Michael Brooks
Catholicism is a branch of Christianity, the world religion that stems from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus. Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics. Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with about 1.3 billion followers out of an estimated 2.5 billion Christians worldwide. Catholics believe that their religion is the one true form of Christianity, as it was founded by Jesus Christ himself, who said to St. Peter, Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church. Catholics also believe that the Pope, as the successor of Christ's apostles, is infallible when it comes to matters of faith and morals, though not in his everyday life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Catholicism is a religion and one of the three major branches of Christianity, the largest of which is Roman Catholicism. |
| Followers | There are about 1.3 billion Roman Catholics out of an estimated 2.5 billion Christians worldwide. |
| Beliefs | Catholics believe in the Holy Trinity (God in three persons: the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit), and the Resurrection of Jesus. They believe that the bread and wine at Mass become the Body and Blood of Christ, and they respect Mary, the mother of Jesus. |
| Texts | Catholics view the Bible as having equal authority with the Church and tradition. They use a Bible with seven additional books that were removed by later Christian churches. |
| Practices | Catholics have a Pope, who is considered infallible when making binding proclamations on faith and morals. They have an unwavering set of moral laws found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. |
| Worship | Catholics do not worship Mary or statues; they worship God and ask Mary to pray for them. |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics
Catholicism is a branch of Christianity, and therefore all Catholics are Christians. However, not all Christians are Catholics, as there are other branches of Christianity, such as Protestantism, which include denominations like Baptist, Lutheran, Orthodox, and Anglican churches.
Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with about 1.3 billion adherents out of an estimated 2.5 billion Christians worldwide. The religion stems from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus, and Catholics believe that their founder was Jesus Christ.
Catholics believe in the Holy Trinity (God in three persons: the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit), and they have a Pope, who is a successor of Christ's apostles. Catholics also believe that during Mass, the bread and wine used in the Eucharist become the Body and Blood of Christ, although they retain the appearance of bread and wine. This belief in the Eucharist is distinct from that of some other Christians, who interpret the Bible's description of the Eucharist symbolically.
Catholics view the Bible as having equal authority with the Church and tradition. They believe that there was a church and sacred tradition before there was a formal Bible, and that during the early centuries, Christians relied on oral tradition to hand down Christ's teachings. The Bible itself gives credence to the importance of tradition, as seen in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, where St. Paul says, "Stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter."
Catholics also have a set of unwavering moral laws found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which they believe are given by God and can be easily found in the Bible. These moral laws include beliefs about sexuality, such as the idea that sex is for procreation and should be open to life. While these beliefs may differ from those of some other Christian denominations, Catholics assert that all Christians should share the same views as they are based on the same moral laws given by God.
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Catholics believe the Pope is infallible in matters of faith and morals
Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, and so all Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics. Catholics believe that the Pope, as the successor of St. Peter, is infallible in matters of faith and morals. This means that the Pope cannot err when teaching matters of faith and morals in his capacity as the supreme shepherd and teacher of all the faithful. However, this does not mean that the Pope is omniscient or impeccable, and he may neglect to teach the truth or make mistakes in disciplinary decisions.
The doctrine of infallibility relies on the cornerstone of Catholic dogma, which is papal supremacy, where the Pope acts as the spokesman for the whole church. As such, the Pope's teachings on faith and morals are considered irreformable and must be adhered to with the submission of faith. The Pope's infallibility is not a new doctrine but has been implicit in the early Church, with the understanding of it developing and becoming clearer over time.
Infallibility is not unique to the Pope but is a charism of the entire church, including the body of bishops as a whole. It is the Holy Spirit that prevents the Pope from teaching error, and this follows necessarily from the existence of the Church itself. The Holy Spirit ensures that the Church does not fall into error and is protected from falling away from Christ.
The infallible or "extraordinary" papal magisterium has been exercised only twice, when Pope Pius IX defined the Immaculate Conception of Mary in 1854 and when Pius XII defined her Assumption in 1950. In both cases, the Pope consulted the Church through a polling of the bishops.
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Catholics believe in the Holy Trinity
Catholicism is a branch of Christianity, and all Catholics are Christians. However, not all Christians are Catholics. Catholics believe in the Holy Trinity, which is the concept of one God who exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is distinct from the concept of three separate gods.
The Trinity is a foundational aspect of Catholic theology, with each person in the Godhead possessing the same eternal and infinite divine nature. The three persons of the Trinity are said to have distinct relational characteristics within the inner life of God. The Son proceeds from the Father, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. This is referred to as the ""generative" procession of the Son and the ""spirative" procession of the Holy Spirit.
Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit's procession is not intellectual or generative but originates from the love between the Father and the Son. This infinite act of love is so perfect that it becomes the third person of the Trinity, not as a separate entity but as a distinct person within the Godhead.
The belief in the Holy Trinity is a key aspect of Catholic doctrine and sets it apart from other Christian denominations that may not hold the same interpretation. Catholics also believe that their rules and moral laws are derived from Christ and are aided by the Pope, who is a successor to Christ's apostles. These rules are found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and are viewed as unwavering, providing a sense of structure and guidance for followers.
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Catholics believe in transubstantiation
Catholicism is a branch of Christianity, and Catholics are Christians. However, not all Christians are Catholics. Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with about 1.3 billion followers out of the 2.5 billion Christians worldwide.
> "Because Christ our Redeemer said it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church, and this holy council now declares that, by the consecration of the bread and wine, a change takes place in which the whole substance of bread is changed into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord, and the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the Holy Catholic Church fittingly and properly names transubstantiation."
Transubstantiation is a highly controversial topic among Catholics, with a Pew Research Center survey finding that only one-third of U.S. Catholics believe in it. The survey also revealed that belief in transubstantiation is more common among older and more observant Catholics.
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Catholics believe in the Virgin Mary's immaculate conception
Catholicism is a branch of Christianity, and all Catholics are Christians. However, not all Christians are Catholics. Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with about 1.3 billion followers out of the 2.5 billion Christians worldwide.
The doctrine is based on the idea that Mary had a unique kind of grace, described by the Greek word "kecharitomene", which translates to "full of grace" in English. This term indicates a perfection and abundance of grace, which was bestowed upon Mary by God. Catholics believe that God wanted a perfectly pure woman to carry His Son, and that Mary's sinlessness was made possible by her closeness to Christ.
The Immaculate Conception is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church and is celebrated annually on December 8th within the Latin rite of the Catholic Church. It is a Holy Day of Obligation, falling exactly nine months before the celebration of Mary's Nativity on September 8th.
The doctrine has been a major point of disagreement between the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations, with many Protestants rejecting it as unscriptural. Critics argue that the doctrine is not found in the Bible and that it contradicts its teachings. However, Catholics believe that there is implied evidence for the Immaculate Conception within Scripture, supported by early Church writings on the topic.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholicism is a denomination within Western Christianity. It is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with more followers than all other Christians combined.
Catholicism differs from other Christian denominations in its beliefs about the sacraments, the roles of the Bible and tradition, the importance of the Virgin Mary and the saints, and the papacy. Catholics rely on Scripture and tradition for their beliefs, rather than the Bible alone.
One example is the Catholic insistence that an earthly priest is necessary as an intermediary between humans and God. Another is the belief that people who do not confess their sins to a priest are cursed for eternity.
No, Catholics do not worship statues, bread, or wine. Statues of saints are used as reminders, and in the Mass, the bread and wine are believed to become the Body and Blood of Christ through transubstantiation.
