Roman Catholic Church

Roman Catholic Church Related Information:

With eight hundred million Roman Catholics around the world, this branch of Christianity makes up the larges sector of this faith. The word catholic means ‘belonging to all’ or ‘universal’. In 1054 The Great Schism occurred, where the Eastern Churches separated themselves from Rome, and this is where the divide began between Eastern Orthodox Churches and Roman Catholic Churches. After The Great Schism, Rome remained the main home of Western Christianity for centuries, but in 1520 another rift was to occur. A German monk, Martin Luther, wanted to reform the church because of his objection to some of the Roman Catholic Church’s practices. This led to a Protestant and Catholic divide in Luther the Church in the West.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church is the Pope, and there is a distinct hierarchy in the Roman Catholic Church. There are many Cardinals under the Pope, and then come the Archbishops and then the Bishops.

Roman Catholic Beliefs

The beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church include the seven sacraments, which are:

Baptism

Confirmation

Marriage

Anointment (of the sick)

Holy Order

Confession

Holy Communion

Roman Catholics believe that their faith has been passed down, through the Church, since the time of the Apostles, and that the Bible is the word of God himself. Some of the strong beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic faith can be seen through the design of the churches themselves. For example, the layout of the church includes:

  • The Alter: This is a vital part of the church for Roman Catholics. Mass is usually on a daily basis, and Roman Catholics are encouraged to attend as often as possible, and are obliged to do so on Sundays and on Holy days.
  • The Tabernacle: This is where blessed bread (Blessed Sacrament) is kept that remains from the Mass. It can then be taken to congregation members that were unable to attend Mass.
  • The Font: This is another important part of the Church, as Catholics are strong believers in baptism.
  • Confessional Box: This is where the Priest, otherwise known as the representative of God, sits to listen to those that wish to confess their sins for forgiveness.

With regards to Holy days on which Roman Catholics are obliged to attend Mass, these include:

  • The Solemnity of Mary, which is on January 1 st
  • The Solemnity of the Ascension, which is in the sixth week of Easter, on Thursday
  • The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is on August 15 th
  • The Solemnity of All Saints, which is on November 1 st
  • The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which is on December 8 th
  • The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is on December 25 th

It is also worth noting that the Virgin Mary is not worshipped by the Roman Catholic faith, but is recognized as the mother of Jesus. Often known as ‘the Blessed Virgin’ many Roman Catholics ask Mary for help, as they believe she is in Heaven and can help them through God.

Another belief in Roman Catholicism is the seven gifts from the Holy Spirit (Jesus Christ in the Roman Catholic faith). These are:

  • Counsel
  • Fortitude
  • Knowledge
  • Understanding
  • Wisdom
  • Piety
  • Fear of the Lord