Introduction
The word Catholic Church was established in the year 110. However, opinions differ on the exact time that the church came to be established. The church was established on the doctrine of serving one God unlike other religious societies that had a number of gods such as the Greeks. It was organized under five patriarchs including the bishops of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople, and Rome. The Bishop in Rome was usually consulted in times of disputes. There were claims in Rome that Rome had connections with Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The Catholic Church at the time came to a unanimously agreement that both of these Saints were killed and buried in Rome. Antioch was also very relevant as it was considered the residence of St. Peter before he migrated to Rome. As the church matured and grew, disputes were experienced leading to some people breaking away from the main church. One of these major disputes was the issue of Virgin Mary that resulted in many Persian Christians leaving the Catholic to form their own denomination. Other conflicts in the church followed leading to more and more people segregating themselves away from the main Catholic Church. Among the issues that were disputed were governance of the church and the various rites and practices in the church.
The Catholic Church has grown to be the largest denomination in the world with an approximate two billion followers. The church is founded and operated according to the practices of the early church and Jesus Christ. The church is also founded on the teachings of the apostles Peter and others. Other groups that claim to have ties with the Catholic Church but do not have the full recommendation from the pope have been established especially in the West. Among these, are the Old Catholic Church and the Ancient Catholic church. These groups practice all the Catholic rites and practices but fail to recognize the pope as the main leader of their institutions. The Catholic Church recognizes various key aspects in its day-to-day activities. Among these is the governance of the church where, Bishops, priests and deacons are the main leaders ordained to manage church business. The other key pillar of the Catholic Church is the sacrament that is referred to as a gift from Jesus Christ and is expected to be shared among all the believers.
The Catholic Church is the largest and the oldest institution that has been in existence since time in memorial. It traces its origin from St. Peter who is considered the first pope. The pope is considered a spiritual successor and has authority that allows him to resolve disputes in the church and shape key policies of the church. The pope is also considered as a symbol for the continuity of the church. This is because the position is highly regarded and is usually given to the candidate among the cardinals who is most qualified. Through the challenges that his successors have undergone, the pope is expected to show a high level of integrity in his interactions with the believers and while making key decisions. However, the pope was not the predominant leader of the Catholic Church in the early days. This notion allows other Christian denominations to quote their roots and doctrines from the Jesus of Nazareth and the apostles. The Roman Catholic Church on its own was established several centuries after the death of Jesus by his disciples and apostles. The Catholic Church continues to regard the early church highly, and follows its rites and practices as compared to other Christian denominations that claim that the early believers tempered with the original message and do not strictly adhere to those doctrines.
In its early days, the Catholic Church was mainly concerned with its survival and did not concentrate much on issues to do with governance. However, the political events in Rome made the church to now settle on the issue of governance. The church slowly started adopting the government structure like that of the Emperor Constantine. Geographical areas were assigned Bishops who were in charge on a particular area. The system spread from Rome to cover areas as far as Jerusalem. As the trend went on, it was apparent that Rome would become the superior of these regions due to a number of factors. First, it was because the organization of the Church in to geographical areas started in Rome and that the Apostles Peter and Paul were believed to have been martyred and buried in Rome. Eventually, Bishop Leo took control of the now large empire. Historians believe that he was the first historical pope of the Roman Catholic Rome. It is in his writings, that today’s Christians find details about the papal position. The most significant is the writing that states that Jesus Christ himself chose St. Peter to be the “rock” of the church. Bishop Leo’s position as the leader of the Catholic Church was the fact his whole career was served as the Bishop of Rome and that Emperor Valentian, Roman Emperor at the time gave him the support he needed. Bishop Leo formed a commission known as the “Council of Chalcedon” that debated and came up with the issues that affected the church at the time. It is believed that Bishop Leo even saved Rome at one time when it was under attack by negotiating with the attackers and persuading them otherwise.
Among the distinct catholic practices is the ordeal of holding organized masses. They follow a distinct procedure that involves the priests wearing distinct clothes. They celebrate Eucharist more often as compared to other their Protestant counterparts. In the Catholic Church, Eucharist is referred to as a mass and is usually conducted weekly. The reading of the scriptures is also coordinated from Rome together with other practices. Unlike other religious bodies, Catholics observe seven sacraments. They believe that the sacrament is a ritual commanded by God and is essential for strengthening the believers’ faith. Priests in the Catholic Church are expected to take vows of celibacy same with monks and nuns. They dedicate their lives to serving God, fellow believers and portraying an image that reflects God’s message. This practice is founded on the early connection between the church and monarchism. Some of these Catholic practices have come under serious critics especially on the emergence of several scandals involving child abuse among the top leadership in the church.
Lessons Learnt
The Roman church simply known as Catholic Church is an institution founded in the early Christian days after the death of Jesus Christ. It is founded on the doctrine of Jesus Christ and the apostles. Among the key apostles that have had a tremendous impact in the church are St. Peter and St. Paul whom Catholic Christians believe were martyred and buried in Rome. The church is governed from strict practices that have been observed by all catholic believers. The pope is a spiritual leader of the Catholic Church who resolves major disputes in the Catholic Church, helps in the establishing of key policies affecting all believers across the globe, and serves as a symbol of unity and faith to the believers and the other non-Catholics.
Catholic Church has a rich and well-defined history and its foundation is credible. The believers strongly believe that their first pope was St. Peter and whom Jesus chooses to be the leader and solid foundation of the church. These doctrines have been passed down from generation to generation and despite the various challenges that have faced the church and its leadership they have continued to be united. A key lesson that can be learnt here is that unity is of great essence if the society in question is to survive the various tests that life has to offer. Leaders of these societies need to be visionary so that they can be of great help and source of inspiration to their followers.
Conclusion
The Catholic Church has the largest number of followers in the world. Its led by a pope who is the spiritual and source of authority for the believers. The church is based on the doctrines of the early Christian church that the church continues to illustrate in the various practices conducted. This includes Eucharist and sacraments that believers must observe, as they are commandments from God. Priests and other leaders in the church must vow to celibacy so that their service to the followers.
Works Cited
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ReligionFacts. (2013). Roman Catholicism. Retrieved April 12, 2013, from ReligionFacts: http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations/catholicism.htm
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