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CthlcTeen
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I was reading an article about the beginning of christianity and it said that the jerusalem church was founded as the first christian church. Is this true? I thought it was Catholicism 
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mercygate
Guest
The Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples at Pentecost in Jerusalem. That is considered “the birthday of the Church.” So, yes: the Church was “founded” in Jerusalem. The Catholic Church traces its history all the way back to that room.I was reading an article about the beginning of christianity and it said that the jerusalem church was founded as the first christian church. Is this true? I thought it was Catholicism
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CthlcTeen
Guest
So does that mean that the church of jerusalem was catholic?
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mercygate
Guest
:yup: You got it!
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jmcrae
Guest
Yes.
St. Peter was appointed as our first Pope about two weeks or so before the first Pentecost. We read about that in our Gospel reading this past Sunday.
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CthlcTeen
Guest
Ohhh okay. What a relief 
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Ilroy
Guest
Although, the Church at that time was not yet known as the Catholic Church. In acts we see that it was being called The Way. Since Catholic means Universal, and the Church was still very small and localized, it would not be known as the Catholic Church until around the year 110 or so.
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NotWorthy
Guest
The Christian Church in Jerusalem shared the synagogues with the true Jewish Faith. The Jews held their liturgies on the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Christians on the Lord’s Day (Sunday). The way I understand it is they felt they were still Jews, but that the Messiah had come and formed a New Covenant.
It wasn’t until difficulties arose (the Stoning of Stephen is a case in point) that they had to start holding their Church Liturgies in private homes and such.
It wasn’t until difficulties arose (the Stoning of Stephen is a case in point) that they had to start holding their Church Liturgies in private homes and such.
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Petergee
Guest
You are talking about St Ignatius’ use of the term “The Catholic Church” to describe the organization including all followers of Christ, in letters written about 110 AD. He did not invent the term. These are merely the oldest known, written records of the use of this term which have survived to this day. But St Ignatius uses the term in a way which shows that he simply assumes that all of his readers right across several countries know what it means. So it obviously had already been in use for a long time, perhaps even as early as the time when the Catholic Church had not yet spread beyond Jerusalem.
We do know for certain that the followers of Jesus were definitely NOT called “the Christian Church” at that time, because the Acts of the Apostles tells us that the word “Christian” was first coined several years later to describe Christ’s followers at Antioch.
And AFAIK the phrase “Christian Church” was first used in the 16th century at the earliest. “The Church” is by definition both Christian and Catholic.
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forthefaith77
Guest
Was there a point at 110 or after that the name roman was added on to catholic? I always thought that St Ignatius did suggest Catholic and Rome was added for purpose of geography. Who was the first pope to serve or live in Rome?
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jmcrae
Guest
St. Peter was taken to Rome in chains and served as Pope there for two years. I suppose Linus, his first successor, would have been the first Pope to spend his entire term as Pope from a Church headquarters in Rome.
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Petergee
Guest
The phrase “Roman Catholic” was invented by Anglicans in the 17th century as an insult. See forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=2120388
And St Ignatius didn’t merely “suggest” the term “The Catholic Church”. He used a term which was obviously already in common use as the standard name for those in union with the Apostles and their successors.
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Petergee
Guest
St Paul was taken to Rome in chains and wrote most if not all of his letters from Rome. While St Peter did spend several periods in prison, most historians conclude that he was free when he travelled to Rome and that he lived there for about 20 years until his crucifixion on 29 June, 64 AD.
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NotWorthy
Guest
How do we know that St. Ignatius words, “Catholic Church” were already in use? There were no writings from the 7 recipient churches asking what he meant by “Catholic Church”.
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I_Leatherman
Guest
Yes. They understood what he meant.
Maybe the concept was always there - and just needed someone to coin a phrase.
St. Peter believed the Church was this; - For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call.
Which is to you - the present here and now, to your children - to those in the future, and to all that are far off - to all throughout the world.
So the universal Church is one which exists in every place and at every time.
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Petergee
Guest
St Ignatius was on his way to his trial and inevitable execution. His letters were his last chance to restate to these churches the essentials of the faith which he had personally received from the Apostles including St John who had died just a few years before. He would not have used any novel expression which his readers would puzzle over, because he knew he would not have another chance in this life to explain to them what he meant.
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NotWorthy
Guest
EXACTLY!!! All the evidence points to the word “Catholic” was already in use.
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