All About the Church

All About the ChurchGrade 8 – 3rd Quarter

What are the Topics for this Quarter?

1. Church History (from the calling of the Apostles until Paul’s Journey)

2. The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church3. Four Marks of the Church4. Advent, Christmas, Immaculate

Conception

Topic #1

Church History

This Lesson has 4 Chapters:

1. The Calling of the Apostles

2. The Pentecost as the Birth of the Church

3. The Three Stages of Christian Persecution

4. Three Stages of the Growth of the Church

Chapter 1: The Calling of the Apostles

• Jesus formed the Christian community when he started His public ministry.

• He called His first followers and made them disciples.

• Jesus’ apostles accompanied Him in His public ministry until his Death and Resurrection.

THE TWELVE APOSTLES

• After Christ’s death, the apostles feared for their lives and their hopes crumpled all around them.

• Through Christ’s resurrection, the apostles found new hope.

• The Resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Catholic Church.

• Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus commanded his disciples to make more disciples, baptize them, and instruct them in the faith.

Chapter 2: The Pentecost as the Birth of the Church

• As promised by Christ, the Holy Spirit descended on his Apostles after his ascension into heaven.

• The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles empowered them to preach. They began to talk in foreign languages.

JEWISH PENTECOST

CHRISTIANPENTECOST

• Passover•Descent of the Law of Moses

• Religious•Fifty Days

• Resurrection•Descent of

the Holy Spirit

JEWISH PENTECOST VS. CHRISTIAN PENTECOST

TWO KINDS OF GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

FIRST KIND- sanctification of the person- permanent natural qualities

SECOND KIND- charism- extraordinary favors granted for the help of others

• In 1879, Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical on the Holy Spirit.

• It ordains that a novena should be held in preparation for the feast of Pentecost.

Chapter 3: The Three Stages of Christian Persecution

• Christian persecution is any hostility experienced from the world as a result of one's identification as a Christian.

• Stephen is the first martyr of the Church. • He bravely

proclaimed and witnessed his faith amidst tribulations.

• We remember his martyrdom every Dec. 26.

First Stage of Persecution

• It happened in 54-60 AD during the time of Nero.

• Christians were accused of burning ¾ of the city of Rome, though it was Nero’s fault in order to gain the glory of rebuilding the city.

• Christians were burned like living torches.• Peter and Paul died in 64 AD by being crucified

upside down.

First Stage of Persecution

Nero burns Rome. Peter’s execution.

Second Stage of Persecution

• It started from 100 AD to 200 AD.• Empire issued a decree that anyone who

practices Christian faith will die.• Christians were forced to deny their faith and

embrace Roman beliefs. The persecuted Christians become more zealous in pronouncing their faith.

• Ignatius of Antioch was declared Martyr.


• In the year 138-161 AD, under Antoninus Pius, Christians were accused of being atheists for refusing to worship the Emperor and were persecuted massively.

• Marcus Aurelius made a decree on legalization of persecution which caused Christians to suffer more.


• The new Emperor Septimus Severus executed cruel persecutions on Christians like being fed to the hungry lions.

• On 244-249 AD, Christians were relieved under the administration of Philip the Arabian, but he only lasted for almost five years as king.


Christians to be eaten by hungry lions.

Martyrdom of Ignatius of Antioch

Third Stage of Persecution• Last period of Christian persecution• Emperor Decius served as emperor of Rome

from 249-251.• He forced all the Christians to worship Roman

gods publicly, and many abandoned their faith but majority remained faithful and accepted persecution openly.

• Decius made a law that all citizens must practice unified state religion.

Third Stage of Persecution• In 257 AD, Emperor Valerian made a decree

ordering clergies to offer sacrifices to Roman gods.

• In 258 AD, he ordered to arrest and execute all clergies who refuse to obey the decree.

• Despite of that, Christians continued holding meetings in cemeteries or catacombs to celebrate their faith.

Third Stage of Persecution• The most bloodiest persecution for Christians

happened during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 284 AD.

• This was continued by Galerius who succeded him. But when he became seriously ill, he issued an Edict of Tolerance that grants Christianity the right of exist.

Third Stage of Persecution• The edict was changed when Galerius died.

Maximinus Daia, his successor, restored once again the Christian persecution. Suddenly he ordered the persecution to stop for while due to the pressure of the new conqueror of Italy and Africa.

• In early 313 AD, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which contains a policy of complete religious tolerance and permanent freedom to the Church.

Third Stage of Persecution• Constantine promoted the materials and

spiritual welfare of the Church. He restored rights and properties to the Christians and built new churches.

• In 380 AD, Emperor Theodosius abolished paganism and made Christianity the only official religion of the Roman Empire.

Chapter 4: The Three Stages of the Growth of the Church

• The community of disciples does not exist for itself only but it also exists for the world. It is sent on a mission to proclaim the Good News of Christ.

1. The Early Community at Jerusalem

• They practiced Jewish worship which resulted in conflict because of some changes they practiced like Christian baptism, prayer, Christ-centered worship, and the Eucharist.

• The Jews opposed the Christian practice of sharing things in common. This led to St. Stephen’s persecution and the separation of Jews and Christians.

2. The Community at Antioch

• This period marked the formation of the first Gentile Christian community.

• This community consists of non-Jewish members that were called Christians.

• It increased and brought Christianity out of the Jewish-Palestinian territories to Antioch.

3. St. Paul’s Missionary Journey to the Gentiles

• During this period, St. Paul, the famous Christian persecutor, converted and become a faithful follower of Christ.

• After his conversion, together with Barnabas, he started his first missionary journey to Cyprus and Asia Minor.

3. St. Paul’s Missionary Journey to the Gentiles

• Together with Silas, Paul started his second missionary journey in which he founded the first Christian community in Europe.

• In his third journey, he traveled over the land from Antioch to Ephesus.

• St. Paul contributed much in the growth and spread of Christianity.

Topic #2

The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church

The Hierarchy of the Church1. Pope – it is the successor of Peter and the

bishop of Rome.2. Cardinals – they elect the new pope.3. Archbishop - it heads the archdiocese. 4. Bishop – it heads the diocese.5. Priest - an ordained minister who administers

most of the sacraments.6. Deacon - studying for priesthood.7. Laity – the faithful members of the Church.

Topic #3

Four Marks of the Catholic Church

The Four Marks of the Church

• In the Nicene Creed, we proclaim that the Church is ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC and APOSTOLIC.

The Church is ONE

• Jesus established only one, not a collection of Churches, because “in Christ we, though many, form one body,”(Romans 12:5).

• The Church is one because of Jesus, its founder, who reconciled all men to God.

• He has restored the unity of all in one people and one body.

The Church is HOLY

• The Church is Holy not by virtue of its members but because Christ, who is holy, is its head and it is guided by the Holy Spirit.

• Jesus Christ, who is all holy, gave himself to the Church and sent His spirit to her.

The Church is CATHOLIC




upside down.

The Church is APOSTOLIC




upside down.

Documents

All About the Church