of Apostolic succession, the handing on of pastoral authority and faith as first given to the Apostles of Christ.  

Often, the Anglican church is accused of being "fake catholics" because they do not share the same exact mannerisms and theological aspects of their Roman counterparts; but this is entirely based on the supposition that the Church in England (prior to reformation) had ever been entirely Roman to begin with.  It is fact that the first missionaries to the British Isles were sent from Rome, yes; however this was also long before modern notions of papal supremacy, liturgy, and indeed the schism of 1054 had occurred.  Indeed, if one were to attend mass in Britain prior to 1100 AD, one would have witnessed many practices and liturgies which were not far removed from their Eastern brethren's.  Prior to the English Reformation, one of the important and most historical liturgies of the medieval Western church was developed for use in the kingdom of England- the Sarum Rite.  Even the most hard-line Tridentine enthusiast would have to agree that the Sarum rite is ancient and venerable, were they to be honest about the truth of Holy Tradition.

Sadly, many historical forms of liturgy and Faith practice were mostly abandoned in the wake of the protestant reformation, by both Protestants and Roman Catholics alike.  Both sides have sacrificed bits and pieces of themselves in order to maintain a unique identity, however both have equal and valid claims to the practice of Holy Tradition.  In the Words of Christ in Luke 9:50- "And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."  Sacred Tradition is not the sole intellectual property of Rome, nor Constantinople, nor Canterbury.  It is the inheritance of all those churches whose faith, sacraments, and lineage trace back to the first of the apostles. 

So claim your own tradition is superior to others by virtue of its merits if you wish, but remember that you are not the sole inheritor of Holy Tradition.  

Here Endeth the Lesson.