The First Converts.

Outside the house where the apostles

gathered, a crowd of devout men gathered from
every nation for the Jewish feast of Pentecost,
an ancient harvest celebration.
They spoke many different languages but
heard the message of Christianity in his own
tongue.
So powerful was the kerygmatic speech of
Peter that three thousand persons embraced
Christianity and were baptized in Christ.
 Peter spoke: “God raised this Jesus; of
this we are all witnesses… God has made
Him both the Lord and Messiah, this Jesus
whom you crucified… Repent and be
baptized, every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins
and you will receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts
2:32-38). These words cut to the hearts of the
audience that they sincerely asked the
apostles: “What are we to do, brothers?”
 The First Christian Community
(Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35)

In the city of Jerusalem the first

community was formed. The members of
the community were of one mind and heart.
Its life centered on the teachings of the
apostles, Eucharistic Sacrifice (breaking of
the bread), distribution of goods according
to one’s needs and daily attendance at the
temple and synagogue prayer service.
 But they held their own meetings in
private places or houses set apart from
Jewish places of worship where the
Eucharist was held every Sunday. The
apostles continued to work numerous
miracles, healing in the name of Christ and
His message of salvation. Many recognized
in them God’s power and were converted.
 The Appointment of Seven Deacons
(Acts 6:1-7)

The growing number of converts resulted

to a conflict between the Hellenists and
Hebrews. The former complained that their
widows were being neglected in the daily
distribution. So, the Apostles called
together the community to choose “seven
reputable men, filled with Spirit and
wisdom” to distribute alms.
 They were presented to the apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them. The
names of the seven assistants or deacons
were: Stephen, a man filled with faith and
Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor,
Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch.
With their assistance, God’s word
continued to spread, and more converts
were added to their number.
 Stephen, The First Martyr
(Acts 7-9)

Stephen, one of the seven deacons, was accused of

blasphemy against God and Moses. His speech pointed
to Israel’s reaction to God’s chosen leaders and their
rejection and persecution of them. He also stressed that
Jesus Christ is above Moses, and Temple worship and
following the Mosaic Law served only as means of
salvation. He was stoned to death --- the penalty for
blasphemy prescribed by the Mosaic Law --- and is
known as the Proto-Martyr, that is, the first martyr of
the Christian Church (36 AD).
 Christianity Begins to Spread
The initial persecution of the Church in Jerusalem
and the dispersal of Jewish Christians throughout the
countryside of Judea and Samaria resulted to the
spreading of the seeds of Christian message. Philip, one
of the first seven deacons, preached the Gospel to the
coastal zone of Palestine and Samaria. There he
converted an Ethiopian court official whose home in
Caesaria became one of the centers of the new
emerging faith. He was the apostles’ first pagan convert
to Christianity. Others traveled as far as Phoenicia,
Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message (Acts 11:19). It
was in Antioch that the disciples were first called
Christians (Acts 11:26).
 The Conversion of Saul
(Acts 9:1-3)
Saul of Tarsus, a pupil of Gamaliel, accepted the task
of crushing the Christian movement as the seed of
doctrinal separation from Judaism. He witnessed the
stoning of St. Stephen and was commissioned by the
Sanhedrin to go to Damascus to arrest Christians there.
While on his journey, however, he was suddenly
converted to the faith by a miraculous experience which
made him temporarily blind (Acts 9:3-6). Ananias, a
devout disciple in Damascus, cured him from his
blindness and baptized him. From then on (about 36
AD), with his new name Paul, he started to preach the
new faith beginning in Damascus.
 Barnabas introduced Paul to the apostles and
reported his conversion. In three spectacular
journeys which carried him throughout the
Mediterranean area, Paul labored to bring not
only Jews but Gentiles into the Kingdom of
Christ. Called by Christ to minister especially to
non-Jews, he is known as the “Apostle to the
Gentiles.” His letters or Epistles, teaching and
encouraging the Christian communities which he
founded or visited, are part of the inspired
writings of Sacred Scripture.
 The Conversion of Cornelius
(Acts 10-11)

Peter was at the city of Jaffa around 40 A.D.

when Christ revealed to him in a vision that the
old Mosaic Law was abolished and that the
pagans could be purified. Soon afterward, Peter
received into the Church the Roman centurion
Cornelius of Caesaria, and his whole family,
without requiring them to observe the ancient
Jewish customs as a condition of admittance.
The community of Jewish Christians resented
Peter’s action.
 Peter had to explain and insist that
he acted on the orders of Christ
Himself.
The members of the community
obediently accepted his explanation,
but the issue was by no means ended.
 The Council of Jerusalem
(Acts 15)
There was a great and rapid influx of
Gentile converts into the Church. This
created a serious threat for Jewish
Christians in Antioch to preserve the rites
and customs of the Mosaic Law. For the
Jewish Christians the baptism of the Gentile
converts must be accompanied by
circumcision and observance of the Law of
Moses.
 The conflict resulted to bitter disagreements
between two groups of Christians, a threat to
the unity of believers. And so, to settle the issue
the apostles and elders convoked a council in
Jerusalem to discuss the matter. This first Council
of the Church met around 49 A.D. Exercising the
power to make decisions under divine guidance,
Peter and the Council members, after hearing
the brilliant and inspiring discourses of St. Paul,
St. Barnabas and St. James, decided to exempt
the Gentile converts to Christianity from
observing Judaic conventions.
 The importance of the Council of
Jerusalem can be summed up in these
words:

(1) The question of whether or not

one entering the Church had to
observe the old Mosaic Law was
forever settled. Pagan converts were
no longer obliged to follow Jewish
ritual laws.
 (2) The work of the Council shows that
the Church of Christ exercised divine
teaching authority from the beginning.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the
Church decides all questions pertaining to
faith and morals.

(3) Peter exercised his authority as visible

head of the Church by presiding over the
Council in its deliberations.
 Timeline of Salient
Events in the History of
the Church
 The Church becomes universal.

The opening of the doors of the Church to the

Gentiles is such a monumental development that is
given the greatest prominence, and it did not happen
without the direct miraculous intervention of God
Himself. The conversion of the Roman officer Cornelius
at the hands of Peter (Acts 10), the miraculous
conversion of St. Paul, the great Apostle to the Gentiles
(Acts 9), and the formation of the first Christian
community of Gentile extraction in Antioch which
became the center of missionary activity to the Gentiles
(Acts 11 & 13).
 Peter exercised a strong leadership
and supreme power over the whole Church.

But as the Church was spreading far and wide, she

was firmly united under Peter as the supreme head. The
Acts of the Apostles recorded that Peter was the
undisputed leader of the mother Church at Jerusalem;
he visited and inspected the churches in the villages and
towns of Judea; he admitted the first pagan into the
Church; with John, Peter visited and took under their
authority the Church of Samaria which was founded by
Philip the deacon (Acts 8:14-25); and the Apostles in
Jerusalem sent Barnabas to rule in their name the
community of Antioch.
 The Church was organized
and strongly united
under the rule of the Apostles.

The local Church came under the jurisdiction

of the Apostles and became part of the Universal
Church. All Churches received the same faith and
zealously preserved it.

The Apostolic Tradition safeguarded the most

striking unity of faith and the Churches founded
by the Apostles.
 The Church acquired a distinctive
liturgical life.

The seven sacraments, especially the

Holy Eucharist were already practiced
in apostolic times as testified by the
New Testament and Didache or The
Doctrine of the Twelve.
 The production of the New Testament
as the living expression
of the Church’s faith was completed.

Though Christ never gave a command to His

apostles to put into writing his life, teachings and
works, the early Church gradually realized the
value of putting them into writings. The growing
emergence of false teachers who distorted the
authentic message of Christ and the death of the
first hand witnesses of Christ were two vital
reasons that motivated them to write.
The Roman Persecution (ca. 64 AD - 312 AD)

The Burning of Rome in 64 AD signaled the

Roman persecution of Christians. Nero (54-68 AD)
falsely charged to Christians the fire lasting ten
days that destroyed 10 districts of Rome.
Consequently, Christians were seized and
severely punished with the most excruciating
and terrible tortures of death. The victims were
mostly nonviolent men and women and children.
 The Christians suffered exile,
tortures, jail, hostility, slavery, loss of
property and death because:

1. They refused to offer worship to

pagan gods.

2. Their lifestyle and religion were

opposed to Roman morals.
 The full force of the empire was unleashed
against Christianity. Christians were tossed to
hungry beasts to be devoured, nailed to crosses
and burned at the stakes. The virgins were given
as prizes to the victors of gladiatorial contests.
But ironically, the Roman power did not become
successful to totally exterminate Christians in the
face of the world. In fact, Christianity in the end
conquered the Roman Empire for Christ, for
Christ promised that “the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.”
 The Church faced 10 Great Roman
Persecutions for almost 300 years, but she
overcame them all.
Thirty of the thirty-three popes of the
period died a martyr’s death along with
numberless Christians.
The worst of these persecutions were
under Nero (64-68) and Diocletian (303-305) and
continued by Galerius (303-311).
 Catacombs, underground cemeteries
used by Christians to bury their dead in the
walls, became a refuge for Christians to
hide and protect themselves and to
practice their faith at the height of
persecutions. These catacombs had many
levels and corridors over a distance of
several kilometers. Inside were discovered
primitive Christian symbols (fish, bread,
lamb, Christ’s monogram).
 The Edict of Milan

Issued by Constantine the Great in 312 AD ended

three centuries of persecution and granted permanent
freedom to the Church.
Christianity gained freedom and legal recognition;
Christian buildings were returned and many churches
were built; Catholic doctrines on Blessed Trinity, Christ,
Mary, Church, Sacred Scriptures were developed; Rome
was given to the Popes for them to exercise freely
spiritually without much intervention from secular
powers;
There was a close collaboration between the
Church and the State.
 The victory of Christianity over
paganism was “the purest victory”
because it was won by witnessing and
enduring; loving and suffering;
shedding of innocent blood; and faith
in the Risen Christ’s promise and
power.
Controversies gave rise to
heresies.
 HERESIES

• false teachings or
beliefs contrary to the
revealed truths of the
Catholic faith
 HERESIES
- It is the rejection of one or more
established beliefs of a particular
body, or adherence to other
beliefs.

- These heresies prompted the

Church to clarify and define the
fundamental truths of the
Catholic Faith about the Blessed
Trinity, Christ, Mary, the Church,
and the Sacred Scriptures.
 HERESIES
There were Theological
Heresies (doctrinal errors
on the Trinity and the
divinity of Christ) and
Christological Heresies
(doctrinal errors on the
divine and human natures
of Christ).
 ECUMENICAL COUNCILS
• are general meetings
of the Church in
which important
matters of faith and
Christian living are
discussed.
 ECUMENICAL COUNCILS
In response to these doctrinal
controversies, the Church
convoked Ecumenical Councils.
These were great assemblies of
bishops representing the
universal church in which
important matters of faith and
morals were discussed and
heresies were condemned.
The Council of Jerusalem in 49
AD is the forerunner of the
series of councils and doctrinal
definitions and developments
in the Church.
 THE HERESIES AND THE
ECUMENICAL COUNCILS CONVENED
AGAINST THEM:
 CHURCH FATHERS OR DOCTORS OF THE
CHURCH

• the Churchmen noted for their

intellectual gifts and saintly
virtues
• brilliant defenders of the
Christian faith
• laid the foundation on the true
doctrine of the Church
Conciliar Father
(Early & Latter Patristics = Apostolic
Fathers)

- St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan

(340-397 AD)
- St Augustine of Hippo (354-
430 AD)
- St. Athanasius, Archbishop of
Alexandria (297-373 AD)
- St. Basil the Great,
Archbishop of Caesaria (329-
390)
- St. Gregory of Nazianzen,
Bishop of Sasima (329-389
AD)
- St. Gregory of Nyssa (330-
395 AD)
- St. John Chrysostom,
Patriarch of Constantinople
(347-407 AD)
- St. John Damascene,
defender of sacred images
(675-749 AD)
 St. Athanasius
- preached the divinity of
Christ
- the first non-martyr
bishop raised to
sainthood
- Defended the Holy
Trinity
St. Augustine of Hippo

• became the
foremost
defender of the
Church against
all heretics
ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY
• carried out the
evangelization of
England as envisioned
by St. Gregory the
Great
• became the first
Archbishop of England
 ARIANISM
FOUNDER HERESY COUNCIL DEFENDER
Christ, Son Council of
Arius of God was Nicaea (AD St.
not divine. 325) Athanasius
He was an -adopted
exceptional the
creature Nicaean
who Creed
achieve which
perfection confirms
by his own the divinity
will. of Christ
 Arianism, authored by Arius (256-
336), a priest of Alexandria, denied the
divinity and eternal sonship of Jesus.
The Council of Nicaea I in 325 AD
defined that God the Son, Jesus Christ,
is consubstantial and co-eternal with
the Father. He is the eternal and only-
begotten Son of God. With this faith
declaration, the Nicene Creed was
formulated.
 MACEDONISM
FOUNDER HERESY COUNCIL DEFENDER
Roman
Macedonius The Holy Constantinople Emperor
Spirit is - confessed the Flavius
not divine. unity of the Theodosius
Godhead of -summoned
the Father, and the Bishops out
of the Son, and of different
of the Holy provinces to
Ghost. assemble by the
grace of God in
Constantinople
 Macedonianism, authored by
Macedonius, the Arian Bishop of
Constantinople (d. 362), denied the divinity
of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is just a
ministering spirit of God, like an angel, yet
had a higher degree of importance than
other angels. The Council of Constantinople
I in 381 AD proclaimed that the Holy Spirit
is divine. He is not created like angels, no
matter how high an order is attributed to
such a creature.
 NESTORIANISM
FOUNDER HERESY COUNCIL DEFENDER

Christ consisted EPHESUS

Nestorius of two distinct (AD 431) St. Cyril,
persons (human •Jesus is patriarch
and divine both human of
and divine Alexandria
Logos), rather
than a unified •Mary is the St.
mother Jesus Celestine
person. – human and – the pope
Mary is the divine St. Sixtus
mother of the III – the
human Jesus successor
of St.
Celestine
 Nestorianism, ignited by Nestorius, a
Patriarch of Constantinople, taught that there
are two distinct persons in Jesus Christ, divine
and human. Thus, Jesus Christ is not a God. God
only dwelt in Him as in a temple, making him a
God. Mary is only the Mother of Christ but never
a Mother of the divine Christ. Hence, Mary is not
a Theotokos but only a Christotokos. The Council
of Ephesus in 437 AD declared that there are two
natures in Christ but only one Person (divine);
and Mary is the Mother of the one divine
Person, the eternal second Person of the Blessed
Trinity.
 MONOPHYSITISM

FOUNDER HERESY COUNCIL DEFENDER

Christ is CHALCEDON Pope Leo I

only •Jesus is St. John
divine both human Chrysostom
and divine
 Monophysitism was propagated by Abbot
Eutyches of Constantinople. The word
monophysitism comes from two Greek words:
mono, meaning one and physis, meaning nature.
It claimed that there exists only “one nature”(the
divine) in Christ. From the Incarnation onward
the human nature in Christ was completely
absorbed in his divinity as a drop of honey in an
ocean. The Council of Chalcedon on 451 AD
proclaimed that Christ has both divine and
human natures in one Person.
 Monotheletism was started by
Serguis, the Patriarch of Constantinople (d.
610 AD). The word monotheletism comes
from the Greek word: thelema, meaning
will. It maintains that there is only one will
in Christ divine will. The Council of
Constantinople III in 680 AD defined that
there are two wills (human and divine) in
Jesus, in perfect accord within the one
divine person, Jesus.
 Iconoclasm (“IMAGE-BREAKING”) originated
during the time of Emperor Leo III (717-741). He
was convinced that images are the principal
obstacle to the conversion of Jews and Moslems and
a source of dissension in the empire. He issued an
Edict in 726 commanding the destruction of all
icons, which he confined as idols condemned by the
Old Testament. In brief, the heresy condemned the
veneration and use of holy images. The Council of
Nicea II in 787 AD definitely professed that the
veneration of images is legitimate. The Church
distinguishes between latria, adoration due to God,
and dulia, veneration of saints.
THE ICONOCLASTIC CONTROVERSY in
AD 725

• the controversy
regarding display
of images – “icon”
in Greek
EMPEROR LEO III OF BYZANTINE
EMPIRE
• denounced the use
of images in the
Church because he
found it idolatrous
 MOBS

• broke into the

Churches and
destroyed the
images
 POPE OF ROME
• ex-communicated the
iconoclasts (image-
breakers), including the
Byzantine emperor
The Barbarian Invasion
(ca 406 AD - 568 AD)

Strictly speaking, barbarian invasions refer to

the migration of nations towards the Roman Empire
in the early fifth century (406-407AD) due to famine
or drought or in search for better land and warmer
climate. Barbarian invasions were always abusive,
brutal, cruel, savaged or associated with violence,
armed clashes, death and destruction. Dominant
personalities within these barbarian tribes started
to conquer smaller tribes as they advanced and
roamed outside the Christian Empire.
 Among the barbaric tribes that attempted to invade
the Christian Empire were:
1) Visigoths, led by Alaric and later Atauf, his
brother ransacked Rome in 410. Finally, they settled in
Spain until 711;
2) Vandals, known for their wanton destruction for
its own sake, ransacked Rome in 455 and overrun Africa
in 429;
3) Huns were nomadic Mongolian people. They
spread terror and desolation over Cappadocia, Cicilia and
Syria. Atilla (Scourge of God), their leader attempted to
invade and plunder Rome in 542 but Pope Leo the Great
challenged him to return to his country;
 4) Lombards made bloody raids throughout
the provinces of Italy in 568, bringing along
famine and deadly pestilence. Pope Gregory the
Great organized a penitential procession to beg
God’s mercy; a shining angel sheathing his sword
that appeared in the sky was a heavenly sign that
marked the eventual end of pestilence;
5) Anglos and Saxons established seven
kingdoms and unified them in 9th century known
today as England.
 The Church, conscious of her universal mission,
set to work for their (barbarians) conversion - evangelization.
Instrumental to their eventual conversion were:
1) St. Patrick who converted Ireland;
2) St. Remy who converted France;
3) St. Colomban the apostle to Scotland;
4) St. Leander and St. Isidore of Seville
the apostles to Spain;
5) St. Boniface the apostle of Germany;
6) St. Cyril and Methodius apostles to the Slavic
Regions and Russia (Czechs, Slovaks, Slovenines,
Croatians, Serbs, Greenland);
7) St. Gregory and Augustine the monk apostles
of England.
Monasticism
(ca 1200 AD – 1350 AD)

Monastic life is a life of prayer, solitude and

penance to achieve union with Christ and blessings
for and salvation of the world; a life of stricter
separation from the world.
Monks professed the vows of poverty,
chastity, obedience and stability.
Among others, they were into agriculture;
copying precious manuscripts; studying of
Scriptures, arts and crafts, carpentry and charitable
works.
 Monasteries were oases of
learning and holiness, hospitals and
social welfare agencies of the time.
If martyrs had witnessed to
Christ through their deaths to faith,
the monks had witnessed to Christ
through their lives of prayer,
generous charity towards all.
 1) St. Anthony of Egypt, the Father of Early
Monasticism, introduced the eremitical life (there
was no organized community life and fixed rule,
monks sometimes lived alone by themselves or in
pairs or so.)
2) St. Pachomius, the founder of cenobitical
life, created the first religious order of monks. The
monastic life was lived in common and regulated by
rules.
3) St. Benedict of Nursia, the Father of
Western Monasticism, introduced a monastic way of
life which gave emphasis on a balance of prayer,
work and rest, known as Benedictism.
 4) St. Gregory the Great, the true son of
Benedict, was elected as Pope. He introduced
reformation in the Church’s liturgy and music
with his Gregorian chant; his insistence on the
supremacy of the Roman Pontiff and the
conversion of the barbarians were some of his
greatest accomplishment.
The Rise of Islam and Christian Crusades
(ca 622 AD – 1095 AD)

While the Church was busy planting

the Cross in the countries of the northwest
and handing on the culture of the ancient
world to the new nations, vast hordes of
fanatic warriors were marching out off the
Arabian Desert to destroy the cities and
lands which had so long been the center of
Christian civilization.
 Mohammed was born at Mecca in Western
Arabia about the year 570. At the age of 40 he allegedly
received a prophetic mission from Allah through the
Archangel Gabriel to destroy idolatry and restore the
true worship of God. His wife, Khadija, was his first
convert and others followed him later, especially Abu-
Bekr, a wealthy and influential figure, whom he used to
propagate his new religion. He named it “Islam” which
means “resignation to the will of God.” His preaching
met with indifference and opposition in Mecca (his
hometown). But he migrated to Medina where he firmly
succeeded in establishing the Islam religion in 622 AD.
 Koran is the sacred book of Islam which is divided
into 114 chapters (suras) and subdivided into verses
(Ayat). The Caliph Abu- Bekr, successor of Mohammed,
entrusted to Zaid, his secretary, the tasks of collecting
and organizing the “revelation” of Mohammed that had
survived.
Moslems professed faith in Allah and in
Mohammed, his prophet, prayed five times daily,
especially on Friday on the mosque; observed fasting
during the month of Ramadan; practiced almsgiving;
and encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Mecca (the
Hadj) at least once in their life.
 Moslems captured Arabia, Syria, Jerusalem,
Egypt, North Africa and Spain in 711. Charles Martel
(the Hammer), king of France, defeated them in 732
at Poiters, France. The Moslems advanced towards
Italy and in Rome but were defeated by the Spanish
Christians in 939 at Salamanca.
The losses suffered by the Church though the
Mohammedan conquest was great and far-reaching
in their results. Countries which had belonged to her
for centuries, in fact the oldest centers of
Christianity (Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria,
Carthage) were taken away from her.
Crusaders
- were organized to liberate the Holy land
(Jerusalem) from Islam and to stop the advancing
hordes of Islam. These were military expeditions
organized by the Church to recover from the hands
of persecuting infidels the places made sacred by
our Savior’s sojourn and sufferings.
The Pope inspired and kept alive the ideals of
the crusaders. Pope Urban II started the first
crusade in 1095. The period of crusades spanned
from 1095-1291 about 200 years. There were 7
major crusades and several minor expeditions.
Crusaders
- were men who took the cross of
Christ to recapture the lands made holy by
the Son-of-God made-man while he lived
on earth.
These soldiers commissioned by the
Pope wore big crosses on their uniform and
shield. The recovery of the Holy Places and
the necessity of defending them gave rise
to the Military Orders or Knights.
• A Divided Christianity (ca 1054 AD - 1414 AD)

• Christ has ardently desired and prayed for the

unity of all believers (Jn. 17:21) and he wills that
there should only be one flock and one shepherd
(Jn. 10:16).

• Heretical groups had separated from the Church

in the earliest times. Some flourished for a time
but practically all them had long disappeared.
Worth mentioning were the Manicheans,
Pelagians, Arians, Nestorians.
Eastern Schism (1054)
- was the first great and tragic division
between Rome (West) and Constantinople
(East).
- Michael Cerularuis, Patriarch of
Constantinople, broke away from the Pope.
- He attacked the practices of the Roman
Church and closed the Latin-rite Churches in the
East.
- Both Churches mutually excommunicated
each other (mutual exclusion).
 - The mutual excommunication
was only revoked in 1967 when
Pope Paul VI and Patriarch
Athenagoras I met in the Mt. of
Olives and exchanged a kiss of
peace. This paved the way for the
reunification between the two
Churches.
Schism
- is a withdrawal of submission to the
Supreme Pontiff or from communion with the
members of the Church subject to him.

- The East rejected the Primacy of the Pope

and allowed their priest to marry.

- It paved the way for the establishment of

the Orthodox Church that followed the
Patriarch of Constantinople.
 - The Orthodox Catholic Church is
predominant in Greece and Greek Islands;
Middle East and among eastern Slavs (Serbs,
Bulgarians, Ukrainians and Russians);
Romanian.
- The separation was caused among
others by:
a) the ambition of the Eastern emperors
to rule the Church. The papacy was a painful
obstacle. Emperors wanted the bishops of
Constantinople to have equal or greater
authority with the Pope in Rome;
 b) communication problems
created lingual, cultural and political
differences;

c) religious conflicts created

theological, liturgical and disciplinary
differences that provoked various
heresies and schisms.
The Western Schism (1378-1417)

- for almost forty years the Great Schism

disrupted the ecclesial unity and brought untold
misfortunes upon the Church.
- this was preceded by the Babylonian
captivity of the Popes (1309-1377),
- the removal of the papal seat from Rome
to Avignon, France where for nearly seventy years
the Popes (all of them Frenchmen) were under
the influence of the French Kings.
 - The Council of Constance (1414) was
summoned by John XXII at the request of
Emperor Sigismund that ended the Great Schism.
- Martin V was elected a new pope.
- the Council of Constance was closed in May
1418.
- the new pope approved all the resolutions
of the council in matters of faith;
- rejected the decrees which declared that
the council held its authority immediately from
God, and that even the pope was subject to it.
 MIDDLE AGES
• The Church in the West became the center of
authority and dignity
• The clergy converted non-Christians to
Christianity and preserved Western
civilization in monasteries
• The pope in Rome became the highest
authority and unifying influence
 Effects:

• Pope became strong in

both spiritual and
temporal matters
• Popes had so much
influence in politics that
they could make or break
kings
 Roman Papacy became very strong
because of the following reasons:
• Rome was the premier city of the West
• The pope was believed to have inherited the
authority of St. Peter
• Political leadership in the West was weak and
disorganized
• The city of Rome was the center of
Christianity
 The two braches of Christianity split
apart.

WEST (Roman Catholic) EAST (Greek Orthodox

- recognized the supreme Church)
authority of the Pope at - recognized the
Rome authority of the
patriarch of
Constantinople

The two Churhes quarelled over

ceremonies, holy days and rights o
What was really the
cause of break-up
between the two
Churches?
 THE FINAL BREAK IN 1054
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC THE GREEK ORTHODOX
CHURCH CHURCH

- The head is the Pope and - The head is the

is elected by the clergy patriarch of
Constantinople and is
- Believes in the
appointed by the
veneration of the images
emperor
of Christ, Mary and other
- Does not believe in the
saints veneration of images
- Uses Latin as its official - Uses Greek as its
language official language
 THE CHURCH AS ONE

SOURCE: FOUNDER: HOLY SPIRIT

BLESSED JESUS
TRINITY -redeemed - calls us into
- one Living and unified a unity of
God in three humanity faith, hope
persons -instituted the and charity
Eucharist
CHURCH IS A UNITY-IN-DIVERSITY
• The universal Church
embraces not only people of
different ranks, duties,
situations and ways of life,
but also particular Churches
which retain their own
traditions while united under
the vicar of Christ.
 ECUMENISM

• restores unity
of Christian
Churches
Unity is one of the most
difficult things to
achieve in every group
of people. The larger
the group, the more
difficult it becomes to
realize unity.
 Based on your
experience, what do
you think makes unity
difficult to achieve?
 How do you achieve unity…

AT HOME?IN SCHOOL?IN THE COM

The Protestant Reformation (ca 1517 AD – 1520 AD)

- Martin Luther, a German Augustinian

monk, ignited the protest against the Catholic
Church during the 16th century.
- Scandalized by the practice of selling
indulgences which gave him the impression
that divine forgiveness can be bought or sold.
- he posted his 95 Theses on the door of
Wittenburg Church as a sign of protest against
the abuses committed by the Church in 1517.
 - In 1520, Pope Leo X condemned 41
statements from Luther’s writings and
excommunicated him.
- At the Diet of Speyer (1529), Luther’s
followers were called for the first time as
Protestants.
- the new Protestant Theology was officially
formulated in the Augsburg Confession (1530) to
distinguish the Protestant Faith from the Catholic
Faith.
 PROTESTANT FAITH CATHOLIC FAITH

1. Justification by faith alone 1. Both good works and faith are essential.
(Sola Fide)

2. Everything is based on pure grace alone. (Sola Gratia) 2. Both God’s grace and man’s freedom have to cooperate in the process
of salvation.

3.The Bible alone constitutes the foundation and source of faith. 3. Both the Sacred Scriptures and Tradition are sacred deposits of faith
(Sola Scriptura and Sola Interpretation Privata) (God’s Revelation). In the Church, there is the Magisterium to
interpret authentically God’s Word.

4. Some are called to ordained priesthood in line with apostolic

4. Priesthood of all believers succession.

5. On Sacraments: Baptism, Penance and Holy Communion are 5. The seven sacraments were instituted by Christ as channels of God’s
effective vehicles of the grace of the Holy Spirit. grace.

6. Rejection of purgatory, indulgence, invocation of the saints and 6. The existence of purgatory, the value of indulgence, the legitimacy of
efficacy of prayers for the dead the veneration of the saints and the merit of prayers for the dead are
maintained.

7. Protestant Bible has 66 books 7. Catholic Bible has 73 books.

The Counter Reformation
- Council of Trent (1545-1563), the Counter-
Catholic reformation, was convoked to define the
Catholic faith and reform abuses in the Church.
- St. Thomas Moore (1478-1535), Lord
Chancellor of England, died a martyr’s death
under Henry VIII in defense of his religious faith
and vision of Christian commitment.
- St. John Fisher (1469-1535), Bishop of
Rochester and cardinal, championed the rights of
the Church and defended the supremacy of the
pope against Henry VIII.
 - St. Therese of Avila (1515-1582), mystic and
indefatigable reformer of the monastic life for
women.
- St. John of the Cross (1542-1591), champion
on clerical reform, especially on celibacy.
- St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), founder
of the Society of Jesus; they were noted for their
spiritual and intellectual formation and obedience
to the Pope. They zealously operated schools,
charitable institutions and missions.
The Missionary Expedition (ca 1521 AD – 1606 AD)
- After the devastating Protestant
Reformation, the Catholic Church suffered great
losses and destruction in terms of personnel,
properties, etc.
- From this time on, she opened her doors
to new horizons. Along with the conquistadores,
missionaries combined evangelization with
colonization which gave the Church great
opportunities to sow the seeds of Christian faith
in the Americas, the Philippines, India, Africa,
Japan, China, Indonesia and Korea.
 - The Congregation of the
Evangelization of Peoples was founded to
promote, control and direct the missionary
initiatives and vocation.
The Church in the Modern World:

- The Second Ecumenical Vatican Council

(1962-1965) was convened in Vatican City and
attended by 2, 540 bishops from all over the
world with the Pope and guests from Protestants
and Orthodox denominations to deepen the self-
understanding of the Church and charter her
journey in the modern world. It was initiated by
Pope John XXIII (popularly called the Good Pope)
who was chosen by the Holy Spirit to inaugurate a
new age in the Church.
Some Innovations in the understanding and practices in the Church:
Vatican II
Pre-Vatican

1. Church is primarily an institution, 1. Church as people of God brings a sense of

a monarchy with bishops and pastors shared responsibility: parish councils, national
making decisions and with little room for advisory boards,senates, common priesthood
lay participation of all believers now emphasized, collegial
leadership.

2. emphasis on sacredness of liturgy as a means of 2. many liturgical changes: liturgy as celebration;

salvation; care in keeping liturgy uniform; Latin vernacular languages; everyone participates;
used throughout the world; priests perform, laity allowing for diverse ministries: lay lectors, ministers
observe of the Eucharist, etc.

3. Catholic church is the true church of Jesus – no 3. ecumenical spirit encouraged: freedom of inquiry,
toleration of error; Catholics can’t read the works of the joint prayer services, common editions of the Bible, respect
Protestant Reformers for the dignity of others as persons, intercommunion
sometimes permitted with bishop’s permission

4. Only Scholasticism allowed; new learning looked on with 4. more tolerance:

suspicion; catholic participation in politics distrusted in some
places; traditional forms of spirituality encouraged (rosary,
devotion to the benedictions, etc.)
- for different kinds of learning: advances in biblical studies; more
regard for historical studies
- for dialogue with the modern world
- for new forms of spirituality: all are called to holiness (parish
renewal, retreats, marriage encounter, etc.