The official name of the Church?

I've went to a Maronite Roman Catholic Church. It had that exact phrasing etched into the stone above the doors and entrance into the parish . . .

As Pope St Pius X said once when quizzing the cardinals on the Four Marks of the Church, he said what else is a 'mark' of the church? That she is 'Roman'; for that is where her head is.


Hence, I think we are okay, if even in Papal documents, popes also refer to the Church as the Holy Roman Church or the Catholic and Roman Apostolic Church.

It happens. I still call the Church 'Roman Catholic Church, even whenever I had attended Byzantine Churches in the past. Perhaps, they'd call it 'habit'. I'd call it a 'good thing'. Ha ha!

I hope you meant enquiring rather than doubting whenever you say 'questioning'. I suggest you read up and learn more; but also pray, pray, pray. If your faith is on such thin ice that reading a title of the Church sends you into a tail-spin, God help you!

How Did the Catholic Church Get Her Name?

It's Catholic Church. It's not an individual rite.

Unam Sanctam Catholicam et Apostolicam Ecclasiam.

Anhelyna said:

ARGH​

How many times and in how many places and under how many names have you [ Roman Rite ] asked this self same question ?

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Now, you know how I feel when folks start vaunting and worshiping the Second Vatican Council as the best thing since sliced bread. It makes my blood boil.

I refer to it as the Roman Catholic Church because just calling it the Catholic Church conflicts with my beliefs and theology.

Well, we all (both Romans and Byzantines) are in the Catholic Church. So just 'The Holy Catholic Church' or 'Catholic Church' ought to be fine for you. Byzantine folks tend to get touchy as they are tired of being lumped in with Romans. They're still 100% Catholic but a few centuries of tension and frustration doesn't bode well. And being forced to Romanise by some unsavoury types leaves one a little on edge. Just bear that in mind. Don't ignore it. Just be easy about it.

Take it easy. You can't learn it all in one day; you'll end up burning yourself out: DON'T DO THAT, please! I know that you're eager to learn. Just take some time to absorb it and pray.

I suggest instead of reading on titles of Church, you focus on more in-depth prayer life. A few good books are 'The Sinner's Guide', 'Imitation of Christ', and 'My Daily Bread'. Read them carefully, with deliberateness and measured reading (i.e. not fast, but slow). Also, be especially sure to get yourself a good traditional Catholic confessor priest who is solidly orthodox. No worries! Take things one step at a time!

And in case you wanted to know, that's what I'm trying to do myself; develop a more in-depth prayer life and life close to Jesus. It is the 'pith' or heart of us as christians. We really need to develop a solid, loving prayer-life with God. Too many leave it underdeveloped or neglect altogether too much; or get caught up in debates too often. I had done so. But the soul years for much deeper stuff. I suggest Carmelite mysticism or Byzantine mysticism. Anhelyna would know far more about the later than I. I have not been amongst Byzantine Catholicism as long as she. I defer to her counsel in this regard and matter.

Luther073082 said:

I refer to it as the Roman Catholic Church because just calling it the Catholic Church conflicts with my beliefs and theology.

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And yet y'all say the "Holy Christian Church" or "One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church" while reciting the Creeds (former LCMS Lutheran here).

Needing_Grace said:

And yet y'all say the "Holy Christian Church" or "One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church" while reciting the Creeds (former LCMS Lutheran here).

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Didn't know that the LCMS changed the Nicean Creed (or the Apostle's Creed). Thought it was always "holy catholic church" with the "catholic" meaning it's original definition of "universal".

Imagine that. And me having a number of my family being Lutheran--just never considered it. Live and learn.

Luther073082 said:

I refer to it as the Roman Catholic Church because just calling it the Catholic Church conflicts with my beliefs and theology.

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It conflicts with your theology? I'm sorry to hear that because the Catholic Church has had this title as the "universal" Church long before the term Christian was used. St. Ignatius of Antioch in 101 AD used the term Catholic for the first time referring to the Church Christ founded on St. Peter and the name stuck. It is called the Catholic Church based on the beliefs and theology of 2000 years and it was, at the time until the schism in 1054 and later with the "reformation" the only Church we had and therefore the true Church Christ established.

AMDG said:

Didn't know that the LCMS changed the Nicean Creed (or the Apostle's Creed). Thought it was always "holy catholic church" with the "catholic" meaning it's original definition of "universal".

Imagine that. And me having a number of my family being Lutheran--just never considered it. Live and learn.

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I have gone to one Lutheran or it may have been a different Protestant denomination church where they didn't even say Christian when talking about the church. All they said was "the holy church" that irked me because what Church do you even belong to if you don't say a name??

God bless!

Don't be going to non-Catholic services now. Catholics are forbidden from participating in False worship (i.e. Non-Catholic worship services, whether pagan, heathen, or Protestant). So if the worship isn't the Mass, one cannot go to or participate in it. Unless of course, it is a funeral and one has the permission of one's priest, such an act might be in keep with charity amongst one's family and if such an act doesn't give the appearance of scandal or tacit-approval. This is what's in our Catechisms (It's in the Baltimore Catechism and Catechism on Christian Doctrine/Catechism of Pope St Pius X). And being as Church teaching is immutable and NEVER changes. You can bet your bottom dollar, it is still true today.

RomanRite said:

This, I was forced to visit my Grandmothers non denominational friendly church, after Mass I went with them and just stayed out in the hall way. I can't believe they call that a church. Nice hot coffee and a soft chair and a sit back and relax feeling while a man talks about how non denominational is the way of christ and yyour saved by faith alone hog wash.

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And let me guess, they didn't even have a cross in there either? I've been to one that is exactly as you are describing. Or the ones where no one even dresses reverently for God and goes in jeans and t-shirts.

These types of Churches are the reason why I left Protestantism. There is a total lack of reverence for God to be found there.

ThePapist said:

And let me guess, they didn't even have a cross in there either? I've been to one that is exactly as you are describing. Or the ones where no one even dresses reverently for God and goes in jeans and t-shirts.

These types of Churches are the reason why I left Protestantism. There is a total lack of reverence for God to be found there.

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The lack of crosses in these so called Christian Churches are there not because having crosses there keeps Christ on the cross it is because they are ignoring the need to be humble and contrite confessing Christians who need to confess their sins and remember the sacrifice of Christ. To have no recollection of the cross goes with the whole notion of "once saved always saved" that is so unbiblical.