annalex wrote:
“I do say that Protestantism is a systematic lie about the Gospel, chiefly because of the way Protestantism spins it away from the Catholic truths of salvation being by grace alone through faith and works ...”
You know that children’s game where one tells something to the person sitting next to him, and then the next to the next and so on, until the “story” returns to the original teller ... who often doesn’t recognize what it is he has just heard even though it is supposed to be what he first said. The game is used, of course, to teach children how untruths get spread even when we don’t really even intend to do so.
Here’s how it works: The Apostle Paul proclaims (into the ear of the first pope), “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) Each subsequent pope does the same to the next. In the early stages of this very long game a piece of paper is passed from hand to hand as well so each can check what he hears against what is written on the piece of paper. Somewhere along the line, one pope, confident of his ability to remember and repeat accurately, sticks the piece of paper in his pocket and leaves it there. Finally, many popes down the line some unimportant fellow finds the piece of paper that was accidently pulled out of a pocket and fell to the floor. He hands it to the pope who is next in line to pass the story on. By now the story is quite different than what is written on the piece of paper. But surely, surely, so many popes cannot be wrong! No, the paper must be corrected according to the memory of the popes. Finally, the story comes out these many years later, and is spoken in the hearing of annalex: “salvation is by grace alone through faith and works.”
Of course, the statement didn’t really originate with Paul, so he will be spared hearing it retold to him and not recognizing it. The statement originated with God, who when it is spoken into His ear is not going to recognize it ... what a day that will be. Somehow, I don’t think all the children will be laughing at the end of the game. No, I suspect their mouths will be stopped.
But popes do not wisper in each other’s ear. By the time there is a pope to listen the other one is dead anyway. While the Holy Tradition is larger in volume of knowledge it represents, than the scripture, it is by no means wispered secretly. It is all written down. You yourself made reference to the Holy Tradition as you pointed out, rightly, that lifelong virginity of Mary was the belief held by the Fathers of the Church. Who wispered in your ear?
The idea that the Holy Tradition is unknowable or intransmissible reliably is a canard. It is simply not expressed in books that are cover-to-cover inspired.
At this point I am calling it a day, see y’all tomorrow.