Introduction Flashcards
Give a brief description of the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church
The Catholic hierarchy includes cardinals and bishops and is led by the Bishop of Rome, known as the Pope
Give a very brief description of the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church is the largest denomination of Christians with roughly 1 billion people and is based in Rome.[1]. It teaches that it is the same Church started by Jesus Christ and his followers about 2,000 years ago.
What are the basic teaching of the Catholic Church
The Church teaches that it is the one true church divinely founded by Jesus Christ. It also teaches that its bishops are the successors of Christ’s apostles and that the Bishop of Rome, as the successor to the head of the apostles, Saint Peter, has supreme authority over the Church
Describe Catholic Worship
Catholic worship is highly liturgical, focusing on the Mass or Divine Liturgy, in which the sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated. The Church teaches that when consecrated by a validly ordained priest the bread and wine used during the Mass become the body and blood of Christ through transubstantiation
Where does the Catholic name derive from
The term “catholic” is derived from the Greek word καθολικός (katholikos) meaning “universal” and was first used to describe the Church in the early 2nd century.
Where does the word Catholic first appear
Catholic Church” (he katholike ekklesia) first appears in a letter of St Ignatius written in about 110.[6] In the “Catechetical Discourses” of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, “Catholic Church” is used to distinguish it from other groups that also call themselves the church
Who heads the Catholic Church
The Church’s hierarchy is headed by the Bishop of Rome, known as the Pope (Latin: papa; “father”), who is the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church composed of the Latin Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the see of Rome. The current Pope is Francis, elected on 13 March 2013 by papal conclave.
How was the Office of Pope instituted
The office of the Pope is known as the Papacy. The Church holds that Christ instituted the Papacy, upon giving the keys of Heaven to Saint Peter.
What is the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Pope known as
His ecclesiastical jurisdiction is called the “Holy See” (Sancta Sedes in Latin), or the “Apostolic See” (meaning the see of the Apostle Saint Peter).
Who is the current Pope
The current Pope is Francis, elected on 13 March 2013 by papal conclave.
Who directly serves the Pope
Directly serving the Pope is the Roman Curia, the central governing body that administers the day-to-day business of the Catholic Church
What other title does the Pope hold
The Pope is also Sovereign of Vatican City State,[16] a city-state entirely enclaved within the city of Rome.
What happens following the death or resignation of the Pope
Following the death or resignation of a pope, members of the College of Cardinals who are under age 80 meet in the Sistine Chapel in Rome to elect a successor
Who can be eligible to become Pope
Although this election, known as a papal conclave, can theoretically elect any male Catholic as Pope, since 1389 only fellow cardinals have been elevated to that position
What is an autonomous Catholic Church
The Catholic Church is made up of 23 autonomous particular churches, each of which accepts the paramountcy of the Bishop of Rome on matters of doctrine.These churches, also known by the Latin term sui iuris churches, are communities of Catholic Christians whose forms of worship reflect different historical and cultural influences rather than differences in doctrine.
What does the Roman Church consider itself to be
The Latin Church considered itself to be the oldest and largest branch of Western Christianity
How are some of the Eastern Catholic Churches governed
Some Eastern Catholic Churches are governed by a patriarch who is elected by the synod of the bishops of that church,others are headed by a major archbishop
What are the Numbers of Catholic membership
Total church membership in 2011 (remaining steady at 17.5% of the world population) was 1,214 million people (1.2 Billion)
What are individual countries or regions known as
Individual countries, regions, or major cities are served by local particular Churches known as dioceses or eparchies, each overseen by a Catholic bishop.
How many diocese are there
As of 2008, the Catholic Church altogether comprised 2,795 dioceses
How are Diocese divided
Dioceses are further divided into numerous individual communities called parishes, each staffed by one or more priests, deacons and/or lay ecclesial ministers.Parishes are responsible for the day to day celebration of the sacraments and pastoral care of the Catholic laity.
How many Priests are there
In 2011, Vatican records listed 413,418 Catholic priests in the world
How is membership attained in the Catholic Church
Membership in the Catholic Church is attained through baptism or reception into the Church
What forms of worship is practised under the autonomous Churches
Among the 23 autonomous (sui iuris) churches, numerous forms of worship and liturgical traditions exist, called “rites”
