Therefore, Jesus He is our Lord and Savior forever
Pentecost occured 50 days after Jesus' crucifixion
The Apostolic Church (30-70 CE(
The coming of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) initiated the first great evangelization by the Apostolic Church
Chapters 1-12 narrate Peter's work, while the second half of the book, chapters 13-28 tell of Paul who was responsible for the spread of the Church to the Gentiles who were non-Jews
Paul was formerly called Saul
Paul was a Pharisee and had been a persecutor of Christians
Paul converted to Christianity when he encountered the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus
Paul - Apostle of the Gnetiles
Antioch - a new Christian community where the followers of Jesus were first called "Christians" (Apostolic Church)
Early church (70-312 CE)
Due to the persecution by the Jews, many early Jewish Christians fled from Jerusalem and Israel and scattered throughout the Roman Empire (Early Church)
Peter and Paul persevered in their work of spreading the Gospel of Christ despite the great suffering and persecution they had to go through (Early Church)
Peter and Paul sealed their faith in Christ by dying as martyrs
Persecutions of the early Church in Rome persisted for several centuries.
Most severe Roman persecutions - Rule of Nero in 64-68 CE and Diocletian in 303-305 CE
Emperor Constantine granted religious freedom to the Christians by signing a law known as the Edict of Milan in 313 CE
Theodosius I declared Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire in 380 CE
Roman Christian Empire - many were baptized but they succumbed to heresies
382 CE in Roman Christian Empire - an official list of inspired books of the Bible (Canon of the Sacred Scriptures) first came to being. A formal definition of the Canon was proclaimed by the Council of Trent (16th century)
Medieval Church (590-1417 CE) - Middle ages
17th century - the Roman Empire began to weakendue to migrations of northern tribes across Europe
Barbarian tribes plundered city after city until Rome itself was taken (Medieval Church)
Birth of other religions and divisions (schism) was added to the challenges of the church (Medieval Church)
Schism - formal separation between Eastern Greek speaking Church and Western Latin speaking Church in Rome that occurred in the eleventh century. (Medieval)
Crusades and inquisition was present through the years of the Medieval Chucrh
Medieval Friends: Pope Gregory VII, St. Catherine of Siena, St Francis, St Dominic, St. Thomas Aquinas
Pope Gregory VII - initiated monastic renewal and reforms
St Catherine of Siena - used her wisdom, natural personal charm, and spiritual insight to become the pope’s ambassador of peace among parties at war.
St Francis - founded new religious orders were sent as missionaries who ministered spiritual needs of people
St. Dominic - tirelessly worked in great Catholic schools and universities
St Thomas Aquinas - outstanding preacher and teacher-philosopher, showed excellent ways of harmonizing reason, faith, and pagan philosophy with the scriptures.
The Church in the Modern Age (1517-Vatican II)
Reformation and Counter Reformation (1517-1648)
Martin Luther, an Augustine monk, was scandalized by Church prelates who were more concerned with wealth and power more than the spiritual needs of the people, revolted against the Catholic Church.
When Martin Luther nailed the ninety-five theses on the door of Wittenberg Castle Church 1517, he had no idea that such an action would eventually lead to a whole group of religious denominations (Protestantism)
Counter Reformation Movement
General Revival of Religion
A vigorous effort to reconquer lostterritories in Europe and to extend dminions in Asia and South America
The holding of the Council of Trent
Many prominent saints like St. Ignatius of Loyola, St Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Philip Neri, Vincent de Paul, Francis de Sales and their religious orders, vigorously carried out reforms and spiritual renewal in their respective territories
St Francis Xavier - attempted to convert China and Japan