RCIA Church History

Origin of the Church

➢ Apostles and the Last Supper ➢ God’s people – the Church; Jesus refers to forming a church in Matthew; Saint Paul – the Body of Christ (Ephesians); ➢ Four marks of Church: One, , Holy, Apostolic Hierarchy of the Church

➢ – Cardinal – Arch – Bishop – Priest – Deacon – Religious – Laity ➢ Vatican – College of Cardinals – USCCB – Arch Diocese – Diocese – Parish – Religious institutions Process / Teachings of the Church

➢ Election of a Pope (266) ­ ➢ Law, Catechism, Vatican II Documents, Bible, Ten Commandments ➢ Ecumenical Councils ➢ Encyclicals, Papal Bulls, Dogma & doctrine, Precepts (Five) o Attend mass Sundays & Holy Days; Confession once a year; Eucharist once a year during Easter; Observe days of fasting & abstinence; Attend to needs of the Church ➢ ➢ Theologians and Doctors of the Church ➢ Saints ➢ Mary (messenger of God to the Church) & Jesus History of the Church

➢ Church of Apostles and Fathers (AD 50 – 600) o 33­100: Initial growth especially among the lower classes ​ o 100­200: Grew in numbers and influence despite sporadic persecution. of the ​ Church confronted distortions of Christian teaching. Formation of the canon of Scripture. o 200­300: Catechetical schools; persecution of Decius; Church was not just for the ​ perfect but also for repentant sinners. st nd o 300­400: Constantine legalized . 1 &​ 2 Ecumenical councils (Nicea,​ ​ ​ ​ Constantinople); birth of monastic movement. o 400­500: Development of dogmas – attacks from barbarians ​ o 500­600: Saint Benedict develops missionary work – expansion to Ireland and Scotland ​ ➢ Church of the Middle Ages (AD 600 – 1300) o 600­700: Conversion of England; Pope Gregory missionary work; rise of Islam ​ o 700­800: Germany & France converted – birth of ‘Christendom’ ​ o 800­900: Decline of church – rise of Islam; break in relations between east and west – ​ Dark Ages o 900­1000: Monastery of Cluny leads revival of church; secular rulers appoint – ​ Gregory VII works to end corruption and separate from government o 1000­1100: Split of East and West in 1054; First Crusade in 1095 to free Holy Land ​ o 1100­1200: continue; university’s founded and change approach to theology – ​ scholastic theology which applies philosophy and reason to illuminate faith; Gothic churches show new way to worship o 1200­1300: Height of Church in Middle ages – crusades continue; to root out ​ heresy; several reform councils ➢ and (AD 1300 – 1650) o 1300­1500: Popes in France for 70 years; Great for 40 years; mysticism ​ flourished; Simony (selling of spiritual goods and church offices) was rampant o 1500­1650: Protestant Reformation (1517 with Luther); pursues ​ reformation in response – (Jesuits) lead the charge; 1545­1563 – ran for five popes – defined and clarified Catholic doctrine; seminary system established ➢ Church in the Modern World (AD 1650 – 1900) o 1650­1800: ; Science and technology – struggle of faith vs reason ​ and science; Jesuits suppressed; abolishes Christianity o 1800­1900: Reaction by west to correct excesses of French Revolution; Pope Pius IX ​ writes Syllabus of Errors (1864) – has first Vatican Council (1869­70) – affirms primacy of faith over reason – teaching of the pope in certain instances ­ Immaculate st Conception 1854; Pope Leo XIII 1 Catholic letter​ on economic & social order (1891) th ​ ➢ Church in the 20 Century (AD 1900 – 1963)​ ​ o WWI and WWII – struggle of , , Nazism and Christianity; ​ Canon law in 1917; election of Pope John XXIII (76 year old ‘interim pope’) ➢ and Beyond (AD 1963 – Present) nd o 2 Vatican Council 1962­1965 – ​ prayer for “a new Pentecost” ​ ​ o Pope Paul VI creates gradual implementation o 1978 – Pope John Paul II – first non­Italian – longest term; first to travel o Pope Benedict – great theologian o – first Jesuit and non­European