2007-04-15 08:14:40 · 11 answers · asked by Robert S 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Catholic is from the Latin word meaning universal.
This universality was shown starting at Christ's birth.
The three (non-Jewish) Magi visiting the baby Jesus was one of the first signs that Christianity would reach out to the entire world.
Later Jesus treated non-Jews like Romans and Samaritans with dignity and respect. In consequence, these Romans and Samaritans became some of the first Christians.
After Jesus' Resurrection, more and more Gentiles became believers and the Apostles decided under the influence of the Holy Spirit that they did not have to convert to Judaism to become Christians.
The Church has referred to itself as the “Catholic Church” at least since 107 AD, when the term appears in the Letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans:
"Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church."
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-smyrnaeans-hoole.html
All of this was long before the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed from 325 A.D. which states, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church."
With love in Christ.
2007-04-15 13:41:48 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Universal.
Detailed definition here at NewAdvent.Org (the free online Catholic Encyclopedia).
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03449a.htm
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2007-04-15 08:17:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Catholic with a small "c" means universal. Catholic with an upper case "C" means that you are one who follows the teachings of the Pope in Rome.
2007-04-15 08:23:35 · answer #3 · answered by Polyhistor 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The word means "Universal", kinda "Something for Everyone" or "One Size Fits All". If U follow the Catholic Church, U will see they have established a policy of allowing some parts of "pagan" worship to "Creep" into the Dogma of their organization as an episiotomy to the "local natives" so to speak. Classic example of this for Mexico is "El Dia de Muetro" or the day of the Dead where the people go to the graves of their family to worship them or pray them into Heaven which goes way back to the Mayans etc.. I think God had something to say about that under "Idol Worship"??? Hope that helps. John & Tam
2007-04-15 08:27:41 · answer #4 · answered by moosemose 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋
It can mean "universal" or it can mean "a member of the Roman Catholic church." Depends on the context.
2007-04-15 08:38:01 · answer #5 · answered by catrionn 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The name first given to disciples of Jesus by Ignatius at Antioch to mean the faith was a "universal" one......
2007-04-15 08:19:48 · answer #6 · answered by Theban 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
it was katholikos and orthodoxos and when they separated in 1054 a.d. in Latin in Greek catho means seating and ortho means stand or the rightness ..
2007-04-15 08:20:29 · answer #7 · answered by eviot44 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Someone who follows Catholicism....
2007-04-15 08:19:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Pious, hypocrisy, sanctimonious hurtful, hateful,
2007-04-15 08:29:27 · answer #9 · answered by Lynnemarie 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
They eat cats in large numbers!
2007-04-15 08:21:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋