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“The Roman Catholic view of justification centers on faith working itself out in love, contrasting with the Protestant view of being justified by faith alone. As a result of the fall of Adam, all people are conceived in sin but, by the righteousness of God, are universally justified by faith”
*Mary, ©Image Credit: Shutterstock
PEGASUS REPORTERS, LAGOS | MARCH 5, 2025
Throughout its history, Catholicism has developed several beliefs and practices that have evolved from simple roots. Catholic history has played a significant role in shaping the modern-day Catholic Church over the past two millennia. Some people might question whether Catholicism is a religion or not. However, Catholics, like all Christians, believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the “Savior” of humanity. We look into some of the Catholic beliefs not found in the Bible.
Transubstantiation
The Catholic doctrine of “transubstantiation” holds that during the Mass, while the outward appearances of bread and wine remain, their profound inner reality changes so completely that they are no longer bread and wine at all, even though all that can be seen, touched, or tasted are still bread and wine. The words of Jesus at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25) establish only the institution of the Eucharist, not its specific Catholic explanation in terms of “transubstantiation.”
Purgatory
Catholics believe in a place called purgatory, where the person who has sinned asks God for pardon. Purgatory is somewhat of a purging area for people, as the word purgatory means the cleansing of one’s soul after death. They will do this because they would like to enter paradise one day. This is a place where you are punished for your wrongdoings. One of the passages in the Bible that lead Catholics to believe this is 1 Corinthians 3 15. In this verse, it says that the souls of sinners will be burned and will be saved as though they were passing through fire. The concept of purgatory as a distinct state separate from heaven and hell and the associated doctrinal beliefs did not come until much later in history.
*Transubstatiantion, ©Image Credit: Shutterstock
Papal Infallibility
A distinctive teaching of the Catholic Church is papal infallibility. For Catholics, the pope represents the voice of Christ on earth in an extraordinary way. Because of this, the pope is preserved from error when he speaks on matters of faith and morals. While the idea of papal authority is found in the Bible in passages such as Matthew 16:18–19 (where Christ gives Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven), the concept of papal infallibility, as defined at the First Vatican Council in 1870, is not explicitly found in the Bible.
The Immaculate Conception
The Catholic Church teaches that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was preserved from the effects of original sin, a belief known as the Immaculate Conception. When scripture calls Mary’ full of grace’ (Luke 1:28) and ‘blessed among women’ (Luke 1:42), the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, proclaimed dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854, goes further than the explicit statements upheld.
Veneration of Saints
Assumption of Mary
The Assumption of Mary is a doctrine of the Catholic Church; in other words, Catholics believe that she was taken body and soul into heaven after her time here on earth was up. Revelation 12:1-6 describes a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. Catholics believe that this is a symbolic description of Mary in heaven.
The Communion of Saints
Catholics believe in the communion of saints, the intercession of saints, and that the Church comprises all of us, including the living and the dead. Scripture does say that we should pray for one another (1 Timothy 2:1-4, James 5:16). We believe in the intercession of saints when we pray to them and in devotion to particular saints.
*Immaculate Conception, ©Image Credit: Shutterstock
Sacraments
Catholicism recognizes seven sacraments, which Jesus instituted. They include baptism, confirmation (which along with baptism and Eucharist, are called the sacraments of initiation), Eucharist, penance (called confession to many – here Sacrament of Reconciliation because penance is the act of making amends for sin by doing something good for someone), anointing of the sick (formerly extreme unction or last rites), holy orders (ordination of priests and bishops), and matrimony (marriage). Since several people often ask about this, the institution of sacraments is not as apparent from scripture as one might think from scripture alone.
The Doctrine of Justification
The Roman Catholic view of justification centers on faith working itself out in love, contrasting with the Protestant view of being justified by faith alone. As a result of the fall of Adam, all people are conceived in sin but, by the righteousness of God, are universally justified by faith. The Catholic Church teaches a doctrine called original righteousness that prevents man from being wholly involved in sin, and it also teaches that a man can change this righteousness through faith.
*The Pope
Devotion to Mary
Mary is virtually consecrated in Catholicism as the loved mother of Jesus. There are numerous practices connected with the catholic reverence for Mary. Some practices and devotions include pious doings such as the Hail Mary and the Rosary and numerous devotional practices such as the Miraculous Medal and the Brown Scapular. The reverence for Mary is supported because it manifests within the Catholic’s sacred scriptures. One prominent example of why Mary is so important is that they gave birth to Jesus Christ.
Seven Deadly Sins
The most significant sins are known as the Seven Deadly Sins. They are called deadly because of their harmfulness to people spiritually. A sin can be defined as a transgression against divine law. The easiest way to avoid sin is to live a Roman Catholic lifestyle. The Seven Deadly Sins have gotten the best of many people, and undoubtedly, many will continue for years. Readers, though, are faced with the question of who these sins will be served up to next. The Seven Deadly Sins consist of Pride, Covetousness (Avarice), Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Anger, and Sloth.
*Sign of the Cross
The Command Structure of the Cathedral
Catholicism asserts the vertical constitution of the Cathedral, comforting the sacralized assistants and encompassing the Ordained Company, such as prep boards and choir coats, constituting the fortified journey and prolific leadership. Irrespective of the Rite defining present roles and depictions of attendees amidst the one body (historically the basis of religious sanctifying authority, including functioning status and identity), the precise dimension also manages those abiding in the Cathedral, speaking of Christian tales and disrobing Canon Legislative structures.
Sanctified Craftsmanship and Depicted Halos
Catholic traditional practice then handled sanctified craftsmanship and depicted halos in some reverence, speaking of accents and hymn-passion devotionally to hold the New Testament Assembly. Even if the Bible claims eloquent craftsmanship, prophesizing booths of the once-deployed Old Testament, Catholic traditional celebration, and the divine revelation urge contemplation and administered partnership with Christ as philosopher king and the first civil servants of the Church of Christ.
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Jesus Christ is the fullness of revelation; all that he taught and did are recorded in the Gospels ; the ones not recorded have been handed over through Sacred Tradition— refer to Jn.20: 30. There were many books written but through Sacred Tradition, the Catholic Church presented the ones that were inspired as we have it today. The Catholic Church is the provider and interpreter of the Bible