Padre Calungsod:

13 or 14 when he left PH IN 1668 to join Jesuit priests headed by Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores in a mission expedition to the “Islas de los Ladrones” renamed “Marianas” or Guam.

declared Patron of the Filipino Youth and we celebrate his feast ordinarily on April 2.

St. Perpetua

One of the first women known as a martyr in the church

“the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity”

2 sources of faith: These sources form one sacred deposit of faith (Dei Verbum 10)

Sacred Scriptures

From the Gospels and Bible

Apostolic Tradition

Refers to the teachings and practices passed on to the church from the apostles.

What apostles practiced came from the scriptures therefore it is also considered a sacred tradition

Teachings of the apostles became the habit that was handed down to early Christians and handed to us but that tradition is not stagnant and is changing.

Must grow in our knowledge and appreciation not only for scriptures but also of our church’s tradition

Tradition: The way the people of God have transmitted and have lived the Scriptures

Church: Calls its members to participate in the “new evangelization because of the changing ways and thinking in our modern world.

Mission of the Church: talks about what happened to the followers, apostles, and church after the resurrection

Birth of the church (A.D 33 Pentecost event)

Pentecost: Happened 50 days after crucifixion

Apostles received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire and strong minds and initiated the first evangelization

Apostles started to speak in different languages and became more courageous to speak of Christ

Apostles clearly understood the mission Jesus gave them at the Last Suppe or institution of the Eucharist.

Found in ACTS 2

Considered the birthday of the church

Strong wind: God’s first breath of life into all creations

Fire: Manifest of God

Evangelization: Calls for reformation or renewal of the teachings

Acts of the Apostles and Apostolic Church (30-70 C.E)

Records the first 30 years of history and progress of the church

Records that about 3,000 people believed Peter’s Sermon and were baptized on the day of Pentecost

Considered as the 5th gospel written by St. Luke

Paul:

Responsible for the spread of the Church to the Gentiles (non-Jews)

The second half of the book (13-28) was written by Paul

Formerly called Saul was a Pharisee and had been a persecutor of Christians.

Was converted to Christianity when he encountered the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus

Became known as the “Apostle of the Gentiles”

Peter:

Started the evangelization, and helped the apostles to proclaim the Good News.

Wrote the first 12 chapters of the ACTS that narrate his works

The first pope of the Church

Peters Sermon: Tells the basic truths that he and other Apostles would proclaim about Jesus

1. Jesus died but rose from the dead

2. Therefore, Jesus is our Lord and Savior forever.

Peter and Paul: 2 outstanding figures in the age of the Apostolic Church

Antioch:

A new Christian community, where followers of Jesus were first called Christians

Early Church (70-312 C.E):

All the first Christians in Palestine were Jews and people looked down and them and they were considered “fallen-away Jews”

Persecution of the early church went on for several centuries, most of them happened during the rule of Nero (A.D 64-68) and Diocletian (A.D 303-305)

Roman Christian Empire (315-590 C.E):

Constantine:

One of the greatest rulers of the Roman Empire, formerly devoted to the cult of the Unconquered Sun, his views changed in 312 A.D when he was fighting Maxentius (leader of Italian soldiers) in Italy

Before the battle, he saw a cross superimposed on the sun with the inscription (In hoc Signo, Vinces or In this sign you shall win) he ordered his men to battle with the cross painted on their shields and defeated their enemies, and soldiers were also converted.

Roman persecution of Christians stopped when emperor Constantine granted religious freedom by signing the law known as EDICT OF MILAN in A.D 315 and Christians were finally able to openly believe and worship Jesus Christ

Emperor Theodosius: 380 A.D He eliminated paganism and made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire empowering the spreading of Christianity

1. Many Roman Christian churches were built

2. the liturgy was enriched and mass celebration was granted

3. Christianity was declared the official religion

4. early council of the church (Nicaea, Ephesus, Chalcedon) and the writing of the Fathers of the church played crucial roles in establishing important doctrines as responses to the confusion brought by the heresies of individuals or groups of Christians at that time.

Canon of the Sacred Scriptures:

In 382 C.E. the official list of inspired books of the bible, known as the Canon of the Scriptures first came to being. It is a formal definition of the Canon was proclaimed by the Council of Trent in the 16th Century

St. Jerome (342 A.D):

“Ignorance of scriptures is ignorance of Christ”

Gained a place in history with his Vulgata the only official translation of the Bible for the Catholic Church

Took 40 years to complete the translation from Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) into Latin which was the language the people easily understood

He was born in Dalmatia in 342 he studied grammar and theology

He was called to Rome as secretary of the Pope

St. Augustine of Hippo:

Declared that it is only on the authority of the Roman Catholic Church that we accept any book of Scripture.

Heresies:

Opinions that do not follow church teachings.

A statement of belief or teaching that differs from or contradicts the official teachings of the church.

Heresies and ecumenical councils:

1. Nicaea (325) Proclaimed the divine nature of Jesus

   Artanism: Initiated by Arius saying that Jesus was not God but only a man

2. Constantinople I (381) Define the nature of the Holy Spirit

   Macedonianism: Denied divinity of the Holy Spirit

3. Ephesus (431) Mary is the mother of God

   Nestorianism: Denied that Jesus is not God so therefore Mary is not the mother of God

4. Chalcedon (451) Jesus as one divine person with 2 natures (divine and human)

   Monophysitism: Son of God but not a real man

5. Constantinople II (553)

   Nestorianism: Erroneously divided Jesus into 2 persons

6. Constantinople III (680) Defined the doctrine for the two wills in the person of Christ

   Monothelism

7. Nicaea II (787) Legitimacy of the veneration of images, specified that adoration was due to God alone while veneration is given for the saints.

   Iconoclasts: (Image destroyers) Wanted to abolish all the icons and statues of saints.

Muslim:

In the religion of Islam, members are called Muslims

Mohammed:

The founder is Mohammed in Arabia in the year 622, a merchant of Mecca which is a house of prayer

Married to a rich widow who bore him 7 children

At age 40, received a vision from Allah, through the medium of the archangel Gabriel, the prophetic call which he wrote down in the Koran which is the scripture of Muslims

He started preaching the necessity of Holy war or Jihad against unbelievers. After the capture of Mecca, they conquered Arabia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain in 712.

Christians in Europe were trembling. Charles Martel the king of France stopped the Muslims’ advancement in the battle of Poitiers in 732

Defeated from France, they attacked Italy from the Mediterranean Sea at the walls of Rome the Muslims were defeated.

5 pillars by Muslims:

1. Professing of faith in Allah and in Mohammed as his prophet

2. 5 daily prayers facing towards Mecca and public prayer in the Mosque on Fridays

3. Fasting during Ramadan month from daybreak to sunrise

4. Almsgiving

5. Pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime to kiss the black stone in the Kabal which is a sign of baptism for Muslims

Medieval Church:

The Middle Ages, which stand between ancient and modern times, lasted for almost a millennium

In the 7th century, the Roman empire weakened due to the migration of northern tribes across Europe

Barbarian tribes (that practice idolatry/ black worshiping, non-believers) plundered city after city until Rome was taken.

Replaced by small kingdoms with strong warriors as rules

Civilization in Europe halted due to educational and government institutions

Church was establishing influence in that era of “cultural and moral darkness: where priests and other officials were not good examples, and were driven by corruption and greed

Dark ages in medieval:

1. Faded into darkness, demoralizing the spread of Christianity, and heresies grew persistent because of church leaders, and their corruption from their ranks (hierarchy, family appointing family)

2. Struggles of power between church and state

3. Division of great Schism and Christians left the area because they believed the church doesn’t give others the chance to follow Jesus

   Schism: People are influenced by the religious denominations, the great separation between Eastern and Western due to migration in Europe

4. The separation between the Eastern Greek-speaking church and the Western Latin church in Rome

5. Crusades and inquisitions happened (war) they wanted to invade places of other groups to be recognized in the church and state

Pope Alexander Borgia the Sixth:

The worst pope in history and is known for his corruption (spends the money from the taxes of the people so that he can live in luxury)

Made cardinal at the age of 25 by his uncle Pope Calixtus III (corruption with rank)

Was elected pope in 1442 among those who elected him were his family

Made his son Cesare Borgia at the age of 18 or 20 a cardinal

His wife is also a pagan

“the greater the darkness the clearer the light” By Saint Paul in the time of the Apostles:

The Spirit who dwells in the church worked through various chosen people and groups to keep the Faith burning during the dark ages.

Pope Gregory VII:

Initiated monastic life, renewals, reforms

Saint Catherine of Siena:

Influenced by Pope Gregory

Used her wisdom, natural personal charm, and spiritual insights to become the people’s ambassador of peace among parties at war

St. Francis of Assissi:

Sent as the missionary who ministered to the spiritual needs of people

Born to a wealthy family left his wealth and committed to being a missionary

St. Dominic:

Patron Saint of Catholic schools

“Dominicans”

St. Thomas Aquinas:

Gave importance to living with pagans or barbarians (worship cults) and influence them slowly

A Dominican priest, outstanding preacher, philosopher, and theologian, harmonizing reason and faith, pagan philosophy with the scriptures

Black Death (1344):

Terrible death brought to Europe by bubonic plague-infected rats aboard a ship traveling from the black sea of Sicily.

it produced vomiting, mental disorganization, and delirium causing death within a few days

about 25 million people or 1/3 of the world’s population died

Reformation and Counter-reformation (1517-Vatican II)

Martin Luther

Augustinian monk

Scandalized by the church prelates who were more concerned with wealth and power than the spiritual needs of the people

Revolted against the catholic church

Nailed his 95 thesis that points to reform of the church on the door of Wittenberg castle church in 1517

he had no idea church action would lead to a whole new group of religious denominations known under the general title Protestantism

Counter-Reformation Movement: The Catholic Church’s Response to Luther’s Criticisms

1. General revival of religion

   Saints such as St. Ignatius of Layola and their respective religious orders vigorously carried out reforms and spiritual writings and examples focused on interior conversion, keeping of prayer, and commitment to do God’s will in contrast to the external obedience to obligation.

2. Vigorous effort to reconquer lost territories in Europe and to extend dominions in Asia and South America

   St. Francis Xavier went to the east and attempted to convert China and Japan.

   King Philip II of Spain supported expeditions to new lands.

   In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Phillippines Islands and brought us Christianity.

3. Holding of the Council of Trent

   Pope Paul III called for a council to affirm and consolidate Catholic teachings and strengthen discipline.

Church in 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th centuries: Vatican I

Faced problems of Secularism, pluralism, totalitarianism, liberalism, tensions between governments, and internal dissent among Catholic intellectuals.

Rerum Novarum or On the Condition of the Working Classes in 1891

Pope Leo XIII produced the first formal church social document.

Pope Pius XI:

Vatican I was convened by Pope Pius XI to address the rising influence of rationalism, materialism, and liberalism.

Council was not formally closed because Italian troops occupied Rome in the summer of 1870

Vatican II in 20th century:

High point in the Christian faith.

Opened by St. John XXIII on October 11, 1962

Closed by St. Paul VI on December 7, 1965

Aimed for the renewal of the church for the sake of evangelization.

Aggiornamento: Sign of the times

Content of 2nd Vatican Council:

1. Denouncement of the nature of the church

   A clear announcement or purpose on the needs of the church

2. Mission of the laity (us)

   Most members of the church are laity

3. Religious freedom

   To what extent can Christians express their religious freedom

4. Revision of the liturgy (how we celebrate the mass)

5. Use of the native language or Latin during mass and sacraments

   For people to understand and participate better in mass

Important matters:

1. Empowering church unity

   annual meeting of all religious denominations to improve unity, we are the church, just different teachings

2. common ground in certain issues with protestant churches and discuss the possibility of unity with the easter orthodox church

3. the council produced 16 documents complied in one book called Vatical II documents which is composed of moral issues and revisions in the liturgy that people neglect

Church at present times:

Popses that followed the closing of Vatican II up to the present have consistently taught that the heritage of the faith passed onto us by the early church must be preserved and communicated to the people of our present times in an understandable way

10 years after Vatical 11, in 1975 St. Paul VI wrote his apostolic exhortation entitled Evangelii Nuntiandi or Evangelization in the Modern World.

This laid the foundation and direction evangelization must take for our times.

This is the document where for the first time, the church emphasized that spreading the Gospel is the role of every Christian, not just priests, deacons, and professional staff of the church.

St. John Paul II:

coined the term “new evangelization” and popularized it. He wrote numerous letters and encyclicals and published the Universal Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Traveled over 100 countries preaching the Gospel. He promoted inner conversion to Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI:

Made new evangelization the central pillar of his pontificate.

In 2010, he institutionalized new evangelization by creating an office known as the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.

In 2010, he wrote Verbum Domini, or Word of God where he proclaims that God’s Word has not lost its relevance and vitality.

Pope Francis:

He is the 266th pops from the line of the apostle Peter.

He emphasizes the need for joyful proclamation of the Gospel especially to God’s “little ones” the poor.

His ideas on evangelization are found in his apostolic exhortation entitled Evangeli Gaudium or the Joy of the Gospel.

The challenge of the modern word - Found in Vatican II (1963-1965)- Second Plenary Council of the PH or PCP II (1991) by Pope John Paul II - Vission: Chuh as a community of disciples centered in Jesus Christ, a church of participation, communion, mission of the poor- Mission: Renewed integral evangelization (RIE)- Renewed Catechesis, renewed social apostolate, renewed worship

DNW: doctrine, meral, worship (dimensions of faith)

PCP II:

Produced own documents, proposing ways how we should move toward renewing our faith life in such a way that we can live the full life of the Gospel

From Pentecost to the present time, we see that the Church has gone through many successes and failures, lights and shadows, goodness and evil, glory and shame. But stood the test of time because of God’s constant support.

To study church history is to see the hand of God at work amid strife and sin. We see how the Holy Spirit reunites what sin and folly of men and women have divided.

No matter what the church will never die for we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the capstone.

Titles of Jesus:

Kind of relationship with a person and how he mingled and reached out to the people

Evangelists and early Christians used certain titles when they preached Jesus to others. The New Testament repeats many of these titles to enlighten us on what Jesus did and who He is for us.

1. Lord

   “Sir or master”

   Greek translation, Kyrios was used to translate the Hebrew name of God, YHWH

   Kyrios means Lord.

2. Son of God

   Man of extraordinary power or goodness.

   Shows a unique Relationship with god as a son-and-father relationship with God.

   Proof of His Incarnation

3. Prophet

   One who brings the truth

   Truth and the word are Christ Himself, He is the voice of God.

4. Priest

   mediator between God and people

   “pontifex” or bridge builder

5. King

   He is divine and king of all kings

   He shows us a different kind of kingship, to serve and not to be served

6. Christ

   Greek title meaning “anointed one” translating the Hebrew word messiah

   As baptized Christians, we carry Christ’s name, anointed to share in His mission

Symbols of Jesus:

During the time of persecution, this is their way to continue their traditions. These can be seen in many religious paintings, altar carvings, church walls, mass vestments, sacred linens, and devotional objects.

1. Alpha and Omega

   Alpha is the first letter while omega is the last letter of the Greek Alphabet

   Jesus is the beginning and the end of human history

2. Chi Rho

   P and x are the first two letters of the Greek word Christ

   Commonly associated with healing miracles (Rx of doctors)

3. IHS

   Latin for Iesus Hominum Salvator which means Savior of Mankind

   Commonly seen in the Vestments of the priest

4. Fish

   The Greek word for fish is Icthus and is an anagram for the first letters of the Greek phrase meaning Jesus Christ son of God, Savior

   A common survival of early Christians

The teaching of early church councils on Jesus:

1. Apostles and convert believers

2. Clarified misleading doctrines

3. Magisterium or the teaching authority of the church

4. Vatical II ( to clarify matters and give direction to the church ministries)1962-1965

5. Early church council (heresies)

6. The church, people of God

7. Apostles Creed

   The “mystery” of Incarnation, the mystery here does not mean something we can never understand, but something for which there is always more to understand.

Creeds and Doctrines: Have a long pastoral history behind them, and are products of centuries of searching for the truth about Christ.

Creeds are summary statements of the beliefs of the church

1. Basic statement creeds apostles made in preaching and recorded in New Testament

2. creeds in the form of Questions asked during the annual baptismal profession of faith at easter

3. conciliar creeds formulated by church councils. Examples are the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed and Constantinople I. These were used to correct the heresy by Arius who denied the divinity of Jesus.