Catholicism

:This article considers Catholicism in the broadest ecclesiastical sense. See Catholicism (disambiguation) for alternative meanings

"One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic"

A letter that, in about AD 107, Saint Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch wrote to Christians in Smyrna, is the earliest surviving witness to the use of the term "catholic Church" (Smyrnaeans, 8). By it Saint Ignatius designated the Christian Church in its universal aspect, excluding heretics, such as those who "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, 7). He called such people "beasts in the shape of men, whom you must not only not receive, but, if it be possible, not even meet with" (Smyrnaeans, 4).

Related Topics:
107 - Saint Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch - Heretics

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Yet more explicit was the manner in which Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (circa 315-386) used the term "catholic Church" precisely to distinguish this Church from heretical "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, XVIII, 26).http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310118.htm

Related Topics:
315 - 386

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The word Catholic has been used ever since to describe the genuine one original Church founded by Christ and the Apostles. The word appears in the main Christian creeds (formal definitions of belief), notably the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. As such, many Christians (and denominations) see themselves as "catholic". They fall into two groups:

Related Topics:
Apostles - Creed - Apostles' Creed - Nicene Creed - Denominations

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::1) those like the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, and Anglican churches having Apostolic Succession from the early church; and

Related Topics:
Catholic - Eastern Orthodox - Oriental Orthodox Churches - Anglican - Apostolic Succession

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::2) those who claim to be spiritual descendants of the Apostles but have no discernable institutional descent from the historic church, and normally do not refer to themselves as catholic.

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Christians of most denominations, including most Protestants, affirm their faith in "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church". For Protestants, most of whom consider themselves to be spiritual descendants (category 2, above), this affirmation refers to their belief in the ultimate unity of all churches under one God and one Saviour, rather than in one visibly unified institutional church (category 1, above). In this usage catholic is sometimes written with a lower-case "c". The Western Apostles Creed, stating "I believe in...the holy catholic church..." (sometimes capitalised), is thus recited in Protestant worship services (with the notable exception of German Lutherans). The Nicene Creed likewise declares belief in "one holy catholic and apostolic Church".

Related Topics:
Protestants - One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church - God - Saviour - Apostles Creed - Protestant - Nicene Creed

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