3.Church History
- 1. THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
- 2. Christ and the Apostles lived as a community THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH
- 3. After Christ’s death… …… . the apostles feared for their lives …… . Their hopes crumpled all around them Through Christ’s resurrection…The apostles found new hope The Resurrection of Christ is the starting point of Christian Faith
- 4. The Ascension of Jesus Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus commanded his disciples to make more disciples , baptize them , and instruct them in the faith . THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH
- 5. The Ascension of Jesus He also promised that he will be with us until the end of time, and that he will be back. “ and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH
- 6. Pentecost As promised by Christ, the Holy Spirit descended on his Apostles after his ascension into heaven.
- 7. Pentecost The Holy Spirit builds, animates, and sanctifies Christ’s mystical body, the Church. As the Spirit descended on the Apostles, they went out from hiding and began to undertake the evangelizing mission Christ left them with – so was the Church birthed on Pentecost Sunday.
- 8. Pentecost “ a sound came from heaven like the rush of a might wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:2-4).
- 9. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH At the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Apostles were transformed from being fearful disciples into courageous preachers of the good news. The Holy Spirit empowered the Apostles to carry out their mission of …. Evangelization – the initial proclamation of the Gospel to non-believers for the purpose of converting them to faith in the Lord Jesus
- 10. First crisis of the early Church : Should the Gentiles be accepted into the Church? Must they also become Jewish and follow the law of Moses? Council of Jerusalem ( Acts 15)- set the stage for opening Christianity’s doors to those of any nationality or culture THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH
- 11. Paul argued that Christian converts need not pass to circumcision and the strict obedience of the Jewish law because it is Christ who is the essence of the church THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH
- 12. Mandate of Christ “ TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH”
- 13. Period of Persecutions Acts 6:54-60: St. Stephen’s Martyrdom
- 14. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH PERSECUTION OF THE EARLY CHURCH Stephen – a deacon, man filled with grace and power, who was working great wonders and signs among the people ( Acts 6: 8) - Became the first martyr of Christianity - His death was the signal for increased persecution against the Church at Jerusalem * sporadic persecutions were experienced by the early Christians
- 15. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH Their doctrines based on Christ’s teachings were designed to conquer the minds and hearts of humanity and this became a threat to the might and power of the Roman Empire
- 16. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH The beliefs and practices of the Christians were in conflict with the worldview of the pagan Rome: a. They worship only one God and do not recognize the Roman gods and goddesses. They also refuse to worship the emperor.
- 17. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH b. Christians are believed to be engaged in some form of cannibalism in their Eucharistic Rite which is celebrated in secret. Public spectacles of bloody games, like gladiatorial contests, were condemned by the Christians as inhuman.
- 18. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH d. Christians refused to serve in the army and protested against wars. e. Christians showed disloyalty to the state by not paying the imposed temple tax.
- 19. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH Year 64 – under the reign of Emperor Nero – - general persecution of the early Church started – great fire in Rome Result : a great number of Christians were arrested and many were put to death after being subjected to the cruelest of tortures
- 20. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH Year 67 – Rome – Sts. Peter and Paul were persecuted He turned the Christians into living torches in the garden of Nero. Others were thrown to the lions in the arena or fed to the dogs. Among his victims were St. Peter, who was crucified upside- down, and St. Paul, who was beheaded.
- 21. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH Rome would always occupy a central place in Catholic Faith as seat of St. Peter. His successors, the bishops of Rome, would be given a place of special leadership and authority in the Church.
- 24. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH ATTITUDE OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS TOWARDS PERSECUTION ( Tertullian, 197) “ Crucify us; torture us; send us to death; wipe us out? Your injustice is the proof of our innocence!” The cruel inventions of your fury serve as recommendations for the Church. Our numbers go on increasing while you make blood harvests of our ranks.” “ The Blood of Christ is a seed”
- 25. THE END OF PERSECUTION The final general persecution of the church was under the reign of Emperor Diocletian in the year 303 and lasted for 10 years It is the worst persecution – extremely violent and added many to the list of martyrs in the Church Emperor Diocletian divided the Roman Empire into East and West in the year 292 THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH
- 26. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH Constantine succeeded Diocletian 312 – an armed conflict broke out between Constantine and Maxentius Constantine beheld a vision of a cross in the sky, over which were emblazoned the Latin words “ In hoc signo vinces” “ In this sign you shall conquer ”
- 27. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH 313 – Constantine, with his co-emperor Licinus, issued the Edict of Milan Edict of Milan – freedom of Religion to Christians and even to all human beings ended the persecution of the Christians With Constantine’s victory, the Eastern and the Western realms were unified Constantine is the sole Emperor was converted to Christianity in the year 313
- 28. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH Constantine transferred the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium which he renamed Constantinople
- 29. 313 Edict of Milan Christianity enjoyed the status of “religio licita” No more crucifixions Christians were given places for worship THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS In 391, Emperor Theodosius the Great declared Christianity as the state religion of Rome , the only legitimate imperial religion.
- 30. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH MONASTICISM Exist to preserve both the spirit of Christianity and the ancient wisdom of civilization Life of prayer and community It is founded in St. Anthony of Egypt in the year 285
- 31. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH St. Benedict - most important figure in monasticism. He built a monastery of Monte Cassino. His rule became the standards for monastic life for centuries 9 th Century – monasticism became the centers of learning and their abbots were powerful men.
- 32. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHURCH Rome and Constantinople – 2 great centers of Christianity - they became more and more separated by theology and politics. Eastern Empire – often resented the Romans’ claim to primacy Centers of Christianity
- 33. A. The Great Schism Western Church Eastern Church Rome is the seat of the church. Pope, the bishop of Rome. - elected by the clergy - the highest authority - spiritual and temporal Christians in the West recognized the supreme authority of the pope Official language: Latin Constantinople is the seat of the church. Patriarch, head of the church - appointed by the emperor Emperor, the most influential Christians in the East recognized the Patriarch of Constantinople Official language: Greek
- 34. The Dark Ages of the Church The total dominance of Christianity and the repression of all art, science and progress that was not Christian in nature. The era became known as the Dark Ages because of the introduction of theocracy .
- 35. THE INQUISITION The last great innovation of the Age of Theocracy was the Inquisition, which started out as a measure designed to suppress all non-Christian thought. was charged with seeking out, trying and sentencing persons guilty of the broadly defined crime of "heresy". The Inquisition quite openly used torture to obtain evidence for a wide range of alleged charges, including heresy, witchcraft, bigamy.
- 36. Protestantism A movement in Western Christianity whose adherents reject the notion that divine authority is channeled through one particular human institution or person such as the Roman Catholic pope. Protestants look elsewhere for the authority of their faith: Bible - the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament - as the source and the norm of their teaching. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians also stress the authority of the Bible, but they also look to tradition, and, in the case of Catholics, to the pope as a source of authority.
- 37. The separation of the church of England from the Roman Catholic Church was by King Henry VIII. Although he was declared then by the church as “Defender of Faith,” he wanted to push for a separation between the church and the state so that he may have full control over England. This is because he wanted to annul his marriage with Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn. Although he sought first the permission of the pope but Pope Clement VII refused him. As advised by Cromwell and Thomas Crammer, Henry VIII broke away from the church. He then proclaimed himself supreme governor of the church of England. 4. A N G L I C A N S
- 38. An interior and a spiritual renewal occurred within the Catholic Church after it was shaken by the protestant reformation. This begins the age of renewal of the church, which ushered a new identity and continual growth of the Catholic church.
- 39. COUNCIL OF TRENT This represented the true reformation . Others called it Counter Reformation. It was convoked because of the situation created by Protestantism. Since Luther revolted in 1517, things became bad to worse. But it took twenty years for the church to convoke such a council. (1545-1563)
- 40. COUNCIL OF TRENT SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COUNCIL: It gave the complete list of books of the Bible, and declared that Tradition and Scriptures are both sacred. It declared that God’s grace and man’s freedom had to cooperate in the process of salvation, and that nobody is predestined to be eternally damned or saved. True faith must be expressed in good works.
- 41. COUNCIL OF TRENT SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COUNCIL: 3. It decreed that the seven sacraments were instituted by Christ, Himself. The Eucharist is the memorial of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, not only the commemoration of the Last Supper.
- 42. COUNCIL OF TRENT SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COUNCIL: 4. To fight the clergy’s ignorance, the council decided to establish diocesan seminaries for their spiritual and cultural formation. Preaching on Sundays and holidays was made obligatory. It also removed all the abuses connected with the indulgences.
- 43. COUNCIL OF TRENT SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COUNCIL: It exhorted Cardinals and Bishops to avoid luxury and to become models of holiness and humility. It confirmed the existence of purgatory, the legitimacy of the veneration of the saints, and the validity of religious vows.
- 44. 2 nd VATICAN COUNCIL The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican , or Vatican II , was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church opened under Pope John XXIII in 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965 .
- 45. 2 nd VATICAN COUNCIL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COUNCIL: It brings about an updating, a renewal that would enable the church of the 20 th century to address the problems of the 20 th century. It gives greater recognition on the laity’s role in the church.
- 46. 2 nd VATICAN COUNCIL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COUNCIL: 3. It gives way to a greater participation of the local churches in decisions that would affect the church universally. 4. It effected most visibly the shift in the aspect of LITURGY. ( The faithful were given the opportunity to participate more fully, actively and consciously in the liturgy.” )
- 47. In response to the call of Vatican Council II for the local churches to actively participate in the renewal of the church, the local church in the Philippines convoked the Second Plenary Council (PCPII), the first in Asia. 2 nd PLENARY COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES
- 48. “ To actualize the result of Vatican II at the local level.” 2 nd PLENARY COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES -MAIN GOAL- They envisioned a renewed church in the Philippines, focusing on Christ, with pastoral orientation and evangelization, in the context of the Filipino culture.