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"Catholic"

English: "universal"
Catholic\Cath"o*lic\ (k[a^]th"[-o]*[i^]k), a. [L. Catholicus, Gr. kaqoliko`s, universal, general; kata` down, wholly + "o`los whole, probably akin to E. solid: cf. F. catholique.] 1. Universal or general; as, the Catholic faith.

Greek: (1 Tim 1:5, 1 Peter 1:22) "pure"
Strongs' No. <2513> katharos {kath-ar-os'}kaqarov" Word Origin of uncertain affinity TDNT - 3:413,381 adjective Definition(s) 1) clean, pure 1a) physically 1a1) purified by fire 1a2) in a similitude, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit 1b) in a levitical sense 1b1) clean, the use of which is not forbidden, imparts no uncleanness 1c) ethically 1c1) free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt 1c2) free from every admixture of what is false, sincere genuine 1c3) blameless, innocent 1c4) unstained with the guilt of anything

Hebrew: (1 Kings 5:11) "beaten pure"
Strongs' No. <03795> kathiyth {kaw-theeth'} tyit'K Word Origin from <03807> TWOT - 1<062>a adjective Definition(s) 1) beaten out, pure, pounded fine (in a mortar), costly 1a) of olive oil

[Mat 3:11] "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

[Acts 2:2] And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

1. "Katharos" is the Greek word used to signify "cleansed by fire". Phonetically it is essentially the same as "Catholic". You can see from the above verses how it reflects the process of Sanctification. The Hebrew word "kathiyth" ? which means "beaten pure" immediately makes one think of the sufferings of Christ before and during the crucifixion. The Latin version caries with it the idea of making the man WHOLE. Restored in love to God. Holy.

   This leads me to the conclusion that the Church was known as Catholic from the very beginning ? most probably at Pentecost.

2. ..."Catholic"...is known to mean UNIVERSAL...

3. ...God is INFINITE...limitless...

4. A shocking revelation:

   Infinite = Universal = Catholic

   "Catholic" and "Savior/Salvation/Save/Safe" are all derived from the same root word and mean essentially the same thing "solo = whole = universal". So if you say: "JESUS means SALVATION" (made whole/universal/holy), without knowing it, you are saying: "JESUS means CATHOLIC" (made whole/universal/holy). Understanding that a person touched by Jesus is made WHOLE (healed body, mind, and soul).

   Let me whisper a secret in your ear: CATHOLIC and JESUS mean the same thing.

   [Mat 19:26] But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

   [Mark 9:23] And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes."

   ...Jesus is saying in Matt 19:26, Mark 9:23..."if you do not believe in the INFINITE - you really have no faith"...

5. ?Jesus Christ is (freedom = salvation is)?the Son (the product)?of God (of Infinite Predestined Knowledge)?

6. [John 17:3.8] And this is eternal {infinite} life, that they know {have intimate oneness with} thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

7. ?TRUE FREEDOM?is the knowledge of God in doing what is RIGHT?

8. ...people say: "'Catholic' is not in the bible"...but...as with many other things Catholic...you just have to know where and how to look...

9. "Catholic"...addresses Jesus Christ directly...because He is the MIRACLE worker...the God who says: "with God - ALL things are possible"!...

   You cannot believe in (Jesus) the miraculous, if you do not believe in (God) Infinite possibilities, freedom, or free will. Because the miraculous cannot happen in DOUBT.

10. ...our FREE WILL is a direct product of the Infinite nature of God...anything is possible...

    [Mark 11:22] And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.

    [Mark 11:23] Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

    [Mark 11:24] Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

    Jesus showed the door to Infinity was open to Him, as He performed miracles. Miracles are events outside of normal events. You must have faith in the Infinite (limitless possibilities/freedom/Kingdom of God) for miracles to happen, for prayers to be answered. A prayer is a request to change the future. A miracle is that change being made ? answered prayer. Thus you can see, if a person believes in strict predestination ? they shut out the possibility of miracles. Because in order for change to happen, you must believe that change is possible.

11. ..."Catholic"...is an expression of ultimate faith...infinite possibilities...the magnitude of this is wonderful...

    In essence, the Catholic Spirit is the Holy (Universal Pure) Spirit. To be Catholic is to have faith and confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit to answer prayer. This faith in the Catholic power of God, is the answer to most of the doubts people voice against the Church. All (infinite) things are possible to him who believes (in the Infinite).

12. I am married to a Southern Baptist lady. I met her in a time in my life when I believed but I was just floating.

    She encouraged me to read and study the bible, and we went to Protestant churches.

    The more I read and studied scripture - the parts which illuminated Catholic doctrine just started "talking" to me, until I could ignore them no more. I definitely was not looking for this, not at all. Along with this, I really began to HUNGER for the Lord's Supper. No matter how hard the Protestants ever seemed to try - the real SUBSTANCE of the Church is definitely missing in some of their services.

    This is something many of them just don't know. And I feel deeply, it is the Holy Spirit.

    When I went back into the Catholic Churches, I really sensed a FEMININE welcome. Like sitting in grand ma's kitchen while she is baking you cookies. The feeling of home. A love and warmth I have never really felt in any of the Protestant churches I have ever attended. And I believe I have attended some of the very best - really.

    I found "Catholic" was a part of my being - and I only feel like me when I am there.

• The one thing that troubles me in conclusion to faith is, knowing that it is absolutely essential for salvation to have a "Catholic" KNOWLEDGE of God - HOW CAN people out there who have grown up and been trained to hate "Catholic" - be saved? Can hate and animosity occupy a heart with faith and love - at the same time? 1 Cor 13 says: faith without love is NOTHING.

• Because, I have come to know "Catholic" to mean the state of a healed person who has been touched by the Lord. "Whole/healthy"= "universally pure"="catholic" - the ENTIRE/UNIVERSAL person, body, mind, and soul.

• That tongue of fire descending and entering within a person - purging and healing that person of all that is unholy, all that is contrary to God. What happened to the apostles at Pentecost.

• Essentially - "Catholic" means HOLY. In researching and defining what exactly "Catholic" means and and what it means to be Catholic - you find yourself talking about the HOLY SPIRIT himself. So a person cursing "Catholic", is unconsciously cursing God Himself! This revelation makes me wonder how a person can have a relationship with the Lord - while carrying around a hatred of Catholic in their heart?

  [Mat 9:2] And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."
  [Mat 9:5] For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk?
  [Mat 9:6] But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he then said to the paralytic--"Rise, take up your bed and go home."

  [Jas 5:14] Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
  [Jas 5:15] and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

• This is baptism.

• The deep inner peace, love, and joy I experience in the Lord's Supper at Mass confirms within me that I am not only Catholic in name but in being. I find it difficult to convey this distinction, when I realize it is the Spirit of God within me, that so many people talk about - but do not really know. And this KNOWING is the heart of the thing that I find difficult to convey. The KNOWING which is a joining and intimacy of me and the Infinite.

• Jesus says: [John 17:3] And this is eternal life, that they KNOW thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

• The Church in the past has said - only Catholics are saved. Now that I have come to understand that "universal" not only reflects the infinite nature of God in creation, it also reflects the internal change which occurs to a person upon baptism. The waters of baptism conform a person to the infinite nature of God. Baptism resets the persons inner being to the infinite nature of God. But, if a person does not embrace the reality of baptism and its effects in faith, its effects are lost. Catholic intimacy is achieved through embracing the sacraments - especially baptism and the Lord's Supper.

• But still - how can a Protestant ever know this intimacy (which is at its' heart - KNOWING God) if they reject/hate the Mass, the Eucharist, confessing and seeking forgiveness of sins, works of love? And without this intimacy - how can they be saved?

• ...There is no judgment in hope?with God, all things are possible?all things are possible to him who believes?God is impartial?faith is much wider and deeper than "simple belief"?

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Praise Lord God!