The Roman Catholic Church of Eutopia
Salvete Fratres Sororesque in Christe! Or for those of you not trained in Latin, "Welcome brothers and sisters in Christ!" The Roman Catholic Church is the original Christian Church founded by the Apostles, most notably Petrus or Peter. It is called "Roman" because its seat of doctrinal authority rests in Rome. It is called "Catholic" because it is a universal church that embraces all of humanity. The oldest and largest branch of Christianity, Catholicism is the trunk from which all other Christian sects have grown. It remains widely practiced throughout Europe and the Americas.
What makes Catholicism unique from all other Christian religions if the richness of its living tradition. With the sacraments, saints, rituals, prayers, retreats, monasteries, councils, encyclicals, bulls, et cetera the Catholic Church provides a full and varied spiritual life that ranges the entire spectrum of religion. The Church is fully composed of those still alive striving for heaven(Ecclesia Milites) and those who have already attained it, namely the Saints(Ecclesia Triumphans)
Some useful links for Catholics and those interested in the Ecclesia Universa, The Catholic Catechism, The Catholic Encyclopedia, and Summa Theologica by Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Catholic Clergy and Laypeople of Note
The Pope
Current: John Paul II
Full Title: His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, Vicar of Christ, Pontifex Maximus, Servant of the Servants, Successor of St. Peter, Bishop of Rome
Jurisdiction: Universe
Diocese: Rome
The Primate of Eutopia
Current: Immanuel Silberfel
Address: Your Eminence, Immanuel Silberfel, Cardinal-Archbishop of New Schleswig, Bishop of Hannover
Jurisdiction: Eutopia
Archdiocese: New Schleswig
Diocese: Hannover
Sacraments of the Catholic Church
Baptism - First Sacrament of Initiation
"Holy Baptism holds the first place among the sacraments, because it is the door of the spiritual life; for by it we are made members of Christ and incorporated with the Church. And since through the first man death entered into all, unless we be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, we can not enter into the kingdom of Heaven, as Truth Himself has told us. The matter of this sacrament is true and natural water; and it is indifferent whether it be cold or hot. The form is: I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. We do not, however, deny that the words: Let this servant of Christ be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; or: This person is baptized by my hands in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, constitute true baptism; because since the principal cause from which baptism has its efficacy is the Holy Trinity, and the instrumental cause is the minister who confers the sacrament exteriorly, then if the act exercised by the minister be expressed, together with the invocation of the Holy Trinity, the sacrament is perfected. The minister of this sacrament is the priest, to whom it belongs to baptize, by reason of his office, In case of necessity, however, not only a priest or deacon, but even a layman or woman, nay, even a pagan or heretic can baptize, provided he observes the form used by the Church, and intends to perform what the Church performs. The effect of this sacrament is the remission of all sin, original and actual; likewise of all punishment which is due for sin. As a consequence, no satisfaction for past sins is enjoined upon those who are baptized; and if they die before they commit any sin, they attain immediately to the kingdom of heaven and the vision of God." - Council of Florence
Eucharist - Second Sacrament of Initiation
Celebrated regularly through the Mass, the Eucharist is recieved in two forms, bread and wine, body and blood. Wheat bread and wine is transubstantiated during the Mass by God into the body and blood of Christ, then the congregation partakes of it in memory of the first Mass, the Last Supper. By participating in this sacrament, we reconfirm our allegiance to God, by imitating the Apostles and are strengthened with God's charismata or grace.
Confirmation - Third Sacrament of Initiation
Through this last and final sacrament, only capable of being taken by a rational adult, a Catholic confirms for all time his membership in the Church of Christ, becoming a Soldier of God. Confirmation imparts an increase of sanctifying grace which makes the recipient a "perfect Christian"; a special sacramental grace consisting in the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost and notably in the strength and courage to confess boldly the name of Christ; an indelible character by reason of which the sacrament cannot be received again by the same person. Oftentimes, adults receive all three of the sacraments of initiation at once.
Reconciliation - Also Penance or Confession
Perhaps one of the most therapeutic sacraments, by willingly searching ones conscience and bringing oneself to outwardly confess ones faults one is able to surmount ones faults through God's forgiveness and grace. Some important things to remember that penance is not a mere human invention devised by the Church to secure power over consciences or to relieve the emotional strain of troubled souls; it is the ordinary means appointed by Christ for the remission of sin. Man indeed is free to obey or disobey, but once he has sinned, he must seek pardon not on conditions of his own choosing but on those which God has determined, and these for the Christian are embodied in the Sacrament of Penance. No Catholic believes that a priest simply as an individual man, however pious or learned, has power to forgive sins. This power belongs to God alone; but He can and does exercise it through the ministration of men. Since He has seen fit to exercise it by means of this sacrament, it cannot be said that the Church or the priest interferes between the soul and God; on the contrary, penance is the removal of the one obstacle that keeps the soul away from God. It is not true that for the Catholic the mere "telling of one's sins" suffices to obtain their forgiveness. Without sincere sorrow and purpose of amendment, confession avails nothing, the pronouncement of absolution is of no effect, and the guilt of the sinner is greater than before. While this sacrament as a dispensation of Divine mercy facilitates the pardoning of sin, it by no means renders sin less hateful or its consequences less dreadful to the Christian mind; much less does it imply permission to commit sin in the future. In paying ordinary debts, as e.g., by monthly settlements, the intention of contracting new debts with the same creditor is perfectly legitimate; a similar intention on the part of him who confesses his sins would not only be wrong in itself but would nullify the sacrament and prevent the forgiveness of sins then and there confessed. Strangely enough, the opposite charge is often heard, viz., that the confession of sin is intolerable and hard and therefore alien to the spirit of Christianity and the loving kindness of its Founder. But this view, in the first place, overlooks the fact that Christ, though merciful, is also just and exacting. Furthermore, however painful or humiliating confession may be, it is but a light penalty for the violation of God's law. Finally, those who are in earnest about their salvation count no hardship too great whereby they can win back God's friendship. (Catholic Encyclopedia)
Annointing of the Sick
Matrimony
Holy Orders
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