Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
In the latin Church, celibacy is obligatory for bishops and priests. Sign of the Cross:A sign in the form of a cross made by the Christian as a prayer honoring the Blessed Trinity, "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". The following days are solemnities:
Tridentine Mass:The Latin Mass authorized by the Council of Trent in the 16th Century. Primacy:See Pope. Preaching:The proclamation of the Gospel challenging the listener to make a commitment. Roman Curia:The bureaucracy that assists the Pope in administering his duty of pastoring the Catholic Church. Passion:The suffering and death of Jesus. These canticles come from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Definition, Dogmatic:A solemn declaration by an ecumenical council or by the Pope that a doctrine is revealed by God and must be believed by the Universal Church; such definitions are called infallible, and must be adhered to with the obedience of faith. This is why a Theological Dictionary is so important. Visit:Catholic custom of dropping into the Church for a few minutes during the day to say a quick prayer. Lay:Church members who are not ordained. L
Host:The wafer of consecrated bread which Catholics receive at Holy Communion. Votive Mass:A votive Mass celebrates a mystery of the Lord or a saint to which the faithful may have a special devotion. See Works of Mercy. Members of orders which are not enclosed are usually referred to as religious sisters. Eastern Churches:Churches of the East in union with Rome, the Western Church, but not of Roman rite, with their own liturgical, theological, and administrative traditions, such as those of the Byzantine, Alexandrian or Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Maronite, and Chaldean rites. On This day Catholics commemorate the supper Jesus held with his disciples on the night before he died. Vision, Beatific:See Beatific Vision. Pastoral Care:The caring work of the Church, particularly that exercised by Ordained Ministers. Mass:The Eucharist or principal sacramental celebration of the Church, established by Jesus at the Last Supper, in which the mystery of our salvation through participation in the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Christ is renewed and accomplished. Jesus revealed that God is Father in a unique way: not only as Creator, the origin of all things, but also as eternal Father in his relationship to his only Son, who is eternally begotten of the Father and consubstantial with the Father. The pope exercises a primacy of authority as Vicar of Christ and shepherd of the whole Church; he receives the divine assistance promised by Christ to the Church when he defines infallibly a doctrine of faith or morals. Being this a dictionary, the link option should be mandatory. Tabernacle:The receptacle in the church in which the consecrated Eucharist is reserved for Communion for the sick and dying.
In judging the gravity of sin, it is customary to distinguish between mortal and venial sins. The Mass renews the paschal sacrifice of Christ as the sacrifice offered by the Church. "Transubstantiation" indicates that through the consecration of the bread and the wine there occurs the change of the entire substance of the bread into the substance of the Body of Christ, and of the entire substance of the wine into the Blood of Christ even though the appearances or "species" of bread and wine remain. We are obliged to make reparation for personal sins against justice and truth, either through restitution of stolen goods or correcting the harm done to the other's good name. March 19
God has revealed himself as the "One who is," as truth and love, as creator of all that is, as the author of divine revelation, and as the source of salvation. CWL:Catholic Womens League: An organization promoting religious, education and social welfare and represents Catholic women's interests on national and international bodies. Sacrament:An efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Satisfaction (for Sin):An act whereby the sinner makes amends for sin, especially in reparation to God for offenses against him. Proto-Evangelium:The proto or first Gospel: the passage in Genesis (3:15) that first mysteriously announces the promise of the Messiah and Redeemer. Basilian Chouerite Order of Saint John the Baptist (Melkite Greek) B.C. See Creed. Mary:The mother of Jesus. Relic:Any part of the physcial remains of a saint or items that have touched the body of a saint. Heresy:The obstinate denial after Baptism of a truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith. Passover:See Pasch/Paschal Lamb. From Advent through Christmas to Epiphany, from Lent through Easter to Pentecost. In order to be faithful to the teaching of Jesus, the decalogue must be interpreted in the light of the great commandment of love of God and neighbor. The eleventh article of the Christian creed states, "I believe in the resurrection of the body." Real Presence:The unique, true presence of Christ in the Eucharist under the species or appearances of bread and wine. 50 days after Easter
Lord:The Old Testament title for God that in speaking or reading aloud was always substituted for the name that was revealed to Moses and that was too holy to be pronounced: Yahweh. Heresy:The obstinate denial after Baptism of a truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith. Mass:The Eucharist or principal sacramental celebration of the Church, established by Jesus at the Last Supper, in which the mystery of our salvation through participation in the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Christ is renewed and accomplished. Nicene Creed:The profession of faith, common to the churches of East and West, which came from the first two ecumenical councils, Nicaea and Constantinople: 325 and 381 a.d..
Old Testament:The forty-six books of the Bible, which record the history of salvation from creation through the old alliance or covenant with Israel, in preparation for the appearance of Christ as Savior of the world. Birth of John the Baptist
Lord's Prayer:The title early Christians gave to the prayer which Jesus entrusted to his disciples and to the Church (Mt 6:9-13). The traditional list of seven gifts of the Spirit is derived from Isaiah 11:1-3: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, piety, fortitude, and fear of the Lord. That's why I got the electronic version. The world will reach its goal and perfection when it has been renewed and transformed into "the new heaven and the new earth" in the fullness of God's kingdom. This primeval event is narrated in figurative language in the Book of Genesis, which describes this sin as a "fall" from God's friendship and grace, which they had received from God not only for themselves but for the whole human race. Profession:The taking of vows on joining a religious order.
Pastoral Letter:A letter sent from a Bishop to his diocese on a number of occasions during the year and read out to people at Mass. This title connotes a relationship with the eschatological figure of the "Son of man appearing in clouds and glory" in the prophecy of Daniel. R
Vestments:Garments worn by Ministers of the Church when celebrating Mass or administering the sacraments. Sunday after Holy Trinity
Worship:Adoration and honor given to God, which is the first act of the virtue of religion. Virtues, Theological:Gifts infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. Eternal life signifies that this gift will last forever in the blessedness of heaven. Palm Sunday:The Sunday before Easter. Poverty:The condition of want experienced by those who are poor, whom Christ called "blessed," and for whom he had a special love. At the Presentation, Simeon and Anna sum up the expectation of Israel for the long awaited Messiah, the light of the nations and the glory of Israel, but also as a sign of contradiction. The mystery of the Trinity in itself is inaccessible to the human mind and is the object of faith only because it was revealed by Jesus Christ, the divine Son of the eternal Father. Fathers of The Church:Church teachers and writers of the early centuries whose teachings are a witness to the Tradition of the Church. The Church's confession of faith in the virgin birth affirms that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit without human seed. The divine nature refers to the one divine substance or essence; each of the three distinct Persons of the Trinity is entirely God, who is one by the divine nature. Prayer:The elevation of the mind and heart to God in praise of his glory; a petition made to God for some desired good, or in thanksgiving for a good received, or in intercession for others before God. John the Baptist concludes the work of the prophets of the Old Covenant. K
Purgatory:A state of final purification after death and before entrance into heaven for those who died in God's friendship, but were only imperfectly purified; a final cleansing of human imperfection before one is able to enter the joy of heaven. In the Old Testament or Covenant, God revealed his law through Moses and prepared his people for salvation through the prophets. Hermit:One who lives the eremitical life. It is the name of an international Catholic movement for peace. For example, the Holy Land, Rome and Lourdes. In judging the gravity of sin, it is customary to distinguish between mortal and venial sins. Protestant:A person who believes in Christ and has been baptized, but who does not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety, but rather is a member of a Protestant church or ecclesial community whose roots are in the Reformation, begun in the sixteenth century. Mary, Mother of God
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Vespers:The evening prayer of the Divine Office. Free Will:Human experience which governs our actions and gives us the freedom to make choices regarding our full expression of God's love. Deuterocanonical books:"Deuterocanonical" means "second canon" . Simony:The buying or selling of spiritual things, which have God alone as their owner and master. Consecration:The dedication of a thing or person to divine service by a prayer or blessing. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present: grave matter, full knowledge of the evil of the act, and full consent of the will. Wisdom:A spiritual gift which enables one to know the purpose and plan of God; one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Whit means White, in earlier times the newly baptized wore the white robes of Baptism on This day. Deacon, Diaconate:A third degree of the hierarchy of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, after bishop and priest. Tridentine Mass:The Latin Mass authorized by the Council of Trent in the 16th Century. The communion of saints is professed in the Apostles' Creed, where it has also been interpreted to refer to unity in the "holy things" communio sanctorum, especially the unity of faith and charity achieved through participation in the Eucharist. Vestments:Garments worn by Ministers of the Church when celebrating Mass or administering the sacraments.
In the New Testament the "world" is sometimes used to indicate the forces of opposition to the work of Jesus and of his Holy Spirit. Institute, Secular:A form of consecrated life in which the Christian faithful living in the world strive for the perfection of charity and work for the sanctification of the world especially from within. Parables:A characteristic feature of the teaching of Jesus. An Ecumenical Council is usually called by the successor of St. Peter, the Pope, or at least confirmed or accepted by him. Grace at Meals:A short prayer before and after meals thanking God for the food we eat and asking his blessing on those who prepare it. The most recent Code of Canon Law was promulgated in 1983 for the latin Western Church and in 1991 for the Eastern Church. Virtues, Theological:Gifts infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. The theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity. Through his sacrificial offering he has become high priest and unique mediator who has gained for us access to God's saving grace for humanity. The Gospel is handed on in the apostolic tradition of the Church as the source of all-saving truth and moral discipline. The "Last Judgment" is God's triumph over the revolt of evil, after the final cosmic upheaval of this passing world. Religious definition is - relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity. A day on which special honor is paid to the Blessed Trinity. Sacrifice:A ritual offering made to God by a priest on behalf of the people, as a sign of adoration, gratitude, supplication, and communion. The vocation of the laity consists in seeking the Kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God's will. Parish Council:A group of people elected by the Parish who, together with the Parish Priest, look after the various needs of the Parish. Sinai, meaning "I am who I am". Apostolic Succession:The handing on of apostolic preaching and authority from the Apostles to their successors the bishops through the laying on of hands, as a permanent office in the Church. Vatican:The official residence of the Pope in Rome. Requiem:A Mass for the dead. Fr. Y
See Satisfaction (for sin). It takes its name from the first word of the prayer with which Mass begins. Latin Rite:The traditions of liturgy, laws, and practice in the Church in the West, as distinct from the rites and practices of the churches of the East. The miracles of Jesus were messianic signs of the presence of God's kingdom. :Stands for "Union of Catholic Mothers", and organization of Catholic married women for the preservation of faith and morals in the home. Trinity Sunday:The Sunday after Pentecost. Mixed Missionaries:Christians who proclaim the Gospel to non-Christians in a foreign country. See Pope. Pentecost:The "fiftieth" day at the end of the seven weeks following Passover, Easter in the Christian dispensation. This item: Catholic Bible Dictionary. Devil/Demon:A fallen angel, who sinned against God by refusing to accept His reign. Omnipresence:That God is everywhere. It also refers to the central government of the Church. Hail Mary:The prayer known in Latin as the Ave Maria. Lectionary Cycle:The Scripture readings used in Mass are set in a 3-year Sunday cycle and 2-year weekday cycle. Pastor/Pastoral Office:The ministry of shepherding the faithful in the name of Christ. E
Sanctuary:The part of a church set apart for the principal rites of worship. Matthew, Mark and Luke all give a common view of Jesus and they are called the Synoptic Gospels. Reason:Our ability to know the existance of God with certainty through our hearts and minds. Revelation:God's communication of himself, by which he makes known the mystery of his divine plan, a gift of self-communication which is realized by deeds and words over time, and most fully by sending us his own divine Son, Jesus Christ. Remission of Sins:The forgiveness of sins, which is accomplished in us through faith and Baptism, as the fruit of the redemptive sacrifice of Christ on the cross. P
A devotional cross with the figure of Jesus suspended on it is called a "Crucifix". See Christ; Jesus Christ. It represents a common-sense understanding of the world. Parochial Schools:Private schools run by the parish Church. It is the spiritual food for one's "passing over" to the Father from this world. See Covenant. Rites:The diverse liturgical traditions in which the one catholic and apostolic faith has come to be expressed and celebrated in various cultures and lands; for example, in the West, the Roman and Ambrosian (Latin) rites; in the East, the Byzantine, Coptic (Alexandrian), Syriac, Armenian, Maronite, and Chaldean rites. Last Judgment:See Judgment. A human person is neither the author nor the supreme arbiter of his life, of which God is sovereign master. Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between God and his people Israel and prefigured the rite of Christian initiation in Baptism. Beyond its ordinary meaning of human life, Jesus used "life" to signify a share in his own divine Trinitarian existence, which becomes possible for those who respond to his invitation to turn away from sin and open their hearts to God's abiding love. August 15
Encyclical:A pastoral letter written by the Pope and sent to the whole Church and even to the whole world, to express Church teaching on some important matter. Priesthood:Of the faithful: The priestly people of God. Social Sin:The effect of sin over time, which can affect society and its institutions to create "structures of sin," by analogy called "social sin". INRI:the initial letters form the Latin inscription written on the cross: Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews). Vicar of Christ:A title given to St. Peter, head of the Twelve Apostles, and to his successors, the popes; "vicar" means one who stands in for or acts for another. Salvation:The forgiveness of sins and restoration of friendship with God, which can be done by God alone. Christmas:The feast of the nativity, the birth of Jesus. "All that is" often called the "world" in Scripture owes its existence to God's act of creation; God's creation is called "good" in the Bible, and human beings are said to have been created "in his own image and likeness". S.V.P. The Church draws her life from the word and the Body of Christ, and so herself becomes Christ's body. Pictures of these scenes can be found round the walls of most Catholic churches. Because she is the mother of Jesus Son of God and second Person of the Blessed Trinity according to the flesh, she is rightly called the Mother of God (Theotokos). Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, 1995. K
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Ecumenism:Promotion of the restoration of unity among all Christians, the unity which is a gift of Christ and to which the Church is called by the Holy Spirit. Slander:See Calumny. Tradition:The living transmission of the message of the Gospel in the Church.
Obedience of Christ: Jesus Christ substituted his obedience to the will of his Father, even unto death, for the disobedience of sin, in order to bring us the grace of justification and to satisfy for our sins. The term "lay faithful" refers to the laity, all the faithful except those in Holy Orders and those who belong to a religious state approved by the Church. Roman Curia:The bureaucracy that assists the Pope in administering his duty of pastoring the Catholic Church. Son of Man:The title used by our Lord of himself in the Gospel. Habit:The distinctive form of dress worn by members of religious communities. Bishops, Priests and Deacons are members of the Clergy. The Eucharist celebrates the new Passover, in which Jesus "passes over" to his Father by his death and resurrection, thus anticipating the final Passover of the Church in the glory of the Kingdom. The prophetic books constitute a major section of the Old Testament of the Bible. December 25
Biblical Inspiration:The gift of the Holy Spirit which assisted a human author to write a biblical book so that it has God as its author and teaches faithfully, without error, the saving truth that God has willed to be consigned to us. Penance:Interior penance: a conversion of heart toward God and away from sin, which implies the intention to change one's life because of hope in divine mercy. The main duties of the Priest are; preaching, celebrating Mass, administering the other sacraments and exercising a role of leadership within the Church. Typology:The discernment of persons, events, or things in the Old Testament which prefigured, and thus served as a "type" (or prototype) of, the fulfillment of God's plan in the person of Christ. God has created the human person to love and serve him; the fulfillment of this vocation is eternal happiness. Easter Triduum
Mystery:A truth which cannot be grasped by human reason. Thus the Christian observance of Sunday fulfills the commandment to remember and keep holy the Sabbath day. A dispensation can be obtained from some impediments. The moral virtues are acquired through human effort aided by God's grace; the theological virtues are gifts of God. Each human soul is individual and immortal, immediately created by God. Sacrament:An efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Easter Tridium:A three day festival of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. Lent is the primary penitential season in the Church's liturgical year, reflecting the forty days Jesus spent in the desert in fasting and prayer. Psalm:A prayer in the Book of Psalms of the Old Testament, assembled over several centuries; a collection of prayers in the form of hymns or poetry. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. catholic definition: 1. including many different types of thing: 2. Vision, Beatific:See Beatific Vision. Temperance:The cardinal moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasure and provides balance in the use of created goods. Charismatic Renewal:A movement within the Church which aims for renewal by being attuned to the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of individuals and communities. N
The term refers to the Church's condemnation of modern scientific thinking that said truth changed. Sinai, meaning "I am who I am". Creation is thus ordered to the Sabbath, the day to be kept holy to the praise and worship of God. Each Sunday Mass commemorates the resurrection of Christ on the first Easter Sunday, and is a reminder of the first day of creation for those who have become a "new creation in Christ". Reparation:Making amends for a wrong done or for an offense, especially for sin, which is an offense against God. The revealed truth of the Holy Trinity is at the very root of the Church's living faith as expressed in the Creed. Original Sin:The sin by which the first human beings disobeyed the commandment of God, choosing to follow their own will rather than God's will. Bishops, priests, and deacons are ordained ministers in the Church. Deuterocanonical books:"Deuterocanonical" means "second canon" . Morality:Referring to the goodness or evil of human acts. One of the capital sins. Nun:A member of an enclosed religious order of women. The exodus is commemorated by the Jewish people at Passover, which for Christians is a foreshadowing of the "passover" of Jesus Christ from death to life and is celebrated in the memorial of the Eucharist. Priest:Someone who is ordained to minister within the Church. Religious Liberty:A Vatican II doctrine affirming the natural right to be free of coercion in one's religious beliefs. Joseph, Husband of Mary
This title connotes a relationship with the eschatological figure of the "Son of man appearing in clouds and glory" in the prophecy of Daniel. Because she is the mother of the eternal Son of God made man, Jesus Christ the "new adam," Mary is called the "new eve," the "mother of the living" in the order of grace. It is the spiritual food for one's "passing over" to the Father from this world.
The laity participate in their own way in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly functions of Christ. Son of God:A title frequently applied to Jesus in the Gospel, signifying his unique relationship to the Father. Intercommunion:Participation or sharing in the reception of the Eucharist or Holy Communion by Christians who are not fully united to or in full communion with the Catholic Church. Sunday between January 2 and January 8
External acts of penance include fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Judgment:The eternal retribution received by each soul at the moment of death, in accordance with that person's faith and works "the particular judgment". This dictionary is from "Hitchcock's New and Complete Analysis of the Holy Bible," written by Roswell D. Hitchcock in 1869. He called the Twelve to become his Apostles, chosen witnesses of his Resurrection and the foundation on which the Church is built. Thus the cycle of the liturgical year and the great feasts constitute the basic rhythm of the Christian's life of prayer, with its focal point at Easter. Birth of John the Baptist
Teaching Office:See Magisterium. A dispensation can be obtained from some impediments. Immaculate Conception
Prudence:The virtue which disposes a person to discern the good and choose the correct means to accomplish it. Idolatry:The divinization of a creature in place of God; the substitution of some one (or thing) for God; worshiping a creature (even money, pleasure, or power) instead of the Creator. Spirit:See Holy Spirit. November (date varies, but always Sunday)
Pagan:A collective term meaning; "Unbelievers"
Judgment, Rash:A fault against the eighth commandment committed by one who assumes the moral fault of the neighbor to be true without sufficient foundation. The human virtues are stable dispositions of the intellect and will that govern our acts, order our passions, and guide our conduct in accordance with reason and faith. Sinai, meaning "I am who I am". Sinai, meaning "I am who I am". See Eucharist; Paschal Mystery/Sacrifice. See Fathers of the Church. Ascension of the Lord
Pastoral Care:The caring work of the Church, particularly that exercised by Ordained Ministers. Body and Blood of Christ
The Fifth Commandment requires us to preserve and work for peace, which was defined by St. Augustine as "the tranquility of order," and which is the work of justice and the effect of charity. The soul is the subject of human consciousness and freedom; soul and body together form one unique human nature. Vicar of Christ:A title given to St. Peter, head of the Twelve Apostles, and to his successors, the popes; "vicar" means one who stands in for or acts for another. National Parish:Parish not based on geographical boundries, comprised of an ethnic group. While the Churches of the East have always had a functioning order of deacons, in the West the permanent diaconate was reestablished by the Second Vatican Council. Society must provide the conditions that allow people to obtain what is their due, according to their nature and vocation. Magisterium:The living, teaching office of the Church, whose task it is to give as authentic interpretation of the word of God, whether in its written form (Sacred Scripture), or in the form of Tradition. Q
Simony:The buying or selling of spiritual things, which have God alone as their owner and master. Hence the Eucharist is called "the Lord's Supper". Parish:A stable community of the faithful within a particular church or diocese, whose pastoral care is confided by the bishop to a priest as pastor. Doctrine/Dogma:The revealed teachings of Christ which are proclaimed by the fullest extent of the exercise of the authority of the Church's Magisterium. :Stands for Society of St Vincent de Paul: A society of men and women willing to undertake charitable works. Profession of Faith:The synthesis (creed, "symbol of faith") of the faith which summarizes the faith professed by Christians. See Works of Mercy. Readers:Those who read the scripture passages during Mass. For the Catholic Church, the Decree on Ecumenism of the Second Vatican Council provides a charter for ecumenical efforts. Used by Catholics to bring to mind the sufferings of Christ. Corporal works of mercy include feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, sheltering the homeless, and burying the dead. Miracle:A sign or wonder, such as a healing or the control of nature, which can only be attributed to divine power. Trinity Sunday:The Sunday after Pentecost. Solemnities celebrate events in the life of Christ, Mary, and the saints which are of particular importance for the whole Church, Celebration of these special days begins the evening before. Consecrated Life:A permanent state of life recognized by the Church, entered freely in response to the call of Christ to perfection, and characterized by the profession of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. It is usually disc-shaped and thin for convenience and there are two sizes; the larger is used by the Priest at the altar. Revelation:God's communication of himself, by which he makes known the mystery of his divine plan, a gift of self-communication which is realized by deeds and words over time, and most fully by sending us his own divine Son, Jesus Christ. Mercy:The loving kindness, compassion, or forbearance shown to one who offends (e.g., the mercy of God to us sinners). Pride is undue self esteem or self love, which seeks attention and honor and sets oneself in competition with God. Pasch/Paschal Lamb:Jesus' saving death and its memorial in the Eucharist, associated with the Jewish feast of Passover or Pasch commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people from death by the blood of the lamb sprinkled on the doorposts in Egypt, which the angel of death saw and "passed over." Scandal:An attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil.