G
godsent
Guest
When did this word’catholic’start being used?..not from the beginning of christ or before the reformation as they were just christians??
Anyone know the facts?
Anyone know the facts?
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B
buffalo
Guest
Very early on.
**[Catholic](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03449a.htm)**
M
Montie_Claunch
Guest
I think that the word “Catholic” was used by Ignatius of Antioch around the beggening of the second cetury.
I think the Term “Roman Catholic” was a much newer term that came about either during the Reformation or (for some reason I want to say I heard) in 18th/19th century England. This part you would have to go to someone else, it’s just guesswork.
I think the Term “Roman Catholic” was a much newer term that came about either during the Reformation or (for some reason I want to say I heard) in 18th/19th century England. This part you would have to go to someone else, it’s just guesswork.
E
Eden
Guest
The word “Christians” was first used to describe followers of Christ in Antioch (Acts).
The Bishop of Antioch was St. Ignatius who called that same Church “Catholic” in a document from around 107 A.D. From the context of the document, it would seem that the term was used and understood much earlier, perhaps used by the apostles themselves. Ignatius was said to have been ordained by St. Peter (Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch, Peter was the first) and was said to have known Paul and, I believe, John. St. Ignatius could have heard this term straight from the mouth of an apostle.
The Bishop of Antioch was St. Ignatius who called that same Church “Catholic” in a document from around 107 A.D. From the context of the document, it would seem that the term was used and understood much earlier, perhaps used by the apostles themselves. Ignatius was said to have been ordained by St. Peter (Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch, Peter was the first) and was said to have known Paul and, I believe, John. St. Ignatius could have heard this term straight from the mouth of an apostle.
T
tradconvert
Guest
On the term Roman Catholic, it is true that protestants first used the term “Roman Catholic Church” soon after the reformation in a vain attempt to suggest that the one true Church was only a part of the catholic (ie universal) church. As you would be well aware it is still primarily used as a descriptor by non catholic Christian sects.
By the same token the term Catholic Church is the most used term by the “one true catholic and apostolic church”, because that is what it is. But some Catholics since as early as the 17th century have always been perfectly happy use the term Roman Catholic Church to emphasise their full loyalty to and faith in the importance of being in full communion with Rome.
It is also true that Roman Catholic Church is often applied to the Western or Latin Church but excluding Eastern Rite Churches which are in full communion with the Holy Father and Rome.
All this is a somewhat complex picture. I am a convert and am just as proud to say to non catholic christians that I am a Roman Catholic as saying I am a Catholic because I am a latin rite Catholic loyal to Rome.
However, more often I use the properly correct term Catholic, because that is what the Church is - the one true church founded by Jesus Christ and which has continued ever thus - as we say every time we say the Apostle’s Creed (eg when saying the rosary) or the Nicene Creed at mass. Indeed when as a boy being raised as a Presbyterian my interest in the Catholic Church was first piqued by the reference in the Apostle’s Creed to the Catholic Church. That started me wondering and with research over time there was but one answer namely - become a real Catholic not a so called member of the (lower case) catholic church which protestant sects claim to be part of, but only by their own authority.
So in summary, Catholic Church is the most correct term to use, but there is also no problem referring to oneself as a member of the Roman Catholic Church, if by that term you mean the latin rite church in full communion with Rome.
By the same token the term Catholic Church is the most used term by the “one true catholic and apostolic church”, because that is what it is. But some Catholics since as early as the 17th century have always been perfectly happy use the term Roman Catholic Church to emphasise their full loyalty to and faith in the importance of being in full communion with Rome.
It is also true that Roman Catholic Church is often applied to the Western or Latin Church but excluding Eastern Rite Churches which are in full communion with the Holy Father and Rome.
All this is a somewhat complex picture. I am a convert and am just as proud to say to non catholic christians that I am a Roman Catholic as saying I am a Catholic because I am a latin rite Catholic loyal to Rome.
However, more often I use the properly correct term Catholic, because that is what the Church is - the one true church founded by Jesus Christ and which has continued ever thus - as we say every time we say the Apostle’s Creed (eg when saying the rosary) or the Nicene Creed at mass. Indeed when as a boy being raised as a Presbyterian my interest in the Catholic Church was first piqued by the reference in the Apostle’s Creed to the Catholic Church. That started me wondering and with research over time there was but one answer namely - become a real Catholic not a so called member of the (lower case) catholic church which protestant sects claim to be part of, but only by their own authority.
So in summary, Catholic Church is the most correct term to use, but there is also no problem referring to oneself as a member of the Roman Catholic Church, if by that term you mean the latin rite church in full communion with Rome.
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