Changes

== History ==

== History ==

The original Christian community was founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ and led by the Apostles. St. [[Paul|Paul the Apostle]] was, together with [[Saint Peter]], the most notable of Early Christian missionaries. Christians were subjected intermittently to persecution, first under Nero, shortly after the foundation of the church, and again, more severely, under the emperors Decius and Diocletian in the third century. Christianity was nevertheless adopted as the official cult of the Roman Empire in the early fourth century by [[Constantine I]], although he himself may have remained a catechumen until his deathbed. In 380, Emperor Theodosius I accepted Catholic Christianity (as opposed to Arian Christianity) as the official religion of the [[Roman Empire]]. During the [[Middle Ages]] the Church underwent a time of missionary activity and expansion. After numerous disputes between eastern and western churches from the ninth century onwards, the Church underwent a great schism in 1054 that divided it into a Western (Latin) branch, which has been called the Catholic Church and an Eastern branch, which has become known as the [[Orthodox Church]]. The second major schism was the [[Protestant Reformation]] in the 16th century. As a reaction to the increasing popularity of Protestantism the Roman Catholic Church began to undertake some reforms. Firstly from 1869–1870 during the [[First Vatican Council]]. It was during the [[Second Vatican Council]] (1962–1965) that the most comprehensive reforms were undertaken. The Roman Catholic Church stretched relations with other Christian communities and other religions. The Roman Catholic Church also issued directions for a revision of the liturgy.

The original Christian community was founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ and led by the Apostles. St. [[Paul|Paul the Apostle]] was, together with [[Saint Peter]], the most notable of Early Christian missionaries. Christians were subjected to persecution, first under [[Nero]], shortly after the foundation of the church, and again, more severely, under the emperors [[Decius]] and [[Diocletian]] in the third century as well as [[Domitian]], [[Marcus Aurelius]] and others with the penalty for being Christian ultimately being death.  After almost 300 years of persecution against the Church had only seen Christianity flourish, the Emperor [[Constantine I]] had a religious experience and legalized Christianity in the early fourth century.  Going to war with the co-Emperor of the east over his continued persecution of Christians, Constantine before sole Emperor.  The age of persecution was over. In 380, Emperor Theodosius I accepted Christianity as the official religion of the [[Roman Empire]]. By the time of the fall of the Roman Empire in 454, the surrounding barbarian nations had been Christianized, although mostly they followed [[Arianism]].  Over the next century or so they embraced Catholicism.

 

During the [[Middle Ages]] the Church underwent a time of missionary activity and expansion. After numerous disputes between eastern and western churches that became more pronounced from the ninth century onwards, the Church underwent a great schism in 1054 that divided it into a Western (Latin) branch, which has been called the Catholic Church and an Eastern branch, which has become known as the [[Orthodox Church]]. Both traced their roots to the time of Jesus, but the Orthodox Church did not acknowledge the Pope as the one leader of the Church and instead believed that all of the patriarchs were equals.

 

The second major schism was the [[Protestant Reformation]] in the 16th century. As a reaction to the increasing popularity of Protestantism the Roman Catholic Church began to undertake some reforms. Firstly from 1869–1870 during the [[First Vatican Council]]. It was during the [[Second Vatican Council]] (1962–1965) that the most comprehensive reforms were undertaken. The Roman Catholic Church stretched relations with other Christian communities and other religions. The Roman Catholic Church also issued directions for a revision of the liturgy.

==Different churches==

==Different churches==

== Fathers ==

== Fathers ==

[[St. Ambrose]], Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397, was one of the most illustrious Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and fitly chosen, together with [[St. Augustine]], [[St. John Chrysostom]], and [[St. Athanasius]], to uphold the venerable Chair of the Prince of the Apostles in the tribune of St. Peter's at Rome. <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01383c.htm St. Ambrose] Catholic Encyclopedia.</ref>

[[St. Ambrose]], Bishop of [[Milan]] from 374 to 397, was one of the most illustrious Fathers and [[Doctors of the Church]], and fitly chosen, together with [[St. Augustine]], [[St. John Chrysostom]], and [[St. Athanasius]], to uphold the venerable Chair of the Prince of the Apostles in the tribune of St. Peter's at Rome. <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01383c.htm St. Ambrose] Catholic Encyclopedia.</ref>

<br>

<br>