Easter's date is calculated based on the phases of the moon and the spring equinox. The others are Andrew, James the Greater, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Lesser, Jude, Simon, and Judas. The word "Catholic" (which means "embracing" or "universal") was first used to refer to the early Christian church by the bishop and martyr Ignatius of Antioch in the 1st century. Protestants are not open at all to papal primacy. The tone and tenor of official Roman Catholic documents can vary greatly depending on the time they were written. Moreover, they also believe her body was assumed--taken up--into heaven at the end of her earthly life. Studying the Catholic faith. The first Pope was Peter, although the leaders of the church were not called "pope" until the sixth century—Peter was officially the Bishop of Rome. They believe, in and of themselves, the Holy Scriptures are not a sufficient guide and authority with regard to salvation. Heaven is where goodness resides; Hell is where evil resides, and Earth is where evil and good are at battle. Not all Roman emperors were uniformly brutal, and during the centuries after Christianity became the state religion, they too practiced persecution of other non-Christian groups. Other things to know about the Roman Catholic Church: What should Protestants, Anabaptists, and Eastern Orthodox Christians think about Roman Catholicism? The Pope is the supreme pastor for the Catholic church. Christ’s body and blood exist wholly and entirely in every fragment of consecrated bread and wine in every Roman Catholic church … Christianity spread throughout the early Roman Empire, despite persecutions due to conflicts with the pagan state religion. No, Roman Catholicism and Christianity are not the same thing. They minister in many important ways in the Church. Protestants are typically skeptical of this distinction. Following are the minimum … The elements are no longer bread and wine; those features are simply accidents. The Apostles were the original 12 disciples of Christ: led by Peter, a Galilean fisherman who might have been a follower of John the Baptist first. It is inexhaustible due to Christ’s own infinite merit. “Roman Catholic” refers to a more particular Christian tradition and ecclesiastical body. Roman Catholics also hold to the idea of the “treasury of merit.” Roughly speaking, this is a sort of “bank” of grace, in which the merits of Jesus Christ and His holy saints are stored and can be accessed for the benefit of other Christians. Peter baptized 3,000 new Christians and sent them back to their home countries to spread the word. The Bible teaches that Satan is deceiving the masses of the world. Mormons: The Church of Latter Day Saints & Their Beliefs The CCC is a fairly recent catechism released in 1992 under Pope John Paul II. Mexican Roman Catholic history is divided into colonial and post-colonial. The Church at Rome, which would later develop into what we know as Roman Catholicism, was started in the apostolic times (circa AD 30-95). All those in Purgatory will reach heaven eventually. All rights reserved. The … With regard to doctrines of grace, salvation, and authority, it gets a lot of big things wrong and can give us an understanding of why early Protestant documents included “anti-Christ” language with regard to the Pope. The world will end with a revolt of Satan and his demons ("The Great Apostasy"), a time of great sorrows ("The Great Tribulation"), and the appearance of an Anti-Christ, who will deceive men into believing he is a man of peace and justice. However, Catholicism also recognizes the collection of books called the Apocrypha to be within the canon of Holy Scripture. What Is the Bible and Where Did it Come from? But don’t stop learning here! Because of this alone, it is important to have an accurate understanding of the Roman Catholic Church’s history and beliefs. The first pope was the apostle Peter, followed by Clement of Rome around the year 96. I am on God's side, exposing the lies and the heresies. As the imperial structures and systems decayed and transformed, the western Church filled in the institutional power vacuum. He holds a B.A. The Roman Catholic Church has espoused a wide variety of political stances and approaches throughout history. These are the rites of baptism; confirmation; first Eucharist; penance or reconciliation; anointing of the sick; holy orders for ordained ministers (bishops, priests, and deacons); and marriage. The Roman Catholic Church is home to several orders of monks, friars, nuns, and sisters. With regard to the Trinity, the Incarnation, and Christian morals, Roman Catholicism gets lots of big things right. The Roman Catholic religion is a denomination of the Christian faith. Catholicism is a Christian religion, a reformation of the Jewish faith that follows the teachings of its founder Jesus Christ. Other major Roman Catholic dogmas include a belief in the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary and her bodily Assumption. One is the belief that the Roman Catholic Church is the one true church. Paul began his missionary work to Cyprus and Turkey, and he and Peter were executed in Rome. The most significant changes to the church came after the conversion of Emperor Constantine, who made Christianity the state religion in 324 CE, bringing the Christians out of the underground. This is where Catholics show special honor to consecrated bread and wine, whether through genuflection or other means. Along with Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism, it is one of the three … The Roman Catholic Church experienced another rupture about five hundred years later during the Reformations. Lutheran History & Beliefs. 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