The formation and key features of catholicism
The Catholic church
The Formation
The Catholic Church began with the guidance of Jesus Christ. He lived and preached during the 1st century. During this time he started forming the the Catholic Church and done so by appointing Peter as the head of the Catholic Church. "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it... Feed my lambs; feed My sheep" (Matt. 16:18,19; John 21:15,17). After Jesus died for the Church his Apostles began spreading the gospel and his teachings. It was because of these events that began the structure of our early Christian church.
The First Pope
The Catholic Church began its dominance during AD 300. The birth of the Roman Catholic Church occurred when the Apostle Paul arrived at Rome through his missionary journey, spreading the word of God. At that time Catholicism was not welcome in Rome. This was due to the Monotheism of the Catholic Church which greatly conflicted with the Polytheism of Rome. Through this the Christians were often persecuted during that time. In the event of Constantine’s conversion, this all changed. Constantine permanently established religious toleration with the “Edict of Milan” (AD 313), through this it made Christianity the official religion in the Roman Empire. In AD 325, Constantine called the Council of Nicea trying to bind together Christianity. Constantine imagined Christianity as a religion that could unite the Roman Empire, which around then was starting to part and gap. It is through these events in which Roman Catholicism started. During the next 15 centuries Roman Catholicism spread throughout Europe and eventually European teachers and explorers spread the religion to Asia, The Americas, Oceania and Africa.
The Origins of the Roman Catholic Church
Key Features
For a very long time Christianity and Catholicism were united. The separation occurred when people started questioning the doctrines, behaviours and practices. Roman Catholics share with other Christian denominations a firm belief of Jesus Christ. We share that Jesus was the son of God and came down from heaven to save us from our sins. We follow his teachings and his promise of eternal life. Roman Catholics, however, differentiates from other Christian churches in both its organisation and its teaching.
The Roman Catholic church only ordains men who are not married to the priesthood. Furthermore, the hierarchy structure of Roman Catholicism sets it apart from other Christian churches. It is a pyramid with the Pope at the top, followed by cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons and laity.
Also many doctrines are based on the scriptures and on the church's own traditions. There are several doctrinal issues where the Roman Catholic Church has differentiating opinions like: its belief in transubstantiation, its devotion to the Virgin Mary and opposing the use of contraception devices.
Roman Catholic Church revolves around the sacraments. The importance of receiving Christ's body and blood at communion as the bread of life is central to our profession of faith. The Roman Catholic church places great emphasis on moral law and is strong in its devotion to saints.
Also many doctrines are based on the scriptures and on the church's own traditions. There are several doctrinal issues where the Roman Catholic Church has differentiating opinions like: its belief in transubstantiation, its devotion to the Virgin Mary and opposing the use of contraception devices.
Roman Catholic Church revolves around the sacraments. The importance of receiving Christ's body and blood at communion as the bread of life is central to our profession of faith. The Roman Catholic church places great emphasis on moral law and is strong in its devotion to saints.
The Consecration
References
Bbc.co.uk, (2015). BBC - Religions - Christianity: Roman Catholic Church. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/catholic/catholic_1.shtml [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Beginningcatholic.com, (2015). The Catholic Church's Origin: Scripture and History. [online] Available at: http://www.beginningcatholic.com/catholic-church-origin.html [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Press, G. (2014). What Is Distinct About Catholicism?. [online] Aleteia.org. Available at: http://aleteia.org/2014/09/11/what-is-distinct-about-catholicism/ [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Catholicapologetics.info, (2015). The Catholic Church; When was it founded. [online] Available at: http://www.catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/origin.htm [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Fairchild, and Fairchild, M. (2015). Trace the History of the Roman Catholic Church. [online] About.com Religion & Spirituality. Available at: http://christianity.about.com/od/denominations/a/catholichistory.htm [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
GotQuestions.org, (2015). What is the origin of the Catholic Church?. [online] Available at: http://www.gotquestions.org/origin-Catholic-church.html [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Online, C. (2015). Catholic Facts and General Knowledge - Prayers - Catholic Online. [online] Catholic.org. Available at: http://www.catholic.org/prayers/beliefs.php [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Ortiz, A. (2014). Catholic Beliefs and Catholic Teachings - About Catholics. [online] Aboutcatholics.com. Available at: http://www.aboutcatholics.com/ [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Ourcatholicfaith.org, (2015). How The Catholic Church Started. [online] Available at: http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/thechurch.html [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Patheos.com, (2015). Roman Catholic Origins, Roman Catholic History, Roman Catholic Beliefs. [online] Available at: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Roman-Catholicism [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Wikipedia, (2015). History of the Catholic Church. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Catholic_Church [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
YouTube, (2015). The Origin of the Roman Catholic Church. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlc8c7CFKwQ [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Bbc.co.uk, (2015). BBC - Religions - Christianity: Roman Catholic Church. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/catholic/catholic_1.shtml [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Beginningcatholic.com, (2015). The Catholic Church's Origin: Scripture and History. [online] Available at: http://www.beginningcatholic.com/catholic-church-origin.html [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Press, G. (2014). What Is Distinct About Catholicism?. [online] Aleteia.org. Available at: http://aleteia.org/2014/09/11/what-is-distinct-about-catholicism/ [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Catholicapologetics.info, (2015). The Catholic Church; When was it founded. [online] Available at: http://www.catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/origin.htm [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Fairchild, and Fairchild, M. (2015). Trace the History of the Roman Catholic Church. [online] About.com Religion & Spirituality. Available at: http://christianity.about.com/od/denominations/a/catholichistory.htm [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
GotQuestions.org, (2015). What is the origin of the Catholic Church?. [online] Available at: http://www.gotquestions.org/origin-Catholic-church.html [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Online, C. (2015). Catholic Facts and General Knowledge - Prayers - Catholic Online. [online] Catholic.org. Available at: http://www.catholic.org/prayers/beliefs.php [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Ortiz, A. (2014). Catholic Beliefs and Catholic Teachings - About Catholics. [online] Aboutcatholics.com. Available at: http://www.aboutcatholics.com/ [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Ourcatholicfaith.org, (2015). How The Catholic Church Started. [online] Available at: http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/thechurch.html [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Patheos.com, (2015). Roman Catholic Origins, Roman Catholic History, Roman Catholic Beliefs. [online] Available at: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Roman-Catholicism [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
Wikipedia, (2015). History of the Catholic Church. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Catholic_Church [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].
YouTube, (2015). The Origin of the Roman Catholic Church. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlc8c7CFKwQ [Accessed 2 Sep. 2015].