The Catholic Church: One, Holy, Universal, and Apostolic
Catholic Church doctrine and organization developed
over centuries
The Monolithic Institution of the Middle Ages
Great Schism (1054): Eastern Orthodox
and Roman Catholic excommunicate each other
Sacramental system: The 7 Sacraments
Eucharist/Mass: Central Ritual =
thanksgiving
+Bread and Wine
-------->Body and Blood of Christ (Transubstantiation)
Baptism: Initiation and
Purification of Sin with water
Confession/Sacrament of Reconciliation: Penance, Prayer,
Absolution of Sins
Confirmation: Consecrate believer into
faith
Holy Orders/Ordination: Priesthood, bishop
Matrimony: Marriage
Sacrament of
the Sick: Anointing with oil
1)Mary, Blessed
Virgin, Mother of God (“Theotokos”)
+Perpetual Virginity;
Immaculate Conception; Assumption into Heaven
Hail Mary: “Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, prayer for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen”.
+Feast of the
Assumption (Aug. 15); Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8)
1)Our Lady of Lourdes (To Bernadette in 1858)
2)Our Lady of Guadalupe
(To Juan Diego in 1531): Patroness of Americas
3)More recent
+Relics,
Shrines, Pilgrimages, and Feast Days
+e.g. Joan of Arc,
Patroness of Soldiers & France; St. Jude, Patron Saint of Lost Causes; St.
Lucy, Patroness of Blindness
+Becoming a Saint:
Beatification and Sanctification
Other Devotional Rituals, Beliefs, and Sacramentals:
Medals, Votive Candles, holy water,
Purgatory, Stained
Glass Windows, Statues, Holy Cards, Sign
of the Cross, Crucifix,
Pilgrimage, Stations
of the Cross (14 stages in the Passion of Christ), Scapulars, Kneeling,
etc.
Church Organization
& Leadership:
+Hierarchy: Papacy (Bishop of
Rome)
+Pope = God’s Representation
on Earth, Apostolic Succession (Peter)
+Matt. 16:18: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
+HQ’s Vatican City, Rome (St. Peter’s Basilica)
+Today: Papal Infallibility: Affirmed in 1870 decree
+Then Cardinals (choose next pope), Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Lay Ministers
Territories: Archdiocese---------->Diocese------------>Parish
Many Religious Orders: Franciscans,
Dominicans,
Jesuits, Benedictines,
Carmelites, Passionists,
etc.
+Vows of Poverty, Chastity,
Obedience
+Range of Traditional to
Progressive (Habit, Politics, Cloistered, etc.)
+Decline since 1960’s
Sacred Time: Annual Liturgical (ritual) Cycle
1)Advent Season, culminating
with Christmas
2)Epiphany (January 6): 3
Magi witness baby Jesus
3)Lent Season: From Ash
Wednesday to Good Friday, 40 days later
4)Holy Week: Palm Sunday,
Good Friday, Easter (Sunday after 1st full-moon of spring)
5)All Souls Day (November 2)
6)Mary and Saint’s
Days
