RCIA Session 33 Church History (St



RCIA Session 14, April 13, 2010: The Early Church (St. Martin I, pope & martyr)

Hymn: The Church’s One Foundation, #552

Summary: The ________ which was born from Jesus’ pierced side is His _______ as well as His _______. She is ____, _______, _____________, and ________________, and it is through Her that we hope to be united to God in Heaven. The early Church, as described in Scripture and by the Fathers of the Church, was universal, had an organized structure of _________________, celebrated the Mass, settled disputes, suffered persecution and suffered from ____________. It survived only by the __________ of God. (CCC 748-870)

Church: born from the pierced side of Christ (CCC 766) to be His Bride (Ephesians 5:25-32) & His Body (Genesis 2:24, I Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 5:23). Kingdom of God, family of God (Matthew 12:50, John 3:16, Romans 8:14ff, Galatians 4:4-7); The world was created for the sake of the Church (CCC 760); union of God and man, source of unity for mankind (CCC 774)

“Church” (3 inseparable meanings): 1) a liturgical assembly, 2) the local community of believers, 3) the whole universal community of believers under the leadership & guidance of the pope & bishops

3 states of the Church: Militant (those alive on earth), Suffering (in Purgatory), Triumphant (in Heaven)

4 marks of the Church:

One: founded on the Trinity by Jesus (restored unity, Ephesians 2:12-22, prayed that we be one, John 17:20-23); one faith, common celebration of worship, apostolic succession

Holy: Jesus died to purify Her (Ephesians 5:25-27). She calls & helps us to purify & renew ourselves & holds up the saints as models

Catholic (“universal”): She’s got it all (from Christ) & it’s for everyone; fullness of the means of salvation (complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, ordained ministry in apostolic succession); missionary, “go make disciples of all nations, Baptizing...teaching” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Apostolic: built on the foundation of the Apostles (Ephesians 2:20, Revelation 21:14), hands on their teaching; taught, sanctified & guided by their successors (pope & bishops=Magisterium)

First 40 days of Easter: Jesus appeared to His followers (convince them He was alive, explain prophesies & prepare them for their responsibilities within the Church)

He brought them peace through forgiveness & gave them power to forgive (John 20:22-23)

He put Peter in charge of His sheep (John 10:1-18)--giving him leadership in the Church

Ascension: Jesus said, “go make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20), but first wait in Jerusalem (retreat)

The first novena (9 days of prayer for a specific event or request)

St. Matthias was chosen to fill Judas’ office as Apostle; Mary, Jesus’ mother, was with them

May be when the Apostles Creed was developed

Pentecost: Jewish pilgrim festival (see Exodus 23:14-17, Leviticus 23:15-21 & Deuteronomy 16:9-12)

7 weeks after Passover (50 days in Greek is “Pentecost”); commemorated giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai

People came from “every nation under Heaven” (Church was universal from the beginning)

Holy Spirit came upon the disciples as a mighty wind & tongues of fire. They began proclaiming the marvelous things God had done--and everyone heard them in their own language!

St. Peter proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection & challenged the crowd to repent & be baptized. 3000 did

Early Church “devoted themselves to the Apostles’ instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).

4 pillars of the Catechism: Profession of faith (the Apostles’ instruction); Celebration of the Christian Mystery (breaking of the bread), Life in Christ (the communal life), Christian prayer (the prayers)

Persecution begins in Jerusalem, led by Saul of Tarsus; believers rejoiced (Acts 4:3-31, 5:17-42, 6-7, etc.).

Ananias and Saphira: sin within the Church (Acts 5:1-11)

Saul’s conversion (later goes by the name “Paul”), Acts 9

Taking the Gospel to the Gentiles

Controversy--should Gentiles keep Jewish ceremonial laws?

Council of Jerusalem (49A.D, Acts 15) determines that the Holy Spirit says “no”

Disciples first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26) & “the Catholic Church” (~100 A.D.) in Antioch

Apostles had to caution believers against false teaching (heresy), see Romans 16:17, II Timothy 2:17-18,

I John 2:18-19 & II John 7, Revelation 2:6 & 15

Gospel first passed on orally by God-authorized witnesses “hold fast to the traditions you received”

(II Thessalonians 2:15), then written: Matthew & John were Apostles (eye-witnesses),

Mark wrote from St. Peter’s preaching & St. Luke from St. Paul’s (and probably from Mary too)

Persecution in Rome ~64 AD: Nero blames fire on Christians; St. Peter crucified head down, St. Paul beheaded

Destruction of Jerusalem & the temple: 70 A.D. Christian headquarters moved from Jerusalem to Rome

Spread of Christianity--structure of the Roman empire helped (throughout empire by the 200’s)

Apostles established local churches and ordained priests to serve them (see Acts 14:22)

250 years of Roman persecution--Christian were blamed for everything.

Tens of thousands died (martyrs), many others survived hardships & torture (confessors)

Met in secret in the catacombs (underground cemeteries), celebrated Mass on martyrs’ tombs

Some fled to the deserts to pray--precursors of monks & nuns

Church continued to spread rapidly: 3,000 on Pentecost, but roughly 4 million by 313 A.D.

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” -Tertullian (martyrs had a faith worth dying for)

Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 AD.

Heresies became a widespread problem: Arianism (named after Arius) said Jesus wasn’t God (so God didn’t

become man & our sin’s not forgiven)

Arianism became political--the “in” thing, especially in the government & military

Condemned by the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. (origin of the Nicene Creed)

Arianism persisted, was the form of Christianity that the barbarians learned

Emperors often sided with the Arians & banished Catholics

Whole councils of bishops (esp. in the East) became Arian

First Council of Constantinople confirmed Catholic teaching in 381; Arianism began to die out

Fathers of the Church: known for 1) their orthodoxy of teaching 2) their holy lives 3) their antiquity (i.e., they

lived in the first 6 centuries after Christ) and 4) their recognition by the Church.

Eastern (Greek) Fathers: St. Athanasius, St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom & St. Gregory of Nazianzen.

Western (Latin) Fathers: St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Ambrose, St. Jerome & St. Gregory the Great

Insight into Scripture, including foreshadowings in the Old Testament

Descriptions of the Early Church (St. Justin Martyr describes the Mass around 150 A.D.)

RCIA was restored based on the Fathers’ descriptions of initiation into the early Church

If you read the Fathers, make sure they’re approved by the Church--that they’re really fathers!

Tertullian & Origen began well, but became heretics. Other heretical writings were preserved too.

Christ promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church (Mathew 16:18), & that He will be with

us to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). We see His promise fulfilled..

Son of the Church (sung by “Ascent”)

Words and Music by Anna Dougoveto

The splendor of Your Church Lord

is right before my eyes

Dressed in works of art so grand their legend never dies

And the glory of Your Church Lord

is right beneath my feet

The rock upon which all is built and renders me complete

Child of God, fallen down, Son of the Church redeemed

Brother of Saints who died for love of all that I believe

Here is my identity, unashamed I stand

Being here in this place I know who I am

The majesty of Your Church Lord shines upon my face

Holds me close within these arms,

a mother's warm embrace

Above the tombs of holy men, beneath this glorious dome

The deepest part of my living soul

tells me I've come home

In this marble masterpiece, the Lord on Mary's knee

I see my own reflection, the Church holding me

Closing Prayer: Nicene Creed (Missalette)

Bringing the Faith to Life

(RCIA Session 14: The Early Church)

Suggested Activity: Pray for the grace to be willing, like the martyrs and confessors, to sacrifice anything, including your life, for the Faith.

Treasure Hunt: People were impressed by the way the martyrs handled suffering. Think of an example of someone you have admired for the way they handled suffering (someone you know or have heard/read about). How did their example change your life? Consider sharing this with the group next week.

Questions for Discussion & Reflection

(Please fill out the questions, ask at least one & return this sheet next week)

1) What is the Church?

2) Briefly describe the four marks of the Church.

3) What helped the Church to spread? Why?

4) What was Arianism and why was it such a serious threat to the Church?

5) How did early Christians know which teachings about Jesus were true & which were false?

6) Who were the Fathers of the Church and why are they important to us now?

Your Question(s): (If you like, you can ask us one we just asked you!)

-----------------------

Council of Jerusalem

(49 A.D.)

Barbarians Overthrow Rome (late 400’s A.D.)

Heresies

Roman Empire Becomes Christian (313 A.D.)

Missionary Journeys

Destruction

of the Temple

(70 A.D.)

Stephen Martyred

(persecution begins)

Saul’s Conversion

Pentecost

(33 A.D.)

____________________

Name

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