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Top Ten “Peak Moments” in Church History

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Top Ten

“Peak Moments” in Church History

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First Period:

The Apostolic Age

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1. PENTECOST: Birthday of the Church I will ask the Father, and he will give you

another Helper, who will stay with you forever, the Spirit who reveals the truth about God (John 14:16-17).

Another word for helper is the Greek paraclete, which we use to refer directly to the Holy Spirit.

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1. PENTECOST: Birthday of the Church The Holy Spirit was already at work in the

world before Christ was glorified. On Pentecost, the Spirit came to be with the Church forever. On that day the Church was publicly revealed to the multitude. The gospel began to be spread among the nations by means of preaching.

-- Second Vatican Council, decree ad gentes (“To the nations”), n. 4.

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2. The Conversion of Saint Paul, c. 40 AD “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?...

I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:4-5).

After Saul/Paul’s baptism at Damascus (in Syria), he began to preach.

Many went to Antioch (also in Syria) to proclaim the good news (good spell= Gospel ) about the Lord Jesus. And the Lord’s power was with them. (11:20-21).

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2. The Conversion of Saint Paul, c. 40 AD

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Second Period:

Imperial / Post-Imperial

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The Roman Empire, circa 300 AD

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3. The Edict of Milan: Constantine frees the Church from persecution (for a while)

Emperor Nero began persecuting on a wide scale, circa 64 AD.

Hebrew nero q’sr = 666 (John’s “beast”) “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Christianity grew in spite of fierce opposition,

intolerance and martyrdoms.

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3. The Edict of Milan: Constantine frees the Church from persecution (for a while)

Enter Constantine and his rival, Maxentius. Both men and their forces clashed at the Battle of the

Milvan Bridge in 313. A vision appeared to Constantine:

Ecce, in hoc signo vinces (Behold, in this sign, victory).

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Constantine the Great (circa 274 – 337)

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The vision of Constantine

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The Chi Rho sign seen by Constantine

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3. The Edict of Milan: Constantine frees the Church from persecution (for a while)

The victorious Constantine met with officials of the Eastern empire in 313 at Medianola (Milan) in Italy.

Both East and West agreed upon religious tolerance, de-criminalizing Christianity.

This act was borrowed at Vatican II (1962-1965) for its Decree on Religious Liberty (Influenced largely by Rev. John Courtney Murray, S.J. - an American!)

Other persecutions against the Church took place afterward, but stopped after 391 AD.

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4. Christ as Man and God – The Church and the Council of Chalcedon, 451 AD

The Church had long felt the end of the Apostolic Age (the time when the original disciples lived).

Christian communities devised basic statements of belief, known as a creed (from credo=“I believe”).

The Church also set up a system of leadership, through what is now known as the Holy Orders – Overseers (bishops), Elders (priests) and Servants to the Poor (deacons).

With leadership and freedom taking root, much needed to be done regarding belief.

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4. Christ as Man and God – The Church and the Council of Chalcedon, 451 AD

Alternate theories about the nature of Christ and His relationship to God began to take form. These were examined and condemned, later known as heresies (from the Greek word for “choice” or “faction”).

Bishops gathered in 325 at Nicaea (in Asia Minor, now Turkey) to develop a fuller Creed.

Enter a priest named Arius, who misinterpreted Proverbs 8:22 (“the Lord begot me”).

Arius argued thus: “There was a time when the Son was not.” Ergo, Jesus was lesser than the Father.

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Council of Nicea, 325 AD

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4. Christ as Man and God – The Church and the Council of Chalcedon, 451 AD

Arius drew a huge following. The Arian Heresy (of Jesus being

subordinate to the Father) had spread rapidly throughout the Empire.

As a result, the unity of the entire Church was under a very great threat.

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4. Christ as Man and God – The Church and the Council of Chalcedon, 451 AD

The bishops who met at Nicaea reasserted the divinity of Jesus, condemned Arianism and began to restore unity in Christianity.

Not long afterward, an opposite heresy – this time overemphasizing Christ’s humanity – broke out.

The major agreement at Chalcedon was that Jesus had one divine person in two natures, human and divine.

Other councils meet later to “fine tune” Church teaching and work to preserve unity.

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4. Christ as Man and God – The Church and the Council of Chalcedon, 451 AD

Most other heresies take on one of two forms: Christological – altering the relationship between Christ

and the Father/Holy Spirit Ecclesiological – altering the relationship between Christ

and the Church Yes, heresies keep coming, even today, and it’s up to

the Magisterium (the teaching body of the Church) to help the faithful know what’s correct and what isn’t.

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5. How the Monks Saved Civilization In 410 AD, the Goths sacked Rome. Panic ensued

throughout Europe. The Roman Empire fell – or stopped falling – by 476

AD, with the barbarian invasions and the collapse of the order provided by the Empire.

By that time, collectives of men and women religious known as cenobites (from Greek koinos + bios = “common life”) had spread into northern Africa and many parts of Europe.

The major player of monasticism in Europe was St. Benedict of Norsia, who devised a monastic Rule.

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Benedict of Norsia (480 – 550 AD)

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Third Period:

Early Modernity

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6. From Monte Cassino to Assisi By the 12th Century, European commerce sparked the

widespread growth of cities and the rise of the “middle class” Thousands left agricultural-based livelihoods and pursued

trades and jobs not based upon the land Widespread wealth and literacy contrasted with crushing

poverty and destitution, both in rural areas as well as in cities Monastic life, centered around monasteries in rural areas, were

useful to barbarians and farmers, but not these growing urban areas – many were left underserved as a result

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6. From Monte Cassino to Assisi Enter Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone (1181-1226)

Born from a wealthy family, he embraced a life of poverty and mobility in order to servethe poor wherever they lived

Established the Order ofFriars Minor (The “LittleBrothers”)

This form of life was notmonastic, but mendicant –like that of a roving beggar

Dominicans, Carmelites, andAugustinians also follow this“rule” of life and service

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6. From Monte Cassino to Assisi The Mendicant friars

Took vows not to a “house” or Abbot (religious superior), but to their particular order

Were far more flexible in their ministries than their monastic brethren, who remained tied to their communities

Established the first major universities of Europe: Oxford, Cambridge, Paris, Padua, etc.

Developed devotions for the laity – the Stations of the Cross, the Christmas Creche, the Rosary

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6. From Monte Cassino to Assisi And when Church and State got too close..

The Crusades: The Inquisition:

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7. Reform to Revolt to Reformation An Augustinian priest, Martin Luther, had several problems

with numerous misuses and abuses of Church authority and teaching, and wanted to bring reform to the Catholic Church

Corruption indeed ran rampant in many parts of the Church: Formation for priestly ministry was deficient The practice of indulgences – works of prayer and charity –

had been abused beyond recognition The popes were far too involved in secular politics than in

spiritual matters

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7. Reform to Revolt to Reformation 31 October 1517: Luther posts on the

“bulletin board” of the day – the doors of the church in the university town ofWittenburg , Germany – his 95 Theses

Luther’s calls for reform and renewed consideration for scripture were largelyignored by the Church, but were receivedby the laity and top secular leaders with enthusiasm

Luther was questioned and debated…and later excommunicated (separated from the Church and Sacraments)

Church/State ties were called into question, and many regions of Europe fought with each other as a result

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7. Reform to Revolt to Reformation Other philosophers and thinkers (Calvin, Zwingli, Knox, etc.)

took the momentum of reformation to an entirely new level Not only did the issues questioned by Luther fall under

suspicion, everything held by the Catholic Church was rejected (as “Romish,” “Popish,” “Papist,” etc.) except what later became known as the three solas: Sola Scriptura: Only scripture has any real ultimate authority Sola Fides: Only by faith can one respond to God and be saved Sola Gratia: Only by the grace of God can one find salvation

October 31, 1999: Leaders of the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation sign a document declaring their differences in most of these matters were over. The United Methodist Church signed the agreement in 2003

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7. Reform to Revolt to Reformation Various degrees of reformation took hold, leading to various

“national” churches and thousands of denominations… Lutherans:

Missouri Synod and the ELCA are biggest in the U.S.A. Calvinists:

Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Church of Christ, etc. Anglicans:

C of E, TEC, Methodists, Wesleyans, Quakers Anabaptists:

Mennonites, Amish, Baptists Restorationists:

Disciples of Christ, various “mega-churches” Humanists, Spiritualists, Ecstatics

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8. Point-Counterpoint: The Council of Trent1545 – 1563 (18 years!)Pope Pius V (1556 – 1572)The Church begins to tend toward “isolationism”

Response to Luther and other reformers (1517 forward) Henry VIII (1534) Failed inquisitionsFinal East/West Schism (1484)Persecutions of dissenting Roman Catholics

Tridentine Missal (Tridentine = “of Trent”)Tridentine Catechism (In the U.S.A., the “Baltimore”)Forms of sacred music were canonized

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8. Point-Counterpoint: The Council of Trent There have been 21 Ecumenical Councils Catholics and Orthodox churches jointly recognize the first

seven only The last three councils were:

Council of Trent (1545 – 1563) First Vatican Council (1869 – 1870) Second Vatican Council (1962 – 1965)

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Fourth Period:

Recent History

(Vatican I and II)

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9. The First Vatican Council (1869-1870)

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9. The First Vatican Council (1869-1870) Summoned by Pius IX, “Pio Nono,” (1846 – 1878)

Only two other popes in history reigned longer: Saint Peter (~31 years) and Pope John Paul II (28 years).In other words, the first one and the last one!

Reaffirmation of the Word of God (Bible) Reaffirmation of the primacy and infallibility of the Pope…

in matters of faith and morals Pius IX – Immaculate Conception (1854) Pius XII – Assumption of Mary (1950)

Interrupted by Franco-Prussian War, followed by the unification of modern Italy

Adjourning Vatican I took place…at Vatican II!

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Almost there…

But first - Break Time!

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) In 1959, Pope John XXIII calls

for a new Ecumenical Council The entire Church hierarchy

was taken by surprise Pope John oversaw the opening

of the First Session of the Council in 1962…and died the following year.

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) The Council halted in order to

call a Conclave, where a newBishop of Rome is elected

Cardinal Giambattista Montini,a career diplomat, was chosenand took the name Paul VI

Pope Paul restarted the Councilwhich has sessions fromSeptember through November of1963, 1964 and 1965

Pope Paul died in 1978, the“year of three popes,” himself,John Paul I and John Paul II

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Critics say that because of Vatican II:The Liturgy became corrupt and profaneNumbers of priests and religious declined as a resultAuthority was undermined and erodedTeachings became ambiguousMorals have erodedMissionary activity was confused and unorganizedDissent was rampant

10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

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Others, including supporters, say that because of Vatican II: The Church was re-energized and made more “relevant” Women and laity were empowered for service to the Church

Liturgical ministers (lectors, etc.) Parish Pastoral Councils and other advisory groups Parish Administrators and Lay Ecclesial Ministers A renewed Permanent Diaconate

Marriage/family was emphasized as a vocation Annulment process was clarified and made better Attention to society and the poor increased vastly

10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) Why was the 21st Council necessary? Dozens of technological and scientific advances had changed

the very way we think Improved communication highlighted global problems

(example: “have” vs. “have-not” nations) The exuberance that followed the reconstruction of Europe

after World War II The Cold War: Communism, Socialism Humanism The “Population Explosion” Continuing Protestant scholarship Church became rigid and authoritarian in many places Women’s issues began to surface

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) Just in the United States… “Hippies” and “Beatniks” (such as

TV’s Maynard Krebs, pictured) The rise of the “drug culture”

(Timothy Leary, etc.) The rise of pornography in print

(Playboy, etc.) and in film An explosive growth of

evangelicalism and non-Christian“cults,” especially from the East

The growing threat of nuclearproliferation and “Mutual Assured Destruction”

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) Why was it thought not necessary by some? Attendance at Mass was high Abundance of priests and religious, as well as vocations Catholic schools flourished on all levels Catholic education thought to be best in nation Liturgy was beautiful and holy The faithful understood the hierarchy (Church leadership)

and were faithful to it A clear-cut understanding of what was – and wasn’t –

considered a “sin,” be it mortal, venial or otherwise

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)• Attended by nearly 2500 “Council Fathers” • Mostly bishops and heads of male religious orders• Many periti (theological experts) also attended and would

influence the Church long afterward, including Congar, deLubac, Wojtyla, Rahner, Ratzinger, Schillebeeckx, etc.

• Many other groups were represented:There were nearly 20 Orthodox representativesA significant number of ProtestantsTwo dozen Catholic women “auditors,” including three from the U.S.A. (Mary Luke Tobin, notably)All these groups contributed to discussions

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) Dogma = established belief or doctrine… authoritative and

not to be disputed, doubted or diverged from. The term comes from the Greek δόγμα, "that which seems to one, opinion or belief” and from δοκέω (dokeo), "to think, to suppose.”

Vatican II was not set up to be another dogmatic council, but rather a pastoral one. NO changes were made to any Christian dogma of any kind.

Instead, 16 major documents were produced and approved by the Council Fathers (with healthy input from others) to guide the Church in the years to follow, addressing all aspects of Catholic life and pastoral practice, on the universal (global), local (diocesan) and particular (parish) levels.

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) Not a dogmatic council, but a pastoral one! Four Constitutions:

Lumen Gentium (Light of the Nations) – Constitution on the Church

Dei Verbum (Word of God) – Constitution on Divine Revelation

Sacrosanctum Concilium (This Sacred Council) –Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy

Gaudium et Spes (The Joy and Hope) – Constitution on the Church in the Modern World

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) Three Declarations:

Gravissimum Educationis – Declaration on Christian Education

Nostra Aetate (In Our Day) – Declaration on our Relationship to Non-Christian Religions, with special emphasis on the Jewish People

Dignitatis Humanae (The Dignity of the Human Person) – On Catholic Social Teaching: The Right of the Human Person and Communities to Social and Civil Freedom in Religious Matters

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) Nine Decrees:

Ad Gentes (To the Nations) – Mission Activity of the Church (The source document of what is now the R.C.I.A.!)

Presbyterorum Ordinus (The Order of Priests) – On the Ministry and Life of Priests

Optatam Totius (Desired of the Whole Church) – On the Training of Priests

Apostolicam Acuositatem (To Intensify the Apostalate) – On the Apostolate of the Laity

Perfectae Caritatis (Perfection of Charity) – On the Renewal of Religious Life

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) Nine Decrees:

Christus Dominus (Christ the Lord) – On the Pastoral Office of Bishops

Unitatis Redintegratio (The Restoration of Unity) – On Ecumenism

Orientalium Ecclesiarum (Churches of the East) – On the Eastern Catholic Churches

Inter Mirifica (Among the Wonderful Things) – Decree on the use of Mass Media

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) Of all the documents deliberated and voted on by the Council

Fathers, those with the greatest impact were:

1. Lumen Gentium (On the Church)

2. Dei Verbum (On Scripture)

3. Sacrosanctum Concilium (On the Liturgy)

4. Gaudium et Spes (On the Church in the Modern World)

5. Apostolicam Acuositatem (On the Laity)

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)Lumen Gentium (On the Church) The “hub” of the entire Council! The Mystery of the Church (the Communion of Saints) The People of God are foundational Four Marks of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic The Council builds on tradition, and does not conflict with it The Deposit of Faith must be preserved Provisions made for the Permanent Diaconate (Thanks, Karl!) The special devotion the church has for the Virgin Mary

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

Dei Verbum (On Divine Revelation and Scripture) God invites us into a personal relationship with Him Through Sacred Scripture we come to know God with “ease,

with solid certitude, and with no trace of error.” The Bible is “the Word of God in human words” “The Church, in her teaching life, and worship, perpetuates

and hands on to all generations all that she herself is, all that she believes” (Sacred Tradition)

Sacred Tradition grows and becomes richer as our leaders, guided by the Holy Spirit, lead to a deeper and fuller understanding of the truth.

Nothing in Sacred Tradition can contradict Sacred Scripture

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

Dei Verbum (On Divine Revelation and Scripture) Most importantly:

Christians should read the Bible and use modern

methods of scholarship and interpretation!

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

Sacrosanctum Concilium (On the Liturgy) The “source and summit” of all Church activity is the Liturgy Only in worship do our good works make sense All our sacrifices are offered to God with the Lord’s body We get access to the fountain of grace that flows from the font

of the Cross of Jesus Christ The Church exists primarily to worship God Streamline by “Noble Simplicity” Emphasize Scripture and promote love for the Word of God Conduct the liturgy in the language of the people Restore the Catechumenate (RCIA) Open up the Church for all peoples everywhere End the isolationism of the past 400 years

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

Sacrosanctum Concilium (On the Liturgy) It is possible to participate in the Liturgy without living out its

grace and teaching in everyday life, so… We must come to the Mass with the proper disposition We must follow through with prayer We must fully and consciously participate in the Liturgy Increase involvement by the laity Introduce prayers to increase participation such as “Prayer of

the Faithful” Replace Extreme Unction with Anointing of the Sick Renew directions for music, art, and furnishings, and… Emphasize the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist!

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World) Man is inherently good and dignified – we are created by God Christ died to save each and every individual human being We are given free will but sin reduces our options Christians should not judge persons but their actions Basic Human Rights of each person Denunciations of all threats to human life (abortion,

euthanasia, murder) Denunciations of all threats to human dignity (slavery,

prostitution, pornography)

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10. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

Apostolicam Actuositatem (Laity) Apostolate : To carry on the mission of Christ First ecumenical document on the laity Vatican II is often called “the council of the laity” The laity are members of God’s “Royal Priesthood” and thus

offer “priestly sacrifices” in their daily lives and witness Lay people are in the world not just Church Vatican II attempts to renew zeal and love We should be nourished in the Liturgy Gifts of the Spirit are to be manifested for the common good Bishops must develop lay ministries and services and systems

to train lay ministers (caution: ordained clergy are still the authorities)

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Had enough?

Me, too. Go in peace!!