Was Christ Catholic?

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Ahzael

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Since Catholics believe that Christ is the founder of the Catholic Church, is is proper to say that Christ was Catholic?

I said this once and have not lived it down, since Christ was born and raise a Jew, and I don’t think I was correct in saying so. Have other Catholics said this?
 
To be a completed Jew. You are Catholic. So yes, Christ was Catholic
 
St. Peter was born and raised a Jew, so was St. Paul, as well as St. John, St. James, St. Andrew, and so on. Lets not forget the Blessed Virgin Mary!

You can read the book of acts and see how the apostles thought of themselves Jewish. St. Paul brags himself brags about that many times in his letters.

I have heard the book Salvation is From the Jews reccomended before.
 
Ahzael said:
Since Catholics believe that Christ is the founder of the Catholic Church, is is proper to say that Christ was Catholic?

I said this once and have not lived it down, since Christ was born and raise a Jew, and I don’t think I was correct in saying so. Have other Catholics said this?
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Interesting question. You’ll have to define what you mean by “was Catholic”. Also, would you say that Christ was Christian?
 
VociMike said:
Interesting question. You’ll have to define what you mean by “was Catholic”. Also, would you say that Christ was Christian?
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Every one who is saved is saved ipso facto by Christ. Since the Catholic Church is the body of Christ, everyone who is saved is saved ipso facto by the Catholic Church. Therefore, everyone who is in Heaven is Catholic, and this includes all the Old Testament saints. This is my opinion, and I’d be happy to discuss alternative opinions.

As for Christ Himself, He does not qualify under my above definition, as He had no need to be saved. Yet He was the founder of the Catholic Church, and the head of the body that is the Church. So yes, I would say He is definitely Catholic; He is the head of the Catholic Church.
 
Doesn’t Catholic mean universal? So it is right to say that Jesus is, NOT WAS, Catholic. Because He is universal.
 
In my understanding, I would say that in His human nature Jesus was a Jew, but in His Divine Nature, He came to fulfill Judaism and found the Catholic Church.

I don’t think we can say He was a Christian in the sense that the name describes a follower of Christ, so since He is God, He doesn’t not follow or worship Himself.
 
AnthonyM2 said:
I don’t think we can say He was a Christian in the sense that the name describes a follower of Christ, so since He is God, He doesn’t not follow or worship Himself.
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Yup! Yup! Exactly what’s on my mind too.
 
What ever he “IS” he is. Jesus isn’t dead and he was perfection. so he is now, what he allways has been. you people say he WAS this and he WAS that, as though Christ is dead.
 
Jesus was Baptized with water-and-Spirit, honored the Blessed Virgin, spoke with those who died before him (transfiguration) and attended mass (the very first one!)…so yup…Jesus was Catholic during His earthly life and remains so today! The real question is…wait for it…was Jesus a convert?

God Bless,
RyanL
 
I’m going to have to respectfully but firmly disagree with everyone who said Christ was/is Catholic. I just don’t see how that’s possible, given that to be a Catholic is to have faith in the teachings of the Catholic Church, and Christ doesn’t need to have faith, he knows all supernatural truth, furthermore, he is all supernatural truth. Personally, I don’t see how you could answer this question with any reply other than that Jesus was Jewish during His earthly life, in His human nature, and that he founded the Catholic Church for us.
 
CollegeKid said:
I’m going to have to respectfully but firmly disagree with everyone who said Christ was/is Catholic. I just don’t see how that’s possible, given that to be a Catholic is to have faith in the teachings of the Catholic Church, and Christ doesn’t need to have faith, he knows all supernatural truth, furthermore, he is all supernatural truth. Personally, I don’t see how you could answer this question with any reply other than that Jesus was Jewish during His earthly life, in His human nature, and that he founded the Catholic Church for us.
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Exactly! That’s what I was trying to say but this is expressed much better. Thank you.
 
Atreyu said:
Every one who is saved is saved ipso facto by Christ. Since the Catholic Church is the body of Christ, everyone who is saved is saved ipso facto by the Catholic Church. Therefore, everyone who is in Heaven is Catholic, and this includes all the Old Testament saints. This is my opinion, and I’d be happy to discuss alternative opinions.

As for Christ Himself, He does not qualify under my above definition, as He had no need to be saved. Yet He was the founder of the Catholic Church, and the head of the body that is the Church. So yes, I would say He is definitely Catholic; He is the head of the Catholic Church.
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Yes, I agree. There is a tremendous difference between the Savior and those in need of salvation, between the Creator and the creation, between the head and the body, between the bridegroom and the bride. While, due to the infinite love of God, all of these have been intimately united, they are not the same things.
 
Jesus was racially a Jew. But He is the Head of the Church. He also, in His humanity, instituted and administered the sacaments (and partook in some of them)–these are not part of the Jewish religion. He believed all of revealed Truth–something Jews do not. If (big if) it can be said that Jesus had a religion, it would be Catholic. Remember there has only been one true faith–it has had different names over time, but is the same faith. It’s name changed from Judaism to Christianity and later Catholic Christianity–but it is all one continuity of truth. With the rejection of the Savior, the Jews apostized from the true religion–a new religion was not created by Jesus–it was the Jews who created a new Messiah-less religion when the true religion acknowleged His coming.
 
CollegeKid said:
I’m going to have to respectfully but firmly disagree with everyone who said Christ was/is Catholic. I just don’t see how that’s possible, given that to be a Catholic is to have faith in the teachings of the Catholic Church, and Christ doesn’t need to have faith, he knows all supernatural truth, furthermore, he is all supernatural truth. Personally, I don’t see how you could answer this question with any reply other than that Jesus was Jewish during His earthly life, in His human nature, and that he founded the Catholic Church for us.
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👍 👍
 
"CollegeKid:
…Christ doesn’t need to have faith, he knows all supernatural truth, furthermore, he is all supernatural truth. Personally, I don’t see how you could answer this question with any reply other than that Jesus was Jewish during His earthly life, in His human nature, and that he founded the Catholic Church for us.
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St. Paul knew that Jesus was divine - does that mean he was never a Christian because he went from disbelief to certain knowledge? Moses knew that God existed - does that mean he didn’t have the faith to be a Jew? If God were to appear to me and remove all doubt about his existence for me, would I no longer be Catholic because rather than faith I have certain knowledge? I just don’t see how you’re making this logically follow.

Further, to be Jewish entails having faith in God as revealed to that point - Jesus had the same faith in Judaism as He has in Catholicism…which is really only the radical Judaism spoken of by Genesis315. How could Jesus be anything other than Catholic? He believes in transubstantiation, the Trinity, baptismal regeneration, holy orders, etc., etc., and I even heard that the Bible he uses has the deuterocanonicals in it…😛
NotWorthy said:
Couldn’t you say that Jesus has attended EVERY Mass, not just the first two (Last Supper and Emmaus)? 😛
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I thought the same thing about 5 minutes after I posted - His record of attendence at mass is better than anyone’s!

God Bless,
RyanL
 
I don’t see how you can say Jesus was Jewish, even in his human form.

He clearly believed, heck He knew, He was the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.

By definition if you believe Jesus is God and Our Savior, you can’t be religiously Jewish, you must be a Christian. He was also baptized.

And since Catholic (not called that yet) was the only form of Christianity in existence, he had to be Catholic.

Clearly God doesn’t need religion like we do.

I would think all of the early Christians ceased being Jewish or Pagan or whatever when they believed Jesus was Lord and Savior.

Regards
 
I believe that as Jesus is God, he is not Catholic. Most folks understand the Catholic Church as a religion…

Now, Jesus set up the Catholic Church to define how to worship Him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit correctly and most fully. As He is the object of Catholic worship, I don’t feel labeling Jesus as Catholic fits.

Now I hear the replys comming…Jesus prayed to the Father while living on the earth (and likely still communicates to the Father via prayer)…so does that mean he is Jewish or Catholic. Again…I think he used his life of prayer as an example to teach us the fullness of Christian life. Did he NEED TO pray to the Father…I kinda doubt it. The Father knows everyting that Jesus Christ knows. They are all part of the same God Head.
 
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