The Catholic Church has a rich history, but not all times were good. The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16) and was established at Pentecost (Acts 2), when the disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, went out and proclaimed the good news to all. Almost all Christians from the time of the Acts of the Apostles to the Reformation were either Catholic or Orthodox.

 

In the first few centuries of Christianity, Christians spread the Good News orally and through writings. Many of these writings were preserved and copies were made. A fair few of these writings became a part of the New Testament Scriptures. 

 

The first few centuries of Christianity saw much persecution happening. However, through this, we have seen many saintly people rise. Many faithful individuals such as St Patrick, St Joan of Arc, St Francis of Assisi and St Barbara devoted their lives to live out a faithful and fruitful life. In around 313 AD Christianity throughout Europe became legal by Constantine, and the Christians were allowed to practice their faith more freely. During these early times in Christian history, many councils were formed to discuss certain doctrines, writing the Nicene Creed, and to compile the Old and New Testament Canon of Scripture. Some councils were ecumenical, which meant that those councils invited a broader range of Bishops from different Christian parts of the world.

  

For almost 1,500 years from the start of the Church at Pentecost to the Reformation, Christianity proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ through meeting together and celebrating the Eucharist, scribing documents on the teachings and faith of Christians, and individuals who willingly gave up their lives for Christ. During the early days of the Church, with the authority of Christ and the Holy Spirit, the Church sought out many heresies that arose whose writings contradicted the teachings of the Early Church beliefs. This resulted in many of the Early Church fathers writing against these heresies.

 

In 1054, the Eastern Church, also know as the Orthodox Church split from the Catholic Church regarding particular doctrinal issues, for instance, rules on using unleavened bread rather than leavened bread  in the Sacrament of the Eucharist were in constant debate. Political disagreements also made communication between the two churches divide more. All of this resulted in the separation of the Western and Eastern Church. 

 

During the early 1500's many Catholic Church leaders were taking advantage of their authority and were exploiting their congregations by asking them to sell valuables in order to be saved. Martin Luther who witness this as a priest, called out the mistreatment of the lay people and the controlling authority of the church. Luther's original intention was not to leave the Church but rather to reform it. The aim of reforming the Church back to its original beliefs was necessary, as Catholic leaders were going in the wrong direction. Pope Leo X challenged Luther's desires and led Martin Luther to write his famous 95 theses, and in the end, leaving the Catholic Church.

 

By the 1500s, more written documents and articles could be printed and distributed to more people than before, thanks to the printing press. For the first time, people who have been able to learn to read could be able to purchase their copy of the Bible, rather than having to wait until Sunday Mass. This changed society as people were allowed to read the Bible for themselves and develop ideas of what the Bible means to them and their Christian lives. This would have been a rewarding opportunity; however, also it was an unsettling time as some of the people could overlook the Catholic Church and her teachings.

 

Throughout the mid-1000's, there were three significant reformations, the Protestant Reformation, The English Reformation, and the Counter-Reformation. In 1545, the Catholic Church came together in the Council of Trent to discuss the Catholic faith's theology. This is also known as the Counter-Reformation, which lasted 18 years. Since then, the Catholic Church has established the first and second Vatican Council that would renew the teachings of the Church and initiated more ways to share the Word of God to the congregation.