How did Catholicism begin?

Answer 1

Jesus Christ set up the structure of the early Christian Church, which is the Bride of Christ. The Church was actually born in Jerusalem at the Crucifixion of the Christ on Calvary, as blood and water issued forth from the pierced side of the New Adam (Jesus) as He slept the sleep of death on the cross, just as the bride (Eve) of the first Adam was taken from his side in a deep sleep (see note 1 below). The Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and disciples on Pentecost gave courage and guidance to the Church to fulfill her mission to make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to recall all that Jesus taught so that the Church would be let to all truth.

This Church has referred to itself as the "Catholic Church" at least since 107 C.E. (about 10 years after the last book of the New Testament was written), when the Greek term "Katholikos" (meaning universal) appears in the Letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans:

"Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church." (see links)

We do not know how long they had been using the term "Catholic" before it was included in this letter.

All of this was long before the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed from 325 C.E. which states, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church."

note 1:

Catechism of the Catholic Church 766 includes "For it was from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the 'wondrous sacrament of the whole Church'" (Sacrocilium Sanctum 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 (St. Ambrose, In Luc. 2,85-89:PL 15,1666-1668).

Answer 2

Emperor Constantine was fighting a great battle, vying for control of the Kingdom, when he "saw" a great fiery cross in the sky". He took this as a sign of victory, that he was to be the political and spiritual ruler of the Roman Empire. Adopting some of the Old Testament, the pantheonic religion of Rome and excerpts from an errant church that was Christ's resulted the the political socio-religious organization that evolved to what it is today. The 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 unique theology, including, for example, papal infallibility. Under Constantine and later emperors, 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 through impoverishment and persecution of its rivals 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. == Roman Catholics would probably trace their origin back to Christ himself. The establishment of the specific church, though, more likely goes back to the establishment of the Vatican by the emperor Constantine around the 4th century. == The early Christian Church simply identified Itself as the Church. The apostles, as chosen by Christ, were quick to identify groups that were not part of Tradition and the Covenant set up by Christ, as the rejection of the Gnostics and Simon Magus in the New Testament illustrates. The Church was highly organized with teachings, hierarchy and ceremonies and had a clear idea of its purpose as early Church writings and documents, such as the Didache, attest. The Church, however, was persecuted. The Jews defamed it as a heresy (rightly so if Christ indeed was not God), and the Romans saw the new religion as intolerant, impious and treacherous to their Pagan state and beliefs. Over turbulent centuries, the Christian influence steadily gained converts until finally, in the fourth century, Constantine definitively recognized it as a legal religion and granted it state patronage. The Church thus emerged as a political entity at this point. The Church was given state patronage and granted property, as all property had been confiscated. Those sects or branches that the Church identified as schismastic or heretical were denied these boons and were actively restricted.

When Rome fell to barbarian invasions, the West and the East lost easy contact. The two had different rites and traditions, but this political break emphasized their difference as the West plunged into the Dark Ages while the East was resplendent in civilization. Above all, the East resented having to obey the pope who resided in the fallen West. Their own regional hierarchies, or patriarchs, had jurisdictions and traditions that had been installed by the apostles themselves. The early Church Fathers, whose writings can still be read, were quite clear in that the bishop of Rome was to be given especial respect, dominance and that it was necessary to be in communion with him. But, having these apostolic traditions themselves, they decreed that there were other honoured sees of equal authority, all of which had to be in communion in order for the operation of the Church. After many grievances, misunderstandings and mistranslations (the "filoque" issue turned out to be a failure to understand that they were saying the same thing but coming at it from two different directions), a split finally occurred. The Church, as promised by Christ, can never fail, so either the West or the East went into Schism. The Western Church has become identified by the adjective "Catholic" and the East by the adjective "Orthodox". Essentially, they are both of the Church, although one has deliberately put itself outside via its schism, in essence, putting itself in suspended animation. The Western Church believes Itself to retain the wholeness of the Church by continuing to be in communion with the pope, which they declare is the highest authority of the Church. The Eastern Church believes the West to be in schism by withdrawing from the patriarchal communion and asserting independent and supreme authority. Over the years, the East has respected the split and declared that no new dogmas can be defined without the return of the Western patriarch, although some progress has been made as needed. The West, believing this communion unnecessary, has continued to define and refine dogmatic teachings based on the papal supremacy. Thus the schism has become a matter of heresy as well, making a healing even more difficult. Through the centuries, some of the Eastern rites have joined the Catholic Church, perhaps spurred by political considerations as much as Faith. These rites have been absorbed entirely, with their apostolic traditions left intact, but they recognize the pope as the Church's head.

Answer 3

Roman is an epithet first commonly used in England after the protestant revolt to describe the Catholic Church. It is never used by the Catholic Church.

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Catholicism started fifty days after the first Easter, which was the day following Passover (early spring) in the year (approximately) 33 A.D., in other words, fifty-three days after Jesus' death on the cross when He sent the Holy Spirit down on the early church. That day is called Pentecost, which is the "birthday of the Church" and is celebrated each year fifty days after Easter. This year (2010) it will be the 23rd of May

Answer 4

Roman Catholic Answer

The Catholic faith emanated from God from the beginning of time, and was established on earth definitively from the side of Christ on the cross outside in 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 1994759 "The eternal Father, in accordance with the utterly gratuitous and mysterious design of his wisdom and goodness, created the whole universe and chose to raise up men to share his own divine life." (Lumen gentium 2) to which he calls all men in his Son. "The Father . . . determined to call together in a holy Church those who should believe in Christ." (Lumen gentium 2) This "family of God" is gradually formed and takes shape during the stages of human history, in keeping with the Father's plan. In fact, "already present in figure at the beginning of the world, this Church was prepared in marvelous fashion in the history of the people of Israel and the old Alliance. Established in this last age of the world and made manifest in the outpouring of the Spirit, it will be brought to glorious completion at the end of time. (Lumen gentium 2) 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. Mt28:19-20; Ad gentes 2; 5-6)

Answer 5

Catholic Answer

The Catholic faith emanated from God from the beginning of time, and was established on earth definitively from the side of Christ on the cross when He side was pierced by a spear. Then it was shown to the world at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit.

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

759 "The eternal Father, in accordance with the utterly gratuitous and mysterious design of his wisdom and goodness, created the whole universe and chose to raise up men to share his own divine life." (Lumen gentium 2) to which he calls all men in his Son. "The Father . . . determined to call together in a holy Church those who should believe in Christ." (Lumen gentium 2) This "family of God" is gradually formed and takes shape during the stages of human history, in keeping with the Father's plan. In fact, "already present in figure at the beginning of the world, this Church was prepared in marvelous fashion in the history of the people of Israel and the old Alliance. Established in this last age of the world and made manifest in the outpouring of the Spirit, it will be brought to glorious completion at the end of time. (Lumen gentium 2)

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)

Catholicism traces its roots back to the time of the apostles when Our Lord appointed St. Peter to be its first leader and pope.

Answer

Christianity started with Jesus Christ. Christ started only one church. He chose 12 apostles. These were the first priests of the Catholic faith. Jesus even appointed Peter to act as the first Pope of his church here on earth. Jesus said that His church would prevail for all time until His return. Jesus loved His church and referred to it in parable as his "bride". Showing us that He would take care of it, love it and nourish it as a groom would do for His wife.

Catholicism is the only original faith started by Jesus Christ. All other forms of Christianity have been created by men.

Other forms of Christianity have branched off from Catholicism. Such as Protestant during the Reformation of Martin Luther. Then even other religions have branched off from Protestant, like Luthernism, etc...

Answer

The Church of Jesus Christ subsists entirely in the Catholic Church with the office of Peter as visible head. The Church was born at Calvary in Jerusalem, with Jesus total self giving of Himself for His Bride the Church. This is from the Will of God, who established His Church, with the office of Prime Minister (Head Bishop). The first Head Bishop moved to Rome, and was martyred on Vatican hill by Emperor Nero. Jesus promised His Church will last until the end of time, and the successors to the first Head Bishop Peter, also become the Bishop of Rome. This is typically why people refer to it as Roman Catholicism. However, it is really Catholicism. There is only one Church built by Christ, and it is the universal Church for all Christ's family, the Catholic Church.

Answer 6

Roman Catholic AnswerThe Catholic religion started through the teaching of Jesus, as He gathered twelve apostles around him, taught them. Then He died on the cross and the Church (which is His mystical body) was born from the blood and water which flowed from His side when it was pierced with a sword. Then He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit on the apostles to lead them into all truth and sent them out to convert the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.