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”
What is at the Centre of Catholic Worship
In all rites the Mass, or Divine Liturgy, is the centre of Catholic worship
What does the Catholic Church teach regarding the Read and wine
In all rites the Mass, or Divine Liturgy, is the centre of Catholic worship. The Catholic Church teaches that at each Mass the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ by the words of consecration spoken by the priest
What is the teaching of Transubstatiation
The Church teaches that the bread and wine become the body and blood through transubstantiation, in which the “accidents” (perceptible aspects) of the sacramental bread and wine remain, but the underlying substance is transmuted into the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ, and is not merely symbolic
Where are the words of Consecration drawn from
The words of consecration are drawn from the three synoptic Gospels and a Pauline letter
What does the Church teach regarding the Eucharist and his covenant
The Church teaches that Christ established a New Covenant with humanity through the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, as described in various biblical verses.
What are the rules regarding celebrating the Eucharist
Because the Church teaches that Christ is present in the Eucharist,there are strict rules about who may celebrate and who may receive the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. The sacrament can only be celebrated by a validly ordained priest
Who are forbidden to recieve the Eucharist
Those who are conscious of being in a state of mortal sin are forbidden to receive the sacrament until they have received absolution through the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance)
What are Catholics obliged to do before taking the Eucharist
Catholics are normally obliged to abstain from eating for at least an hour before receiving the sacrament.
Can a Catholic approach any minister outside the Catholic Church for the Eucharist
Catholics, even if they were in danger of death and unable to approach a Catholic minister, may not ask for the sacraments of the Eucharist, penance or anointing of the sick from someone, such as a Protestant minister, who is not known to be validly ordained in line with Catholic teaching on ordination
What is the most common rite of worship in the Catholic Church
The Roman Rite is the most common rite of worship used by the Catholic Church. Its use is found worldwide, spread by missionary activity originating in European Catholic nations throughout Christian history.
What are the two forms of Roman Rites
Two forms of the Roman Rite are authorised at present. The generally used ordinary form, celebrated mostly in the vernacular, is that of the post-1969 editions of the Roman Missal, and is known as the Mass of Paul VI. The extraordinary form, celebrated only in Latin, is that of the edition of 1962, the year of the opening of the Second Vatican Council,[54] and is known as the Tridentine Mass.
What are the fundamental beliefs of Christians in general compared to the Catholic Church
The fundamental beliefs of the Christian religion are summarised in the Nicene Creed. For Catholics, they are detailed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
What is the main claim and statement of the Catholic Church
The Church Catholic holds that it is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Based on the promises of Christ in the Gospels.
How is the Church guided
Based on the promises of Christ in the Gospels, the Church believes that it is continually guided by the Holy Spirit—which reveals God’s truth through Sacred scripture, Sacred tradition and the Magisterium.—and so protected infallibly from falling into doctrinal error
Describe the sacred scriptures of the Catholic Church
Sacred Scripture consists of the 73 book Catholic Bible. This is made up of the 46 books found in the ancient Greek version of the Old Testament—known as the Septuagint—and the 27 New Testament writings first found in the Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1209 and listed in Athanasius’ Thirty-Ninth Festal Letter.
What are sacred Tradition and sacred scripture known as
Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition are collectively known as the “deposit of faith” (depositum fidei). These are in turn interpreted by the Magisterium
What is the Magistarium
Magisterium (from magister, Latin for “teacher”), the Church’s teaching authority, which is exercised by the Pope and the College of Bishops in union with the Pope, the bishop of Rome.
What is the basic teaching of the trinity
The Catholic Church holds that there is one eternal God, who exists as a mutual indwelling of three persons: God the Father; God the Son; and God the Holy Spirit, which make up the Trinity.
Describe the teaching of Trinity and Incarnation
Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, God the Son. In an event known as the Incarnation, through the power of the Holy Spirit, God became united with human nature through the conception of Christ in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Christ therefore is both fully divine and fully human. It is taught that Christ’s mission on earth included giving people his teachings and providing his example for them to follow as recorded in the four Gospels.
What is the teaching of the Passion
The Church teaches that through the passion (suffering) of Christ and his crucifixion as described in the Gospels, all people have an opportunity for forgiveness and freedom from sin and so can be reconciled to God.
What does the Ressurection mean for Catholics
The Resurrection of Jesus gained for humans a possible spiritual immortality previously denied to them because of original sin.
What does the a catechism profess about the Catholic Church
According to the Catechism, the Catholic Church professes to be the “sole Church of Christ”, which is described in the Nicene Creed as the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church
What is the teaching of apostolic succession
The church teaches that its founder is Jesus Christ, who appointed the twelve Apostles to continue his work as the Church’s earliest bishops. Catholic belief holds that the Church “is the continuing presence of Jesus on earth”, and that all duly consecrated bishops have a lineal succession from the apostles
What is the Pope considered to be with regards to succession
the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), is considered the successor to the apostle Simon Peter, from whom the Pope derives his supremacy over the Church.
How is the Church further described as
The Church is further described in the papal encyclical Mystici Corporis Christi as the Mystical Body of Christ.
