How did the Roman Catholic Church begin?

Answer 1

AnswerThe principal early Christian sects are generally known today as Catholic Orthodox Christianity and Gnosticism, although other groups also existed. Although Catholic Orthodox Christianity was the predecessor of both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic Church was not yet a separate denomination with its own independent theology, including, for example, papal infallibility.

Roman state patronage for the Catholic Orthodox Church ensured that it was able to expropriate the property of other churches which did not share their views, and provided a cover for persecution until there was essentially only one Christian Church left in the Roman Empire.

The view held by religious authorities in the mainly Greek-speaking eastern regions was that there were 5 senior leaders, or Metropolitans, in this Christian Church, one of whom was the bishop of Rome. However, the bishop of Rome, designated in the west as the Pope, insisted that he had greater authority than the other Metropolitans. Gradually, differences built up until the Great Schism of 1054, when Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I excommunicated each other. There were attempts at reconciliation and the Churches came close to being reunited in 1274 and in 1439, but the schism eventually became permanent.

The western Church, based on Rome, has become known as Roman Catholic, while the eastern Churches have become known as Orthodox Churches.

Answer 2

When Constantine made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire.

Roman Catholic AnswerChristianity began in Rome with the preaching of the apostles Peter, and Paul in the first century. St. Peter, the first Pope, died and was buried at Rome. It has been the head of the Church ever since (aside from a brief lapse when the popes governed the Church from Avignon (from Clement V (1305) to Gregory XI (1370). Peter's tomb is under St. Peter's Basilica and can be seen today; St. Paul is buried in St. Paul Outside the Walls.

Answer 3

According to the gospel writers, Livy, Plutarch, Ovid and Cicero, the man Romulus was born of a virgin, fathered by the God Mars on the Vestal Virgin, Rhea Silvia.

He is nursed by a wolf.

He becomes king by ovetthrowing the ursurper, Amulius, who had driven out the rightful king, Romulus' maternal grandfather, Numitor.

He (Romulus) builds Rome, creates the Legions, invent the festival of Lemuria, founds the Senate, and orchistrates the rape of the Sabine women.

Then one day there is a whirlwind and Romulus disappears after making a public sacrifice at Quirinal Hill. Witnesses see him caught up into heaven in his arms and vestments and the people hear him say, "Tell the Romans that by heaven's will my Rome shall be capital of the world. Let them learn to be soldiers. Let them know, and teach their children, that no power on earth can stand against Roman arms." (Livy 1:16)

He was taken up into the sky, and became the god Quirinus. Ovid, (Matamorphoses 14:812-828) gives a description of the deification of Romulus and his wife Hersilia.

Plutarch says he was 54 years old and vanished in 717 BC. However, Dionysius of Halicarnassus says he was 55 when he died and that he had reigned for 37 years.

Answer 4

It began with earth deities used by the original agricultural inhabitants. When sky gods were brought in by the peoples who moved west into Europe, they were superimposed on the earth gods and hidden forces - this occurred in both Greece and Italy, hence the similarity between the Roman and Greek gods.

While in Italy the Roman etc skygod pantheon was dominant, homes and tribes still kept their old gods in various forms - typically as household gods specific to various families and invisible forces were also widely used (eg the Lares).

Answer 5

Roman Catholic AnswerThe Catholic faith emanated from God from the beginning of time, and was established on earth definitively from the side of Jesus Christ on the cross outside of Jerusalem when He side was pierced by a spear, around 33 A.D.. Then it was shown to the world at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit, fifty-three days later.

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

766 The Church is born primarily of Christ's total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on the cross. "The origin and growth of the church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the 'wondrous sacrament of the whole Church.'" Sacrosanctum concilium 5) As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam's side, so the church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross. (Cf. St. Ambrose, In Luc. 2, 85-89: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Latina {Paris: 1841-1855} 15, 1666-1668)

767 "When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually sanctify the Church." (Lumen gentium 4; cf. Jn 17:4) The "the Church was openly displayed to the crowds and the spread of the gospel among the nations, through preaching, was begun." (Ad gentes 4) As the "convocation" of all men for salvation, the Church in her very nature is missionary, sent by Christ to all the nations to make disciples of them. (Cf. Mt 28:19-20; Ad gentes 2; 5-6)

Answer 6

It began when Jesus assigned Peter as the first Pope.

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."