The Three Pillars of the Catholic Church

Like a 3-legged stool, all three pillars work together, and no one pillar can exist alone without the other two. For example, a 3-legged stool cannot stand with only one leg, or with only two legs.  It will fall over. It takes all 3 legs to stand.  In the same way, all three pillars of the Catholic  Church stand together.


The Three Pillars of the Catholic Church are:
1-Sacred Scripture.   All of the books of the Old Testament and the New Testament.
2-Sacred Apostolic Tradition.  The living tradition of the Church,  the Church Fathers, the Sacred Liturgy
3-The Church’s Magisterium -- the teaching authority of the Pope and all those bishops worldwide united  with him.


Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum, SubSection 3
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved 25 June last and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church's faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church's Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. May it serve the renewal to which the Holy Spirit ceaselessly calls the Church of God, the Body of Christ, on her pilgrimage to the undiminished light of the Kingdom!      (Pope John Paul II)