A term comes from either a Greek adjective καθολικός -ή -όν (katholikos), meaning "general" or "universal". Around Greek, a word for "church" is feminine & will require a feminine form of the adjective, viz.: .

"One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic"

The letter that, within astir AD 107, Saint Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch wrote to Christians in Smyrna, is the earliest living witness to the utilize of the term "catholic Church" (Smyrnaeans, Eighter from decatur). By it Saint Ignatius intended a Christian Church inside its universal aspect, excluding heretics, such as people world health organization "confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again" (Smyrnaeans, Septenary). He known as such humans "beasts in the shape of men, whom you must not only not receive, but, if it be possible, not even meet with" (Smyrnaeans, Quatern).

However extra expressed was a manner where Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (circa 315-386) used a term "catholic Church" precisely to distinguish this Church from either dissident "Churches". He urged: "If ever thou art sojourning in cities, inquire not simply where the Lord's House is (for the other sects of the profane also attempt to call their own dens houses of the Lord), nor merely where the Church is, but where is the Catholic Church. For this is the peculiar name of this Holy Church, the mother of us all, which is the spouse of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God" (Catechetical Lectures, 18, Xxvi).[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310118.htm]

A word Catholic has been utilized ever since to describe a echt a single original Church founded by Christ & a Apostles. A word appears in the independent Christian creeds (formal definitions of belief), notably the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. When such, numbers of Christians (& denominations) see themselves when "catholic". It fall into ii groups:

Christians of virtually all denominations, including virtually all Protestants, affirm their faith in "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church". For Protestants, virtually everthing of whom assume themselves to become spiritual descendent (category Two, above), this affirmation refers to their belief in the ultimate unity of all churches under of these God and one Saviour, rather than around a single visibly unified institutional church (category One, above). In that usage catholic is occasionally written using the lower-instance "c". A American Apostles Creed, stating "I believe in...the holy catholic church..." (another time capitalised), is so recited within Protestant worship services (with a notable exception of German Lutherans). A Nicene Creed likewise declares belief in "one holy catholic and apostolic Church".

Brief organizational history of the Church

A early Catholic Church come to become organized under a iii patriarchs of Rome, Alexandria and Antioch, to which later were added a patriarch of Constantinople and of Jerusalem. A Bishop of Rome wwhen at that time recognized as number 1 among the two, & doctrinal or even procedural disputes were every now and again referred to Rome. After a Majestic capital moved to Constantinople, Rome's influence was typically challenged. Patch Rome claimed favorite authority & descent from St. Peter² and Saint Paul, who, all agreed, were martyred and buried in Rome, Constantinople had become the residence of the Emperor, and the churches at Antioch, and Alexandria were all older than Rome. Antioch moreover was considered to use at times been a understand of St. Peter before he went to Rome.

A AD 431 Council of Ephesus, the Third Ecumenical Council, was chiefly caring sustaining Nestorianism. Nestorianism emphasized a distinction between a humanity & divinity of Jesus & taught that a Virgin Mary gave birth does'nt to God but only to the human, Jesus Christ. This Council rejected Nestorianism & affirmed that humanity & divinity were inseparable in a of these human Jesus Christ, & that his mother, the Virgin Mary, is so Theotokos, God-bearer, Mother of God. A 1st low rupture in the Church followed this Council)\. People world health organization refused to assume a Council's opinion were largely Persian and are represented in todays world per Assyrian Church of the East and related Churches..

A next major break plan a Council of Chalcedon (AD 451). This Council disowned Eutychian Monophysitism which states that a divine nature and severity and severity wholly subsumed the human being nature around Christ. This Council declared that Christ, though of these human, exhibited ii natures "without confusion, without change, without division, without separation" & so is two fully God & fully person. A Alexandrian Church rejected a terms adopted by this Council. These Christians come okay, typically known as Ancient Oriental Churches or even a Oriental Orthodox Communion.

A next major rift inside Christianity was in the 11th century. Doctrinal disputes, also when conflicts between methods of Church government, & the evolution of separate rites & practices, precipitated a split inside AD 1054 that divided the Church, this instance between the "West" & an "East". England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Scandinavia, and great deal of the rest of American Europe were in the Western camp, & Greece, Russia and many of more Slavic lands, Anatolia, and a Christians around Syria and Egypt who accepted a Council of Chalcedon processed higher the Eastern camp. This section is known as a Great Schism. A virtually all recent major section in the Church occurred in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformation, after which numerous area of a American Church rejected the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church & became called "Protestant".

Everthing of the retiring groups, excluding a few Protestants, assume themselves to become fully & totally Catholic. A lot of a children claim to become either a portion of the Catholic Church or even the lone Catholic Church.

The Roman Catholic Church
"The Catholic Church", once utilized non of an abstract inseeable a cappella, however of a visible concrete body of Christians, unremarkably refers to what is besides known as "the Roman Catholic Church".

This Church hardly ever utilizes a title "Roman Catholic Church" for itself, except inside its relations by having more Christian groups. Possibly within victims relations, "Catholic Church" might too come out, when around a select few documents drawn higher inside park using a Lutheran Globe Federation & a Assyrian Church of the East. But then, a Church has inside fact applied a adjective "Roman" to itself withinsifirst state its entireness potentially in a select few internal documents, like a Dogmatic Constitution de fide catholica of the First Vatican Council, which wwhen attended by Eastern as well as American bishops. Whenever it does use a adjective "Roman" to itself, it sees this word just when pointing to the centrality for it of the look at of Rome, with which 100% its members, temporalty & clergy similar, come necessarily in full communion. Outsiders, inside direct contrast, looking for a apply of the title "Catholic Church" by this Church to exist as contentious, utilize a term "Roman Catholic Church" to indicate that these are single a "Roman" division of the bit of big, possibly abstract, a cappella that it call for a Catholic Church & that, withinside their look at, besides includes more sections non in communion by using Rome, a usage that members of the Church in wonder successively watch when contentious.

Oftentimes plenty, a few members of this Church, especially victims of Eastern Rite, apply a term "Roman Catholic Church" non, when in the Church's legal document, to the Church as a totally, but only to its Latin Rite component. Unlike a outsiders upright mentioned, it assume communion sustaining a look at of Rome necessary for 100% members of the Catholic Church.

Other Catholic groups

Around American Christianity a primary groups that regard themselves when "Catholic" forswearing full communion with a Pope come the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and some elements of Anglicanism ("High Church Anglicans" or "Anglo-Catholics"). Little groups include a Old Catholics, the Aglipayans (Philippine Independent Church), and a Polish National Church of America. Their spiritual beliefs & practices come similar to people of Catholics of the Latin Rite, from which it emerged, however it reject a Pope's claimed status and authority.

A Anglican Communion is in practice divided into 2 wings, "High Church Anglicans" also called a Anglo-Catholics and "Low Church Anglicans" also known as a Evangelical wing. Though completely elements inside a Anglican Communion recite a equivalent creeds, Great Church Anglicans regard a word Catholic in the idealistic feel given above, piece High Church Anglicans handle it as a title of Christ's church which it assume to embrace themselves together using a Roman Catholic & many Orthodox Churches.

Anglo-Catholicism maintains similarities to the Lataround Rite of Roman Catholicism & related spirituality, including the belief in septenary sacraments, Transubstantiation as opposed to Consubstantiation, devotion to the Virgin Mary and saints, the description of their ordained clergy when "priests" — addressed when "Father" — a wearing of vestments around church liturgy, periodically possibly the description of their Eucharistic celebrations as "Mass". A development of the Anglo-Catholic wing of Anglicanism occurred largely in the nineteenth century and is strongly associated with a Oxford Movement. 2 of its leading lights, John Henry Newman and Henry Edward Manning, both ordained Anglican clergymen, ended higher joining a Roman Catholic Church, becoming cardinals.

A many churches of Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy each consider themselves to exist when a universal & admittedly Catholic Church, & generally regard a more A single families & a American Catholics when heterodox & as getting left a One Sanctum Catholic, & Apostolic Church. A patriarchs of these Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches are autocephalous hierarchs, which roughly means that both of the babies is independent of the straight oversight of a second bishop (although however subject, based on data from their distinct traditions, either to the synod of bishops of each a single’s jurisdiction, or even merely to the green guide of the patriarchs of their have communion). It is uncoerced to concede the primacy of honor to the Petrine Watch, but not of authority.

Distinctive beliefs and practices (of category 1 catholics, see above)

Beliefs

Catholic Churches part certain essential distinctive beliefs & practices, however Anglicans differ among themselves in their regard:

Direct & continuous organizational descent from either a original church founded by Jesus (understand e.g. Mt [http://drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=47&ch=016&l=18 16:18]). Possession of the "threefold ordained ministry" of Bishops, Priests and Deacons. All ministers come ordained by, & subject to, Bishops, world health organization pass down sacramental authority per "laying-on of hands", getting themselves been ordained inside a directly line of succession from either the Apostles (watch Apostolic Succession). Their belief that a Church is a vessel & dump of a fullness of the teachings of Jesus & the Apostles from either which the Scriptures were formed. This teaching is preserved inside two written Scripture & in written and unwritten church Tradition. Neither is independent of the more. A belief in the necessity of sacraments (generally counted when sevener). The utilize of images, candles, vestments & music inside worship. The making of the Sign of the Cross in a kind of contexts. Belief that a Eucharist is really, truly, & substantially a Person and Blood of Christ, which occurs across transubstantiation. Victims that come quite distinctively Catholic suppose that adoration & worship is due to the Eucharist when a system & blood of Christ. Veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus as the Blessed Virgin Mary or Theotokos, and veneration of the saints. A distinction among worship (latria) for God, and veneration (dulia) for saints, using a term hyperdulia utilized for a favorite veneration accorded to the Virgin Mary among the saints. A few don't assume a distinction between hyperdulia & dulia. The utilize of prayer for the dead. Salvation by grace alone, through faith working in love.

Sacraments
Catholics administer 7 sacraments or "divine mysteries": Baptism, Confirmation, also known as Chrismation, Eucharist, Penance and Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Holy Matrimony.

Baptism is the number 1 & basic sacrament of Christian initiation. Catholics assume baptism conferred within virtually all Christian denominations "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (cf. Matthew 28:19) to exist as valid, since a result is produced through the sacrament, independently of the faith of the minister, though non of the minister's intention. Baptism, every bit stated in the Nicene Creed is "for the remission of sins", non lone personalized sins, however likewise original sin, which it remits even around baby world health organization keep close at hand committed there is no family sins. Verbalized positively, remission means bestowal of a sanctifying grace by which a baptised individual shares the life of God.

Confirmation or even Chrismation is the 2nd sacrament of Christian initiation. These are conferred per laying in of mitts & anointment, together by having the favorite consecratory prayer. Across it, a gift of the Paraclete conferred around baptism is "strengthened and deepened" (understand Catechism of the Catholic Church [http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a2.htm §1303]). Its "originating" minister occurs as with validity dedicated bishop; in case the priest (the "presbyter") confers the sacrament - when is done normally around Eastern Churches & particularly subjects inside American - a hyperlink by owning a higher the correct sequence is indicated per have of sacramental oil (as well known as gum myrrh) blessed by a bishop (within an Eastern Orthodox Church, by the patriarch]]). In the East the sacrament is administered immediately after baptism. In the West administration came to be postponed until the recipient's early adulthood; but in view of the earlier age at which children are now admitted to reception of the Eucharist, it is more and more restored to the traditional order and administered before giving the third sacrament of Christian initiation.

The Eucharist is the sacrament (the third of Christian initiation) by which Catholics partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and participate in his one sacrifice. The bread and wine used in the rite are, in Catholic faith, considered to be transformed in all but appearance into the Body and Blood of Christ, a change that is commonly called transubstantiation.

Penance and Reconciliation are names given to the first of two sacraments of healing, which is also called the sacrament of conversion, of confession, and of forgiveness (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1423-1424).[http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm#i] It is the sacrament of spiritual healing of a baptized person from the distancing from God involved in sins committed. It involves four elements: the penitent's contrition for sin (without which the rite does not have its effect), confession to a priest (it may be spiritually helpful to confess to another, but only a priest has the power to administer the sacrament), absolution by the priest, and satisfaction. In early Christian centuries, the fourth element was quite onerous and generally preceded absolution, but now it usually involves a simple task (in some traditions called a "penance") for the penitent to perform, to make some reparation and as a medicinal means of strengthening against further temptation.

Anointing of the Sick is the second sacrament of healing. In it those who are suffering a serious physical illness are anointed by a priest with oil blessed specifically for that purpose. "Seriously sick" does not necessarily mean "in immediate danger of death". In past centuries, when such a restrictive interpretation was customary, the sacrament came to be known as "Extreme Unction", i.e. "Final Anointing". It was then conferred only as one of the "Last Rites". The other "Last Rites" are Confession (if the dying person is physically unable to confess, at least absolution, conditional on the existence of contrition, is given), and the Eucharist, which when administered to the dying is known as "Viaticum", a word whose original meaning in Latin was "provision for a journey".

Holy Orders is the sacrament by which one becomes a bishop, a priest or a deacon. Only a bishop may administer this sacrament. Ordination as a bishop confers the fulness of the sacrament, making the bishop a member of the body that has succeeded to that of the Apostles, and giving him the mission to teach, sanctify and guide, along with the care of all the Churches. Ordination as a priest configures the priest to Christ the Head of the Church and the one essential Priest, empowering him, as the bishops' assistant, to celebrate divine worship, especially the Eucharist. Ordination as a deacon configures the deacon to Christ the Servant of All, placing him at the service of the Church, especially in the fields of the ministry of the word, divine worship, pastoral guidance and charity.

Holy Matrimony, like Holy Orders, is a sacrament that consecrates for a particular mission in building up the Church, providing grace for accomplishing that mission.

The study of Catholicism

Catholicism is a religion, and is studied in contexts that include theology and philosophy.

Footnotes

¹ Webster's College Dictionary, 1991. ² St Peter is sometimes called “the first pope”. However, if “pope” is defined as “successor of St Peter”, St. Linus is the first pope. The Catholic Church teaches that the college of the bishops has succeeded, in the Church, to the group of the apostles, not that the bishops are apostles; and that, among the bishops, primacy belongs to the Bishop of Rome, as primacy among the apostles belonged to St Peter, not that the pope is on the same level as the Apostle Peter ([http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm ‘’Catechism of the Catholic Church,’‘] 880-881).