Fr. Zoolander’s church for those who can’t pray good and want to do other holy things…
Before 300: Pre-Constantinian Christianity
It is often asserted that the Catholic Church was founded by the Constantine, who was Emperor of the Roman Empire from AD 306-337. A couple of weeks ago, a lady named Monica made such an assertion and in earlier post I pointed out some of the problems with such a theory.
However, today I would like to do something a little different… In this post I would like to set forth the positive historical case for the existence of the Catholic Faith in the generations prior to Constantine. I will show how twenty-two different Catholic doctrines were taught long before Constantine rose to power:
- The Church is Catholic
- The Church has a three-fold structure of leadership
- There is unity through episcopal authority and schism is evil
- Sacred Tradition is authoritative
- Worship is liturgical
- There is Apostolic Succession
- Peter has Primacy
- The Eucharist is a Sacrifice
- Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist
- The Eucharist is taken to the sick
- Infants are to be baptized
- Baptism actually washes away sin
- Priests forgive sins
- Works are involved in salvation
- Prayers are said for the dead
- There is purgation after death
- Relics are venerated and Saints are celebrated
- Mary is the New Eve
- Mary was a perpetual virgin
- Mary is the Mother of God
- Prayers are made to Saints
- Songs are sung to Mary
I will demonstrate these early Christian belief by looking at primary sources alone and restricting myself to writings produced prior to AD 300.
Read moreWhy Easter was particularly amazing this year…
Around the country there have been quite a few reports that this has been an incredibly fruitful year for Catholicism, with large numbers of people entering the Church. In the San Diego Diocese alone, we had 1,342 people join this Easter. One of them was a housemate of mine, Nathan:
Nathan is an richly gifted guy and, like his confirmation Saint, Ambrose, he is going to be a real asset to the Church and a real force for good in the Kingdom. Please say a prayer for him and, if you meet him in person, give him a high-five 🙂
Wise Words on Wednesday: The things I most regret
Today’s Wise Words on Wednesday come with a video! The quotation comes from a song by Alanna-Marie Boudreau, a theology and philosophy student alumni from Stubenville:
“In my short life the things I most regret have resulted from dissecting love”
– Alanna-Marie Boudreau
Catholic Church: Established AD 33 or AD 300? (5)
At the moment on this blog, I am responding to a reader who commented on a post I wrote about Mary, Ark of the New Covenant. In my earlier posts, I dealt with her comments concerning Our Lady, but in her closing paragraph she made a number of assertions concerning the origins of the Catholic Church. In these last two posts I would like to respond to these final assertions:
I would suggest you do… more research about the origins of the roman catholic church which comes from pagan origins when it was founded in Rome by Constantine about 300AD. This is well known in history. Constantine was the first pope, and he mixed paganism with Christianity and that is how the Roman catholic church was born. You will find many parallels between the Roman catholic church and paganism.
In this particular post I think I’d like to spice things up with a little help from Barney Stinson. Since Monica has challenged me to investigate history…
Let’s take a look at each of the assertions in turn…
Music Monday: What Can I Do?
Happy Easter! Today is the anniversary of the ordination of my Pastor who today leaves for a new assignment. So, because of that, and because Lent is over, let’s hear it…
When I see the beauty of a sunset’s glory,
Amazing artistry across the evening sky
When I feel the mystery of a distant galaxy
It awes and humbles me to be loved
By a God so high
What can I do but thank You,
What can I do but give my life to You
Hallelujah, hallelujah
What can I do but praise You,
Everyday make everything I do a hallelujah
A hallelujah, hallelujah
When I hear the story of a God of mercy
Who shared humanity and suffered by our side
Of the cross they nailed You to, that could not hold You
Now You’re making all things new by the power
Of Your risen life
Mary, the interfering mother? (4)
Continuing my response to Monica’s comments concerning Mary, today I would like to continue providing a Catholic response to her objections, which today will chiefly focus around the subject of mediation.
