The Meaning of “Catholic”

『天主教』一詞，起源自拉丁語的「Catholicus」，意思是「普遍的」，翻譯作中文「公」是取自「天下為公」的「公」；「公教會」一詞的最早出現在宗徒信經中所述的「聖而公教會」（anctam Ecclesiam catholicam），其涵義因著公元381年，召開的第一次尼西亞大公會議誕生的尼西亞信經得到進一步的完善確立：「我信唯一、至聖、至公、從宗徒傳下來的教會」（Et unam, sanctam, cathólicam et apostólicam Ecclésiam）。

中文語境通用的「天主教」一詞，係利瑪竇等耶穌會會士於明朝中葉來到中國後為使教義容易使中國人了解而採用，為呼應中國人「敬天」之傳統，且多用來指稱天主教會，即由羅馬教宗領導的教會。

The word “Catholic Church” comes from the Latin “Catholicus”. It means “Universal” and was translated as “Gong” from “Tien Shia Wei Gong” in Chinese. It first appeared in The Apostles’ Creed as “The Holy Catholic Church” (anctam Ecclesiam catholicam). In AD381, the First Council of Constantinople adopted and modified the original Nicene Creed of AD325: I believe the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church…（Et unam, sanctam, cathólicam et apostólicam Ecclésiam).

The word “Catholic Church” in Chinese was given by Fr. Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit missionary, when he arrived in China in the Ming Dynasty. He thought it reflected the Chinese tradition of respecting God and is easier for the Chinese people to understand and adopt.

Formation of the Early Church

根據聖經的記載，耶穌基督把神聖的教會權柄交給了宗徒之長伯多祿：『約納的兒子西滿，你是有福的，因為不是肉和血啟示了你，而是我在天之父。 我再給你說：你是伯多祿（磐石），在這磐石上，我要建立我的教會，陰間的門決不能戰勝她。 我要將天國的鑰匙交給你；凡你在地上所束縛的，在天上也要被束縛；凡你在地上所釋放的，在天上也要被釋放』。(聖經 瑪竇福音16:17-19)

而教會團體產生於公元一世紀的基督宗教，隨著耶路撒冷的被佔領，教會的中心逐漸轉向帝國的首都羅馬「梵蒂岡」，亦稱「羅馬公教會」。根據信理神學（dogmatic theology）的論證闡述，天主教會是耶穌基督親手建立的、唯一、至聖、至公、從宗徒傳下來的教會。目前天主教會在全球約有1,114,966,000位信徒，佔總人口的六分之一。

According to the Bible, Jesus Christ, the divine authority of the Church, said to the Apostle Peter : “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16: 17-19

The contemporary Catholic Church is the continuation of this early Christian community established by Jesus in the 1 st century AD. After Jerusalem was occupied by the Roman Empire, the religious center of the church turned to the capital of  the empire – Vatican, Rome, and became know as “Roman Catholic.” According to dogmatic theology, Catholic is established by Jesus Christ and is one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Currently there are 1,114966,000 Catholics and is 1/6 of the population on earth.

教會的成員 The Church Structure

教宗: 是全球教會的首牧，也是教會共融合一的標記。
主教: 是地方教會的領袖，負責宣講、聖化和管理的工作。
神父: 神父亦稱司鐸，是主教的合作者，分擔公務司祭職宣講、聖化和管理的職務。
修會會士、修女: 透過神貧、貞潔和服從的承諾與誓願，在修會宗旨及團體生活中以祈禱、愛德服務，履行傳揚福音的使命，彰顯天國。
執事: 是主教及神父的合作者，專注宣講及愛德服務。
信友: 在生活中以信、望、愛三德的行動為天主作見證。

Pope: Head of the the Catholic Church.
Cardinals: Elects the pope and assist the pope in various departments.
Bishop : Manages the churches in their assigned geographical areas called dioceses.
Parish priests and pastors: Works with the bishop of the diocese. Manages the day-to-day duties in their own church, such as leading mass and hearing confessions.
Religious men and women: Commits to a vow of chastity and obedience, committed to a religious purpose and community life of prayer, charity service, fulfilling the mission of preaching the Gospel, highlighting the kingdom of heaven.
Deacon: Works with parish priests and bishop of the diocese, focused on preaching and charity services.
The faithful of the parish community: live life with faith, hope and love in God and be witnesses of Christ.