Hermeneutics, in its classical sense, refers to the principles by which the truths of the Faith are understood, preserved, transmitted, and explained. For two millennia, the Catholic Church possessed an unbroken and universally shared hermeneutical method. It was so deeply embedded in her life that most Catholics never questioned it. It formed the backbone of catechesis, theology, liturgy, and spiritual formation. At its core, the Church's hermeneutic was defined by three non-negotiable principles: 1. Truth Does Not Change 2. Dogma Develops Organically, Never Contradictorily 3. Tradition Is the Norm Through Which Interpretation Occurs These three principles guarded the deposit of faith from the distortions of heresy, novelty, and human opinion.