Fun, Faith Filled Facts #5: When was the Catholic Church established?
Many Protestant Christians are surprised to find out that Catholics are in fact Christians. Adding to their surprise is the fact that the Catholic Church was the FIRST Christian church and the ONLY one instituted by Jesus Christ.
I’ve learned that sadly, many Catholics don’t know these facts either!(EEP! ACK!)
Given the above information, one would erroneously suppose that the Catholic Church was established in about 30 A.D. when Jesus started his public ministry. Or perhaps at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and Mary. So what’s the real answer?
What does the catechism say?(The following are excerpts; please access the catechism for a more complete answer.)
II. THE CHURCH’S ORIGIN, FOUNDATION AND MISSION
A plan born in the Father’s heart
Paragraph 759 “The eternal Father, in accordance with the utterly gratuitous and mysterious design of his wisdom and goodness, created the whole universe and chose to raise up men to share in his own divine life,” 150 to which he calls all men in his Son. “The Father . . . determined to call together in a holy Church those who should believe in Christ.”151 This “family of God” is gradually formed and takes shape during the stages of human history, in keeping with the Father’s plan. In fact, “already present in figure at the beginning of the world, this Church was prepared in marvelous fashion in the history of the people of Israel and the old Advance. Established in this last age of the world and made manifest in the outpouring of the Spirit, it will be brought to glorious completion at the end of time.” 152
The Church- foreshadowed from the world’s beginning
Paragraph 761 The gathering together of the People of God began at the moment when sin destroyed the communion of men with God, and that of men among themselves. The gathering together of the Church is, as it were, God’s reaction to the chaos provoked by sin. This reunification is achieved secretly in the heart of all peoples: “In every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable” to God. 156
The Church – instituted by Christ Jesus
Paragraph 766 The Church is born primarily of Christ’s total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on the cross. “The origin and growth of the Church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus.” 171 “For it was from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the ‘wondrous sacrament of the whole Church.’”172 As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam’s side, so the Church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross. 173
The Church – revealed by the Holy Spirit
Paragraph 767 “When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually sanctify the Church.” 174 Then “the Church was openly displayed to the crowds and the spread of the Gospel among the nations, through preaching, was begun.”175 As the “convocation” of all men for salvation, the Church in her very nature is missionary, sent by Christ to all the nations to make disciples of them. 176
In Summary:
Paragraph 778 The Church is both the means and the goal of God’s plan: prefigured in creation, prepared for in the Old Covenant, founded by the words and actions of Jesus Christ, fulfilled by his redeeming cross and his Resurrection, the Church has been manifested as the mystery of salvation by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. She will be perfected in the glory of heaven as the assembly of all the redeemed of the earth (cf. Rev 14:4).
So the answer to the (trick) question, “When was the Catholic Church established?” is: in the Garden of Eden. For with Adam and Eve’s sin and banishment from the garden, comes God the Father’s plan for us to one day return to union with Him and the Communion of Saints in heaven: the one holy catholic and apostolic church.
