Holy Orders

2008-03-18T17:25:33Z

Boniface: Holy Orders of Deacon, Priest and Bishop.

'''Holy Orders''' refers to the sacrament of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches that sets aside ("ordains") chosen men to lead the church and to celebrate the sacraments. There are three levels of Holy Orders: Bishop, Presbyter, and Deacon.

A Deacon is ordained to preach and minister, both in the Liturgy and outside. In the United States, for example, the Catholic Bishops have designated Social Justice issues as particularly appropriate for deacons, as they are a link between the clerical and lay states. A Catholic Deacon, with proper permission, can minister baptisms, lead Communion services or assist the priest at Eucharist, and preside at weddings.

A Presbyter is ordained from among the deacons to minister almost all the sacraments. Thus, besides the deacon's ministries mentioned above, a presbyter can preside at the Eucharist, minister Reconciliation and give absolution (assurance of forgiveness of sins), and Annoint the Sick. Under certain circumstances, he can also Confirm members of the Church. Presbyters are often called "Priests," but (technically speaking) this term refers to both Presbyters and Bishops, since both are allowed to "take the place of Christ," the High Priest, at the Eucharist.

A Bishop has the fullness of orders. Ordained from among the Priests, the bishop can minister any of the sacraments. A bishop is usally assigned to a diocese, a local church, to care for the people living there.

Holy Eucharist

2008-03-18T17:13:18Z

Boniface:

'''Holy Eucharist''' is considered a sacrament by many Christian denominations, including Catholics, Orthodox, and many Protestants, such as Lutherans. Such Christians generally see it as following Jesus Christ's command at the Last Supper, "Do this in remembrance of me" (see 1 Cor 11: 23-26).

There are a variety of theological understandings of the Eucharist, which mark one of the major dividing points among the churches. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches take Christ's words literally, "This is my Body" and "This is the cup of my Blood." From this, they speak of the Real Presence. The Catholic Church uses the term "transsubstantiation" to describe this belief. Protestant Churches use a variety of terms, from the Lutheran "coinsubstantiation" to many that simply speak of the "symbolic" presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Holy Eucharist

2008-03-18T17:12:41Z

Boniface: Holy Eucharist

'''Bold text'''Holy Eucharist'''Bold text''' is considered a sacrament by many Christian denominations, including Catholics, Orthodox, and many Protestants, such as Lutherans. Such Christians generally see it as following Jesus Christ's command at the Last Supper, "Do this in remembrance of me" (see 1 Cor 11: 23-26).

There are a variety of theological understandings of the Eucharist, which mark one of the major dividing points among the churches. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches take Christ's words literally, "This is my Body" and "This is the cup of my Blood." From this, they speak of the Real Presence. The Catholic Church uses the term "transsubstantiation" to describe this belief. Protestant Churches use a variety of terms, from the Lutheran "coinsubstantiation" to many that simply speak of the "symbolic" presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Catholic Church

2008-03-18T17:01:57Z

Boniface: /* Catholic Growth in the Imperial Decline */

{{Christianity}}
[[Image:Murillo Inmaculada de El Escorial.jpg|left|140px]]
The '''Catholic Church''' is the largest [[Christianity|Christian]] denomination in the world, with over one billion adherents.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity</ref> It comprises one of the three great divisions of Christianity, together with [[Protestantism]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]].

The Church consists of those Christians who are in full communion with the Bishop of [[Rome]], who is generally called the [[Pope]], currently [[Pope Benedict XVI]]. The Church teaches that the Pope is the successor of [[St. Peter]], whom Catholics regard as the original leader of Christ's [[apostle|apostles]] and as the first Bishop of [[Rome]].

The Pope and the rest of the international leadership of the Church are based in [[Vatican City]] in Rome. Vatican City is an independent state in its own right, and is the smallest state in the world in terms both of geography and of population.

The split between Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy dates to the eleventh century. The split between Catholicism and Protestantism occurred some time later, in the sixteenth century. It is generally known as the "[[Reformation]]", though Catholics sometimes refer to it as the "Protestant Revolt". The principal issues of contention between Catholics and Protestants are known as ''sola scriptura'' (the doctrine that the Bible alone is the final authority for Christians, which denies the authority of the Church) and ''sola fide'' (the doctrine, popularized by [[Martin Luther]], that faith alone, as opposed to faith expressed in good works, is sufficient for salvation).

The Catholic Church has a complex hierarchy of clergy, including:
* The Pope
*[[Cardinal]]s
*[[Archbishop]]s
*[[Bishop]]s
*[[Abbot]]s
*[[Monsignor|Monsignori]]
*[[Archpriest]]s
*[[Priest]]s
*[[Deacon]]s

=="Roman Catholic" versus "Catholic"==

The term "catholic" (from the Greek ''katholikos'') means "universal", and its roots in ecclesiastical parlance go back to the early years of Christianity. Some Protestants believe that (Roman) Catholics do not have the right to monopolize the term, and so prefix it with the adjective "Roman". Some Catholics object to this nomenclature, precisely because it denies the status of the (Roman) Catholic Church as ''the'' universal Church of Christ. Historically speaking, the term "Roman Catholic" was coined in nineteenth-century Britain as a [[euphemism]] to replace insulting terms such as "papist" that had previously been in use.

The Catholic Church is made up of thirty-one distinct branches or "rites", including the Byzantine Rite, the Ambrosian Rite (only in [[Lombardy]], a northern [[Italy|Italian]] region) and the Maronite Rite. By far the largest Rite, and the most prevalent in the West, is the Latin Rite, and Catholics sometimes use the term "Roman Catholic" to denote this component of the Church.

== History ==

=== Early Years ===
The Catholic Church traces its authority to Jesus through the apostle [[Peter]]. The Church sees the Bishops
as the natural successors to the apostles, and reasons that since Peter was the leader of the apostles, Peter's
successors should lead the Bishops and hence all of Christianity.<ref>http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM</ref>

=== Catholic Growth in the Imperial Decline ===
Until the early fourth century AD Christianity enjoyed mixed reception in the Roman Empire and Christians were frequently subject to persecution. In the 310s Christianity became legalized and shortly thereafter became officially recognized by Constantine. In the following years Christianity in general and Roman Catholicism in particular became increasingly powerful in the Roman Empire, although [[Arianism]] remained strong. In 380 AD, [[Theodosius I]] established the Catholic Church as the official religion of the Roman Empire. While the Empire continued to decline, Catholicism and Christianity continued to grow both among those directly under the Empire and among the barbarians until Rome was sacked by [[Alaric]] in 410. Alaric was an Arian Christian. After the collapse of the Western Empire, the Catholic Church became the most powerful political and religious force in Latin-speaking Europe and by the 8th century had achieved near total religious dominance with the removal of the last significant Arian groups.

=== Great Schism ===

During the 11th century, the [[Great Schism]] occurred between the church in the West and [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]. This schism occurred over a variety of issues, especially those dealing with how much authority the Pope had. The causes were not purely religious, but cultural and geographic elements also played a role. Although later attempts at reconciliation occurred, such as at the [[Council of Basel]], the two remain separate to this day although both accept many of each others sacraments.

=== Late Middle Ages ===

Beginning in 1092 and continuing until the end of the 13th century, the Crusades occurred. These were a series of religious wars instigated by the Church against various other groups, especially the Muslims. Despite the focus on removing Islamic control of the Holy Land, the Crusaders massacred Jews and sacked Constantinople.

During this time period, the [[Inquisition]]s started and would continue through the Protestant Reformation. The medieval inquisition focused on rooting out Cathars, while the later inquisitions such as the [[Spanish Inquisition]] focused on people who were believed to be secretly practicing [[Judaism]] or [[Islam]].

===Reformation===

In 1517, [[Martin Luther]] started the [[Protestant Reformation]] which initially focused on the giving of [[indulgences]] but eventually grew to have a wide variety of different causes and issues. Eventually, Protestants rejected the notions of saintly intercession, the authority of the pope and many of the sacraments. This eventually led to a series of religious wars in [[Europe]] and the Protestant-Catholic split became one of the dominant themes in European events until modern times.

=== Modernity ===

Centuries XVIII and XIX brought to the Church new challenges: [[Enlightenment]] and [[Modernism]] teachings about the nature of the human person, and the [[Industrial Revolution]] with the increased concern about the conditions of urban workers.

===Vatican II===

The [[Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican]] (commonly called [[Vatican II]]), which was in session from 1962 to 1965, made major changes to official Catholic theology and liturgy. Liturgical changes included the introduction of the possibility of having Mass in local languages instead of entirely in Latin. Theologically, the council continued the importance of [[Mary]] while also adding a new emphasis on individual and personal holiness. Most controversially, the council opened the possibility of salvation for Jews, Muslims, Protestants and Bahaists.

Reactions among Catholics to Vatican II fall into roughly three camps. "Liberal" Catholics, drawing on the established Catholic belief in the "journeying" nature of the Church, see Vatican II and the new period that it marked in Catholic history as representing a significant advancement in our understanding of the divine revelation contained in the [[Gospels]] which justifies major changes in Catholic belief and practice. "Conservative" Catholics (including the recent popes) hold that the decrees of the Council, properly understood, are wholly in line with the historic Catholic faith, and that they should not be used as an excuse for unwarranted innovations. "Traditional" (or "traditionalist") Catholics regard the teachings of Vatican II as problematic, or even as heretical.

==Sacraments==

The Roman Catholic Church has seven sacraments:
*[[Baptism]]
*[[Confirmation]]
*[[Holy Eucharist]]
*[[Reconciliation]]
*[[Anointing of the Sick]]
*[[Matrimony]]
*[[Holy Orders]]<ref>Which sacraments are recognized is one of the important distinctions between the theology of different Christian denominations. Many Protestant denominations follow Luther and recognize only Baptism, Eucharist, and Penance.</ref>

== See also ==
[[Image:Catholic.jpg|right|Catholic life]]
*[[Catholicism]]
*[[Conservative Links]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.catholic.org/prayers/ Prayers] Catholic Online.
*[http://www.catholic.org/index.php Catholic News]
*[http://catholic.net/ Catholic.net]

==Notes and references==
<references/>

[[Category:Christian Denominations]]
[[Category:Catholic Church]]

Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Holy Orders

Holy Eucharist

Holy Eucharist

Catholic Church