Glossary of terms for catechism of the Catholic faith

From Rejoice in the Catholic Faith

Glossary: Vocabulary & Terms for Catholic Catechism

Notes on vocabulary list:

  • this list is generated for purposes of catechism
  • many terms are useful, but not essential for understanding of the faith
  • the list of terms is purely alphabetical, so order is unrelated to importance or meaning
  • here for a Glossary of terms from the USCCB

Abbreviations:

Links:

  • all links go to USCCB website

Related Pages:

  • See Category page for pages related to Catechism of the Catholic Church
  • Working pages include:
    • the Catholic Mass
    • Layout of a church
    • Priestly vestments

Names, terms & abbreviations for Christ

ΑΩ

  • "the Alpha and the Omega"
    • Alpha and Omega arethe first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet
    • thus, the beginning and the end, i.e. all things
  • the Alpha and the Omega refer to both Christ the Son and the Father
  • from Book of Revelation:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,”* says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty." (Rev 1:8)

  • Jesus tells the pharisees they will be responsible for his death as they were for the "righteous blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar." (Mt 23:35)
    • "Abel to Zachariah" = A to Z

Chi-Rho

  • Greek letters C & R for the first two letters of "Christ"
  • in Greek alphabet "XP"
  • ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ = "Kristos"

Christ the King

  • Christ is seated at "the right hand of God" (Mk 16:19 and elsewhere)

Emmanuel

  • means "God is with us"
  • from Mt 1:23

Good Shepherd

IHS and the "Holy Name of Jesus"

  • from the prayer, "Litany of the Holy Name"
  • IHS = from Greek for "Jesus" (ΙΗΣΟΥΣ), the first letters written out in English as Iota, Eta, Sigma
    • "eta" is the Greek letter for "H"

Jesus

  • means "God saves"
  • "Jesus" is from the Greek translation of the Hebrew name Joshua, or Yehoshua
    • in Aramaic would be Jeshua
  • from Mt 1:20-:25:

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.

She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

  • "Emmanuel" is from Isaiah's prophesy for the Messiah
  • the reference is repeated by Jesus himself after the Resurrection,

"And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Mt 28:16)

  • St. Paul wrote to the Philippians,

That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth (Phil 2:10)

Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth

King of kings and Lord of lords

INRI

  • abbreviation for the Latin "Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum",
    • = "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews"
    • Pilot had it placed in Latin, Greek and Hebrew above Jesus on the Cross
  • note that "I" is the capitalized "i" not an L
  • the Latin alphabet does not contain the letter "J", so "Jesus" is written Iesus
    • same for second I in Iudaeorum for "Jews"

Lamb of God

  • the "perfect sacrifice" , the "unblemished sacrifice"
    • at Passover, for salvation the Jews were to sacrifice a lamb "without blemish" (Ex Ch. 12)
  • John the Baptist pointed out Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of of God" (Jn 1:29)

Messiah

  • means "savior"
  • translated into Greek as "Kristos," thus "Christ" (see below)

Prince of Peace

  • a "messianic title" (referring to the Messiah)
  • from Is 9:6 and Eph 2:14

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Non-divine terms

Son of Man

  • Jesus used the term to indicate his human nature, or "perfect humanity"
    • possibly in the sense of "son of Adam"
  • Daniel's vision of "One like a son of man" (Dn 7:13)
  • in the Hebrew tradition a term for Israel as a whole. indicating its special status as home of God's chosen people

Son of David

  • the Messiah was to come from the "seed of David"
    • so the Messiah is a/the "Son of David"

See

Aa

abstinence

  • to do without, forego
  • from ab- (away from, not) + tenere (as in "to hold on to")
    • thus do without, not to hold on to
  • denial of a pleasure, habit, or indulgence
  • along with fasting, abstinence is strictly required on Good Friday
    • and more generally, during Lent and on Fridays

adoration

  • divine worship
  • as in "Adoration of the Cross", for veneration of the Cross
  • ad- (to) + ōrare (pray)

Advent

  • "the important coming"
  • = the period of four Sundays before Christmas
    • thus, preparation for Christmas Day
  • ad- (into) + vent (from vinere, "to come") = "into coming"
    • vinere from PIE root *gwa- "to go, come")

Alleluia

  • "Praise the Lord" from Hebrew hallelu-ya for "praise Jehovah"

alms / almsgiving

  • something given as charity for the poor
  • an act of mercy
  • from OE ælmesse "charity for the poor"
    • related to Greek eleēmosynē for "pity, mercy", itself from the root eleos

Alpha & Omega, the

  • the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet
  • from Revelation, 1:8:

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End' says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty

altar

  • table upon which a sacrifice is made
    • from Latin adolere "to worship, offer or burn sacrifice/s
      • related to Latin altus for "high."
  • in Church and the Mass, the altar is both "the altar of the sacrifice and the table of the Lord (CCC 1383)

amen

  • "so be it"
  • from Hebrew amen for "truth"
    • used to affirm a truth
  • Jesus frequently states, "Verily, verily, I say to you" (also translated as, "Amen, amen I say to you"; as in Jn 6:26)
  • from CCC 2856:
    • "Then, after the prayer is over you say 'Amen,' which means 'So be it,' thus ratifying with our 'Amen' what is contained in the prayer that God has taught us."
  • Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:20 explains:
    • "all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Christ]. That is why we utter Amen through him, to the glory of God"

anagogue / anagogical

  • Greek for "leading"
  • "anagogical sense" of building faith / understanding the scriptures
    • = in the sense of "what does this say about Heaven, about salvation, where does it lead me?"
  • see "scriptures, modes of interpretation"

anamnesis

  • making present
  • as in the presence of Christ in the Gospel reading during the Liturgy of the Word or the Eucharistic Prayer during the Liturgy of the Eucharist

anaphora

  • ana- (back, through) + phora (bear, carry)
    • from Greek pherein "to bear"
    • PIE root *bher- "to carry"
  • in literature, literary technique of the use of repetition
  • in the Mass, anaphora refers to the entire Eucharistic Prayer

angel

  • "messenger from God"
  • from Latin/Greek angelus / angelos for "messenger"
    • likely from semitic origin

Annunciation

  • the announcement to the virgin Mary by Archangel Gabriel that she would give birth to the Savior
    • Gabriel told her to name the baby "Emmanuel" for "God is with us"
      • = "Jesus"
  • the Annunciation is usually celebrated on March 24

anoint / anointed

  • "smeared with oil"
    • Latin in- "in, into" + unguere "to smear"
  • to anoint = to confer divinity or divine office
  • "Christ" means "the anointed one"
  • the Holy Spirit anointed Christ to show he was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies
  • Christ can be thought of as "appointed", as in he was "anointed" by God and the Spirit of God for his mission to save humankind

Ap

apocryphia

  • religious texts of unknown or dubious origin
  • thus are not included in the Holy scripture
    • Protestants call the Deuterocanonical books "apocryphia"

apologia / apologetics

  • in defense or justification of faith
    • an "apologist" defends the faith
  • from Greek apologos for "an account" or "speech in defense of oneself"
    • PIE *apo- "off, away" + logos "speech" or "word"
      • see below for "word"
  • apologos indicates "reasoned defense," or "thought out"

apostate / apostasy

  • n., one who forsakes, abandons, or neglects the Church
    • from Greek apostasia, "defection, desertion, rebellion,"
    • PIE *apo- (off, away from) + PIE *sta- (to stand, make/ be firm) = away from the place
  • the early Church struggled with re-acceptance into the Church of "apostates"
    • or those who had committed sins
    • or, worse, who had yielded to Roman pressure an sore oaths of allegiance to Caesar and rejected Christ
  • also called "falling away"
    • Jesus spoke of "falling", in Greek skandalon
    • ex., from Mt 13:20-21

The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away [skandalizō].

and Jn 15:18:

“I have told you this so that you may not fall away"

  • as Jesus so warned the disciples, apostasy was a tremendous issue during the Roman persecutions
    • as many Christians abandoned the faith and swore oaths to Caesar, and when they tried to return to the Church, many leaders refused
      • those who refused the Roman oath were called "Confessors" (for confession Christian faith)
      • those who apostatized and later returned were called Lapsi,

Apostle

  • "one who is sent"
  • i.e., the Twelve were chosen and sent by Jesus to preach His word
  • Paul was also called an apostle, given his special mission as "apostle to the gentiles" (sent by Jesus Christ after the resurrection)

apostolic

  • "of an apostle" or for the purpose of teaching the Word

apothatic

  • used to describe God
  • as in, infinite= God is not finite

archangel

  • arch- = "chief"

Ascension

  • the rising of the Lord Jesus Christ to heaven at Mount Olivet forty days after His Resurrection

ascetic

  • characterized by rigorous and constant self-denial through prayer, fasting, isolation and religious training.
  • from Greek aketikos for "self-disciplined"
    • asketēs - monk, hermit, or skilled worker
    • from askein, for "to train, exercise"
  • as a noun, refers to one who is ascetic, such as hermits, monks or nuns who engage in self-denial and strict religious observance in order to avoid all temptation and sin and to devote themselves entirely to God
  • note: "ascetic" is often confused with "aesthetic" which means "related to beauty or beautiful features"

ascetism, Christian

  • "Christian asceticism" is marked by detachment from the world and worldly values, and attachment to God and God's commandments.

aseitas

  • from Latin ab- (from) se (self)
    • thus from oneself
  • existence unto oneself
  • expresses that God's existence has no cause or justification; God exists
    • thus "I am"

asperges

  • the sprinkling of Holy Water
  • from Latin ad- (to) + spagere (sprinkle)

Assumption

  • the taking of the whole body of the Blessed Virgin Mary directly into heaven

atonement

  • salvation through the Passion and the Cross
  • Christ suffered, died, and was resurrected to atone for man's sins
  • atone = ad (into) + one = making one, in harmony, united
  • in the Old Testament the sacrifices were offered for atonement, for forgiveness of sins (see Lv 5:13)

B

The Beatitudes
The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus' preaching. They take up the promises made to the chosen people since Abraham. The Beatitudes fulfill the promises by ordering them no longer merely to the possession of a territory, but to the Kingdom of heaven (CCC 1717):
  • Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
  • Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
  • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
  • Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
  • Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
  • Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
  • Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
  • Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

beatification, beatify

  • from Latin beatus, "blessed" (thus, "to make blessed")
  • the declaration by the Church of a person, now deceased, who had interceded on behalf of someone praying their name or for their intercession
    • one miracle must be attributed to this intercession
  • beatification is a first step towards canonization (declaration of sainthood)

beatify

  • to pronounce in heavenly bliss
    • i.e., to pronounce a saint
    • from Latin beatus for "supremely happy, blessed"
  • beatification is a process by which the Church declares someone a Saint

beatitude

  • syn: happiness
  • CCC 1716
  • from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5)
  • the quest for happiness
  • from Latin beatitudinem for "state of blessedness"

beatific

  • = blissful, imparting of bliss
  • from Latin beatus for "blessed, happiness"

bema

  • the platform, or raised area, upon which the alter resides
  • the bema is within the chancel, is the enclosed space of the sanctuary
  • from Greek bēma (βῆμα) for "platform" and "step"
  • in Jewish synagogues the Torah is read from the bema or bimah
    • the Hebrew word "bimah" is derived from the Greek bēma
  • see Layout of a church entry

Bible

  • "holy books"
    • from biblion for "paper, scroll"
    • origin is from "byblos" for Egyptian papyrus
      • likely adopted in Greece from the city of Byblios which traded with ancient Greece
        • and thereby supplied Egyptian papyrus
  • note that the Catholic Church refers to the "holy books" as "Sacred Scripture" rather than "Bible"

bishop

  • with priests, primary task is "to preach the Gospel of God to all men"
  • "authentic leaders of the apololistic faith" (CCC 888)
  • Bishops are spiritual descendants of the apostle
  • from Greek episkopos for "watcher, spiritual guardian"
    • epi- (over) + skopos (one that watches)
      • from PIE *spek- "to observe"

bless / blessing

  • bless = "to make holy, give thanks"
    • from OE blod for blood
      • PIE *bhel- "to thrive, bloom
  • blessing = "gift from God"
    • also, "that which gives temporal or spiritual benefit"
  • from ME blessinge and OE bletsunga
  • Latin immolare for "immolate" or "sacrifice"
    • the relationship is from pagan sacrifice where blood is sprinkled on an alter
    • so "to bless" originates from a ritual act to an invocation of God's blessings
  • "Blessing" is state of "beatitude"

Blessing is a divine and life-giving action, the source of which is the Father; his blessing is both word and gift. When applied to man, the word "blessing" means adoration and surrender to his Creator in thanksgiving. (CCC 1078)

blessed

  • made holy, consecrated
  • or, the state of holiness, well-being and in joy with God
    • from Latin benedicere and Greek eulogein
    • related to the verb, "beatify"
  • so why do we say, "Blessed be God forever" ?
    • from Latin Benedictus Deus in saecul
    • means "God should be forever praised"
  • when we say "Blessed be Mary and Joseph"
    • we are saying, "praise Mary and Joseph, they are holy forever"
  • when we say to each other, "God bless you"
    • we are asking God to give blessings to someone
    • or for God to favor that person

bridegroom

  • groom
  • in the Covenant, Jesus
    • the bride is the Church

Ca

Calvary

  • the hill to the west of Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified
    • formally, "The Mount of Calvary"
  • Calvary = "place of the skull" ("Golgotha")
    • perhaps called that because of the shape of the hill

Candlemass

  • the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple in Jerusalem.
    • following Jewish law, Mary and Joseph presented the child Jesus 40 days after his birth
    • the episode is recorded in Lk 2:22-38 in "The Presentation in the Temple"
    • in verse 32, Simeon declares Jesus is "a light for revelation of the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel"
    • thus, "Candlemas," as the Mass includes a blessing of the candles to keep the light of Christ burning brightly beyond the Christmas season
      • Catholics will traditionally use these candles for the rest of the year
  • also called "Feast of the Purification," as per Leviticus 12, a woman was to be "purified" through a sacramental offering 33 days after her male child's circumcision.
  • Candlemass marks the last day of the Epiphany season (which follows Christmas season and is followed by Ordinary time until Lent)

canon

  • literally, "a list", but used in terms of an authentic or official list
    • thus the list of "books" of the Bible as affirmed by the Church
  • from Greek kanon for "straight rod" and "standard of excellence"
  • also: canonical
    • included in the "Canon", i.e, accepted sacred texts
  • there are 27 Books in the New Testament
  • Old Testament:
    • Catholic Bible: Septuagint ("Greek Bible"): 46 books
    • Protestant Bible: Tanokh ("Hebrew Bible"): 39 books
      • the Jews of the 2nd and 3rd centuries used only the Tonakh books
      • the "Deuterocanonical" books (Hebrew scriptures) were excluded by Martin Luther in 1500s
      • the Deuterocanonical books were affirmed by the Catholic Church starting with the Synod of Hippo in 393

Canon Law

  • "the rules" (canons) of the Church
  • together are the "Codes of the Canon Law"

canonization

  • a process for declaration of a Saint by the Pope
    • for having demonstrated "heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God's grade (CCC 828)
  • the process begins with "beatification" (see above)
  • from the CCC

Canonization. The solemn declaration by the Pope that a deceased member of the faithful may be proposed as a model and intercessor to the Christian faithful and venerated as a saint on the basis of the fact that the person lived a life of heroic virtue or remained faithful to God through martyrdom (CCC Glossary)

cardinal

  • from Greek for "pivotal" (as in a hinge)
  • thus Latin cardo or cardinis for "that upon which something depends"
  • uses and forms of the word include
    • the office of the "Cardinal"
      • members (up to 70) of the Sacred College appointed by the Pope whose job is to advise the Pope, govern in conjunction with the Pope and elect a new Pope
      • Cardinals are usually but not required to be Bishops
    • "cardinal virtues"
      • = the key virtues needed for moral and beatific life: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance
      • "cardinal sins"
        • mortal sins; also called the "Seven Deadly Sins" that lead to damnation

Carmel / Mt. Carmel

casuistry

  • sophistry, or hypocritical (insincere) reasoning
  • usually to justify oneself (make excuses)
  • used to describe the attempts by the pharisees to adhere to the letter and entirety of "the Law" (Mosaic Law)
    • which is impossible and can only be accomplished by Jesus Christ
    • see CCC 579

catechesis

  • religious instruction, teaching
  • the act of providing education in the Catholic faith, its morals, and of life in Christ

catechetical

  • adjective, of the accepted or traditional teaching of the Catholic faith

catechism

  • generally, instruction in Christian principles
  • more directly, the instruction of the Catholic faith and morals and life in Christ (see CCC 3-5)
  • from Latin catechismus for "book of instruction"
    • from Greek katekhismos
      • which is from katekhizein "to teacher oraly, instruct by word of mouth" which is from Greek katekhein "to resound"
    • thus "catechism" maintains an element of joyful echoes from katekhein "to resound"
  • from Greek kata (down, thoroughly) + ekhein (to ring, to resound, echo)
    • PIE *(s)wagh- to resound, echo
  • "the Catechism" refers to the "Catechism of the Catholic Faith," a compendium book of the faith and life in Christ that is used for "catechesis" (instruction in the Catholic faith and life in Christ)
  • see Catechism definition

catechist / catechumen

  • catechist is the teacher of the catechesis
  • catechumen is the student

cathedral

  • church of a bishop
    • note: cardinals are assigned a church in Rome, but keep their home cathedra
  • from Latin cathedra for "a teacher's chair"
    • thus the seat of the Bishop
    • in a church, the cathedra is the seat used only by the Bishop
  • Greek kata "down" + hedra "seat, base, chair"
    • from PIE *sed- "to sit"

catholic

  • universal, universally accepted
    • so = "doctrines of the early church"
    • Greek kath (in general) + holos "whole"
      • PIE *sol- "whole, well-kept"

Cf.

  • confer / conferatur
  • meaning "compare"
    • indicates a source supportive or analogous to the CCC entry text
    • i.e., not a direct citation or source

Ch

charism

  • divine gift
  • "Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are special graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of men, and to the needs of the world" (CCC 799)

charity

  • "charity" means love of the other
  • = Christian love = love's highest manifestation
    • can be thought of as "love in action"
  • from Latin caritas for "costliness, esteem, affection"
    • from PIE *kar- "to like, desire
    • note that the French chere and Spanish caro for "costly, expensive"
      • thus "charity" implies something important
    • charity is related to Greek agape in the sense of love of fellow man, as opposed to the sense of physical desire in amor (love)
  • from CCC 1822:

Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.

charitable

  • acting or manifesting Christian love (charity)
    • esp. regarding treatment of the poor
  • "charitable" also maintains the sense of non-judgment towards others
Chi-Rho

Chi-Rho

  • Greek letters X (chi) and P (rho)
    • = the first two letters of "Christ"
  • the Chi-Rho symbol is the letter P w/ the letter X superimposed

Christ

  • Greek for the Hebrew "Messiah" meaning "anointed"
    • "Christos" in Greek (Χριστός)
  • "Christ" signifies Jesus' divine mission

Christian / Christians

  • "follower of Christ"
    • for more see "The Way" below (Way, the)
  • from Acts 11:25-26

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 2And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Christogram

  • = Chi-Rho
  • = first two letters of "Christ" in Greek
  • "Chi", written "X", is the "chiasmus" (symbol) for the cross

church

  • a "convocation" or "assembly" especially for religious purposes
  • related to Latin ecclesia and Greek ekkalein for "to call out"
    • from PIE *kele- "to shout"
  • the call is to gather, as in Greek ekklēsía which means "assembly"
  • derived directly from Greek Kyriake for "what belongs to God"
    • or kyriakon for "of the Lord"
  • thus ekklēsía (church) = "the assembly of the Chosen people before God"
    • especially regarding Mt. Sanai, where Israel was given the Law
    • Christian use of "church" is "as heir to that assembly
  • see CCC 751)
  • note: ekklēsía is related to the Greek translation of the Hebrew "Qahal" which is a reference to the ancient Jewish equivalent of "church" or "church organization"

Co

commission

  • = giving a missing and sending forth and empowerment to do that mission
  • "commissioner" commissions them... gives them authority

communion

  • together, coming together
    • generally, for worship
  • specifically, "Holy Communion" for "partaking in the sacrament of the Eucharist"
    • from com for "with, together" + unus for "oneness, union"
  • to "take communion" means to "receive" the gift of Christ
    • who told the Disciples to "take" his body and blood

complementarity

  • "compliment" as in "mutually completing"
  • man and woman

Concordate

  • "Biblical concordance" or "verbal concordance"
  • = a list of every word that appears in the OT and NT Bibles in alphabetical order
    • with a references as to where the word appears
  • first complied by the Dominican order using the Latin Vulgate bible

concupiscence

  • propensity towards sin and death
    • fomes peccati -- "the tinder for sin" (CCC 1264)
  • con (with) + cupere (desire) -ense (in the state of)
  • "Human appetites or desires which remain disordered due to the temporal consequences of original sin, which remain even after Baptism and which produce an inclination to sin" (CCC Glossary; see CCC 1264)

confess

  • con = wtih + fess from Latin fateri = "to admit"
    • from PIE *bha- "to speak, tell, say"
    • Latin confiteri = "to acknowledge"

Confirmation, sacrament of

  • the sacrament (rite) by which the baptized more fully join the Catholic Church
  • "the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace" (CCC 1285)
    • con (with) + firmare (strengthen, make strong)
    • firmare from PIE *dher- "to hold firmly, support"
  • "Confirmation" per the (CCC Glossary):

Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism by a special outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which seal of "confirm" the baptized in union with Christ and equip them for active participation in the worship and apostolic life of the Church.

consecrate

  • to set aside, to make holy
    • see also "sanctify"
  • "consecrated elements" = such as the bread and wine in the Eucharist
  • "consecrate onself to" = to set aside oneself in devotion to
  • con- (with) + secrare (Latin for sacred)
  • in John 17, Jesus prays for the disciples,

Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. ((Jn 17:17))

consubstantial

The Incarnation of God's Son reveals that God is the eternal Father and that the Son is consubstantial with the Father, which means that, in the Father and with the Father the Son is one and the same God. (CCC 262)

Covenant

  • a "covenant" is a a promise or agreement
    • from Latin convenire for "come together, unite, agree"
    • so cannot be cut or separated
  • in Scripture, a covenant is "an extension of kinship by oath"
    • which is why we say that God "adopted" Israel in the OT
    • and through Christ we are "adopted" by God through our faith
    • the Old Covenant was consecrated through the sacrifice and "sprinkling" of the blood
      • blood = family, kinship
      • blood also = life (and death)

COVENANT: A solemn agreement between human beings or between God and a human being involving mutual commitments or guarantees. (CCC Glossary)

  • unlike a contract, which is a bargain with mutual guarantees, God's Covenants regard the relationship between Man and God.
  • God never breaks his side of the bargain
    • blessings accrue when Man fulfills the Covenant (follow God's rules)
    • curses accrue when Man breaks the Covenant (sin)
    • sacrifice is to repair the covenant
  • the New Covenant ("Testament") "is the new and definitive Covenant [and] will never pass away"
    • = the "Christian economy" (CCC 66)

Cr

"Cradle Catholic"

  • someone who was born and raised in the Church
  • sometimes the reference is used derogatorily (as criticism) in the sense that "cradle Catholics" know all the forms of worship but not the Scripture or theology of the Faith

Creation

  • what God makes
    • from creare "to make, bring forth, produce, beget"
    • from PIE *ker- "to grow"
  • "creation" = people, the world, etc., as opposed to ever-existing God / Godhead

creatures

  • all things created by God
  • includes angels

creed / Creed

cross

  • a verb before it becomes a noun
  • vertical is for God
  • horizontal is for man/ the worldly
    • "a religion without a Cross" is not a religion (Fulton Sheen, "Life of Christ," Ch. 50)

crucifix / crucifixion

culture

  • from cult- + -ure (of)
    • thus "of the cult"
    • of the dominant views
      • usually religious views or focis,
      • but not necessarily a religion in its entirety
      • and usually an offshoot or sub-section
        • such as the "Cult of Mary" = Christians who focus on Mary (not a religion based on Mary)
  • from Latin colere "to till"
    • thus "culture" for agriculture or biology
      • "to culture" = to nurture, care for, make grow
      • similarly with religion or a way of life

D

Deacon

  • means "servant"
  • an office derived from the appointed disciples chosen by the Apostles (and hands laid upon them) to care for the widows in the Church at Jerusalem (see Acts 6:1-7)

Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task,whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

  • one of the first Chrisian martyrs, the Saint Stephen, was a Deacon
  • from Middle English deken, Latin diaconus, and Greek diakonos for "servant of the church"
    • dia- (thoroughly) + PIE *kon-o-, (from root *ken-) (hasten, set oneself in motion)
    • thus "servant"
  • Deacons are ordained to the office through the Sacrament of Holy Orders and given the mission to

Among other tasks, it is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity. (CCC 1570)

  • the Diaconate is the order or ranking of Deacons within the Church

Decalogue

  • the Ten Commandments
    • literally "ten words"
      • deca- (ten) + log (word)

Deposit of Faith, the

  • depositum fidei
  • = Sacred Scripture + Sacred Tradition
    • does not include private revelation
  • see CCC 84

despair

  • to have no hope
    • de- (from, away from) + sperare (hope)
  • after denying Christ, Peter "wept bitterly"
    • Peter repented, especially in e Jn 21:15-17 when Jesus asked him three times if he loved him
  • after betraying Christ, Judas despaired and hanged himself

Deuterocanonical books

  • see entry in below section on the Bible

devil, the / diabolic

  • = Satan (see entry below)
    • "devilish" = of Satan
  • from the Greek diaballein
    • = dia- "across, through" + ballein "to throw" (PIE root *gwele- "to throw, reach")
  • and diabolikos for "thrown across", as in throwing apart
    • i.e., "to separate", "separation"
    • for the opposite, see symbiotic
  • "devil" is generally not capitalized in the Bible
  • whereas "Satan" is capitalized in the New Testament
    • OT references are not necessarily to the devil but to an "adversary," which is the literal definition of the Hebrew satan

diocese

  • district or region under control of a Bishop
  • Greek dia- ("throughout") + oikos (house)
    • oikos from PIE root *weik- for "clan"

disciple

  • a follower of Christ
    • as opposed to the Apostles, the twelve who were chosen by Christ
  • at times in the Gospels the Apostles are referred to as the "twelve disciples" (see Mt 11:1)
  • at one point Jesus selected "seventy-two others," from among his Disciples, "to every town and place he intended to visit" (Lk 10:1)
    • whom we may connect as "disciples" based on the subsequent discourse on "The Privileges of Discipleship" (Lk 10:23):

Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

disordered

  • dis- (against) + order (command)
    • order from PIE *arə-- for "fit together"
  • used in terms of disordered
    • appetites, desires, passions,
      • = those that go against what we are created for by "command" of God

divine

  • "of God"
  • from Latin divinus
    • PIE *dyeu- "to shine," as in "sky, heaven, god"

divine accommodation

  • God must "condescend" to man's level
  • thus, God must "accommodate" the limits of man
    • language, mind, body, concupiscence

doctrine

  • that which has been taught
  • from PIE root *dek- for "to take, accept."

dogma

  • a settled opinion or belief system,
  • i.e. the beliefs of the Church
  • Catholic dogma is expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
  • Greek dogma ("opinion, tenet" "from dokein for "to seem, to think, to accept"
    • PIE *dek- "to take, to accept"
    • related do doxa

dome

  • from Genesis, what is above the waters, i.e., "heaven"
  • in NKJV called "firmament"

doxology

  • word(s) of praise
  • doxo ("glory, praise") + logy (spoken word)
    • doxo from PIE *dek- "to take, accept"
  • liturgical praise of God
  • as in "concluding doxology" of the Eucharistic Prayer

"Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, forever and ever.”

  • followed by the "Great Amen"

Ea

Easter

  • the "paschal" celebration of the Reserrection of Christ

Easter Triduum

  • see below under "Triduum"

Easter Vigil

  • a Easter Mass offered the night before Easter Sunday
  • traditionally, the Easter Vigil includes Sacrament of Baptism for adults and renewal of "baptismal promises" for all Catholics (see CCC 1254)
  • Easter Vigil Mass is also frequently used for the Sacrament of Confirmation

ecclesia/ ecclesiastic

    • ecclesia = church
      • from Greek for gathering (see "church" below)
    • so ecclesiastic = "of" or "having to do with" the church

ecclesiology

    • study of or belief system regarding the Church and its nature
    • understood in conjunction with soteriology, which is study of or belief system about salvation and its nature

eschatological

    • = last days, of the final times
    • therefore, "the last things" and the coming of Jesus on the "last day"
      • regards all things related to end of times, including death, judgment, resurrection, heaven, purgatory, hell
      • referenced in the Creed
    • from Greek eskhatos for "last, furthest" in time, space, degree
    • from PIE *ehgs- for "out" (eghs-ko-),+ -ology (study of, branch of knowledge, from Greek -logia)

economy

  • system, or set of rules
    • as in the "economy of the Old Testament"
      • = "the process of", "the carrying out of"
    • from Greek oikonomia for "household management"
      • oikonomos = manager, steward
      • from PIE *weik- "clan" or "managing"
      • or PIE *nem- "assign, allot, take, especially for managing resources
    • so in Church, "economy" refers to "the works by which God reveals himself"
      • as opposed to "theology", which is the mystery of God's inmost life withing the Blessed Trinity"
    • therefore, "theologia illuminates oikonomia"
      • from CCC 236
    • CCC 122: the "economy" of the OT is in preparation for Jesus

ecumenical, ecumenism

  • partnership among all Christian faiths
    • i.e., non-denominational organization, cooperation or dialogue
  • the Catholic Church forbids participation in non-Catholic religious functions
    • however, the Church seeks communion with separated churches (estranged)
    • ecumenically, the Church is closer to the Orthodox churches than to protestant churches
  • since Vatican II, the Church has sought
  • ecumenical actions by the Church may be controversial when any such action in any way compromises core Catholic beliefs

elder

  • generally, "one who has authority" in a community
  • in the early Church, elders were those who taught and preached the Gospel
    • from OE eald, ald for "old"

Em

Emmanuel

  • means "God-with-us"
  • from Matthew 1:20-23:
    • after telling Joseph that Mary will bear a son "and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Mt 1:21)
    • Matthew explains

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

Mt 1:23

  • "Emmanuel" is a synonymous reference to but not the given name for Jesus (which was given him at his circumcision; see Lk 2:21)
    • Emmanuel is a reference to House of David and fulfillment of God's promise to restore Judah in Isaiah 7:14
  • see "Jesus" entry below

Enchiridion symbolorum (by Heinrich Denzinger)

  • A very common citation in the Catechism of the Catholic Church is "DS"
    • DS stands for "Denzinger Schönmetz"
    • Denzinger wrote the work first published in 1854 (b. 1819, d. 1883)
    • Schönmetz edited and updated it for later editions through the 20th century
  • Enchiridion symbolorum is a "compendium", or collection and summary of sources for Catholic dogma (theology), thus it's name:
    • Enchiridion symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum
    • "A handbook of symbols, definitions and declarations on matters of faith and morals"
  • it is commonly named, "The Sources of Catholic Dogma"

Epiclesis

  • the Eucharistic prayer calling down the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ
  • Greek for "invocation" or "appeal"

Epiphany

  • the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles. as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12)
  • celebrated January 6

episcopal college

  • a permanent assembly
  • Christ placed Peter at its head

episcopate

  • the office of a bishop
  • from episkopos
    • Greek for "bishop"
    • means "overseer"
    • related to "shepherd"

Epistle

  • "a letter"
  • from Greek epi- (to) + stellei (to dispatch or send)
    • PIE *stel- "to put, stand, put in order"

etymology

  • study of the origins of words
  • from Greek etymologia for "analysis to find true origin of a word"
    • etymon = (true sense) + -logy ("word")

Eu

Eucharist

  • sacrament of the Last Supper
    • from Latin eucharistia and Greek eukharistia for "thanksgiving, gratitude"
    • eu- = Greek for "good or well " + kharis "favor, grace"
      • drawing from sense of the verb kharizesthai "to show favor"
      • thus "thankfulness" or "to be thankful"
    • additional sense, used by St. Paul in 2 Cor 16:
    • "The Greek words eucharistein and eulogein recall the Jewish blessings that proclaim - especially during a meal - God's works: creation, redemption, and sanctification." (CCC 1328)
    • Eukharistia = "the Lord's Supper"
    • while the Gree word "kharis" (χάρις) means "grace," St. Paul used it in the sense of thanksgiving in 2 Cor 8:16
But thanks [χάρις] be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus
  • Eucharistic = of or pertaining to the Eucharist or the Liturgy of the Eucharist
  • regarding the "Eucharistic Host":
    • host = the consecrated Bread (body of Christ)
    • monstrance = a vessel, or container, with door open or transparent cover that displays the consecrated Eucharist for adoration
    • tabernacle = used to store consecrated hosts outside of mass
  • evangel
  • = the gospel/ "the good news"
  • evangelical = of the gospel / good news

Evangelist / evangalist

  • preacher of good news/ the Gospel
  • from Latin evangelista and Greek euangelistes for "preacher of the gospel,"
    • and literally "bringer of good news" (euangelizesthai for "bring good news,"
  • *eu- "good" + angellein "announce" (from the meaning of angel as "messenger")
  • the proper noun Evangelist refers to the writers of the Gospel, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

ex cathedra

  • "from the chair", as in exercise of papal authority
  • indicates "papal infallibility"

exalt

  • to honor, hold in high esteem, glorify, praise
    • from ex (out, from ) + altus (high)
      • altus is from PIE *al- for "to grow, nourish"
  • we may exalt others, but not ourselves, as Jesus warned:

And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:10-12).

exegesis

  • explanation, interpretation
  • from Greek exegeisthai for "explain, interpret"
    • ex (from) + hegesithai (to lead, guide)
    • so "drawing out"
  • an exegete is one who interprets or explains scripture
  • see category of entries related to Exegesis

expiate / expiation

  • to atone for, make amends
  • = ex- (from, out of) + piare (propitiate, appease)
    • piare from PIE *leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart"

exult

  • "to exalt" = to feel or show triumph, elation, jubilation
    • literally "to jump with joy"
    • ex- (out) + salire (to leap)

F

Fasting

  • fasting means not to take food or drink (water only) for a period of time
  • from the Old-English faeste for "secured, firm, strict"
    • in the sense of the word "fast" for "held fast"
    • the idea being to hold to a penitence not to eat
  • strict "fasting and abstinence" are requirements of Good Friday

Five Precepts of the Church (the)

  • rules, or positive law to build a "moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life"; CCC 2041)
  • precept = a commandment or "rule of action"
    • from pre- (before) + capere (to take)
      • thus what must be taken
  • the Five Precepts of the Church:
  1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor
  2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year
  3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season
  4. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church
  5. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church

Fullness of the mystery

Fullness of time

  • "the time of the fulfillment of God's promises and preparations," inaugurated at Annunciation (to Mary)

Funeral Mass (Requiem Mass)

  • a Eucharistic Mass held on the occasion of the death of a Catholic parishioner
  • the Catholic funeral is a liturgical celebration of the salvation offered by God
  • CCC 1682:

For the Christian the day of death inaugurates, at the end of his sacramental life, the fulfillment of his new birth begun at Baptism, the definitive "conformity" to "the image of the Son" conferred by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and participation in the feast of the Kingdom which was anticipated in the Eucharist- even if final purifications are still necessary for him in order to be clothed with the nuptial garment.

and CCC 1684:

The Christian funeral is a liturgical celebration of the Church. The ministry of the Church in this instance aims at expressing efficacious communion with the deceased, at the participation in that communion of the community gathered for the funeral, and at the proclamation of eternal life to the community.

  • Requiem Masses are generally limited to the parish at which the deceased was a member
    • if the body of the deceased is not present, it is a Requiem Mass
    • if the body is present, the Mass may be referred to as Funeral or Requiem.
  • the celebration is of God and not the deceased
  • although the choice of Readings, Homily topic, Eucharistic prayers will be oriented towards a Requiem.
  • as a funeral the point of the Mass is to pray for the soul of the deceased
  • as a Mass the point is to glorify God, as with any Liturgical celebration
  • a "funeral" or "vigil" service" is to be held at a funeral or private home and/or at the burial site.
    • it is appropriate for Eulogies to be spoken at a funeral service, but not at a Requiem Mass
      • although some Pastors allow it
    • the vigil may also be called the "wake"
  • from the USCCB

At the vigil, the Christian community keeps watch with the family in prayer to the God of mercy and finds strength in Christ's presence" (Order of Christian Funerals, no. 56). The Vigil Service usually takes place during the period of visitation and viewing at the funeral home. It is a time to remember the life of the deceased and to commend him/her to God. In prayer we ask God to console us in our grief and give us strength to support one another. (USCCB)

G

General Instructions of the Roman Missal (GIRM)

  • "Roman Missal" is the text for the "Roman Rite"
    • Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia
  • the GIRM outlines the "liturgical norms and rubrics" of the Roman Rite (Mass)
    • norms = the rules and reasons for the Liturgy (norms = standards)
    • rubrics = forms and conditions (rubric = how the Mass is to be conducted)
  • the GIRM regards lex orandi ("rule of prayer") and lex credendi (rule of faith)
  • The Forward to the GIRM (3rd Edition, 2011) states,

Pope Benedict explains:

These texts contain riches which have preserved and expressed the faith and experience of the People of God over its two-thousand-year history. Equally important for a correct ars celebrandi is an attentiveness to the various kinds of language that the liturgy employs: words and music, gestures and silence, movement, the liturgical colors of the vestments. By its very nature the liturgy operates on different levels of communication which enable it to engage the whole human person. (Sacramentum Caritatis, no. 40)

generation

  • "this generation" = those currently alive who are from a lineage of a people/ families/ tribes/ nations
  • "generations" = the past lines of people, passed on by their parents and their parents, etc.
  • from generare "to bring forth, beget, produce"
    • from genus "race, kind"
    • PIE root *gene- "to give birth, beget"

Genesis

  • origin, birth, creation of the world
    • from PIE *gene for "to give birth, to beget"

glory / gloria / glorification

  • splendor of God
  • praise for God
    • from Latin gloria for fame, praise, honor
    • possibly related to PIE *gno- "to know"
      • as in "renowned"

glorify God

  • means to honor and praise God in all aspects of our lives
    • especially in worship
    • and to reflect God's glory in our beliefs and actions

God

  • "The First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything." (CCC 198)
  • per the CCC Glossary entry on "God":

The infinite divine being, one in being yet three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

  • from Old English god for "supreme being"
    • proto-Germanic *guthan
      • PIE *ghut- ("that which is invoked") and *gheu(e) (to call, invoke)
    • Latin deus ("God") from PIE *deiwos "god" and root *dyeu- "to shine,"
  • God revealed himself by name, "I AM WHO I AM" (see CCC 268)
    • "by making his name known to [the Israelites]" implicates the personal nature of God
      • God is not "impersonal" or "an anonymous force" (CCC 203)

God-man

  • Christ as God and Man
  • Greek: theánthropos; Latin: deus homo
    • see "hypostatic union of Christ"

Godhead, The

  • a reference to the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Gospel, the

  • "the good news"
  • from Old English godspell
    • = god (good) + spell (news)

grace

  • "Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life." (CCC 1996)
  • Grade helps us "conform our lives to his will"
  • sacramental grace and special grace (charisms) are the gift of the Holy Spirit (see CCC 1585, 1996, 2000)
  • a "state of grace" means to be without sin

Great Amen (the)

  • communal affirmation of the "concluding doxology" at the end of the Eucharistic prayer

H

hallelujah

  • from Hebrew hallalu-yah for "praise ye Jehovah"
    • hallalu = to praise, sing praise
    • yah = Yahweh
  • thus hallelujah means "Praise God!"

hardness of heart

  • unwillingness to listen to the Word, or to see plain truths
  • also called in the Bible, "stiff necks"

Heaven

  • from OE heofon for "home of God"
  • Hebrew shamayim indicates "from the sky"
  • from CCC 1024 Heaven is:

This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity - this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed - is called "heaven." Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.

Hebrew, Hebrews, Israelites, Jews

  • the language of the Israelites, which is another term for "Hebrews"
    • see also Israel
  • "Jews" is the name of the people who practice "Judaism," which is a reference to Judah, one of the Twelve Tribes, and the location of Jerusalem.

hell

  • state or place of eternal separation from God:

We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves: "He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him" (1 Jn 13:15). Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren. To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called "hell." (CCC 1033)

heresy

  • belief or opinion against ("at variance with") established doctrine
    • from Greek hairesis for "taking or choosing oneself" (over what understood)
  • per CCC:
The obstinate denial after Baptism of a truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic Faith" (CCC 2089)

hermeneutics

  • = interpretive, interpreting
    • Greek, derived from Hermes, the god of speech, writing, eloquence
    • theory, interpretation and study of biblical texts

hesed

  • a deep, abiding, covenantal love

heterodox

  • wrong thought, contrary doctrine (religious teachings)
  • hetero = "opinion, other" + dox = "opinion, thought" = other, or wrong opinion

hierarchical

>> to do:

from etymonline: Latin hierarchia "ranked division of angels" (in the system of Dionysius the Areopagite), from Greek hierarkhia "rule of a high priest," from hierarkhes "high priest, leader of sacred rites," from ta hiera "the sacred rites" (neuter plural of hieros "sacred;" see ire) + arkhein "to lead, rule" (see archon).

historicism

  • the idea that ideas and cultures of a certain period are tied to that time period and are disconnected from any larger connections across history
  • historicism denies eternal truths
  • see JPII p. 50

holocaust

  • burnt offerings
  • from Greek holo (whole) + kaustus "burned whole" or holokaustun "a thing wholly burnt"
    • from PIE *sol- "whole, well-kept" +

holy

  • consecrated, godly
  • from proto-Germanic *hailaga ("holy")
    • from PIE *kailo- "whole, uninjured"
  • "holy" means "set apart"
    • as in God is "set apart" from all things
    • God is not creation, not sinful; he is perfect, "holy"
  • as a title, "Holy" is capitalized, as in "Holy Trinity"

holiness

  • God-like
  • = in a state of separation from sin, possession of virtue and dedication to the service of God

Holy See

  • the jurisdiction of the Papacy
    • "see" means "throne"
    • from Latin sedere for "to sit" (PIE *sed- "to sit")
  • used in refererence to the Pope or the person who holds the office of the Pope
    • much like the President or the Federal government may be referred to generically as "Washington"

Holy Spirit

  • Hebrew: "ruah" for "wind"
    • translated to Greek as "pneuma" ("wind, air")
  • frequently represented by the Dove
  • also Holy Ghost
  • Jesus also calls the Holy Spirit:
    • Paraclete for "he who is called to one's side" (advocatus)
    • "Spirit of Truth" (see CCC 692 and CCC 729)
  • in the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Bishop will call down the Holy Spirit as "helper and guide" (CCC 1299)

Holy Trinity

  • see Trinity

homily

  • sermon or teaching, given by a priest or deacon after the reading of the Gospel
  • from Greek homilia for "conversation or discourse" with others (from homou = "together")

Horeb, Mt. Horeb

  • "the mountain of God" (Ex 3:1) at Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments
    • probably the same as Mt. Sinai (see footnote to Ex 3:1; Ex 19:11 calls it Mount Sinai where Moses received the Commandments
    • in his "Discourse" to the pharisees, Stephen calls it "Mount Sinai" (Act 7:30 and 38)
    • Horeb is also called "the mountain of God" in 1 Kg 19:8
  • "Horeb" may mean "glowing heat", a reference to the sun, and Sinai may come from the Mesopotamian god of the moon, Sin, thus the two mountains would be Sun and Moon.
    • it doesn't matter, as God's angels call it "the mountain of God"
  • Moses strikes the rock at Horeb (Ex 17:6)
  • Horeb is not mentioned in the New Testament

Hosanna

  • "Lord, save us!"
    • imperative for "save" thus, "please give salvation!"
  • from Hebrew hosha'na for "Save us, we pray"
    • taken from Ps 118:25 "LORD, grant salvation!* LORD, grant good fortune!"
  • the people sing "Hosanna" when Christ enters Jerusalem, which prefigures his saving Crucifixion and Resurrection
    • which is why "Hosanna excelsis" is sung priort to the Eucharist at Sunday Mass
    • thus every Sunday Mass is Palm Sunday
      • Ps 118:27 cries, "Join in procession with leafy branches" (regarding triumphal entry tp Jerusalem by the king)
      • In 1 Maccabees the palms were waived at the triumphal entrance of the Jews into Jerusalem following Greek oppression (1 Mc 13:51):

On the twenty-third day of the second month,* in the one hundred and seventy-first year, the Jews entered the citadel with shouts of praise, the waving of palm branches, the playing of harps and cymbals and lyres, and the singing of hymns and canticles, because a great enemy of Israel had been crushed.

and in 2 Mc 10:7, when under Maccabeus the jews cleanse (purify) the temple of having been "profaned by the foreigners" (2 Mac 10:5):

Carrying rods entwined with leaves, beautiful branches and palms, they sang hymns of grateful praise to him who had successfully brought about the purification of his own place.

hospital

  • from Latin hospitem for "guest, stranger, sojourner"
    • derived from PIE *ghos-pot- ("stranger, guest, or host) + *poti- "powerful, lord."
  • together, "hospital" has its origins in the reciprocal relationship of a host and a guest
  • which is significant in Catholic Church origins of hospitals, which were "hostels" and "almshouses" (care for the destitute)
  • thus "hospitals" in the modern sense started in the early, 4th century Church, as Christian love and charity was exercised outside of the state and in community, open for all
  • note that traditional nurse outfits were taken from the habits of nuns

Host

  • the sacramental, Eucharistic bread
    • from Latin hostia for "sacrificial victim"
  • see also the "Lord of Hosts"

hypostatic union of Christ

  • Chris as God and Man (see "God-man")
  • the Church calls Christ "consubstantial" with the Father (Nicaean Creed)
    • also called the "mystical union" or the "person of Christ"
  • in Cur Deus Homo by Saint Anselm Book Second, Saint Anselm explained the need for the God-man:

Is it not sufficiently proved that man can be saved by Christ, when even infidels do not deny that man can be happy somehow, and it has been sufficiently shown that, leaving Christ out of view, no salvation can be found for man? For, either by Christ or by some one else can man be saved, or else not at all. If, then, it is false that man cannot be saved all, or that he can be saved in any other way, his salvation must necessarily be by Christ. - Book I, Chapter XXV

Thus having explained the necessity for Christ for human salvation, he continues as to why Christ must be both God and man:

Moreover, if these two complete natures are said to be joined somehow, in such a way that one may be Divine while the other is human, and yet that which is God not be the same with that which is man, it is impossible for both to do the work necessary to be accomplished. For God will not do it, because he has no debt to pay; and man will not do it, because he cannot. Therefore, in order that the God-man may perform this, it is necessary that the same being should perfect God and perfect man, in order to make this atonement. For he cannot and ought not to do it, unless he be very God and very man. Since, then, it is necessary that the God-man preserve the completeness of each nature, it is no less necessary that these two natures be united entire in one person, just as a body and a reasonable soul exist together in every human being; for otherwise it is impossible that the same being should be very God and very man. - Book II, Chapter VII

I

I am who I am

  • God's name as told to Moses, Exodus 3:14

idolatry

  • putting anything else above God
  • Book of Wisdom, 13:10:

But wretched are they, and in dead things are their hopes, who termed gods things made by human hands;

  • from "idol" = for "false god"
  • idol contains also sense of an image
    • has origin in PIE oid- for "seeming, like, like that of..."
    • and Greek -oeidēs from eidos "form," idein "to see," and eidenai "to know, to see"
      • from PIE *weid- "to see"
  • idolatry means to put anything above god, be it an idol, other god, Satan, pride, sin, money, etc.
    • see CC 2113:
      • "Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with communion with God."

IHS

  • the first three letters of the Greek word for Jesus, ΙΗΣΟΥΣ
  • which in English reads IHSOUS
  • IHS is often sewn into the back of a priest's chasable (outer robe)

immutability & impassibility

  • the idea that God:
    • does not change (immutable)
    • is not subject to passions (emotions)
  • in that God is immutable...
    • He is never less than all good, all loving
      • He is never anything less than what He is
  • in that God is impassible,
    • he is not subject to whims, emotions or emotional attachments
  • to project human emotions or characteristics upon God is to make God in our image, not us in His

imputibility

  • < degree of responsibility for sin << todo
  • in persona christi

Incarnation

  • the embodiment of God in the person of Christ
  • from Latin incarnari "be made flesh
    • in (into) + carnis (flesh)
      • from PIE *en- + *sker- "to cut"
  • from CCC 432
    • "... Jesus united himself to all men through his Incarnation"

incipit

  • from "initial" or beginning
  • refers to the first words of a text or notes from a musical composition
  • from Latin for "it begins"
  • ex.
    • the name of the "Our Father" prayer is taken from the first two words (the incipit) of the prayer

ineffable

  • things that cannot be spoken, or described
    • from in- (not) + fare (to speak)
  • from St. Paul's description of what "someone in Christ" (him) saw in heaven:

I know someone in Christ who, fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows), was caught up to the third heaven. And I know that this person (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up into Paradise and heard ineffable things, which no one may utter. (Cor 12:2-4)

INRI

  • abbreviation for = Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum
    • Latin for "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews."
      • the Latin alphabet does not have the letter "J", which was expressed by the vowel "I"
  • from John 9:19-23:

Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, 'I am the King of the Jews.'” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written."

inspire

  • in (with) + spirit = with God's spirit
  • from Latin inspirare for "to blow into, breathe upon,"
    • from in- (in, into) + spirare ("to breathe")
  • spirit = "breath of God"

Institution Narrative

  • institution = in- (into) + statuere (to establish, cause to stand)
    • statuere from PIE *sta- = to stand, make firm
  • narrative = from narrare for "to tell, relate, explain, account)
    • from gnarus for "knowing" (from PIE *gno- to know)
  • the words of Christ at the Last Supper:
    • "do this in memory of me" (Lk 22:19)
    • by which Christ "instituted" (established) the Sacrament of the Eucharist
  • see also the "Bread of Life Dicourse from Jn 6:22

intercession, intercessor

  • "to intercede" or "come between", or a person who intercedes or comes between
    • inter- (between) + cedere (Latin for "to go")
      • cedere from PIE *ked- "to go, yield"
    • thus" go between"
      • = "a mediator"
  • intercession = prayer for intercession is usually for that of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Saints
  • intercession is generally understood as that of Christ on our behalf to the Father
  • for more see Intercession entry

invention

  • "finding or discovery"
  • from Latin invenire, "to come upon, find out, discover"
    • in = "in, on" + venir = "to come"
      • PIE root *gwa for "to go, to come"
  • thus an "invention" is not something created by man, it is something discovered or found out by man
  • God creates the world; mankind "invents" or "discovers" it
  • used for the original "Invention of the Cross", which was the discovery of the three crosses from the biblical crucifixion (see Saint Helena, mother of Saint Constantine ("Constantine the Great")
  • see "Creation"

invoke/ invocation

  • to call upon God

<< to do

Israel, Israelites

  • Israel is the name God gave to Jacob after he wrestled with the angel of God (Gn 32:25)
    • all of his children (the Twelve Tribes) and their descendants are "Israelites"
  • the Kingdom of Israel forms as the "northern kingdom" after Israel is split in half following Solomon

J

Jerusalem

  • Hebrew for "place of peace"; also "foundation of peace"
    • i.e. jeru + shalem
  • may also mean "the abiding place" as given to Abraham
  • translated to Greek as Hierousalem
    • from Hebrew for "artichoke"

Jesse Tree

  • or "Tree of Jesse"
  • depicts the lineage from the father of King David, Jesse of Bethlehem, to Jesus
    • basically, Jesus' family tree
  • traditionally an Advent devotion
  • Jesus' ancestry from Jesse is drawn from the Book of Isaiah (Isa 11:1):

But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.

Jesus

  • Hebrew for "God saves"
  • the Archangel Gabriel gave him this name at the Annunciation:

 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. (Lk 31)

  • Since "Jesus" means "God saves" the very name of the Father is within the name of Jesus (see CCC 432)

"There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Jews

  • from Judah, and Judea, people who practice Judaism
  • in the Old Testament, they are the people living in the Kingdom of Judah (the southern kingdom, ruled separately from the northern kingdom, Israel )

Judah

  • one of the sons of Jacob
  • the Tribe of Judah was the first tribe to occupy the Promised Land, Israel, settling in its south
  • Kingdom of Judah consisted of the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and when Israel was divided after Solomon, it was the "southern kingdom"

justification

  • the process by which sinners may become righteous in the sight of Gd
  • justification comes through the sacraments
  • righteousness means being "infused" or "poured" upon by God's grace

K

kenosis

  • humility

kyrgma / kyrgmatic

  • proclamation and praise for the salvation of Christ
    • from Greek kērygma "proclamation

L

laity

  • the people, as opposed to the clergy
  • i.e., not clerical or ecclesiastical
  • or "of the people", as in "the lay people" or "the laity
  • also "lay (adjective)
    • as in "the lay people"
  • "laity" from Latin laicus and Greek laikos "of the people,"; both from laos for folk, the people, the crowd; a tribe
  • also indicates common people as distinguished from "experts"

Lamb of God

  • in the Book of Leviticus God instructs the Hebrews to offer animals "without blemish" as sacrifice to pay for their sins
    • = the innocent for the guilty
  • John the Baptist prophesized Christ's sacrifice: "behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world"

Latin Church

Latin Rite

  • also called, "Roman Rite"
  • = the prescribed (official) liturgy of the Catholic Church
  • not to be confused with a Mass celebrated in Latin
    • which is called a "Latin Mass" or "Tridentine Mass"

lectio divina

  • "spiritual reading"
  • = the "Divine Office" that priests pray multiple times each day
  • meditation and prayer over a passage of Scripture
  • the practice of lectio divina includes:
    • lectio = reading, usually a short passage
    • meditatio = meditation, or thoughtful discovery of the passage, its setting, people, and actions
      • = personal encounter with the text
    • oratio = prayer and petition
      • asking for graces, healing, forgiveness in prayerful engagement with the text
    • contemplatio = contemplation of Christ, God, and things of God
      • in order to seek sight or experience of the lectio
  • see Meditations | USCCB

Lent

  • 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter
  • or 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving
  • in preparation for the Lord's Resurrection at Easter
    • marking the 40 days of fasting in the wilderness by Jesus
  • from "the fast of lent"
  • with "lent" meaning "lengthening days" (Old Saxon lentin)
    • as in the increasing length of the day towards Spring

ligamen

  • under Canon law, an existing marriage tie
  • a state of ligamen constitutes an impediment to the contraction of another marriage
    • ligamen = from Latin ligare for "to bind, tie" from PIE *leig- (to bind, tie)
      • ligamen also implies a "moral restraint"
      • related to "lien", which means "right to hold a property until a debt is paid"
  • Diriment Impediment of Ligamen
    • is a canonical order that invalidates an attempt to administer a sacramental marriage on account of an existing state of ligamen
    • diriment = from Latin dirimens for "separating"
      • de- = away, away from + terere (to rub, wear) (from PIE *tere-, "to rub, turn")
      • related to "detriment" for "incapacity, harm, injury"

limbo

  • not part of Church doctrine
  • see CCC 1257-1261 for Church stance on "Necessity of Baptism"

liturgy

  • "the service (mass) of the Holy Eucharist"
  • or the conduct (form, presentation) of divine worship and "proclamation of the Gospel" (CCC 1070)
  • from Latin liturgia for "public service, public worship" and Greek leitourgia for "a liturgy; public duty, ministry,"
    • related to leitourgos for "one who performs a public ceremony or service
      • as opposed to leito- "public" (from laos "the people")
    • from PIE *werg- "to do" as in "work" (see Meaning of root *werg- by etymonline)
  • liturgical = "of or related to divine mass"
    • esp. a reference to the text read in worship
  • liturgical calendar = the calendar that guides Catholic masses over a year
  • the four parts of the Catholic liturgy (mass):
    1. Introductory Rites
      1. Procession
      2. Greeting
      3. Penitential Act
      4. Glory to God
      5. Collect (opening prayer)
    2. Liturgy of the Word
      1. ends with the "Universal Prayer" or "intercessions"
    3. Liturgy of the Eucharist
    4. Concluding Rites

Lord

  • God
  • from the meaning, "keeper or guardian"
  • in Greek , Kyrios

Lord of Hosts

  • Jewish term for God
    • from Hebrew Tzevaot for "armies" as in "Lord of the armies"
    • "hosts" implies a large army
  • Old English hlaford = "one who guards the loaves"
    • thus the connection between "Lord of Hosts" and "Host" (Eucharistic bread)

M

Magisterium

  • from CCC Glossary, p. 889:

"The living teaching office of the Church, whose task is to give us authentic interpretation of the word of God... the Magisterium ensures the Church's fidelity to the teaching of the Apostles in matters of faith and morals"

manna

  • Hebrew, possibly a reference to a substance or resin from plants or trees in Sinai
  • Contextually, from Hebrew, "man" for "what?"
  • more specifically the "bread from heaven":

Then the LORD said to Moses: I am going to rain down bread from heaven* for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. (Ex 16:4)

  • See Num 11:7, which describes it as "like a coriander seed had the appearance of bdellium." In Ex 16:15, the Jews wonder what it is:

On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, “What is this?”* for they did not know what it was. But Moses told them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. (Ex 16:15

  • Thus "manna" means "gift" or "provided by God" that the Hebrews did not understand.
  • the Greek manna means "bread."

Numbers 11:6-9

martyr

  • from Greek for "witness"
  • from Matthew 10:13:
    • "But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny before my heavenly Father."
  • and Matthew 16:25:
    • "For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
      • thus early Christian martyrs refused to deny Christ in order to join him in Heaven
      • and conceived of martyrdom as "baptism in their own blood" which removed any stain of sin
        • making martyrdom "the ultimate penitence" (Papandrea, p. 79)
    • "confessors" were those who "confessed" to being Christian to the Roman authorities
  • see "Reading of the Church Fathers," by James L. Papandrea, p. 78-79

Mass

  • "Eucharistic service" or "celebration of the Eucharist
  • per Novus Ordo, Mass = "the Lord's Supper", an assembly of people for memorial celebration of the Lord
    • from Matthew 18:20: where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them
      • note that prior to Vatican II the real presence of Jesus was directly affirmed (transubstantiation)
  • Old English mæsse and Middle English messe or masse
    • the meaning is likely derived from the "dismissal" at the end of the service
    • as it is related to Latin mittere for "to let go, send" as in on a mission
      • thereby "mission" and "missionary" from "mass"

matrimony

  • motherhood + fruit of the union
    • from Latin mātrimōnium
    • mater (mother) + -mōnium (in the state of)
      • mater from PIE *matar-

Messiah

  • "the anointed one"
    • from "Hebrew mashah
      • = directly translated in Greek as Khristos
  • the anointment is "messianic" in terms of a "mission"
    • i.e. the Messiah has a "mission"
      • Jesus ("God saves") + Christ ("the mission of the Anointed One")
  • see Protoevangelium
    • the gatherer
    • also "the expected one"
  • CCC 436:

Jesus fulfilled the messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office of priest, prophet and king.

  • but the Jews did not believe that the Messiah would be the actual "son of God" (see Holy Trinity entry)
    • the term was metaphorical and referred to the "King of Israel," and a descendant of David
    • Caphius asks him only contemptuously if he is the "son of God"
    • Peter calls Jesus "son of the living God" in Mt. 16:16 and the "Holy One of God" in Jn 6:69
    • the disciples call him "the son of God" after they see him walking on water in Mt 14:33
    • Satan and demons recognize him as the "son of God" in Mt. 4:3 (Satan uses "If you are the son of God) and Mt 8:29 (demons)
  • however, none of them understood Jesus as God himself.
    • it is only when Thomas is received by the Resurrected Christ that we have the first, full declaration that Jesus Christ is God

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 21:28)

metanoia

  • repentance and conversion through belief in Christ
  • Greek for "changing one's mind"
    • from meta- (they way of, a higher way) + noia (related to noos for thinking)
    • used in Greek specifically for repentance

missal

  • "the book of the mass"
    • = a book or booklet with the texts used in Mass
    • from Latin missa for mass
  • a "missal" will typically contain
    • Parts of the Mass with instructions
    • Readings for every Sunday and Holy Day Mass (weekly missal) or for every day (daily missal)
      • the Missal will follow the readings for Years A, B, C
        • which rotate between Matthew, Mark and Luke
        • John is read during Easter
    • Saints for the day or other celebration
    • reflections on each Mass or theme
  • see General Instructions of the Roman Missal

mission

  • from Latin mittere for "to let go, send"
  • also related to "mass" (see above)
    • thus a "mission" and "missionary" = spreading the "mass"

moral

  • moral = Latin mos for "one's disposition (genitive of "moris")
    • possibly related to OE mod for "heart, spirit, courage, frame of mind"

morality

  • the morality of an act depends upon:
    • the object chosen
      • = what the "will" directs itself toward (what is wanted)
    • the end in view or intention
    • circumstances of the action
  • from CCC 1750

Moriah, Mt. Moriah

  • the peak at Jerusalem upon which Abraham offered to sacrifice Isaac (called "the binding of Isaac")
  • where Solomon built the First Temple

mortal sin

  • or "capital" or "grave" sin
  • "mortal" because it separates us from God
  • see 1 Jn 5:16
  • mortal sin may only be removed through the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Mother Church

>> todo << see Revelation for Mary/Ark/ Church connection

mysterium fidei

  • = "mystery of faith"
  • from the CCC 237

The Trinity is a mystery of faith in the strict sense, one of the "mysteries that are hidden in God, which can never be known unless they are revealed by God". To be sure, God has left traces of his Trinitarian being in his work of creation and in his Revelation throughout the Old Testament. But his inmost Being as Holy Trinity is a mystery that is inaccessible to reason alone or even to Israel's faith before the Incarnation of God's Son and the sending of the Holy Spirit.

mystery, Mysteries (the)

  • a mystery is not so much what it is, as that it is
    • i.e., we cannot understand it, but we can recognize that it exists
  • "the Mysteries" are those core beliefs, mysterium fidei, that constitute core Catholic belief such as the Trinity, Resurrection, Ascension, and the Immaculate Conception.

N-O

Nazarenes

  • followers of Jesus of Nazareth
  • term for early Christians (see Acts 24:5)
    • for more, see "The Way" below (Way, The)

Novus Ordo

  • known as "Vatican II" or "Second Vatican"

obey

  • see CCC 143
    • from Latin/ Greek for "to hear, listen" audio/audire << to do

oblate / oblation

  • oblation = a presentation or offering to God, esp. a sacrifice
  • from obalcioun for "an offering to God"
    • or oblatus related to offerre "to offer, to bring before"
    • thus ob- (unto, toward) + lātus (carried, borne)
  • oblate (n) = a person devoted to religious work
    • from ob- (into) + latus (carried, borne)
  • in the Eucharistic prayer, "oblation" means "this presentation, this dedication":

Therefore, Lord, we pray: graciously accept this oblation of our service

  • see CCC
    • 529: Christ's oblation offered on the cross
    • 1037: Eucharist prayer as a call for mercy and to bring us to God
    • 1350: the Offertory

offerings

  • sacrifices offered to God
    • see CCC 461-462 from Philippians and Hebrews on how Christ was incarnate as man in order to replace sacrificial offerings with himself
  • in the Mass, the offerings are the bread and wine which will become the Body and Blood of Christ
  • offerings may also include gifts from the people, which is received in the "collection" (CCC 1351)

Offertory, the

  • beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist in which the bread and wine are brought to the altar
    • also called "Presentation and Preparation of the Gifts"
  • during the Offertory, through the priest the assembled give thanks to "Lord God of all creation" for the bread and win
    • recognizing that the while bread & wine are "work of human hands" both are gifts of the Creator
  • "offertory" is from Latin offertus, derived from oblatus for "to offer" (see "oblation")

Ordinary time

  • liturgical calendar period (2)
  • from "ordinal" for numbers

orthodox

  • "correct teaching"
  • ortho (correct) + dox (opinion) = correct opinion
  • dox = "opinion, thought"
    • dox from PIE *dek- "to take, accept"
  • the orthodox canonical New Testament books were affirmed by Irenaeus in 177 AD
    • his criteria was that the canon be of
      1. the Gospels
      2. teachings and writings by later companions of the Apostles (such as Luke, Jude, James)
      3. early Church traditions as handed down from the Gospels
        • Irenaeus attested to the authorship of the Gospels, especially John and Luke as companion of Paul

orthodox v. heterodox

  • ortho = "straight, right way"
  • hetero = "other", i.e. "not the right way"; "wrong teaching

Our Father, the

Pa

Palm Sunday

  • >> to do
  • occurs on the Sunday before Passover, "Day of the Lambs," or "selection of the lambs" day, on which the lambs were brought in to Jerusalem for slaughter.

Paraclete, the

  • Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the "Paraclete"
    • for "advocate" (see Jn 14:16)
    • from para- (to procure) + kalein "to call"
      • PIE *kele- "to shout""
      • note: in addition to "to procure" or "produce," para- has other distinct & oppositive meanings, such "alongside, toward" and "beyond, against"
    • also means "intecessor"
  • see above for Holy Sprit and CCC 692

parish

  • a local church and the community is serves
  • from Greek paroikia for diocese
    • related to para for near

parochial

  • of or related to the parish
  • "parochial schools"

Parousia

  • the Second Coming of Christ
    • from Greek for "presence"
    • taken to mean "presence after absence" or "arrival"

Paschal

  • paschal = pertaining to Passover or Easter
    • from Aramaic pasha for "pass over"
    • Hebrew pesah "he passed over"

Paschal Mystery

  • Passion
  • Resurrection
  • Ascension

Passion, the

  • the suffering of Christ to save our sins
  • "passion" = suffering, or "to endure"
    • from Latin pati for "to undergo, endure"
    • thus later sense of "state of being affected by"
  • "the Passion Narrative" = the events of the last week of Jesus' life
    • from the "Triumphal Entry" to Jerusalem to his crucifixion, death, and burial

Passover

  • Jewish celebration of God's liberation of them from slavery in Egypt
  • Jesus fulfilled Passover for all people at the Crucifixion and Resurrection
  • see Passover

Pastoral

  • of tending the flock, i.e. caring for believers
  • Christ referred to "shepherds", "sheep", etc. frequently
    • with the idea that the shepherd must value every sheep":

What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? (Lk 15:4)

  • "pastoral" priests focus on temporal welfare of the flock
    • and so tend to de-emphasize scripture and emphasize "Living in Christ"
  • "sacramental" priests focus on scripture
    • and so tend to emphasize salvation and eschatological theology

Patristic period

  • early Church period, from "fathers" (patria)
  • periods include:
    • age of the Apostolic Fathers
      • period of the New Testament, to about 80-90 AD
    • age of the Apologists, AD 80-180
      • period of Church fathers who inherited and taught the learning from the Apostolic Fathers
      • "apologist" means one who defends
        • apologies were especially important in order to explain and defend Christian thinking, especially as against pagans and heretical Christian movements
    • age of the Theologians, 180-324 AD
      • period leading up to the Council of Nicaea
      • "theologians" refers to one who explains

"Peace be with you"

  • the Greeting of the Lord to the Apostles after Resurrection (Jn 20:19 and 20:26)
  • Jesus instructs that the sign of peace is not merely a greeting, but an "effective word", i.e. one that "effects" a result (see footnote to Mt 10:13)

Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’*If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.

  • Jesus' greeting to the Apostles, "My peace be with you" implicates Christ's sending forth to them of the Holy Spirit, per Jn 20:21-22:

[Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.

  • a "peaceful person" = "a son of peace"
  • in Hebrew, "peace" is shalôm which means "complete, whole", as in "may you be whole" regarding one's well-being, prosperity or harmony with others
    • so the greeting was a wish for good things for that person
    • in the Septaguent, shalôm was translated into the Greek eirene, which more directly implies "peace" as in absence of hostility
      • eirene also meant, or came to mean "inner peace" within a person
      • so Christians used it to signify the eirene that comes from God
  • see A Primer on Peace | Catholic Answers Magazine

penitence / penance / penitential

  • sorrow for having done wrong/ sin
  • from Latin penitire "to regret"
    • related to Latin pæne for "nearly, almost, practically" as in "lacking", "incomplete"

Pentatuech

  • from "penta" for five
  • the first five books of the Old Testament which are together called the Torah by the Jews
  • the five books are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy
  • see Catholic Bible

Pentecost

  • from pente (five) + cost (count), thus "50 days"
  • refers to fifty days after Easter (49 by the modern calendar, rounding out to 50)
  • Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Mary, the Mother of God, in the "Upper Room", where they had gathered in secret and fear following the Crucifixion.

philosophy

  • = truth discerned through reason
  • from Greek for "love of wisdom"
    • philo (loving, love of) + sophia (knowledge)
      • sophis = "wise, learned"

pious

  • devoted, reverent or observant of Christian propriety and/or Christianity itself
  • from Latin purus ("pure, clean")
  • and PIE *pu-io- "pure, to purify"

pleroma

  • Christ's continued life

Po

Pope

  • from "papa"
  • titles for the Pope include
    • BIshop of Rome
    • Vicar of the universal Church
    • Primate of Italy
  • see also Holy See

prayer

  • definition = entreaty, petition from Latin precari "to ask, beg, pray"
    • from PIE *prek "to ask, entreat"
  • from CCC 2564:

Christian prayer is a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ. It is the action of God and of man, springing forth from both the Holy Spirit and ourselves, wholly directed to the Father, in union with the human will of the Son of God made man.

  • we can think of prayer as a "conversation with God" (but not limited to that, as we can pray to the Saints)

In the New Covenant, prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit.

precepts of the Church

  • see above for "Five Precepts of the Church"

prelate

  • a priestly Church official of high rank, usually in reference to Bishops
  • from Latin prelatus "clergyman of high rank," or praelatus "one preferred"
    • pre- (before, as in first) + oblate (one dedicated to faith)

presbyterium / presbyteros

  • see priest

priest

  • ordained minister of the Church
  • does not have a direct etymological origin in Latin or Greek
  • but is related to
    • Latin *prester or presbyter for "presbyter, elder,"
    • Greek presbyteros "elder (of two), venerable
      • from PIE *per- "forward, in front of, before, first"
  • also sacerdos, "giver of holy things"
  • see "hierarchy"
    • from Greek from hierarkhes "high priest, leader of sacred rites"
    • thus "priest" by definition is both "hierarchical" (ranked) and venerable (in front of)

private revelation

  • revelations or spiritual experiences of an individual
  • private revelation does not inform Church doctrine or theory
    • as Christ is the fulfillment of Revelation
  • if they can help people to "live our their faith more fully"
    • but they are not part of the "deposit of faith" (see CCC 67)

profane

  • from pro fano meaning "out /outside of the temple" or "not allowed in the temple"
    • fanum = temple
    • i.e., what is not holy

profess

propitiate / propitiation

  • to atone, make amends
    • derived from Latin propitius for "favorable, gracious, kindly
    • and piare, related to pious

Protoevangelium

  • proto= before, first
  • evangelium = gospel (the good news)
  • the first gospel was God's testiminoly to Satan, Adam and Eve about what would happen to them

Psalter

  • a devotional for prayer book or collection, usually with the Book of Psalms
  • may also have included the Litany of Saints and other prayers, including Deus Propicius Esto

purgation

  • Latin purgare "to cleanse, purify"

Purgatory

  • the place of purgation for those souls not damned not immediately entered into Heaven

Q

R

radical

  • from "root"
  • so radical is changing the roots
  • << to complete

ransom

  • = a fee paid for the release of someone or something
  • see Timothy1, 2: 5
  • Jesus paid the "ransom" for man's sins

Reconciliation, Sacrament of

  • i.e., "confession"
  • the sacrament by which, "through God's mercy, the sinner is reconciled with God, and also with the Church, Christ's Body, which is wounded by sin" (CCC 1422)
  • re- (back, again) + conciliare (to make friendly)
    • from PIE *kele- "to shout" to come together( *kal-yo-)

rectitude

  • straightness, uprightness
    • from Latin rectus "straight"
    • PIE *reg- "move in a straight line"

Rector

  • priest who is head of a priest

redemption

  • re (back to) + emere (take, buy, gain)
    • from PIE *em- "to take, distribute"

relic

  • from Latin reliquiæ "the remains of a martyr.
    • from PIE *linkw-, or *leikw- for "to leave", with re- , thus, left behind

"Remnant of the Faithful"

  • those who remain faithful to Christ and Church
    • now and across generations

repent

  • to regret, apologize or seek forgiveness
    • with change in mind so as not to repeat the same mistake or sin
    • in other words, "repent" is different in "regret" in that
      • regret = wish it didn't happen
      • repent = regret with change of mind or habit
      • despair = to have no hope (see entry on despair)
  • while Peter "wept bitterly" after denying Christ, thus marking regret, he did not despair
    • later, upon recognizing Jesus at his appearance at the Sea of Tiberias, Peter lept into the water to swim to him (Jn 21:7")
      • in other words, he "repented" by returning to Christ
  • repent from re (in the sense of "very much", more than) + penitire (regret, to make sorry)
    • only penitire in the sense of poena for "penal", which means punishment & recompense (pay back)

revelation

  • to make clear,
  • from Latin revelare "unveil, uncover, lay bare"
    • = re- (undo) + veil (covered) = uncovered
    • "veil" is related to "sail", "velum", "cloth"

righteous

  • sinless, just ("justified")
    • in the Old Testament, within the law
  • righteousness results from "justification" or grace
    • right ("just, good, in accordance with moral law") + -eous (in the state of)
    • = in the state of being right w/ God
    • right = from PIE *reg- "to move in a straight line"
  • Pope Benedict XVI defined it as
    • "Righteousness is the observance of the right path shown by God"

rite

  • a formal religious ceremony
  • from Latin ritus "custom, usage"
  • the Roman Rite
    • = the liturgy (Mass) of the Roman Catholic Church

Roman Rite

  • the prescribed liturgy of the Catholic Church
  • as practiced by the Holy See (the Pope in his authority)
    • i.e. the Catholic Mass
  • also called the "Latin Rite"

Rosary, the

  • a series or "garden" of prayers w/ beads to guide their recitation (saying of the prayers)
  • related to Latin hortulus animae for "prayerbook"
    • which means "little garden of the soul"

Sa

Sabbbath

  • Hebrew shabbath for "rest" or, from Genesis, "day of rest"
  • from Genesis 2:3

God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation

sacrament

  • from Latin sacramentum for "solemn oath" from sacrare "to consecrate" or "make holy" (see Sacraments below)
  • a sacrament us "an outward sign instituted by Christ to give Grace"
  • sacrament =
    • "the visible sign of the hidden reality of salvation"
    • "a sign and an instrument"
  • the Sacraments have visible and invisible forms
    • see CCC 774 and "Sacraments, the" below

sacramentals

  • sacred signs, instruments and ceremonies that facilitate sacramental grace, but are not sacramental unto themselves

Sacraments, the

  • "the Seven Mysteries"
  • 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 (see CCC Glossary; see 774, 1131)
  • the word "sacrament" comes from Latin sacramentum for "an oath of obedience"
    • from sacrare "to make sacred,"
      • from PIE *sak- or *shnk "sanctify, make sacred"
  • the word "mysteries" = from Greek mystērion for "secret rite or doctrine"
    • when translated to Latin mystērion became both mysteriun and sacramentum
  • mysteries = "hidden reality of salvation" through and by Christ
    • sacraments are "mysteries" because they have seen and unseen works and effects
      • "the visible and the hidden"
  • conferred by Christ
  • sacraments make real what is symbolic
  • *see section below "Sacraments"

sacred

  • hollowed, consecrated, made holy
  • from Old French sacrer "to consecrate, anoint"
    • PIE *sak- or *shnk "sanctify, make sacred"
      • (cognate from Hittite šaklai for "custom, rites," or zankila "to fine, punish")

sacred mysteries

  • what is unknowable except through revelation
    • sacred = holy
    • mystery = what is unknown
  • see entries for mysterium fidei, Mystery and Sacraments

sacristan

  • a church official in charge of the sacristy and its contents
  • and of the church in general

sacrifice

  • sacred offering
  • from Latin facere "to make, to do"
    • from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"
    • thus "make done"

The redemptive sacrifice of Christ is unique, accomplished once for all;

yet it is made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Church. The same is true of the one priesthood of Christ; it is made present through the ministerial priesthood without diminishing the uniqueness of Christ's priesthood: "Only Christ is the true priest, the others being only his ministers."

- CCC 1545

sacristy

  • "repository for sacred things"
    • i.e., the place in a church to store holy materials used at Mass
  • from Latin sacer (sacred) and sacrarium, place for sacred things

saint/ Saint

  • a saint is a “holy one”:
    • someone "who leads a life in union with God through the grace of Christ and receives the reward of eternal life” (CCC Glossary)
  • and a "model" Christian and "intercessor" (CCC 828)
  • members of the Church are "saints" (CCC 823)
  • the title "Saint" is for someone "canonized" by the Church:
    • = declared and holder of the "Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven" by the Pope
      • i.e., Saints are declared to be in Heaven
      • (note: the Church never declares that anyone is in Hell or Purgatory)
  • early Christians saw martyrs as saints as they were certain to be with God for their allegiance and sacrifice to the Lord
  • for more see Saint

Salvation history

  • = progressive revelation of God's plan to save humanity from death after Man's fall

salvific

  • as in "salvific character of God's Revelation" (JPII)

sanctify

  • to make sacred
  • from Latin sanctus "holy"
    • so santus (holy) + facere ("to make or do" from PIE *dhe- "to set, put")
  • see also "consecrate"

Satan

  • from Hebrew satan for "adversary, one who plots against another"
  • Satan is the literal personification of evil
  • may be "satan" or "Satan"
    • satan = reference to "an adversary"
    • "Satan" = reference to the devil (which is not capitalized; see "Mt 4:5"
  • in the Old Testament is also called
    • "the devil", "the satan" (Jb 1:6)
  • Jesus refers to Satan in various terms:
  • elsewhere in the New Testament, Satan is referred to as
    • "a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan" (2 Cor 12:7-10:)
    • "The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan" (Rev 12:9):

Sc

scandal

  • "an attitude or or behavior wich leads another to do evil"
  • per CCC 2284, scandal is causing or tempting another into sin

Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor's tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.

  • per CCC 2287, the Lord warned against scandal as a mortal offence:

Anyone who uses the power at his disposal in such a way that it leads others to do wrong becomes guilty of scandal and responsible for the evil that he has directly or indirectly encouraged. "Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come!"

He said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur."

scatter

  • from Greek : diabalein (from which "devil" is derived)

Scripture

  • Holy writings
  • from Latin scribere "to write"
  • Scripture is divinely inspired
    • from Greek theopneustos for "God-breathed"

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

  • see "inspired"

secular

  • "of the word" and not religion
  • usually refers to the state (government)
    • possibly from PIE *sai- "to bind, tie"

Senses of Scripture

sepulcher

  • a tomb or burial chamber
  • from Latin sepelire for to bury, entomb or embalm
  • often used to describe the cave where Jesus was buried

Septuagint

  • the earliest existing Greek translation of the Old Testament, started in the 3rd Century BC and completed into the 2nd Century BC
  • the Apostles and early Christians used this version of the Hebrew Bible and incorporated it completely into the Old Testament
    • including the "Deuterocanonical" books, which are in the Catholic and not Protestant bibles.

sin

  • see page on Sin
  • OE synn for "moral wrongdoing, injury, mischief, enmity, feud, guilt, crime, offense against God, misdeed"
    • from PIE *snt-ya-, forming *es-ont- for "becoming"
      • in Germanic language groups, took on meaning of "it is true". as in "the sin is real"
  • CCC 431:
    • "Because sin is always an offences against God, only he can forgive it"
  • "capital sin" or "capital vice" (CCC 1866)
  • also called the "Seven Deadly Sins"
    • pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth
  • capital because these are the "head" of other sins (i.e., lead to them)
  • deadly because they lead to death and damnation
  • mortal sin
    • or "deadly sin"
    • a willful, serious offense against God
  • venial sin
    • an offense against God in a light matter or without full consent of the sinner
    • thereby the venial sin does not destroy grace or friendship with God
    • it is "pardonable" (from which the word "venial" is derived)
  • vice:
    • "Vices can be classified according to the virtues they oppose" (CCC 1866)
  • for more, see individual entries for "mortal sin" and "venial sin"

Sinai, Mt. Sinai

  • Sinai is the desert region which the Israelites, led by Moses, crossed in their escape from slavery in Egypt
  • for Mt. Sinai, see Mt. Horeb (above)

"sleeper awake"

  • = we are dead in sin (sleeping) and arise, or awake, with Christ
  • from Ephesians 5:14 (Paul):
But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Son of Man / Son of David

  • see section above on Names for Jesus

soteriology

  • study of study of or belief system regarding salvation and its nature
    • from Greek sōtēria (preservation, salvation) + -ology (study of)
      • possible PIE root *teue- for "to swell, become stronger"
  • understood in conjunction with ecclesiology, which is the study of or belief system regarding the Church and its nature

spirit

  • in Hebrew: ruah
  • see Holy Spirit

subsidiarity

  • the principle that "a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order" (CCC 1883)
  • subsidiarity is a form of "salutary neglect," which holds that "subsidiary" (lower order) organizations grow more healthy (salutary) when autonomous from direct control, although coordinated in common cause with the larger organization.
  • subsidiary organizations include dioceses, parishes, and families
  • also part of the important concept of separation of Church and state
    • the Church should be independent of and free from interference by the state

symbiotic

  • together, in union
  • from Greek symbiosis for "living together,"; or symbioun "live together,"; and symbios "(one) living together", "husband or wife,"
    • syn- "together" + bios "life" (from PIE *gwei- "to live")

symbolon

  • early Church reference to the Creed
  • from Greek for a "seal" or "sign of agreement", i.e., representative of something
    • thus "symbolon" represented the unity of Christian belief

synod

  • ecclesiastical council
    • from Greek synodos = syn (together) + hodos (for "traveling, journeying, a way or path")
      • today = ecclesial gathering with the intent to discern the Holy Spirit's directions for the Church
  • "synodality" = "walking together"

T

testament

  • from testari for "be witness to"
  • from PIE *tri-st-i- for third person, as in a witness

theology

  • study of God's word (scripture) and of Church doctrine (beliefs)
    • called "faith seeking wisdom"
  • from Greek "theologia"
    • theos = God + logia for "word, utterance, sayings"
    • origin in PIE === dhes- = any religious reference, likley from PIE *dhe- for "to set, to put"
      • thus what is set, what is put by God

Theophany of God

  • tangible manifestations of God
  • revealed to us in way we can comprehend and sense (through our senses)
  • from Latin theophania
    • Greek theos (god) + phainein (bring to light, make or cause to appear)
      • phainein if from PIE *bha- for "to shine"

Theos

  • Greek for God
    • from PIE *dhes- for "to set, put" as in the Creator

Transubstantiation

  • the change ("trans") of the bread and wine into the "substance" of Christ
    • the bread and wine keep their original form while becoming the "substance" of Christ
    • from: trans- = across, beyond + substance ("what it is")
      • substance = sub- (up to, under, made up of) + stare (that which stands, what is)
          • stare has PIE root *sta- "to stand, make firm, be firm"
  • "Sacramental Eucharistic Presence" = Christ's actual or "absolute" presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist
  • see Holy Communion page for details on Transubstantiation

Triduum

  • or Easter Triduum, Paschal Triduum, Holy Triduum
  • tri (three) + duum (days)
  • the three day celebration of the Passion of the Lord
    • Holy Thursday
    • Good Friday
    • Easter Sunday
  • see Triduum page

Trinity

  • the mystery of God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
    • called collectively the "Godhead" or the "Triune"
    • also, the "Blessed Trinity"
  • the Trinity consists of the
    • Persons of God: Father Son and Holy Spirit
    • Natures of God: Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier
  • see Holy Trinity

Triune God

  • God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
  • God may also be used to refer to the Father
  • when we refer to Jesus Christ as "God" we are referring to Him as the "Second Person of the Trinity," but not "The Trinity" itself

Two Wings of Truth: Gifts of Faith and Reason

  • the idea that human understanding of truth must come of the "two wings" of faith and reason:

Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves (cf. Ex 33:18; Ps 27:8-9; 63:2-3; Jn 14:8; 1 Jn 3:2).

  • see Two Wings of Truth: gifts of faith and reason

typology

  • the study of "types", related representations or symbols
  • use of persons, places, etc that serve as antecedents
  • generally, the "type" is an earlier, imperfect symbol, representation or precursor to Christ as fulfilled in the New Covenant.
    • from "type/s" or" example" / "form"
    • Latin typus for "figure, image, form, kind"
      • from Greek typos for "to blow, strike," as in to carve, stamp, hammer, sculpt something
      • generally combined to indicate the figure or example of something:
        • as in archetype, genotype, stereotype
        • or as prefix, typecast, typewriter
    • PIE *tup- or *(s)teu- for "to push, stick, knock, beat
      • related to "steep" for a projection (sticking out or up, as in a church "steeple")
      • or "step" for "pushing out", thus "stepchild"
  • certain Old Testament people and events "types" "foreshadow" or "prefigure" New Testament people and events, or things of scriptural importance (baptism, Calvary, resurrection, etc.)
  • "type" may also be seen in the "print" of the nails in the hands of Christ that he showed to the Apostles after Resurrection (see John 20:25)
  • see CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Types in Scripture (newadvent.org) for other "forms", "figures," and "patterns" in the New Testament
  • note that Old Testament "types" are distinct from direct phrophesies

U-V-W

Vicar

  • a deputy priest

Vicar of Christ

  • the Pope (see Bishop of Rome)
  • may also refer, generally to a Bishop
    • Latin vicaire for "deputy, second in command,"
  • thus earthly representative of Christ

veneration

  • admiration and imitation of the Saints
    • Latin venerari "to worship, revere,"
      • venus "beauty, love, desire"
        • PIE root *wen- "to desire, strive for"
    • veneration is not worship

Venerable

  • a title given to a person who is under consideration for sainthood

venial / venial sin

  • sin that does not destroy the divine life (CCC 1855)
  • i.e., not "grave matter" (or if in grave matter, not in full knowledge or consent of the sin)
  • venial = venia for "forgiveness" or venialis for "pardonable"
    • (note: "venal" means "susceptible" or "motivated by bribery")
  • venial sin causes us to deviate from God's will and weakens our own spiritual health
  • the crucial difference between venial and mortal sin is that mortal sin may not be pardoned through prayer

vocation

  • a calling in life to service to God in a certain state (marriage) or order (priesthood)
  • from vocare "to call"

Vulgate (Bible)

  • also called "Catholic Vulgate" or "Latin Vulgate"
    • the Bible translated into Latin
    • it was started by Saint Jerome in 382
    • it was last updated in 1979 as the "Nova Vulgate"
  • the significance is that until the 20th century, English versions of the Catholic Bible were translated from Latin and not from the original Greek
    • however, the Old Testament was translated into Latin from Hebrew and not Greek
    • the Septuagint Bible was considered "inspired" by Augustine, and thus more accceptable
    • see above for the Septuagint (OT translation into Greek by 3rd Century BC Jewish scholars)

Way, the

  • from John 14;6 and Acts 9:2
    • reference to following Jesus
  • other terms or references to followers of Jesus include:
    • Nazarenes (Acts 24:5)
    • Christians (Acts 11:26)
    • Saints (Ephesians 1:1)
    • Disciples (used extensively in the Gospels and Acts)

Word, the

  • Dei Verbum from Second Vatican Council = "Word of God"
  • in Greek, logos from PIE *log-o-, "to collect, gather," (from *leg-) as in "to pick out words," thus "speech"
    • logos also means "reason" (as in "logic")
  • John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

  • John 1:14:

And the Word became flesh

and made his dwelling among us

and we saw his glory,

the glory as of the Father’s only Son,

full of grace and truth.

works, or "good works"

  • "works" means something "worked," or done, i.e. something accomplished
  • "good works" are things done for God

>> entry to complete

worship

  • from "worth" + "ship" as in "state of worthiness" or "worthy of honor"
    • thus, "worship" means "to honor"
    • we can "worship" Mary or a Saint, just as we can "worship" a parent or grandparent by recognizing them for their worthiness of respect and honor
  • "worship of God" refers to honoring, respecting, obeying, upholding God
    • through prayer and the Sacraments Catholics "worship" God
  • in order to avoid confusing "worship" of the Saints with "worship" of God, we refer to worship of Saints as "veneration"

X-Y-Z

Other terms

Eucharistic Revival

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