Catholicism Written Report

Catholicism is the faith I have decided to write about. The word Catholic comes from the Greek word “katholike,” which means across the entire. It is one of the oldest religions, and it has a complicated history. The Catholic Church was founded by the Catholic faith, which has been around for thousands of years and is still one of the oldest organized religions in the history of religions. The Greek term “ekklesia” is the word for Church, and when both words are joined, they become The Catholic Church.

It is believed that the apostle Peter, who was Jesus’ follower, founded the Catholic Church, which has existed since his death. Bishops have been seen as the heirs of all of the apostles since the beginning of the Catholic religion. This religion, like Christianity and Judaism, has its roots in Jerusalem. Catholic doctrines are based on the Deposit of Faith, which includes the Holy Bible and Sacred Tradition passed down from the time of the Apostles and is then interpreted by the teaching authority of the Church. The Nicene Creed enumerates these beliefs, and the Catholic Church’s Catechism explicitly explains them. 2009 Wikipedia

There was a significant split in Catholicism during the 11th century over disagreements about the division of rites and rituals and methods of church administration. [The Protestant Reformation, which took place in the 16th century and led to many Catholic Churches rejecting Rome’s authority and reforming themselves to become Protestant, caused the most recent significant division within the Catholic Church. Protestants are included in all of the aforementioned groupings, whom all view themselves as wholly and exclusively Catholic. They all assert to be the Catholic Church or the sole Catholic Church, respectively.] (2009, Space and Motion)

Roman Catholicism, which claims to be the first Christian Church and has more than one billion members, is believed to be the largest Christian denomination. The Old Catholic Church, the Liberal Catholic Church, the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, comparable organizations among Filipinos and Poles, and some components of Anglicanism are only a few of the many diverse Catholic sects that exist across the world (“High Church Anglicans” or “Anglo-Catholics”). These groups adhere to spiritual principles and perform religious rites resembling those of the Latin Rite Roman Catholics from which they descended, but they reject the Pope’s alleged status and power. 2009’s Space and Motion Also, a sizable portion of the Catholic population lives in Russia.

The Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox see themselves as the original and true Catholic Church and consider western Catholics to be heretics because they broke away from the original Apostolic Church and do not directly report to another Bishop. The Catholic Church also has many other orthodoxies that are also spread across the globe. These orthodoxies support a fundamental code of respect for the Bishop of Rome but reject claims of monarchy; while beliefs and practices vary from denomination to denomination, they all adhere to biblical teachings.

The internal operations of the Church derive directly and continuously from the original Church that Jesus Christ created. The Pope, who is presently Pope Benedict XVI, possesses supreme power in conjunction with the College of Bishops, of which he is the head and is the Church’s highest earthly authority in matters of religion, morality, and government. Both the ordained ministry and the laity make up the Catholic community; either group’s members may be members of other organized religious groups.] 2009 Wikipedia Catholics hold that there is only one genuine God, who exists as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Nicene Creed, which is also the foundational Creed of various Christian religions, sums up the core beliefs of Catholics.

The Church holds the view that it is perpetually led by the Holy Spirit and so infallibly guarded against slipping into theological error based on the promises of Jesus from the Gospels. The Holy Spirit conveys God’s truth, according to Catholic doctrine, through Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium. Old Testament texts from the ancient Greek translation make up Sacred Scripture or the Catholic Bible. The teaching power of the Church is exercised by the Pope in cooperation with the college of bishops through apostolic succession.

The Catholic Church holds that although God is the origin and creator of all existence and is actively involved in people’s lives, people’s souls actually reside in an invisible spiritual world where God is worshiped and served. The fall of man frequently occurs in this world, but Catholics continue to hold the notion that a soul can be rescued and that [The soul did not evolve, according to Catholic dogma but was directly infused into man and woman by God. According to the Church, baptism can absolve a person of both original sin and all other personal sins. Only once may a person receive this sacramental act of cleansing, which welcomes them as complete members of the natural and supernatural Church. 2009 Wikipedia

According to the Catholic faith, a person’s earthly conduct affects what will happen to them in the next world. The Catholic religion includes the belief in an afterlife, which is described in a doctrine as the last four things—death, judgment, heaven, and hell—which essentially speak for themselves and describe the final moments of life on earth as well as what happens to the soul after judgment. There are three afterlife stages, and purgatory is the most dreaded since it is the state in which a person’s soul is essentially in limbo because they did not fully accept God and his will or repent and confess their sins.

The Catholic counterpart of going to Church is attending Mass, which is seen as a holy requirement to be fulfilled every Sunday. Confession is the focal point of Catholic worship, and it is mandatory for all Catholics once a year. Confession is when people confess their sins and ask God for forgiveness. The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist are the two components of Mass. There are tight guidelines for its celebration and consumption because the Church holds that Christ is present in the Eucharist. Catholics must fast for an hour before receiving Communion, and the bread and wine used in Mass have specific ingredients. 2009 Wikipedia

The Liturgy of the Hours, which priests and deacons are obligated to pray to every day, was created by the Church in response to Jesus’ command to his disciples always to pray. As a result, prayer is essential to the Church. The intensity of our spirits, not the number of words we speak, determines how much God hears us and how effectively our prayers are answered. The Lord’s Prayer, the Rosary, and the Stations of the Cross are the three most popular prayers among devoted Catholics. There are other types of contemplative prayer as well, but they are all meant to draw closer to God and are based on sacred texts.

The Pope is the spiritual head of the entire Church structure, despite the fact that Jesus is regarded as the founder of the faith.

The Vatican City, where the Pope is the head of state, is a sovereign state that the Pope rules from in Rome. Each Pope is chosen for a lifetime by the College of Cardinals; an organization made up of clergy members who have attained the rank of cardinal (typically bishops). Any Catholic man may be chosen as Pope by the cardinals, who also act as the Pope’s advisers; however, if the candidate is not already a bishop, he must become one before entering office.] 2009 Wikipedia

Many Catholic monastic orders exist. The Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, and Augustinians are the most well-known. It is common knowledge that Catholic monks and nuns take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and dedicate themselves to a modest life centered on worshiping God and all of his majesty.

Due to this religion’s vastness and the fact that the Pope in the Italian city of the Vatican controls the entire church organization, there have been various controversies surrounding it. My concern with this matter is that if they just now caught it, how long has the molestation actually been going on, and what other atrocities have been going on in the entire history of this religion? However, I do not wish to go into detail about the most recent controversy in this religion, which involves priests and young boys.

While some of my studies have taught me a lot about this religion, I visited a Catholic Church and spoke with a priest there to gain a deeper understanding of the Catholic Faith.

St Helena Catholic Church is the name of the Church I went to, and it is situated in Clayton, Georgia, in the county of Rabun. The Church moved to a new structure approximately a year ago, so it is now a few miles from where it was before. With the exception of prayer stools and other Catholic-themed furnishings, the interior of the Church appeared ordinary.

The priest I spoke with is named John Watkins, and he has spent nearly his entire life practicing his faith and living in this county. I asked him a few questions during the interview that were pertinent to this article.

How long ago does the Catholic religion go back? That was the first thing I asked him. The priest then informed me that the Catholic faith, which began shortly after Jesus’ death, is actually the oldest religion.

Then I questioned him, “What are the fundamental, deeply ingrained traditions?” His reaction to me was instructive since he revealed that Christians and Catholics generally observe the same rituals, such as Christmas and Easter, which is known as Lent. Because asking God to forgive them for their sins is how they gain confidence that they will enter Paradise, confession is also a highly practiced custom.

What separated Christianity from Catholicism? I also questioned him. He explained to me that while there are significant differences in the two religions’ basic practices and core beliefs, overall, they are rather similar.

He had provided an answer to the fourth question I was going to ask, but I was going to ask, “Where did the religion originate from?” He mentioned something about how it started when Jesus died in Jerusalem, as I recall.

Then I questioned him about whether his chosen faith had made his life seem more satisfied. I then asked him why he became a priest, and he replied, “Well, I have never felt for a second that I did not need God in my life. The reason I became a priest was to help anyone who chooses to serve our lord and savior, to the best of their ability as well as to anyone who needs a helping hand.”

Are there any particular works or beliefs that Catholics adhere to? I asked him as well. The Ten Commandments, he said in response, are a significant document that all Catholics ought to abide by. He also mentioned that going to Mass is a means to follow the Bible in another way and learn more about it.

I asked him one last question: “As a man of the Catholic faith, do you encounter any prejudice or bad attitudes against you or your beliefs?” Since we live in a small community and I know many people who practice my faith and the Christian faith, he assured me, “I have not come across anything that is harmful to me or my beliefs.”

I thought the interview was incredibly insightful, and the priest at the Catholic Church taught me a lot. As I have said before, I can now discuss this Christian-based religion with someone in an informed manner.

Both Catholicism and Christianity have similarities and distinctions. Some of the obvious ones are the requirement that Roman Catholicism adherents submit their intellect and will to the Roman magisterium’s teachings (the Pope and bishops). It is asserted that the “holy deposit” found in the Bible and Sacred Tradition is where the Catholic Church gets its doctrines from. This is different from Christianity in that it is, in theory, founded only on the Holy Scriptures, the written Word of God (Mizzi, no date).

As it is sufficient to provide us with a certain understanding of the Gospel for our salvation and holiness, the Bible is the only infallible rule of faith that we have.) (No date; Mizzi)

Although there are some parallels between these religions, there are also some clear differences. There is a choice between salvation by grace through faith in Christ and salvation by human merit and effort in the Roman religion. The Roman Catholic Church may appear to be a barrier to anyone seeking salvation. Millions of people hold beliefs in this religious system that prevent them from coming directly to Christ.

As a conclusion to this report, I would want to say that what I have learned about Catholicism has increased my awareness of religion in general. Through the development of this religion, numerous distinct sects and denominations have emerged. The Bible’s teachings play a significant role in this religion, but there are also many other customs and activities that this religion regards as important, such as going to Mass, keeping Lent, and going to confession. While there are certain similarities between Christianity and the Catholic religion, there are also many differences in how each religion is practiced. I have learned a lot about this religion after speaking with a Catholic priest, and I intend to share what I have learned with anyone who is interested. I also want to delve more into this religion because I have discovered a lot of intriguing things.

References

Mizzi, J. (no date). The Difference Between Catholicism and Christianity

. JustforCatholics.ogr. Retrieved December 1, 2009. from, http://www.justforcatholics.org/a19.htm

On truth and Reality, (2009). Catholicism: History / Beliefs of Catholic Religion / The Catholic Church. Retrieved November 20, 2009. from, http://www.spaceandmotion.com/religion-catholicism-catholic-church.htm

Wikipedia, (2009). Catholic Church. Wikipedia free Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 20, 2009. from, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church

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In your readings from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you gleaned a better understanding of what the Catholic Church’s teachings are on specific theological topics.

You will now use the information gleaned in the text to delineate the teachings listed below in a concise manner:

1. Catholic Understanding of God as Trinity
2. Salvation is Achieved through the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ
3. Eschatology – Death and the Afterlife
4. Freedom
5. Virtues
6. Sin

Submission Instructions:

When completing this written report, the following guidelines must be followed. Failure to do so will result in points being deducted from your grade: 

• This report must be typed in a 12 point non-ornamental font.
• Each section of the report must include a section title on a separate line (ex: Freedom, Virtues, Sin, etc.).
• Incorporate at least 2 direct quotations with appropriate footnotes.
  • First quotation must come from the specific section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the required readings.
  • Second quotation with accompanying footnote must come from the specific section of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the required readings.

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