Why is it called a Roman Catholic Church rather than just Catholic?
Saint Peter, you may recall was crucified upside-down, upon request, as an act of humility, that he deemed himself unworthy of such a death, as his Master, Rabbi, Savior. This was done within the Roman Empire, under Ceasar, and at the hill, with a name known only to antiquity: Vaticanus. Persecution both against Jews, and Gentiles, persisted some 300 yrs. after St. Peter’s martyrdom; nonetheless, those Jews and Gentiles claiming Jesus as the Messiah gained popularity. The Roman Empire spread its influence into what became known as Briton, where Saint Patrick’s father served as a Roman Senator. As the persecution against Christians lessened, and Christianity became more popular, the vestiges of government, republic in origin, remained around a body politic, which became, increasingly, more Christian and therefore, as schisms occurred, a rite developed for recognition not only of the language, but of the government, which The Church, developed within the walls, among those who persecuted them: Latin is a language ascribed to Jesus and the New Testament, because it was the language of the Empire, wherein they sought salvation, and liberty against persecution. It is known as the Roman Rite by way of its historical survival, and eventual triumph, against and within what oppressed it since the prediction of Jesus’ birth; additionally, it is the government, and “re-inactment”, prevalent within the mass, which became a “standard” to oppose Martin Luther’s reform. As the priest faces the crucifix, and the congregation is standing with the priest, facing the Crucifix, the priest, and the congregation stand, not as Mary Magdalene, or Jesus’ mother, but as the Roman Legion, crucifying an innocent man: whom has, upon an unjust sentence, declared them ignorant and therefore, innocent of a grave sin.