DOCTRINE

VVERITAS

CATHOLIC WORD BOOK Hundreds of Words Defined The Knights of Columbus presents The Veritas Series “Proclaiming the Faith in the Third Millennium” Catholic Word Book

Our text is not intended to provide the last word on any topic, but simply an elementary explanation, a starting point for further investigation.

General Editor Father Juan-Diego Brunetta, O.P. Director of the Catholic Information Service Knights of Columbus Supreme Council Copyright © 2007 by Knights of Columbus Supreme Council. All rights reserved.

The text of this booklet is reprinted with permission from Catholic Almanac 2008 © 2007 Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, IN 46750.

Cover: An illumination from a Byzantine manuscript depicting Saint Matthew the Apostle seated at his writing desk. Athens, Codex 68, folio 1.v. Byzantine, 12th century. National Library, Athens, Greece. © Werner Forman/Art Resource, New York.

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Printed in the United States of America for past sins or in order to join oneself to A the passion of Christ. Mortification can be Abbacy Nullius : A non diocesan territory undertaken through fasting, abstinence, or whose people are under the pastoral care of refraining from legitimate pleasure. an abbot acting in general in the manner of a bishop. Abortion : Abortion is not only “the ejection of an immature fetus” from the Abbess : The female superior of a monastic womb, but is “also the killing of the same community of nuns; e.g., Benedictines, fetus in whatever way at whatever time Poor Clares, some others. Elected by from the moment of conception it may be members of the community, an abbess has procured.” (This clarification of Canon general authority over her community but 1398, reported in the Dec. 5, 1988, no sacramental jurisdiction. edition of L’Osservatore Romano , was issued by the Pontifical Council for the Abbey : See Monastery. Interpretation of Legislative Texts — in view of scientific developments regarding Abbot : The male superior of a monastic ways and means of procuring abortion.) community of men religious; e.g., Accidental expulsion, as in cases of Benedictines, Cistercians, some others. miscarriage, is without moral fault. Direct Elected by members of the community, an abortion, in which a fetus is intentionally abbot has ordinary jurisdiction and general removed from the womb, constitutes a authority over his community. Eastern direct attack on an innocent human being, Rite equivalents of an abbot are a a violation of the Fifth Commandment. A hegumen and an archimandrite. A regular person who procures a completed abortion abbot is the head of an abbey or monastery. is automatically excommunicated (Canon An abbot general or archabbot is the head 1398 of the Code of Canon Law ); also of a congregation consisting of several excommunicated are all persons involved monasteries. An abbot primate is the head in a deliberate and successful effort to of the modern Benedictine Confederation. bring about an abortion. Direct abortion is not justifiable for any reason, e.g., Abiogenesis : The term used to describe the therapeutic, for the physical and/or spontaneous generation of living matter psychological welfare of the mother; from non-living matter. preventive, to avoid the birth of a defective or unwanted child; social, in the interests Ablution : A term derived from Latin, of family and/or community. Indirect meaning washing or cleansing, and abortion, which occurs when a fetus is referring to the cleansing of the hands of a expelled during medical or other priest celebrating Mass, after the offering treatment of the mother for a reason other of gifts; and to the cleansing of the chalice than procuring expulsion, is permissible with water and wine after Communion. under the principle of double effect for a proportionately serious reason; e.g., when Abnegation : The spiritual practice of self- a medical or surgical procedure is necessary denial (or mortification), in order to atone to save the life of the mother. Such a -3- procedure should not be confused with the regarding certain sins and penalties or purportedly “medical” procedure of the censures. In cases of necessity, and also in partial-birth abortion, a particularly cruel cases of the absence of their own form of abortion. confessors, Eastern and Latin Rite Catholics may ask for and receive Abrogation : The Abolition or elimination sacramental absolution from an Eastern or of a law by some official action. In Canon Latin Rite priest; so may Polish National Law, abrogation occurs through a direct Catholics, according to a Vatican decision decree of the Holy See or by the enactment issued in May, 1993. Any priest can of a later or subsequent law contrary to the absolve a person in danger of death; in the former law. absence of a priest with the usual faculties, this includes a laicized priest or a priest Absolute : (1) A term in philosophy, first under censure. ( See additional entry under introduced at the end of the 18th century Sacraments.) and used by Scholasticism, that signifies the “perfect being” (i.e., God), who relies Abstinence : 1. The deliberate deprivation upon no one for existence. Modern by a person of meat or of foods prepared philosophical thought has added two new with meat on those days prescribed by the concepts: a) the Absolute is the sum of all Church as penitential (Ash Wednesday, being; b) the Absolute has no relationship Good Friday, and all Fridays of the year with any other things; the Absolute is thus which are not solemnities — in the United unknowable. These concepts are agnostic States, not all Fridays of the year but only and contrary to Catholicism, which holds the Fridays of Lent). Those fourteen years that God is the cause of all being (and of age and above are bound by the hence not the sum) and is knowable by his discipline. (2) Sexual abstinence is the creatures, at least in part. (2) Certain willing refrain from sexual intercourse; truths, revealed by God, which are total abstinence is observed in obedience unchanging. to the Sixth Commandment by single persons and couples whose marriages are Absolution, Sacramental : The act by which not recognized by the Church as valid; bishops and priests, acting as agents of periodic abstinence or periodic continence Christ and ministers of the Church, grant is observed by a married couple for forgiveness of sins in the sacrament of regulating conception by natural means or penance. The essential formula of for ascetical motives. absolution is: “I absolve you from your sins; in the name of the Father, and of the Adoration : The highest act and purpose of Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The religious worship, which is directed in love power to absolve is given with ordination and reverence to God alone in to the priesthood and episcopate. Priests acknowledgment of his infinite perfection exercise this power in virtue of and goodness, and of his total dominion authorization (faculties) granted by a over creatures. Adoration, which is also bishop, a religious superior or canon law. called latria, consists of internal and Authorization can be limited or restricted external elements, private and social -4- prayer, liturgical acts and ceremonies, and knowledge of truth; consequently, faith especially sacrifice. and revelation are discounted as valid sources of knowledge, and the reality of Adultery : Marital infidelity. Sexual supernatural truth is called into doubt intercourse between a married person and and/or denied. another to whom one is not married, a violation of the obligations of the marital Aggiornamento : An Italian word having covenant, chastity and justice; any sin of the general meaning of bringing up to impurity (thought, desire, word, action) date, renewal, revitalization, descriptive of involving a married person who is not the processes of spiritual renewal and one’s husband or wife has the nature of institutional reform and change in the adultery. Church; fostered by the Second Vatican Council. Advent Wreath : A wreath of laurel, spruce, or similar foliage with four candles which Agnosticism : A theory which holds that a are lighted successively in the weeks of person cannot have certain knowledge of Advent to symbolize the approaching immaterial reality, especially the existence celebration of the birth of Christ, the Light of God and things pertaining to him. of the World, at Christmas. The wreath Immanuel Kant, one of the philosophical originated among German Protestants. fathers of agnosticism, stood for the position that God, as well as the human Agape : A Greek word, meaning love, love soul, is unknowable on speculative feast, designating the meal of fellowship grounds; nevertheless, he found practical eaten at some gatherings of early imperatives for acknowledging God’s Christians. Although held in some places existence, a view shared by many in connection with the Mass, the agape agnostics. The First Vatican Council was not part of the Mass, nor was it of declared that the existence of God and universal institution and observance. It some of his attributes can be known with was infrequently observed by the fifth certainty by human reason, even without century and disappeared altogether divine revelation. The word agnosticism between the sixth and eighth centuries. was first used, in the sense given here, by T. H. Huxley in 1869. Age of Reason : (1) The time of life when one begins to distinguish between right Agnus De i: A Latin phrase, meaning Lamb and wrong, to understand an obligation of God. (1) A title given to Christ, the and take on moral responsibility; seven Lamb (victim) of the Sacrifice of the New years of age is the presumption in church Law (on Calvary and in Mass). (2) A prayer law. (2) Historically, the 18th century said at Mass before the reception of Holy period of Enlightenment in England and Communion. (3) A sacramental. It is a France, the age of the Encyclopedists and round paschal candle fragment blessed by Deists. According to a basic thesis of the the pope. On one side it bears the Enlightenment, human experience and impression of a lamb, symbolic of Christ. reason are the only sources of certain On the reverse side, there may be any one -5- of a number of impressions; e.g., the figure praise God,” with various use in the of a saint, the name and coat of arms of the liturgy and other expressions of worship. reigning pope. The agnus dei may have originated at Rome in the fifth century. Allocution : A formal type of papal address, The first definite mention of it dates from as distinguished from an ordinary sermon about 820. or statement of views.

Akathist Hymn : The most profound and Alms : An act, gift or service of compassion, famous expression of Marian devotion in motivated by love of God and neighbor, churches of the Byzantine Rite. It consists for the help of persons in need; an of 24 sections, 12 of which relate to the obligation of charity, which is measurable Gospel of the Infancy and 12 to the by the ability of one person to give mysteries of the Incarnation and the assistance and by the degree of another’s virginal motherhood of Mary. In liturgical need. Almsgiving, along with prayer and usage, it is sung in part in Byzantine fasting, is regarded as a work of penance as churches on the first four Saturdays of Lent well as an exercise of charity. ( See Mercy, and in toto on the fifth Saturday; it is also Works of.) recited in private devotion. It is of unknown origin prior to 626, when its Alpha and Omega : The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, used to symbolize popularity increased as a hymn of the eternity of God (Rv 1:8) and the thanksgiving after the successful defense divinity and eternity of Christ, the and liberation of Constantinople, which beginning and end of all things (Rv 21:6; had been under siege by Persians and 22:13). Use of the letters as a monogram of Avars. Akathist means “without sitting,” Christ originated in the fourth century or indicating that the hymn is recited or sung earlier. while standing. Pope John Paul, in a decree dated May 25, 1991, granted a Amen : A Hebrew word meaning truly, it is plenary indulgence to the faithful of any true. In the Gospels, Christ used the word rite who recite the hymn in a church or to add a note of authority to his oratory, as a family, in a religious statements. In other New Testament community or in a pious association — in writings, as in Hebrew usage, it was the conjunction with the usual conditions of concluding word to doxologies. As the freedom from attachment to sin, reception concluding word of prayers, it expresses of the sacraments of penance and the assent to and acceptance of God’s will. Eucharist, and prayers for the intention of the pope (e.g., an Our Father, the Apostles’ Anamnesis : A prayer recalling the saving Creed and an aspiration). A partial mysteries of the death and resurrection of indulgence can be gained for recitation of Jesus, following the consecration at Mass the hymn in other circumstances. in the Latin Rite.

Alleluia : An exclamation of joy derived Anaphora : A Greek term for the Canon or from Hebrew, “All hail to him who is, Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass. -6- Anathema : A Greek word with the root banished from heaven to hell. They can meaning of cursed or separated and the tempt persons to commit sin. adapted meaning of excommunication, used in church documents, especially the Angelus : A devotion which commemorates canons of ecumenical councils, for the the Incarnation of Christ. It consists of condemnation of heretical doctrines and of three versicles, three Hail Marys and a practices opposed to proper discipline. special prayer, and recalls the announcement to Mary by the Archangel Anchorite : A kind of hermit living in Gabriel that she was chosen to be the complete isolation and devoting himself Mother of Christ, her acceptance of the exclusively to exercises of religion and divine will, and the Incarnation (Lk 1:26 severe penance according to a rule and way 38). The Angelus is recited in the of life of his own devising. In early morning, at noon and in the evening. The Christian times, anchorites were the practice of reciting the Hail Mary in honor forerunners of the monastic life. The of the Incarnation was introduced by the closest contemporary approach to the life Franciscans in 1263. The Regina Caeli , of an anchorite is that of Carthusian and commemorating the joy of Mary at Camaldolese hermits. Christ’s Resurrection, replaces the Angelus during the Easter season. Angels : Purely spiritual beings with Anger (Wrath) : Passionate displeasure intelligence and free will whose name arising from some kind of offense suffered indicates their mission as servants and at the hands of another person, frustration messengers of God. They were created or other cause, combined with a tendency before the creation of the visible universe. to strike back at the cause of the Good angels enjoy the perfect good of the displeasure; a violation of the Fifth beatific vision. They can intercede for Commandment and one of the capital sins persons. The doctrine of guardian angels, if the displeasure is out of proportion to although not explicitly defined as a matter the cause and/or if the retaliation is unjust. of faith, is rooted in long standing tradition. No authoritative declaration has Anglican Orders : Holy orders conferred ever been issued regarding choirs or according to the rite of the Anglican various categories of angels: seraphim, Church, which Leo XIII declared null and cherubim, thrones, dominations, void in the bull Apostolicae Curae , Sept. 13, principalities, powers, virtues, archangels 1896. The orders were declared null and angels. Archangels commemorated in because they were conferred according to a the liturgy are: Michael, leader of the rite that was substantially defective in angelic host and protector of the form and intent, and because of a break in synagogue; Raphael, guide of Tobiah and apostolic succession that occurred when healer of his father; Gabriel, angel of the Matthew Parker became head of the Incarnation. Fallen angels, the chief of Anglican hierarchy in 1559. In making his whom is called the Devil or Satan, rejected declaration, Pope Leo cited earlier the love of God and were therefore arguments against validity made by Julius -7- III in 1553 and 1554 and by Paul IV in Antichrist : The “deceitful one,” the 1555. He also noted related directives “antichrist” (2 Jn 7), adversary of Christ requiring absolute ordination, according and the kingdom of God, especially in the to the Catholic ritual, of convert ministers end time before the second coming of who had been ordained according to the Christ. The term is also used in reference Anglican Ordinal. to anti Christian persons and forces in the world. Anglican Use Parishes : In line with Vatican-approved developments since Antiphon : (1) A short verse or text, 1980, several Anglican use parishes have generally from Scripture, recited in the been established in the United States with Liturgy of the Hours before and after the right to continue using some elements psalms and canticles. (2) Any verse sung or of Anglican usage in their liturgical recited by one part of a choir or celebrations. A Vatican document dated congregation in response to the other part, Mar. 31, 1981, said: “In June, 1980, the as in antiphonal or alternate chanting. Holy See, through the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, agreed to the Anti-Semitism : A prejudice against Jews, request presented by the bishops of the and often accompanied by persecution. The prejudice has existed historically from United States of America in behalf of some the time of the ancient Persian Empire and clergy and laity formerly or actually survives even to the present day. It has belonging to the Episcopal (Anglican) been condemned consistently by the Church for full communion with the Church as being in opposition to scriptural Catholic Church. The Holy See’s response principles and Christian charity. to the initiative of these Episcopalians includes the possibility of a ‘pastoral Apologetics : The science and art of provision’ which will provide, for those developing and presenting the case for the who desire it, a common identity reasonableness of the Christian faith, by a reflecting certain elements of their own wide variety of means including facts of heritage.” experience, history, science, philosophy. The constant objective of apologetics, as Animals : Creatures of God, they are well as of the total process of pre entrusted to human stewardship for evangelization, is preparation for response appropriate care, use for human needs, as to God in faith; its ways and means, pets, for reasonable experimentation for however, are subject to change in the good of people. They should not be accordance with the various needs of subject to cruel treatment. people and different sets of circumstances.

Annulment : A decree issued by an Apostasy : (1) The total and obstinate appropriate Church authority or tribunal repudiation of the Christian faith. An that a sacrament or ecclesiastical act is apostate automatically incurs a penalty of invalid and therefore lacking in all legal or excommunication. (2) Apostasy from canonical consequences. orders is the unlawful withdrawal from or -8- rejection of the obligations of the clerical Apostolic Succession : Bishops of the state by a man who has received major Church, who form a collective body or orders. An apostate from orders is subject college, are successors to the Apostles by to a canonical penalty. (3) Apostasy from ordination and divine right; as such they the religious life occurs when a Religious carry on the mission entrusted by Christ to with perpetual vows unlawfully leaves the the Apostles as guardians and teachers of community with the intention of not the deposit of faith, principal pastors and returning, or actually remains outside the spiritual authorities of the faithful. The community without permission. An doctrine of apostolic succession is based on New Testament evidence and the constant apostate from religious life is subject to a teaching of the Church, reflected as early canonical penalty. as the end of the first century in a letter of Pope St. Clement to the Corinthians. A Apostolate : The ministry or work of an significant facet of the doctrine is the role apostle. In Catholic usage, the word is an of the pope as the successor of St. Peter, the umbrella like term covering all kinds and vicar of Christ and head of the college of areas of work and endeavor for the service of bishops. The doctrine of apostolic God and the Church and the good of succession means more than continuity of people. Thus, the apostolate of bishops is to apostolic faith and doctrine; its basic carry on the mission of the Apostles as requisite is ordination by the laying on of pastors of the People of God: of priests, to hands in apostolic succession. preach the word of God and to carry out the sacramental and pastoral ministry for Archives : Documentary records, and the which they are ordained; of religious, to place where they are kept, of the spiritual follow and do the work of Christ in and temporal government and affairs of conformity with the evangelical counsels the Church, a diocese, church agencies like and their rule of life; of lay persons, as the departments of the Roman Curia, individuals and/or in groups, to give bodies like religious institutes, and witness to Christ and build up the individual parishes. The collection, kingdom of God through practice of their cataloguing, preserving, and use of these faith, professional competence and the records are governed by norms stated in canon law and particular regulations. The performance of good works in the concrete strictest secrecy is always in effect for circumstances of daily life. Apostolic works confidential records concerning matters of are not limited to those done within the conscience, and documents of this kind are Church or by specifically Catholic groups, destroyed as soon as circumstances permit. although some apostolates are officially assigned to certain persons or groups and Ark of the Covenant : The sacred chest of are under the direction of church the Israelites in which were placed and authorities. Apostolate derives from the carried the tablets of stone inscribed with commitment and obligation of baptism, the Ten Commandments, the basic moral confirmation, holy orders, matrimony, the precepts of the Old Covenant (Ex 25: 10 duties of one’s state in life, etc. 22; 37:1 9). The Ark was also a symbol of -9- God’s presence. The Ark was probably the rejection of a wrong notion of God, an destroyed with the Temple in 586 B.C. affirmation of man rather than of God, an extreme protest against evil. It said that Asceticism : The practice of self discipline. such a profession might result from In the spiritual life, asceticism — by acceptance of such propositions as: there is personal prayer, meditation, self denial, no absolute truth; man can assert nothing, works of mortification, and outgoing absolutely nothing, about God; everything interpersonal works — is motivated by can be explained by scientific reasoning love of God and contributes to growth in alone; the whole question of God is devoid holiness. of meaning. Ashes : Religious significance has been Atonement : The redemptive activity of associated with their use as symbolic of penance since Old Testament times. Thus, Christ, who reconciled man with God ashes of palm blessed on the previous through his Incarnation and entire life, Sunday of the Passion are placed on the and especially by his suffering and foreheads of the faithful on Ash Resurrection. The word also applies to Wednesday to remind them to do works of prayer and good works by which persons penance, especially during the season of join themselves with and take part in Lent, and that they are dust and unto dust Christ’s work of reconciliation and will return. Ashes are a sacramental. reparation for sin.

Aspergillum : A vessel or device used for Attributes of God : Perfections of God. God sprinkling holy water. The ordinary type is possesses — and is — all the perfections of a metallic rod with a bulbous tip which being, without limitation. Because he is absorbs the water and discharges it at the infinite, all of these perfections are one, motion of the user’s hand. perfectly united in him. Because of the limited power of human intelligence, Aspersory : A portable metallic vessel, divine perfections — such as omnipotence, similar to a pail, for carrying holy water. truth, love, etc. — are viewed separately, as distinct characteristics, even though Aspiration (Ejaculation): Short exclamatory they are not actually distinct in God. prayer; e.g., My Jesus, mercy. Authority, Ecclesiastical : The authority Atheism : Denial of the existence of God, finding expression in a system of thought exercised by the Church, and particularly (speculative atheism) or a manner of acting by the pope and the bishops; it is (practical atheism) as though there were no delegated by Jesus Christ to St. Peter. This God. The Second Vatican Council, in its authority extends to all those matters Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the entrusted to the Apostles by Christ, Modern World ( Gaudium et Spe s, Nos. 19 including teaching of the Faith, the to 21), noted that a profession of atheism liturgy and sacraments, moral guidance, may represent an explicit denial of God, and the administration of discipline. -10- Avarice (Covetousness): A disorderly and righteousness, and descriptive of the unreasonable attachment to and desire for qualities of Christian perfection — are material things; called a capital sin because those recounted in Mt 5:3 12 and Lk 6:20 it involves preoccupation with material 23. The Beatitudes are of central things to the neglect of spiritual goods and importance in the teaching of Jesus. obligations of justice and charity. Benedictus : The canticle or hymn of Ave Maria : See Hail Mary . Zechariah at the circumcision of St. John the Baptist (Lk 1:68 79). It is an expression of praise and thanks to God for B sending John as a precursor of the Messiah. Baldacchino : A canopy over an altar. The Benedictus is recited in the Liturgy of the Hours as part of the Morning Prayer. Baptism : See Sacraments. Biglietto : A papal document of notification Beatification : A preliminary step toward of appointment to the cardinalate. canonization of a saint. It begins with an investigation of the candidate’s life, Biretta : A stiff, square hat with three writings and heroic practice of virtue, and, ridges on top worn by clerics in church and except in the case of martyrs, the on other occasions. certification of one miracle worked by God through his or her intercession. If the Blasphemy : Any internal or external findings of the investigation so indicate, expression of hatred, reproach, insult, the pope decrees that the Servant of God defiance or contempt with respect to God may be called Blessed and may be honored and the use of his name, principally, and to locally or in a limited way in the liturgy. the Church, saints and sacred things, Additional procedures lead to canonization secondarily; a serious sin, directly opposed (see separate entry). to the second commandment. Blasphemy against the Spirit is the deliberate refusal Beatific Vision : The intuitive, immediate to accept divine mercy, rejection of and direct vision and experience of God forgiveness of sins and of the promise of enjoyed in the light of glory by all the salvation. The sin that is unforgivable blessed in heaven. The vision is a because a person refuses to seek or accept supernatural mystery. forgiveness.

Beatitude : A literary form of the Old and Blessing : Invocation of God’s favor, by New Testaments in which blessings are official ministers of the Church or by promised to persons for various reasons. private individuals. Blessings are Beatitudes are mentioned 26 times in the recounted in the Old and New Psalms, and in other books of the Old Testaments, and are common in the Testament. The best known Beatitudes — Christian tradition. Many types of identifying blessedness with participation blessings are listed in the Book of in the kingdom of God and his Blessings of the Roman Ritual. Private -11- blessings, as well as those of an official Burse, Financial : A special fund main - kind, are efficacious. Blessings are tained by a diocese, religious institute, or imparted with the Sign of the Cross and private foundation usually endowed by a appropriate prayer. private benefactor; it often has the purpose of making possible the education of Bride of Christ : A metaphorical title that candidates for the priesthood. denotes the intimate union that Christ enjoys with his Church; the title is men - tioned specifically in the NT (2 Cor 11:2). C Calumny (Slander): Harming the name and Brief, Apostolic : A papal letter, less formal good reputation of a person by lies; a than a bull, signed for the pope by a violation of obligations of justice and secretary and impressed with the seal of truth. Restitution is due for calumny. the Fisherman’s Ring. Simple apostolic letters of this kind are issued for Calvary : A knoll about 15 feet high just beatifications and with respect to other outside the western wall of Jerusalem matters. where Christ was crucified, so called from the Latin calvaria (skull) which described its shape. Bull, Apostolic : Apostolic letter, a solemn form of papal document, beginning with Canon : A Greek word meaning rule, norm, the name and title of the pope (e.g., John standard, measure. (1) The word Paul II, Servant of the Servants of God), designates the Canon of Sacred Scripture, dealing with an important subject, sealed which is the list of books recognized by the with a bulla or red ink imprint of the Church as inspired by the Holy Spirit. (2) device on the bulla . Bulls are issued to The term also designates the canons confer the titles of bishops and cardinals, (Eucharistic Prayers, anaphoras) of the to promulgate canonizations, to proclaim Mass, the core of the eucharistic liturgy. (3) Holy Years and for other purposes. A Certain dignitaries of the Church have the collection of bulls is called a bullarium . title of Canon, and some religious are known as Canons. (See Bible.) Burial, Ecclesiastical : Interment with ecclesiastical rites, a right of the Christian Canonization : An infallible declaration by faithful. The Church recommends burial of the pope that a person, who died as a the bodies of the dead, but cremation is martyr and/or practiced Christian virtue to permissible if it does not involve reasons a heroic degree, is now in heaven and is against church teaching. Ecclesiastical worthy of honor and imitation by all the burial is in order for catechumens; for faithful. Such a declaration is preceded by unbaptized children whose parents the process of beatification and another intended to have them baptized before detailed investigation concerning the death; and even, in the absence of their own person’s reputation for holiness, writings, ministers, for baptized non Catholics unless and (except in the case of martyrs) a it would be considered against their will. miracle ascribed to his or her intercession -12- after death. The pope can dispense from Canticle : A scriptural chant or prayer some of the formalities ordinarily required differing from the psalms. Three of the in canonization procedures (equivalent canticles prescribed for use in the Liturgy canonization), as Pope John XXIII did in of the Hours are: the Magnificat , the the canonization of St. Gregory Barbarigo Canticle of Mary (Lk 1:46 55); the on May 26, 1960. A saint is worthy of Benedictus , the Canticle of Zechariah (Lk honor in liturgical worship throughout the 1:68 79); and the Nunc Dimittis , the universal Church. From its earliest years Canticle of Simeon (Lk 2:29 32). the Church has venerated saints. Public Capital Punishment : Punishment for crime official honor always required the approval by means of the death penalty. The of the bishop of the place. Martyrs were political community, which has authority the first to be honored. St. Martin of Tours, to provide for the common good, has the who died in 397, was an early non martyr right to defend itself and its members venerated as a saint. The earliest against unjust aggression and may in canonization by a pope with positive extreme cases punish with the death documentation was that of St. Ulrich penalty persons found guilty before the (Uldaric) of Augsburg by John XV in 993. law of serious crimes against individuals Alexander III reserved the process of and a just social order. Such punishment is canonization to the Holy See in 1171. In essentially vindictive. Its value as a crime 1588 Sixtus V established the Sacred deterrent is a matter of perennial debate. Congregation of Rites for the principal The prudential judgment as to whether or purpose of handling causes for not there should be capital punishment beatification and canonization: this belongs to the civic community. The U.S. function is now the work of the Supreme Court, in a series of decisions Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The dating from June 29, 1972, ruled against official listing of saints and blessed is the constitutionality of statutes on capital contained in the Roman Martyrology punishment except in specific cases and (revised, updated, and published in 2002 with appropriate consideration, with by the Congregation for Divine Worship respect to sentence, of mitigating circumstances of the crime. Pope John and the Discipline of the Sacraments) and Paul II, in his encyclical letter Evangelium related decrees issued after its last Vitae (“The Gospel of Life”), wrote: “There publication. Butler’s unofficial Lives of the is a growing tendency, both in the Church Saints (1956 and recently updated) and in civil society, to demand that it contains 2,565 entries. The Church (capital punishment) be applied in a very regards all persons in heaven as saints, not limited way or even that it be abolished just those who have been officially completely.” Quoting the Catechism of the canonized. ( See Beatification, Saints, Catholic Church , the pope wrote: “‘If Canonizations by Leo XIII and His bloodless means are sufficient to defend Successors.) human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of Canon Law : See under Canon Law . persons, public authority must limit itself -13- to such means, because they better Catechism of the Catholic Church , published correspond to the concrete conditions of Oct. 11, 1992, consists of four principal the common good and are more in sections: the profession of faith, (the conformity to the dignity of the human Creed), the sacraments of faith, the life of person.’” faith (the Commandments) and the prayer of the believer (the Lord’s Prayer). The Capital Sins : Sins which give rise to other 16th century Council of Trent mandated sins: pride, avarice, lust, wrath (anger), publication of the Roman Catechism . gluttony, envy, sloth. Catechisms such as these two are useful sources for other catechisms serving Cardinal Virtues : The four principal moral virtues are prudence, justice, temperance particular needs of the faithful and persons and fortitude. seeking admission to the Catholic Church.

Casuistry : In moral theology, the Catechumen : A person preparing in a application of moral principles to specific program (catechumenate) of instruction cases. Casuistry can be of assistance and spiritual formation for baptism and because it takes the abstract and makes it reception into the Church. The Church has practical in a particular situation. It has a special relationship with catechumens. It definite limitations and does not replace invites them to lead the life of the Gospel, the conscience in the decision-making introduces them to the celebration of the process; additionally, it must be aligned sacred rites, and grants them various with the cardinal virtue of prudence. prerogatives that are proper to the faithful (one of which is the right to ecclesiastical Catacombs : Underground Christian burial). (See Rite of Christian Initiation of cemeteries in various cities of the Roman Adults, under Baptism.) Empire and Italy, especially in the vicinity of Rome; the burial sites of many martyrs Cathedra : A Greek word for chair, and other Christians. designating the chair or seat of a bishop in the principal church of his diocese, which Catechesis : The whole complex of church is therefore called a cathedral. efforts to make disciples of Christ, involving doctrinal instruction and Cathedraticum spiritual formation through practice of the : The tax paid to a bishop by faith. all churches and benefices subject to him for the support of episcopal administration Catechism : A systematic presentation of and for works of charity. the fundamentals of Catholic doctrine regarding faith and morals. Sources are Catholic : A Greek word, meaning Sacred Scripture, tradition, the universal, first used in the title Catholic magisterium (teaching authority of the Church in a letter written by St. Ignatius Church), the writings of Fathers and of Antioch about 107 to the Christians of Doctors of the Church, liturgy. The new Smyrna. -14- Celebre t: A Latin word, meaning “Let him subsequently ordained to the priesthood celebrate,” the name of a letter of have been permitted to continue in recommendation issued by a bishop or marriage. Married men over the age of 35 other superior stating that a priest is in can be ordained to the permanent good standing and therefore eligible to diaconate. Eastern Church discipline on celebrate Mass or perform other priestly celibacy differs from that of the Roman functions. Church. In line with legislation enacted by the Synod of Trullo in 692 and still in Celibacy : The unmarried state of life, force, candidates for holy orders may marry required in the Roman Church of before becoming deacons and may candidates for holy orders and of men continue in marriage thereafter, but already ordained to holy orders, for the marriage after ordination is forbidden. practice of perfect chastity and total Bishops of Eastern Catholic Churches in dedication to the service of people in the the U.S., however, do not ordain married ministry of the Church. Celibacy is candidates for the priesthood. Bishops of enjoined as a condition for ordination by Eastern Catholic Churches are unmarried. church discipline and law, not by dogmatic necessity. In the Roman Church, Cenacle : The upper room in Jerusalem a consensus in favor of celibacy developed where Christ ate the Las Supper with his in the early centuries while the clergy Apostles. included both celibates and men who had been married once. The first local Censer : A metal vessel with a perforated legislation on the subject was enacted by a cover and suspended by chains, in which local council held in Elvira, Spain, about incense is burned. It is used at some 306; it forbade bishops, priests, deacons Masses, Benediction of the Blessed and other ministers to have wives. Similar Sacrament and other liturgical functions. enactments were passed by other local councils from that time on, and by the Censorship of Books : An exercise of 12th century particular laws regarded vigilance by the Church for safeguarding marriage by clerics in major orders to be authentic religious teaching. Pertinent not only unlawful but also null and void. legislation in a decree issued by the The latter view was translated by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Second Lateran Council in 1139 into what Apr. 9, 1975, is embodied in the Code of seems to be the first written universal law Canon Law (Book III, Title IV). The making holy orders an invalidating legislation deals with requirements for pre impediment to marriage. In 1563 the publication review and clearance of various Council of Trent ruled definitely on the types of writings on religious subjects. matter and established the discipline in Permission to publish works of a religious force in the Roman Church. Some character, together with the apparatus of exceptions to this discipline have been reviewing them beforehand, falls under made in recent years. A number of married the authority of the bishop of the place Protestant and Episcopalian (Anglican) where the writer lives or where the works clergymen who became converts and were are published. Clearance for publication is -15- usually indicated by the terms Nihil obstat contumacy in other cases, for which (“Nothing stands in the way”) issued by judicial sentence is required, is subject to the censor and Imprimatur (“Let it be determination by a judge. Absolution can printed”) authorized by the bishop. The be obtained from any censure, provided the clearing of works for publication does not person repents and desists from obstinacy. necessarily imply approval of an author’s Absolution may be reserved to the pope, viewpoint or his manner of handling a the bishop of a place, or the major superior subject. of an exempt clerical religious institute. In danger of death, any priest can absolve Censures : Sanctions imposed by the from all censures; in other cases, faculties to Church on baptized Roman Catholics 18 absolve from reserved censures can be years of age or older for committing certain exercised by competent authorities or given serious offenses and for being or remaining to other priests. The penal law of the obstinate therein: (1) excommunication Church is contained in Book VI of the (exclusion from the community of the Code of Canon Law. faithful, barring a person from sacramental and other participation in the goods and Ceremonies, Master of : One who directs offices of the community of the Church), the proceedings of a rite or ceremony (2) suspension (prohibition of a cleric to during the function. exercise orders) and (3) interdict (deprivation of the sacraments and Chamberlain (Camerlengo ): (1) the liturgical activities). The intended Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church purposes of censures are to correct and is a cardinal with special responsibilities, punish offenders; to deter persons from especially during the time between the committing sins which, more seriously and death of one pope and the election of his openly than others, threaten the common successor; among other things, he good of the Church and its members; and safeguards and administers the goods and to provide for the making of reparation for revenues of the Holy See and heads harm done to the community of the particular congregations of cardinals for Church. Censures may be incurred special purposes. ( See also Papal Election.) automatically ( ipso facto ) on the commission (2) the Chamberlain of the College of of certain offenses for which fixed penalties Cardinals has charge of the property and have been laid down in church law ( latae revenues of the College and keeps the sententiae ); or they may be inflicted by record of business transacted in sentence of a judge ( ferendae sententiae ). consistories. (3) the Chamberlain of the Automatic excommunication is incurred Roman Clergy is the president of the for the offenses of abortion, apostasy, heresy secular clergy of Rome. and schism. Obstinacy in crime — also called contumacy, disregard of a penalty, Chancellor : Notary of a diocese, who draws defiance of church authority — is up written documents in the government presumed by law in the commission of of the diocese; takes care of, arranges and offenses for which automatic censures are indexes diocesan archives, records of decreed. The presence and degree of dispensations and ecclesiastical trials. -16- Chancery : (1) A branch of church U.S., and to well over 125 other countries. administration that handles written Scriptural keys to the renewal are: Christ’s documents used in the government of a promise to send the Holy Spirit upon the diocese. (2) The administrative office of a Apostles; the description, in the Acts of diocese, a bishop’s office. the Apostles, of the effects of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on Chant : A type of sacred singing. It is either Pentecost; St. Paul’s explanation, in the recitative in nature with a short two-to-six Letter to the Romans and 1 Corinthians, of tones for an accentus, or melodic in one of the charismatic gifts (for the good of the three styles (syllabic, neumatic, or Church and persons) the Holy Spirit melismatic). would bestow on Christians; New Testament evidence concerning the effects Chapel : A building or part of another of charismatic gifts in and through the building used for divine worship; a portion early Church. The personal key to the of a church set aside for the celebration of renewal is baptism in the Holy Spirit. This Mass or for some special devotion. is not a new sacrament but the personally experienced actualization of grace already Chaplain : A priest — or, in some instances, sacramentally received, principally in a properly qualified religious or lay person baptism and confirmation. The experience — serving the pastoral needs of particular of baptism in the Holy Spirit is often groups of people and institutions, such as accompanied by the reception of one or hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, more charismatic gifts. A characteristic religious communities, the armed forces, form of the renewal is the weekly prayer etc. meeting, a gathering which includes periods of spontaneous prayer, singing, Chaplet : A term, meaning little crown, sharing of experience and testimony, applied to a rosary or, more commonly, to fellowship and teaching. ( See also Index.) a small string of beads used for devotional purposes; e.g., the Infant of Prague Charisms : Gifts or graces given by God to chaplet. persons for the good of others and the Church. Examples are special gifts for Chapter : A general meeting of delegates of apostolic work, prophecy, healing, religious orders for elections and the discernment of spirits, the life of handling of other important affairs of their evangelical poverty, here and now witness communities. to faith in various circumstances of life. The Second Vatican Council made the Charismatic Renewal : A movement which following statement about charisms in the originated with a handful of Duquesne Dogmatic Constitution on the Church University students and faculty members (No. 12): “It is not only through the in the 1966 67 academic year and spread sacraments and Church ministries that the from there to Notre Dame, Michigan State same Holy Spirit sanctifies and leads the University, the University of Michigan, People of God and enriches it with virtues. other campuses and cities throughout the Allotting his gifts ‘to everyone according -17- as he will’ (1 Cor 12:11), he distributes professed publicly by members of special graces among the faithful of every institutes of consecrated life. rank. By these gifts he makes them fit and ready to undertake the various tasks or Chirograph or Autograph Letter : A letter offices advantageous for the renewal and written by a pope himself, in his own upbuilding of the Church, according to handwriting. the words of the Apostle: ‘The manifestation of the Spirit is given to Chrism : A mixture of olive or other everyone for profit’ (1 Cor 12:7). These vegetable oil and balsam (or balm), that is charismatic gifts, whether they be the consecrated by a bishop for use in most outstanding or the more simple and liturgical anointings: Baptism, widely diffused, are to be received with Confirmation, Holy Orders, the blessing thanksgiving and consolation, for they are of an altar. exceedingly suitable and useful for the needs of the Church. Still, extraordinary Christ : The title of Jesus, derived from the gifts are not to be rashly sought after, nor Greek translation Christos of the Hebrew are the fruits of apostolic labor to be term Messiah, meaning the Anointed of presumptuously expected from them. In God, the Savior and Deliverer of his any case, judgment as to their genuineness people. Christian use of the title is a and proper use belongs to those who confession of belief that Jesus is the Savior. preside over the Church, and to whose special competence it belongs, not indeed Christianity : The sum total of things to extinguish the Spirit, but to test all related to belief in Christ — the Christian things and hold fast to that which is good” religion, Christian churches, Christians (cf. 1 Thes 5:12; 19 21). themselves, society based on and expressive of Christian beliefs, culture Charity : Love of God above all things for reflecting Christian values. his own sake, and love of one’s neighbor as oneself because and as an expression of Christians : The name first applied about one’s love for God; the greatest of the three the year 43 to followers of Christ at theological virtues. The term is sometimes Antioch, the capital of Syria. It was used also used to designate sanctifying grace. by the pagans as a contemptuous term. The word applies to persons who profess Chastity : Properly ordered behavior with belief in the divinity and teachings of respect to sex. In marriage, the exercise of Christ and who give witness to him in life. the procreative power is integrated with the norms and purposes of marriage. Circumcision : A ceremonial practice Outside of marriage, the rule is self denial symbolic of initiation and participation in of the voluntary exercise and enjoyment of the covenant between God and Abraham. the procreative faculty in thought, word or action. The vow of chastity, which Circumincession : The indwelling of each reinforces the virtue of chastity with the divine Person of the Holy Trinity in the virtue of religion, is one of the three vows others. -18- Clergy : Men ordained to holy orders and Collegiality : A term in use especially since commissioned for sacred ministries and the Second Vatican Council to describe the assigned to pastoral and other duties for authority exercised by the College of the service of the people and the Church. Bishops. The bishops of the Church, in (1) Diocesan or secular clergy are union with and subordinate to the pope — committed to pastoral ministry in parishes who has full, supreme and universal power and in other capacities in a particular over the Church which he can always church (diocese) under the direction of exercise independently — have supreme their bishop, to whom they are bound by a teaching and pastoral authority over the promise of obedience. (2) Regular clergy whole Church. In addition to their proper belong to religious institutes (orders, authority of office for the good of the congregations, societies — institutes of faithful in their respective dioceses or other consecrated life) and are so called because jurisdictions, the bishops have authority to they observe the rule ( regula , in Latin) of act for the good of the universal Church. their respective institutes. They are This collegial authority is exercised in a committed to the ways of life and solemn manner in an ecumenical council apostolates of their institutes. In ordinary and can also be exercised in other ways sanctioned by the pope. Doctrine on pastoral ministry, they are under the collegiality was set forth by the Second direction of local bishops as well as their Vatican Council in Lumen Gentium (the own superiors. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church). (See separate entry.) By extension, the Clericalism : A term generally used in a concept of collegiality is applied to other derogatory sense to mean action, influence forms of participation and co and interference by the Church and the responsibility by members of a clergy in matters with which they community. allegedly should not be concerned. Anticlericalism is a reaction of antipathy, Communicatio in Sacris : The reception of hostility, distrust and opposition to the the Church’s sacraments by non-members Church and clergy arising from real and/or or the reception by Catholics of sacraments alleged faults of the clergy, overextension in non-Catholic Churches. of the role of the laity, or for other reasons. Communion of Saints : “The communion of Cloister : Part of a monastery, convent or all the faithful of Christ, those who are other house of religious reserved for use by pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being members of the institute. Houses of purified, and the blessed in heaven, all contemplative Religious have a strict together forming one Church; in this enclosure. communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always (attentive) to our prayers” Code : A digest of rules or regulations, such (Paul VI, Creed of the People of God ). as the Code of Canon Law. Communism : The substantive principles of Code of Canon Law : See Canon Law. modern communism, a theory and system -19- of economics and social organization, were the Sacred Liturgy issued by the Second stated about the middle of the 19th Vatican Council set new norms for century by Karl Marx, author of The concelebration, which is now relatively Communist Manifesto and, with Friedrich common in the Roman Rite. Engels, Das Kapital . The elements of communist theory include: radical Concordance, Biblical : An alphabetical materialism; dialectical determinism; the verbal index enabling a user knowing one inevitability of class struggle and conflict, or more words of a scriptural passage to which is to be furthered for the ultimate locate the entire text. establishment of a worldwide, classless society; common ownership of productive Concordat : A church state treaty with the and other goods; the subordination of all force of law concerning matters of mutual persons and institutions to the concern — e.g., rights of the Church, dictatorship of the collective; denial of the arrangement of ecclesiastical jurisdictions, rights, dignity and liberty of persons; marriage laws, education. Approximately militant atheism and hostility to religion, 150 agreements of this kind have been utilitarian morality. Communism in negotiated since the Concordat of Worms theory and practice has been the subject of in 1122. many papal documents and statements. Pius IX condemned it in 1846. Leo XIII Concupiscence : Any tendency of the dealt with it at length in the encyclical sensitive appetite. The term is most letter Quod Apostolici Muneris in 1878 and frequently used in reference to desires and Rerum Novarum in 1891. Pius XI wrote on tendencies for sinful sense pleasure. the same subject in the encyclicals Quadragesimo Anno in 1931 and Divini Confession : Sacramental confession is the Redemptoris in 1937. These writings have act by which a person tells or confesses his been updated and developed in new sins to a priest who is authorized to give directions by Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul absolution in the sacrament of penance. VI and John Paul II. Confessor : A priest who administers the Compline : The night prayer of the Church sacrament of penance. The title of that completes the daily cursus (course) of confessor, formerly given to a category of the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office). male saints, was suppressed with publication of the calendar reform of 1969. Concelebration : The liturgical act in which several priests, led by one member of the Confraternity : An association whose group, offer Mass together, all members practice a particular form of consecrating the bread and wine. religious devotion and/or are engaged in Concelebration has always been common some kind of apostolic work. in churches of Eastern Rite. In the Roman Rite, it was long restricted, taking place Congregation : (1) The collective name for only at the ordination of bishops and the the people who form a parish. (2) One of ordination of priests. The Constitution on the chief administrative departments of -20- the Roman Curia. (3) An unofficial term Consequentialism : A moral theory, closely for a group of men and women who belong associated with proportionalism and to a religious community or institute of utilitarianism, that holds that the consecrated life. preferable action is one that brings about the best consequences. Preferred results, Conscience : Practical judgment rather than the objective truth and concerning the moral goodness or intentionality, are the object of actions sinfulness of an action (thought, word, based on consequentialism. While desire). In the Catholic view, this traditional moral theology acknowledges judgment is made by reference of the that consequences are important in action, its attendant circumstances and the determining the rightness of an act, intentions of the person to the importance is also placed on the intrinsic requirements of moral law as expressed in morality of the act and the agent’s the Ten Commandments, the summary intention. law of love for God and neighbor, the life and teaching of Christ, and the Consistory : An assembly of cardinals authoritative teaching and practice of the presided over by the pope. Church with respect to the total demands of divine Revelation. A person is obliged: Constitution : (1) An apostolic or papal (1) to obey a certain and correct constitution is a document in which a conscience; (2) to obey a certain conscience pope enacts and promulgates law. (2) A even if it is inculpably erroneous; (3) not to formal and solemn document issued by an obey, but to correct, a conscience known to ecumenical council on a doctrinal or be erroneous or lax; (4) to rectify a pastoral subject, with binding force in the scrupulous conscience by following the advice of a confessor and by other whole Church; e.g., the four constitutions measures; (5) to resolve doubts of issued by the Second Vatican Council on conscience before acting. It is legitimate to the Church, liturgy, Revelation, and the act for solid and probable reasons when a Church in the modern world. (3) The question of moral responsibility admits of constitutions of institutes of consecrated argument ( See Probabiliorism and life and societies of apostolic life spell out Probabilism). details of and norms drawn from the various rules for the guidance and Conscience, Examination of : Self direction of the life and work of their examination to determine one’s spiritual members. state before God, regarding one’s sins and faults. It is recommended as a regular Consubstantiation : A theory which holds practice and is practically necessary in that the Body and Blood of Christ coexist preparing for the sacrament of penance. with the substance of bread and wine in The particular examen is a regular the Holy Eucharist. This theory, also called examination to assist in overcoming impanation, is incompatible with the specific faults and imperfections. doctrine of transubstantiation. -21- Contraception : Anything done by positive due respect; a violation of obligations of interference to prevent sexual intercourse justice and charity. from resulting in conception. Direct contraception is against the order of Conversion : In a general sense, the turning nature. Indirect contraception — as a away from someone or something and the secondary effect of medical treatment or moving toward another person or thing. In other action having a necessary, good, non Christian belief, conversion is the embrace contraceptive purpose — is permissible of Jesus Christ and a rejection of all that under the principle of the double effect. keeps one from God. The practice of periodic continence is not contraception because it does not involve Corpus Iuris Canonic i: See Canon Law. positive interference with the order of nature. (See Humanae Vitae , other entries.) Council : A formal meeting of Church leaders, summoned by a bishop or Contrition : Sorrow for sin coupled with a appropriate Church leader, with the purpose of amendment. Contrition arising general purpose of assisting the life of the from a supernatural motive is necessary for Church through deliberations, decrees, the forgiveness of sin. (1) Perfect contrition and promulgations. Different councils is total sorrow for and renunciation of include: diocesan councils (synod), a attachment to sin, arising from the motive gathering of the officials of an individual of pure love of God. Perfect contrition, diocese; provincial councils, the meeting which implies the intention of doing all of the bishops of a province; plenary God wants done for the forgiveness of sin councils, the assembly of the bishops of a (including confession in a reasonable country; and ecumenical councils, a period of time), is sufficient for the gathering of all the bishops in the world forgiveness of serious sin and the remission under the authority of the Bishop of of all temporal punishment due for sin. Rome. (The intention to receive the sacrament of penance is implicit — even if unrealized, Counsels, Evangelical : Gospel counsels of as in the case of some persons — in perfect perfection, especially voluntary poverty, contrition.) (2) Imperfect contrition or perfect chastity and obedience, which attrition is sorrow arising from a quasi were recommended by Christ to those selfish supernatural motive; e.g., the fear of who would devote themselves exclusively losing heaven, suffering the pains of hell, and completely to the immediate service etc. Imperfect contrition is sufficient for of God. Religious (members of institutes the forgiveness of serious sin when joined of consecrated life) bind themselves by with absolution in confession, and public vows to observe these counsels in a sufficient for the forgiveness of venial sin life of total consecration to God and even outside of confession. service to people through various kinds of apostolic works. Contumely : Personal insult, reviling a person in his presence by accusation of Counter-Reformation : The period of moral faults, by refusal of recognition or approximately 100 years following the -22- Council of Trent (1545-63), which practices of Christian burial but modified witnessed a reform within the Church to anti cremation legislation. Cremation may stimulate genuine Catholic life and to be permitted for serious reasons, of a counteract effects of the Reformation. private as well as public nature, provided it does not involve any contempt of the Covenant : A bond of relationship between Church or of religion, or any attempt to parties pledged to each other. God deny, question, or belittle the doctrine of initiated covenants in the Old Testament the resurrection of the body. In a letter included those with Noah, Abraham, dated Mar. 21, 1997, and addressed to Moses, Levi, David. The Mosaic (Sinai) Bishop Anthony M. Pilla, president of the covenant made Israel God’s Chosen People National Conference of Catholic Bishops, on terms of fidelity to true faith, true the Congregation for Divine Worship and worship, and righteous conduct according the Discipline of the Sacraments granted to the Decalogue. The New Testament “a particular permission to the diocesan covenant, prefigured in the Old bishops of the United States of America. Testament, is the bond people have with By this, local Ordinaries (heads of dioceses) God through Christ. All people are called are authorized…to permit that the funeral to be parties to this perfect and everlasting liturgy, including where appropriate the covenant, which was mediated and ratified celebration of the Eucharist, be celebrated by Christ. The marriage covenant seals the in the presence of the cremated remains closest possible relationship between a instead of the natural body.” Bishop Pilla man and a woman. asked bishops not to use this indult until Creation : The production by God of appropriate texts and ritual directives are something out of nothing. The biblical approved by the Vatican. ( See Burial, account of creation is contained in the first Ecclesiastical). two chapters of Genesis. Crib : Also Crèche, a devotional Creator : God, the supreme, self existing representation of the birth of Jesus. The Being, the absolute and infinite First custom of erecting cribs is generally Cause of all things. attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, who in 1223 obtained from Pope Honorius III Creature : Everything in the realm of being permission to use a crib and figures of the is a creature, except God. Christ Child, Mary, St. Joseph, and others, to represent the mystery of the Nativity. Cremation : The reduction of a human corpse to ashes by means of fire. Cremation Crosier : The bishop’s staff, symbolic of his is not in line with Catholic tradition and pastoral office, responsibility and practice, even though it is not opposed to authority; used at liturgical functions. any article of faith. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under date of Crypt : An underground or partly under - May 8, 1963, circulated among bishops an ground chamber; e.g., the lower part of a instruction which upheld the traditional church used for worship and/or burial. -23- Cura Animarum : A Latin phrase, meaning Decree : An edict or ordinance issued by a care of souls, designating the pastoral pope and/or by an ecumenical council, ministry and responsibility of bishops and with binding force in the whole Church; priests. by a department of the Roman Curia, with binding force for concerned parties; by a Curia : The personnel and offices through territorial body of bishops, with binding which (1) the pope administers the affairs force for persons in the area; by individual of the universal Church, the Roman Curia bishops, with binding force for concerned (See p. 253), or (2) a bishop the affairs of a parties until revocation or the death of the diocese, diocesan curia. The principal bishop. The nine decrees issued by the officials of a diocesan curia are the vicar Second Vatican Council were general of the diocese, the chancellor, combinations of doctrinal and pastoral officials of the diocesan tribunal or court, statements with executive orders for action examiners, consultors, auditors, notaries. and movement toward renewal and reform in the Church. Custos : A religious superior who presides over a number of convents collectively Dedication of a Church : The ceremony called a custody. In some institutes of whereby a church is solemnly set apart for consecrated life a custos may be the deputy the worship of God. The custom of of a higher superior. dedicating churches had an antecedent in Old Testament ceremonies for the dedication of the Temple, as in the times of D Solomon and the Maccabees. The earliest Dean : (1) A priest with supervisory extant record of the dedication of a responsibility over a section of a diocese Christian church dates from early in the known as a deanery. The post Vatican II fourth century, when it was done simply counterpart of a dean is an episcopal vicar. by the celebration of Mass. Other (2) The senior or ranking member of a ceremonies developed later. A church can group. be dedicated by a simple blessing or a solemn consecration. The rite of Decision : A judgment or pronouncement consecration is generally performed by a on a cause or suit, given by a church bishop. tribunal or official with judicial authority. A decision has the force of law for Deposit of the Faith : The body of saving concerned parties. truth, entrusted by Christ to the Apostles and handed on by them to the Church to Declaration : (1) An ecclesiastical document be preserved and proclaimed. As embodied which presents an interpretation of an in Revelation and Tradition the term is existing law. (2) A position paper on a very nearly coextensive with objective specific subject; e.g., the three declarations revelation, in that it embraces the whole of issued by the Second Vatican Council on Christ’s teaching. But the term of deposit religious freedom, non Christian religions, highlights particular features of the and Christian education. apostolic teaching implying that this -24- teaching is an inexhaustible store that Devil : (1) Lucifer, Satan, chief of the fallen rewards and promotes reflection and study angels who sinned and were banished from so that new insights and deeper heaven. Still possessing angelic powers, he penetration might be made into the can cause such diabolical phenomena as mystery of the divine economy of possession and obsession, and can tempt salvation. Although our understanding of men to sin. (2) Any fallen angel. this teaching can develop, it can never be augmented in its substance; the teaching is Devotion : (1) Religious fervor, piety; a divine trust, that cannot be altered, dedication. (2) The consolation modified, or debased. The term depositum experienced at times during prayer; a fidei first entered official Catholic teaching reverent manner of praying. with the Council of Trent, but its substance is well-attested in the Scriptures Devotions : Pious practices of members of and the Fathers. the Church include not only participation in various acts of the liturgy but also in Despair : Abandonment of hope for other acts of worship generally called salvation arising from the conviction that popular or private devotions. Concerning God will not provide the necessary means these, the Second Vatican Council said in for attaining it, that following God’s way the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of life for salvation is impossible, or that (Sacrosanctum Concilium , No. 13): “Popular one’s sins are unforgivable; a serious sin devotions of the Christian people are against the Holy Spirit and the theological warmly commended, provided they accord virtues of hope and faith, involving with the laws and norms of the Church. distrust in the mercy and goodness of God Such is especially the case with devotions and a denial of the truths that God wills called for by the Apostolic See. Devotions the salvation of all persons and provides proper to the individual churches also have sufficient grace for it. Real despair is a special dignity. These devotions should distinguished from unreasonable fear with be so drawn up that they harmonize with respect to the difficulties of attaining the liturgical seasons, accord with the salvation, from morbid anxiety over the sacred liturgy, are in some fashion derived demands of divine justice, and from from it, and lead the people to it, since the feelings of despair. liturgy by its very nature far surpasses any of them.” Devotions of a liturgical type are Detraction : Revelation of true but hidden Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, faults of a person without sufficient and recitation of Evening Prayer and Night justifying reason; a violation of Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. requirements of justice and charity, Examples of paraliturgical devotion are a involving the obligation to make Bible Service or Vigil, and the Angelus, restitution when this is possible without Rosary and Stations of the Cross, which doing more harm to the good name of the have a strong scriptural basis. offended party. In some cases, e.g., to prevent evil, secret faults may and should Diocese : A particular church, a fully be disclosed. organized ecclesiastical jurisdiction under -25- the pastoral direction of a bishop as local examination of entrails, astrology, augury, Ordinary. omens, palmistry, drawing straws, dice, cards, etc. Practices like these attribute to Discalced : Of Latin derivation and created things a power which belongs to meaning without shoes, the word is God alone and are violations of the First applied to religious orders or Commandment. congregations whose members go barefoot or wear sandals. Divine Praises : Fourteen praises recited or sung at Benediction of the Blessed Disciple : A term used sometimes in Sacrament in reparation for sins of reference to the Apostles but more often to sacrilege, blasphemy and profanity. Some a larger number of followers (70 or 72) of of these praises date from the end of the Christ mentioned in Lk 10:1. 18th century: Blessed be God. / Blessed be his holy Name. / Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God Disciplina Arcan i: A Latin phrase, meaning and true Man. / Blessed be the Name of Jesus. / discipline of the secret and referring to a Blessed be his most Sacred Heart. / Blessed be his practice of the early Church, especially most Precious Blood. / Blessed be Jesus in the most during the Roman persecutions, to: (1) holy Sacrament of the Altar. / Blessed be the Holy conceal Christian truths from those who, it Spirit, the Paraclete. / Blessed be the great was feared, would misinterpret, ridicule Mother of God, Mary most holy. / Blessed be her and profane the teachings, and persecute holy and Immaculate Conception. / Blessed be her Christians for believing them; (2) instruct glorious Assumption. / Blessed be the name of catechumens in a gradual manner, Mary, Virgin and Mother. / Blessed be St. withholding the teaching of certain Joseph, her most chaste Spouse. / Blessed be God doctrines until the catechumens proved in his Angels and in his Saints. themselves of good faith and sufficient understanding. Double Effect Principle : Actions sometimes have two effects closely related to each Dispensation : The relaxation of a law in a other, one good and the other bad, and a particular case. Laws made for the common difficult moral question can arise: Is it good sometimes work undue hardship in permissible to place an action from which particular cases. In such cases, where two such results follow? It is permissible sufficient reasons are present, dispensations to place the action, if: the action is good in may be granted by proper authorities. itself and is directly productive of the good Bishops, religious superiors and others may effect; the circumstances are good; the dispense from certain laws; the pope can intention of the person is good; the reason dispense from all ecclesiastical laws. No for placing the action is proportionately one has authority to dispense from serious to the seriousness of the indirect obligations of the divine law. bad effect.

Divination : Attempting to foretell future Doxology : (1) The lesser doxology, or or hidden things by means of things like ascription of glory to the Trinity, is the dreams, necromancy, spiritism, Glory be to the Father. The first part dates -26- back to the third or fourth century, and following the first full moon of spring. came from the form of baptism. The Uniformity of practice in the West was not concluding words, As it was in the achieved until several centuries later, when beginning, etc., are of later origin. (2) The the British Isles, in delayed compliance greater doxology, Glory to God in the with measures enacted by the Synod of highest, begins with the words of angelic Whitby in 664, accepted the Roman date praise at the birth of Christ recounted in of observance. Unrelated to the the Infancy Narrative (Lk 2:14). It is often controversy is the fact that some Eastern recited at Mass. Of early Eastern origin, it Christians, in accordance with traditional is found in the Apostolic Constitutions in calendar practices, celebrate Easter at a a form much like the present. (3) The different time than the Roman and Eastern formula of praise at the end of the Churches. Eucharistic Prayer at Mass, sung or said by the celebrant while he holds aloft the paten Easter Duty : The serious obligation containing the consecrated host in one binding Catholics of Roman Rite, to hand and the chalice containing the receive the Eucharist during the Easter consecrated wine in the other. season (in the U.S., from the first Sunday of Lent to and including Trinity Sunday). Dulia : A Greek term meaning the veneration or homage, different in nature Easter Water : Holy water blessed with and degree from that given to God, paid to special ceremonies and distributed on the the saints. It includes honoring the saints Easter Vigil; used during Easter Week for and seeking their intercession with God. blessing the faithful and homes.

Duty : A moral obligation deriving from Ecclesiology : Study of the nature, the binding force of law, the exigencies of constitution, members, mission, functions, one’s state in life, and other sources. etc., of the Church.

Ecology : The natural environment of the E total range of creation — mineral, Easter Controversy : A three phase vegetable, animal, human — entrusted to controversy over the time for the people for respect, care and appropriate use celebration of Easter. Some early Christians as well as conservation and development in the Near East, called Quartodecimans, for the good of present and future favored the observance of Easter on the generations. 14th day of Nisan, the spring month of the Hebrew calendar, whenever it occurred. Ecstasy : An extraordinary state of mystical Against this practice, Pope St. Victor I, experience in which a person is so absorbed about 190, ordered a Sunday observance of in God that the activity of the exterior the feast. The Council of Nicaea, in line senses is suspended. with usages of the Church at Rome and Alexandria, decreed in 325 that Easter Economy, Divine : The fulfillment of God’s should be observed on the Sunday plan of salvation. It was fully developed in -27- his divine mind from eternity, and fully Envy : Sadness over another’s good fortune revealed in Jesus Christ. Before the because it is considered a loss to oneself or Incarnation it was known only obscurely, a detraction from one’s own excellence; one but after the ascension of Christ and the of the seven capital sins, a violation of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, it obligations of charity. became the substance of apostolic preaching and is preserved in its integrity Epiclesis : An invocation of the Holy for each new generation. Spirit, to bless the offerings consecrated at Mass; before the consecration in the Latin Ecumenism : The movement of Christians Rite, after the consecration in Eastern and their churches toward the unity willed usage. by Christ. The Second Vatican Council called the movement “those activities and Epikeia : A Greek word meaning enterprises which, according to various reasonableness and designating a moral needs of the Church and opportune theory and practice, a mild interpretation occasions, are started and organized for the of the mind of a legislator who is fostering of unity among Christians” prudently considered not to wish positive (Decree on Ecumenism, No. 4). Spiritual law to bind in certain circumstances. ecumenism, i.e., mutual prayer for unity, is the heart of the movement. The movement Episcopate : (1) The office, dignity and also involves scholarly and pew level efforts sacramental powers bestowed upon a for the development of mutual bishop at his ordination. (2) The body of understanding and better interfaith bishops collectively. relations in general, and collaboration by the churches and their members in the Equivocation : (1) The use of words, social area. (See Index for other entries.) phrases, or gestures having more than one meaning in order to conceal information Elevation : The raising of the host after which a questioner has no strict right to consecration at Mass for adoration by the know. It is permissible to equivocate (have faithful. The custom was introduced in the a broad mental reservation) in some Diocese of Paris about the close of the 12th circumstances. (2) A lie, i.e., a statement of century to offset an erroneous teaching of untruth. Lying is intrinsically wrong. A lie the time which held that transub - told in joking, evident as such, is not stantiation of the bread did not take place wrong. until after the consecration of the wine in the chalice. The elevation of the chalice Eschatology : Doctrine concerning the last following the consecration of the wine was things: death, judgment, heaven and hell, introduced in the 15th century. and the final state of perfection of the people and kingdom of God at the end of Encyclical : The highest form of papal time. teaching document. It is normally addressed to all the bishops and/or to all Eternity : The interminable, perfect the faithful. possession of life in its totality without -28- beginning or end; an attribute of God, Evolution : Scientific theory concerning the who has no past or future but always is. development of the physical universe from Man’s existence has a beginning but no unorganized matter (inorganic evolution) end and is, accordingly, called immortal. and, especially, the development of existing forms of vegetable, animal and Ethics : Moral philosophy, the science of human life from earlier and more the morality of human acts deriving from primitive organisms (organic evolution). natural law, the natural end of man, and Various ideas about evolution were the powers of human reason. It includes all advanced for some centuries before the spheres of human activity — personal, scientific evidence in support of the main social, economic, political, etc. Ethics is line theory of organic evolution, which has distinct from but can be related to moral several formulations, was discovered and theology, whose primary principles are verified in the second half of the 19th drawn from divine revelation. century and afterwards. This evidence — from the findings of comparative anatomy Euthanasia : Mercy killing, the direct and other sciences — confirmed evolution causing of death for the purpose of ending of species and cleared the way to further human suffering. Euthanasia is murder and investigation of questions regarding the is totally illicit, for the natural law forbids processes of its accomplishment. While a the direct taking of one’s own life or that of number of such questions remain open with respect to human evolution, a point an innocent person. The use of drugs to of doctrine not open to question is the relieve suffering in serious cases, even when immediate creation of the human soul by this results in a shortening of life as an God. For some time, theologians regarded indirect and secondary effect, is permissible the theory with hostility, considering it to under conditions of the double-effect be in opposition to the account of creation principle. It is also permissible for a in the early chapters of Genesis and seriously ill person to refuse to follow — or subversive of belief in such doctrines as for other responsible persons to refuse to creation, the early state of man in grace, permit — extraordinary medical and the fall of man from grace. This state procedures even though the refusal might of affairs and the tension it generated led entail shortening of life. to considerable controversy regarding an alleged conflict between religion and Evangelization : Proclamation of the science. Gradually, however, the tension Gospel, the Good News of salvation in and was diminished with the development of through Christ, among those who have not biblical studies from the latter part of the yet known or received it; and efforts for the 19th century onwards, with clarification of progressive development of the life of faith the distinctive features of religious truth among those who have already received the and scientific truth, and with the Gospel and all that it entails. refinement of evolutionary concepts. So far Evangelization is the primary mission of as the Genesis account of creation is the Church, in which all members of the concerned, the Catholic view is that the Church are called to participate. writer(s) did not write as a scientist but as -29- the communicator of religious truth in a with those of the N.T. when it was first manner adapted to the understanding of advanced in the thirteenth century. the people of his time. He used anthropomorphic language, the figure of Ex Opere Operato : A term in sacramental days and other literary devices to state the theology meaning that sacraments are salvation truths of creation, the fall of man effective by means of the sacramental rite from grace, and the promise of itself and not because of the worthiness of redemption. It was beyond the the minister or participant. competency and purpose of the writer(s) to describe creation and related events in a Exorcism : (1) Driving out evil spirits; a scientific manner. rite in which evil spirits are charged and commanded on the authority of God and Excommunication : Severe ecclesiastical with the prayer of the Church to depart penalty imposed by the Church that from a person or to cease causing harm to excludes a member of the faithful from the a person suffering from diabolical wider community. Excommunication is possession or obsession. The sacramental is today covered in its particulars by Canon officially administered by a priest 1331 of the new Code of Canon Law, delegated for the purpose by the bishop of promulgated in 1983. It exists in two the place. Elements of the rite include the Litany of Saints; recitation of the Our contemporary forms, ferendae sententiae and Father, one or more creeds, and other latae sententiae . The former is a penalty prayers; specific prayers of exorcism; the imposed after a formal proceeding reading of Gospel passages and use of the presided over by at least three judges. The Sign of the Cross. On Jan. 26, 1999, the latter is considered an automatic penalty Congregation for Divine Worship and the for certain acts, including the procuring of Discipline of the Sacraments published a a successful abortion (Canon 1398), the new rite of exorcism in the Roman Ritual. embrace of heresy (Canon 1364), violation [See Special Report for additional details.] of the Seal of Confession (Canon 1388), (2) Exorcisms which do not imply the and the blasphemous and sacrilegious use conditions of either diabolical possession of the Eucharist (Canon 1367). A person or obsession form part of the ceremony of under the ban of excommunication is baptism and are also included in formulas unable to take part in all ceremonies of for various blessings; e.g., of water. public worship, especially the Eucharist, to receive or celebrate the sacraments, and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament : “In to discharge any ecclesiastical offices, churches where the Eucharist is regularly ministries, or functions. ( See Censures). reserved, it is recommended that solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for an Ex Opere Operantis : A term in sacramental extended period of time should take place theology meaning that the effectiveness of once a year, even though the period is not sacraments depends on the moral rectitude strictly continuous. Shorter expositions of of the minister or participant. This term the Eucharist (Benediction) are to be was applied to rites of the O.T. in contrast arranged in such a way that the blessing -30- with the Eucharist is preceded by a the mind, and giving ‘joy and ease to reasonable time for readings of the word of everyone in assenting to the truth and God, songs, prayers and a period for silent believing it’” (Second Council of Orange, prayer.” So stated Vatican directives issued Canon 7) (Second Vatican Council, in 1973. Constitution on Revelation, Dei Verbum , No. 5). Faith is necessary for salvation.

F Faith, Rule of : The norm or standard of Faculties : Grants of jurisdiction or religious belief. The Catholic doctrine is authority by the law of the Church or that belief must be professed in the superiors (pope, bishop, religious superior) divinely revealed truths in the Bible and for exercise of the powers of holy orders; tradition as interpreted and proposed by e.g., priests are given faculties to hear the infallible teaching authority of the confessions, officiate at weddings; bishops Church. are given faculties to grant dispensations, etc. Fast, Eucharistic : Abstinence from food and drink, except water and medicine, is Faith : In religion, faith has several aspects. required for one hour before the reception Catholic doctrine calls faith the assent of of the Eucharist. Persons who are advanced the mind to truths revealed by God, the in age or suffer from infirmity or illness, assent being made with the help of grace together with those who care for them, can and by command of the will on account of receive Holy Communion even if they the authority and trustworthiness of God have not abstained from food and drink for revealing. The term faith also refers to the an hour. A priest celebrating two or three truths that are believed (content of faith) Masses on the same day can eat and drink and to the way in which a person, in something before the second or third Mass response to Christ, gives witness to and without regard for the hour limit. expresses belief in daily life (living faith). All of these elements, and more, are Father : A title of priests, who are regarded included in the following statement: “ as spiritual fathers because they are the ‘The obedience of faith’ (Rom 16:26; 1:5; ordinary ministers of baptism, by which 2 Cor 10:5 6) must be given to God who persons are born to supernatural life, and reveals, an obedience by which man because of their pastoral service to people. entrusts his whole self freely to God, offering ‘the full submission of intellect Fear : A mental state caused by the and will to God who reveals’ (First Vatican apprehension of present or future danger. Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Grave fear does not necessarily remove Catholic Faith, Chap. 3), and freely moral responsibility for an act, but may assenting to the truth revealed by him. If lessen it. this faith is to be shown, the grace of God and the interior help of the Holy Spirit First Friday : A devotion consisting of the must precede and assist, moving the heart reception of Holy Communion on the first and turning it to God, opening the eyes of Friday of nine consecutive months in -31- honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and in U.S. to prescribe its observance in his reparation for sin. (See Sacred Heart, diocese. For many years in this country, the Promises.) observance was held annually on a rotating basis in all parishes of a diocese. Simplified First Saturday : A devotion tracing its and abbreviated Eucharistic observances origin to the apparitions of the Blessed have taken the place of the devotion in Virgin Mary at Fátima in 1917. Those some places. practicing the devotion go to confession and, on the first Saturday of five Forum : The sphere in which ecclesiastical consecutive months, receive Holy authority or jurisdiction is exercised. (1) Communion, recite five decades of the External: Authority is exercised in the Rosary, and meditate on the mysteries for external forum to deal with matters 15 minutes. affecting the public welfare of the Church and its members. Those who have such Fisherman’s Ring : A signet ring (termed in authority because of their office (e.g., Italian the pescatorio ) engraved with the diocesan bishops) are called ordinaries. (2) image of St. Peter fishing from a boat, and Internal: Authority is exercised in the encircled with the name of the reigning internal forum to deal with matters pope. It is not worn by the pope. It is used affecting the private spiritual good of to seal briefs, and is destroyed after each individuals. The sacramental forum is the pope’s death. sphere in which the sacrament of penance is administered; other exercises of Forgiveness of Sin : Catholics believe that jurisdiction in the internal forum take sins are forgiven by God through the place in the non sacramental forum. mediation of Christ in view of the repentance of the sinner and by means of Freedom, Religious : The Second Vatican the sacrament of penance. (See Penance, Council declared that the right to religious Contrition). freedom in civil society “means that all men are to be immune from coercion on Fortitude : Courage to face dangers or the part of individuals or of social groups hardships for the sake of what is good; one and of any human power, in such wise that of the four cardinal virtues and one of the in matters religious no one is to be forced seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs. Nor is anyone to be restrained from Forty Hours Devotion : A Eucharistic acting in accordance with his own beliefs, observance consisting of solemn exposition whether privately or publicly, whether of the Blessed Sacrament coupled with alone or in association with others, within special Masses and forms of prayer, for the due limits” of requirements for the purposes of making reparation for sin and common good. The foundation of this praying for God’s blessings of grace and right in civil society is the “very dignity of peace. The devotion was instituted in the human person” (Declaration on 1534 in Milan. St. John Neumann of Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae , Philadelphia was the first bishop in the No. 2). The conciliar statement did not -32- deal with the subject of freedom within the Doctrinal Congregation Feb. 17, the Church. It noted the responsibility of 1981. The prohibition against Masonic the faithful “carefully to attend to the membership was restated in a declaration sacred and certain doctrine of the Church” issued by the Doctrinal Congregation Nov. (No. 14). 26, 1983, with the approval of Pope John Paul II, as follows. “The Church’s negative Freemasons : A fraternal order that position on Masonic associations remains originated in London in 1717 with the unaltered, since their principles have formation of the first Grand Lodge of always been regarded as irreconcilable Freemasons. From England, the order with the Church’s doctrine. Hence, joining spread to Europe and elsewhere. Its them remains prohibited by the Church. principles and basic rituals embody a naturalistic religion, active participation Catholics enrolled in Masonic associations in which is incompatible with Christian are involved in serious sin and may not faith and practice. Grand Orient approach Holy Communion. Local Freemasonry, developed in Latin countries, ecclesiastical authorities do not have the is atheistic, irreligious and anticlerical. In faculty to pronounce a judgment on the some places, Freemasonry has been nature of Masonic associations which regarded as subversive of the state; in might include a diminution of the above- Catholic quarters, it has been considered mentioned judgment.” This latest hostile to the Church and its doctrine. In declaration, like the revised Code of Canon the United States, Freemasonry has been Law, does not include a penalty of widely regarded as a fraternal and excommunication for Catholics who join philanthropic order. For serious doctrinal the Masons. Local bishops are not and pastoral reasons, Catholics were authorized to grant dispensations from the forbidden to join the Freemasons under prohibition. The foregoing strictures penalty of excommunication, according to against Masonic membership by Catholics church law before 1983. Eight different were reiterated in a report by the popes in 17 different pronouncements, and Committee for Pastoral Research and at least six different local councils, Practice, National Conference of Catholic condemned Freemasonry. The first Bishops, released through Catholic News condemnation was made by Clement XII in 1738. Eastern Orthodox and many Service June 7, 1985. Protestant bodies have also opposed the order. In the U.S., there was some easing of Free Will : The faculty or capability of the ban against Masonic membership by making a reasonable choice among several Catholics in view of a letter written in alternatives. Freedom of will underlies the 1974 by Cardinal Franjo Seper, prefect of possibility and fact of moral responsibility. the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The letter was interpreted to mean Friar : Term applied to members of that Catholics might join Masonic lodges mendicant orders to distinguish them which were not anti-Catholic. This was from members of monastic orders. (See called erroneous in a declaration issued by Mendicants.) -33- Fruits of the Holy Spirit : Charity, joy, peace, Gethsemani : A Hebrew word meaning oil patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, press, designating the place on the Mount gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self of Olives where Christ prayed and suffered control, chastity. in agony the night before he died.

Fruits of the Mass : The spiritual and Gifts of the Holy Spirit : Supernatural habits temporal blessings that result from the disposing a person to respond promptly to celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the the inspiration of grace; promised by Mass. The general fruits are shared by all Christ and communicated through the the faithful, living and departed, while the Holy Spirit, especially in the sacrament of special fruits are applied to the priest who confirmation. They are: wisdom, celebrates it, to those for whose intention understanding, counsel, knowledge, it is offered, and to all those who fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord. participate in its celebration. Glorified Body : The definitive state of Fundamental Option : The orientation of humanity in eternity. The risen Christ calls one’s life either to God by obedience or humanity to the glory of his resurrection; this is a theological premise that against Him through disobedience. presupposes that, like Christ, all of his Catholic Tradition acknowledges that one brothers and sisters will be transformed free and deliberate act with knowledge physically. renders one at odds with God. A prevalent and vague moral theory today asserts that Gluttony : An unreasonable appetite for one act cannot change one’s option to God food and drink; one of the seven capital — no matter how grave — unless the sins. action comes from the person’s “center.” Pope John Paul II cautioned against this God : The infinitely perfect Supreme Being, ambiguous position in the encyclical uncaused and absolutely self sufficient, Veritatis Splendor (1993). eternal, the Creator and final end of all things. The one God subsists in three equal Persons, the Father and the Son and G the Holy Spirit. God, although Gehenna : Greek form of a Jewish name, transcendent and distinct from the Gehinnom, for a valley near Jerusalem, the universe, is present and active in the world site of Moloch worship; used as a synonym in realization of his plan for the salvation for hell. of human beings, principally through Revelation, the operations of the Holy Genuflection : Bending of the knee, a Spirit, the life and ministry of Christ, and natural sign of adoration or reverence, as the continuation of Christ’s ministry in the when persons genuflect with the right Church. The existence of God is an article knee in passing before the tabernacle to of faith, clearly communicated in divine acknowledge the Eucharistic presence of Revelation. Even without this Revelation, Christ. however, the Church teaches, in a -34- declaration by the First Vatican Council, works. Sanctifying grace is lost by the that human beings can acquire certain commission of serious sin. Each sacrament knowledge of the existence of God and confers sanctifying grace for the special some of his attributes. This can be done on purpose of the sacrament; in this context, the bases of principles of reason and grace is called sacramental grace. (2) Actual reflection on human experience. Non grace is a supernatural help of God which revealed arguments or demonstrations for enlightens and strengthens a person to do the existence of God have been developed good and to avoid evil. It is not a from the principle of causality; the permanent quality, like sanctifying grace. contingency of human beings and the It is necessary for the performance of universe; the existence of design, change supernatural acts. It can be resisted and and movement in the universe; human refused. Persons in the state of serious sin awareness of moral responsibility; are given actual grace to lead them to widespread human testimony to the repentance. existence of God. Grace at Meals : Prayers said before meals, Goods of Marriage : Three blessings — asking a blessing of God, and after meals, children, faithful companionship, and giving thanks to God. In addition to permanence — that were first enumerated traditional prayers for these purposes, by St. Augustine in a work on marriage. many variations suitable for different occasions are possible, at personal option. Grace : A free gift of God to persons (and angels), grace is a created sharing or Guilt : The condition of an individual who participation in the life of God. It is given has committed some moral wrong and is to persons through the merits of Christ liable to receive punishment. and is communicated by the Holy Spirit. It is necessary for salvation. The principal means of grace are the sacraments H (especially the Eucharist), prayer and good Habit : (1) A disposition to do things easily, works. (1) Sanctifying or habitual grace given with grace (and therefore makes persons holy and pleasing to God, supernatural) and/or acquired by adopted children of God, members of repetition of similar acts. (2) The garb Christ, temples of the Holy Spirit, heirs of worn by Religious. heaven capable of supernaturally meritorious acts. With grace, God gives Hagiography : Writings or documents persons the supernatural virtues and gifts about saints and other holy persons. of the Holy Spirit. The sacraments of baptism and penance were instituted to Hail Mary : A prayer addressed to the give grace to those who do not have it; the Blessed Virgin Mary; also called the Ave other sacraments, to increase it in those Maria (Latin equivalent of Hail Mary) and already in the state of grace. The means for the Angelic Salutation. In three parts, it growth in holiness, or the increase of grace, consists of the words addressed to Mary by are prayer, the sacraments, and good the Archangel Gabriel on the occasion of -35- the Annunciation, in the Infancy Heresies from the beginning of the Church Narrative ( Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord to the 13th century are described in Dates is with you, blessed are you among women ; Lk and Events in Church History. 1:28); the words addressed to Mary by her cousin Elizabeth on the occasion of the Hermeneutics : See under the section Visitation ( Blessed is the fruit of your womb ; Interpretation of the Bible. Lk 1-42); a concluding petition ( Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now Hermit : See Anchorite. and at the hour of our death. Amen .). The first two salutations were joined in Eastern rite Heroic Act of Charity : The completely formulas by the sixth century, and were unselfish offering to God of one’s good similarly used at Rome in the seventh works and merits for the benefit of the century. Insertion of the name of Jesus at souls in purgatory rather than for oneself. the conclusion of the salutations was Thus a person may offer to God for the probably made by Urban IV about 1262. souls in purgatory all the good works he The present form of the petition was performs during life, all the indulgences incorporated into the breviary in 1514. he gains, and all the prayers and indulgences that will be offered for him Heaven : The state of those who, having after his death. The act is revocable at will, achieved salvation, are in glory with God and is not a vow. Its actual ratification and enjoy the beatific vision. The phrase, depends on the will of God. kingdom of heaven, refers to the order or kingdom of God, grace, salvation. Heroic Virtue : The exemplary practice of the four cardinal virtues and three Hell : The state of persons who die in theological virtues; such virtue is sought mortal sin, in a condition of self alienation in persons considered for sainthood. from God which will last forever. Heterodoxy : False doctrine teaching or Heresy : The obstinate post baptismal belief; a departure from truth. denial or doubt by a Catholic of any truth which must be believed as a matter of Hierarchy : The hierarchy of order who divine and Catholic faith (Canon 751, of carry out the sacramental, teaching, and the Code of Canon Law). Formal heresy pastoral ministry of the Church; the involves deliberate resistance to the hierarchy consists of the pope, bishops, authority of God who communicates priests, and deacons; the pope and the revelation through Scripture and tradition bishops give pastoral governance to the and the teaching authority of the Church. faithful. Heretics automatically incur the penalty of excommunication (Canon 1364 of the Holy Father : A title used for the pope; it is Code of Canon Law). Heresies have been a shortened translation of the Latin title significant not only as disruptions of unity Beatissimus Pater , “Most Blessed Father” of faith but also as occasions for the and refers to his position as the spiritual clarification and development of doctrine. father of all the Christian faithful. -36- Holy See : (1) The diocese of the pope, Feb. 22, 1300, and the first three Holy Rome. (2) The pope himself and/or the Years were observed in 1300, 1350 and various officials and bodies of the Church’s 1390. Subsequent ones were celebrated at central administration at Vatican City — 25 year intervals except in 1800 and 1850 the Roman Curia — which act in the when, respectively, the French invasion of name and by authority of the pope. Italy and political turmoil made observance impossible. Pope Paul II (1464 Holy Spirit : God the Holy Spirit, third 1471) set the 25 year timetable. In 1500, Person of the Holy Trinity, who proceeds Pope Alexander VI prescribed the start from the Father and the Son and with and finish ceremonies — the opening and whom he is equal in every respect; inspirer closing of the Holy Doors in the major of the prophets and writers of sacred basilicas on successive Christmas Eves. All Scripture; promised by Christ to the but a few of the earlier Holy Years were Apostles as their advocate and classified as ordinary. Several — like those strengthener; appeared in the form of a of 1933 and 1983 84 to commemorate the dove at the baptism of Christ and as 1900th and 1950th anniversaries of the tongues of fire at his descent upon the death and resurrection of Christ — were in Apostles; soul of the Church and the extraordinary category. Pope John Paul guarantor, by his abiding presence and designated Jubilee Year 2000 to be a Holy action, of truth in doctrine; communicator Year ending the second and beginning the of grace to human beings, for which reason third millennium of Christianity. he is called the sanctifier. Homosexuality Holy Water : Water blessed by the Church : The condition of a person and used as a sacramental, a practice which whose sexual orientation is toward persons originated in apostolic times. of the same rather than the opposite sex. The condition is not sinful in itself. Holy Year : A year during which the pope Homosexual acts are seriously sinful in grants the plenary Jubilee Indulgence to themselves; subjective responsibility for the faithful who fulfill certain conditions. such acts, however, may be conditioned For those who make a pilgrimage to Rome and diminished by compulsion and related during the year, the conditions are factors. reception of the sacraments of penance and the Eucharist, visits and prayer for the Hope : The theological virtue by which a intention of the pope in the basilicas of St. person firmly trusts in God for the means Peter, St. John Lateran, St. Paul and St. and attainment salvation. Mary Major. For those who do not make a pilgrimage to Rome, the conditions are Hosanna : A Hebrew word, meaning O reception of the sacraments and prayer for Lord, save, we pray . the pope during a visit or community celebration in a church designated by the Host, The Sacred : The bread under whose bishop of the locality. Pope Boniface VIII appearances Christ is and remains present formally proclaimed the first Holy Year on in a unique manner after the consecration -37- which takes place during Mass. ( See IHS : In Greek, the first three letters of the Transubstantiation.) name of Jesus — Iota, Eta, Sigma.

Human Dignity : The inherent worth of all Immaculate Conception : The doctrine that human persons as they are made in God’s affirms that “the Blessed Virgin Mary was image and likeness and they alone — of all preserved, in the first instant of her God’s creatures on earth — have an conception, by a singular grace and immortal soul. privilege of God omnipotent and because of the merits of Jesus Christ the Savior of the human race, free from all stain of Humanism : A world view centered on Original Sin,” as stated by Pope Pius IX in man. Types of humanism which exclude his declaration of the dogma, Dec. 8, the supernatural are related to secularism. 1854. Thus, Mary was conceived in the state of perfect justice, free from Original Humility : A virtue which induces a person Sin and its consequences, in virtue of the to evaluate himself or herself at his or her redemption achieved by Christ on the true worth, to recognize his or her cross. dependence on God, and to give glory to God for the good he or she has and can do. Immortality : The survival and continuing existence of the human soul after death. Hyperdulia : The special veneration accorded the Blessed Virgin Mary because Imprimatur : See Censorship of Books. of her unique role in the mystery of Redemption, her exceptional gifts of grace Impurity : Unlawful indulgence in sexual from God, and her pre eminence among pleasure. ( See Chastity.) the saints. Hyperdulia is not adoration; only God is adored. Imputability : A canonical term for the moral responsibility of a person for an act that he or she has performed. Hypostatic Union : The union of the human and divine natures in the one divine Incardination : The affiliation of a priest to Person of Christ. his diocese. Every secular priest must belong to a certain diocese. Similarly, every priest of a religious community must I belong to some jurisdiction of his Icons : Byzantine style paintings or community; this affiliation, however, is representations of Christ, the Blessed not called incardination. Virgin and other saints, venerated in the Eastern Churches where they take the Incarnation : (1) The coming into flesh or place of statues. taking of human nature by the Second Person of the Trinity. He became human as Idolatry : Worship of any but the true God; the Son of Mary, being miraculously a violation of the First Commandment. conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, -38- without ceasing to be divine. His divine Gospel message, the Church does not Person hypostatically unites his divine and intend to destroy or to abolish what is human natures. (2) The supernatural good and beautiful. In fact, she recognizes mystery coextensive with Christ from the many cultural values and, through the moment of his human conception and power of the Gospel, purifies and takes continuing through his life on earth; his into Christian worship certain elements of sufferings and death; his resurrection from a people’s customs.” the dead and ascension to glory with the Father; his sending, with the Father, of the Index of Prohibited Books : A list of books Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the which Catholics were formerly forbidden Church; and his unending mediation with to read, possess or sell, under penalty of the Father for the salvation of human excommunication. The books were banned beings. by the Holy See after publication because their treatment of matters of faith and Incense : A granulated substance which, morals and related subjects were judged to when burnt, emits an aromatic smoke. It be erroneous or serious occasions of symbolizes the zeal with which the faithful doctrinal error. Some books were listed in should be consumed, the good odor of the Index by name; others were covered Christian virtue, the ascent of prayer to under general norms. The Congregation God. An incense boat is a small vessel used for the Doctrine of the Faith declared June to hold incense which is to be placed in the 14, 1966, that the Index and its related censer. penalties of excommunication no longer had the force of law in the Church. Persons Incest : Sexual intercourse with relatives by are still obliged, however, to take normal blood or marriage; a sin of impurity and precautions against occasions of doctrinal also a grave violation of the natural error. reverence due to relatives. Other sins of impurity desire, etc., concerning relatives Indifferentism : A theory that any one have the nature of incest. religion is as true and good — or false — as any other religion, and that it makes no Inculturation : The correct and entirely difference, objectively, what religion one appropriate adaptation of the Catholic professes, if any. The theory is completely liturgy and institutions to the culture, subjective, finding its justification entirely language, and customs of an indigenous or in personal choice without reference to or local people among whom the Gospel is respect for objective validity. It is also self first proclaimed. Pope John Paul II Feb. contradictory, since it regards as equally 15, 1982, at a meeting in Lagos with the acceptable — or unacceptable — the bishops of Nigeria proclaimed: “An beliefs of all religions, which in fact are not important aspect of your own evangelizing only not all the same but are in some cases role is the whole dimension of the opposed to each other. inculturation of the Gospel into the lives of your people. The Church truly respects Indulgence : According to The Doctrine the culture of each people. In offering the and Practice of Indulgences, an apostolic -39- constitution issued by Paul VI Jan. 1, that the doctrine is to be believed by all 1967, an indulgence is the remission the faithful; and 3) the inability of the before God of the temporal punishment college of bishops to err when speaking in due for sins already forgiven as far as their union with the pope in matters of faith and guilt is concerned, which a follower of morals, agreeing that a doctrine must be Christ — with the proper dispositions and held by the universal Church, and the under certain determined conditions — doctrine is promulgated by the Pontiff. acquires through the intervention of the Church. An indulgence is partial or Infused Virtues : The theological virtues of plenary, depending on whether it does faith, hope, and charity; principles or away with either part or all of the temporal capabilities of supernatural action, they are punishment due for sin. Both types of given with sanctifying grace by God rather indulgences can always be applied to the than acquired by repeated acts of a person. dead by way of suffrage; the actual They can be increased by practice; they are disposition of indulgences applied to the lost by contrary acts. Natural acquired dead rests with God. Only one plenary moral virtues, like the cardinal virtues of indulgence can be gained in a single day. prudence, justice, temperance, and The Apostolic Penitentiary issued a decree fortitude, can be considered infused in a Dec. 14, 1985, granting diocesan bishops person whose state of grace gives them the right to impart — three times a year supernatural orientation. on solemn feasts of their choice — the papal blessing with a plenary indulgence Inquisition : A tribunal for dealing with to those who cannot be physically present heretics, authorized by Gregory IX in but who follow the sacred rites at which 1231 to search them out, hear and judge the blessing is imparted by radio or them, sentence them to various forms of television transmission. In July, 1986, punishment, and in some cases to hand publication was announced of a new and them over to civil authorities for simplified Enchiridion Indulgentiarum , in punishment. The Inquisition was a accord with provisions of the revised Code creature of its time when crimes against of Canon Law. A revised manual was issued faith, which threatened the good of the by the Holy See on Sept. 17, 2000. Christian community, were regarded also as crimes against the state, and when Indult : A favor or privilege granted by heretical doctrines of such extremists as competent ecclesiastical authority, giving the Cathari and Albigensians threatened permission to do something not allowed the very fabric of society. The institution, by the common law of the Church. which was responsible for many excesses, was most active in the second half of the Infallibility : 1) The inability of the Church 13th century. to err in its teaching, in that she preserves and teaches the deposit of truth as revealed Inquisition, Spanish : An institution by Christ; 2) The inability of the Roman peculiar to Spain and the colonies in Pontiff to err when he teaches ex cathedra in Spanish America. In 1478, at the urging of matters of faith or morals, and indicates King Ferdinand, Pope Sixtus IV approved -40- the establishment of the Inquisition for Intercommunion, Eucharistic Sharing : The trying charges of heresy brought against common celebration and reception of the Jewish ( Marranos ) and Moorish ( Moriscos ) Eucharist by members of different converts. It acquired jurisdiction over Christian churches; a pivotal issue in other cases as well, however, and fell into ecumenical theory and practice. Catholic disrepute because of irregularities in its participation and intercommunion in the functions, cruelty in its sentences, and the Eucharistic liturgy of another church manner in which it served the interests of without a valid priesthood and with a the Spanish crown more than the accused variant Eucharistic belief is out of order. persons and the good of the Church. Under certain conditions, other Christians Protests by the Holy See failed to curb may receive the Eucharist in the Catholic excesses of the Inquisition, which lingered Church. ( See additional Intercommunion in Spanish history until early in the 19th entry). Intercommunion is acceptable to century. some Protestant churches and unacceptable to others. I N R I : The first letters of words in the Latin inscription atop the cross on which Interdict : A censure imposed on persons for Christ was crucified: (I)esus (N)azaraenus, certain violations of church law. (R)ex (I)udaeorum — Jesus of Nazareth, Interdicted persons may not take part in King of the Jews. certain liturgical services, administer or receive certain sacraments. Insemination, Artificial : The implanting of human semen by some means other than Intinction : A method of administering consummation of natural marital Holy Communion under the dual intercourse. In view of the principle that procreation should result only from appearances of bread and wine, in which marital intercourse, donor insemination is the consecrated host is dipped in the not permissible. consecrated wine before being given to the communicant. The administering of Holy In Sin : The condition of a person called Communion in this manner, which has spiritually dead because he or she does not been traditional in Eastern Rite liturgies, possess sanctifying grace, the principle of was authorized in the Roman Rite for supernatural life, action and merit. Such various occasions by the Constitution on grace can be regained through repentance. the Sacred Liturgy promulgated by the Second Vatican Council. Instruction : A document containing doctrinal explanations, directive norms, Irenicism : Peace seeking, conciliation, as rules, recommendations, admonitions, opposed to polemics; an important issued by the pope, a department of the element in ecumenism, provided it Roman Curia or other competent furthers pursuit of the Christian unity authority in the Church. To the extent that willed by Christ without degenerating they so prescribe, instructions have the into a peace at any price disregard for force of law. religious truth. -41- Irregularity : A permanent impediment to only by persons with the power of orders. the lawful reception or exercise of holy (1) Ordinary jurisdiction is attached to orders. The Church instituted ecclesiastical offices by law; the irregularities — which include apostasy, officeholders, called Ordinaries, have heresy, homicide, attempted suicide — authority over those who are subject to out of reverence for the dignity of the them. (2) Delegated jurisdiction is that sacraments. which is granted to persons rather than attached to offices. Its extent depends on J the terms of the delegation. Jehovah : The English equivalent of the Justice : One of the four cardinal virtues by Hebrew Adonai (“my Lord”) used out of which a person gives to others what is due fear and reverence for the Holy Name of to them as a matter of right. (See Cardinal Yahweh. Jehovah uses the consonants Virtues.) YHWH and the vowels of Adonai (a, o, a). Scholars today maintain that Jehovah is a Justification : The act by which God makes false derivation. a person just, and the consequent change in the spiritual status of a person, from sin Jesus : The name of Jesus, meaning “God to grace; the remission of sin and the saves,” expressing the identity and mission infusion of sanctifying grace through the of the second Person of the Trinity become merits of Christ and the action of the Holy man; derived from the Aramaic and Spirit. Hebrew Yeshua and Joshua, meaning Yahweh is salvation. K Jesus Prayer : A prayer of Eastern origin, Kenosis : A term from the Greek for dating back to the fifth century: “ Lord Jesus “emptying” that denotes Christ’s Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me (a emptying of Himself in his free sinner) .” renunciation of his right to divine status, by reason of the Incarnation, particularly Judgment : (1) Last or final judgment : Final as celebrated in the kenotic hymn (Phil judgment by Christ, at the end of the 2:6-11), where it is said that Christ world and the general resurrection. (2) “emptied himself,” taking the form of a Particular judgment : The judgment that slave, born in the likeness of man totally takes place immediately after a person’s integrated with his divinity. death, followed by entrance into heaven, hell or purgatory. Kerygma : Proclaiming the word of God, in the manner of the Apostles, as here and Jurisdiction : Right, power, authority to now effective for salvation. This method of rule. Jurisdiction in the Church is of preaching or instruction, centered on divine institution; has pastoral service for Christ and geared to the facts and themes its purpose; includes legislative, judicial of salvation history, is designed to dispose and executive authority; can be exercised people to faith in Christ and/or to intensify -42- the experience and practice of that faith in faithful themselves (Rom 15:26; 2 Cor those who have it. 6:14).

Keys, Power of the : Spiritual authority and jurisdiction in the Church, symbolized by L the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Christ Laicization : The process by which a man promised the keys to St. Peter, as head to ordained to holy orders is relieved of the be of the Church (Mt 16:19), and obligations of orders and the ministry and commissioned him with full pastoral is returned to the status of a lay person. responsibility to feed his lambs and sheep (Jn 21:15 17), The pope, as the successor Languages of the Church : The languages in of St. Peter, has this power in a primary which the Church’s liturgy is celebrated. and supreme manner. The bishops of the These include Ge’ez, Syriac, Greek, Church also have the power, in union with Arabic, and Old Slavonic in the Eastern and subordinate to the pope. Priests share Churches. In the West, there is, of course, in it through holy orders and the Latin and the various vernaculars. The Eastern Rites have always had the delegation of authority. Examples of the vernacular. The first language in church application of the Power of the Keys are use, for divine worship and the conduct of the exercise of teaching and pastoral ecclesiastical affairs, was Aramaic, the authority by the pope and bishops, the language of the first Christians in and absolving of sins in the sacrament of around Jerusalem. As the Church spread penance, the granting of indulgences, the westward, Greek was adopted and imposing of spiritual penalties on persons prevailed until the third century when it who commit certain serious sins. was supplanted by Latin for official use in the West. In the Western Church, Latin Kingdom of God : God’s sovereign lordship prevailed as the general official language or rule over salvation history, leading to until the promulgation on Dec. 4, 1963, of the eschatological goal of eternal life with the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy God. (Sacrosanctum Concilium ) by the second session of the Second Vatican Council. Koinonia : A term from the Greek word for Since that time, vernacular languages have “community, fellowship, or association” come into use in the Mass, administration that was used by St. Luke for the of the sacraments, and the Liturgy of the fellowship of believers who worshipped Hours. Latin, however, remains the official together and held all their possessions in language for documents of the Holy See, common (Acts 2:42-47); it is also used of administrative and procedural matters. fellowship with God (1 Jn 1:3, 6), with the Son (1 Cor 1:9), and with the Holy Latria : Greek-rooted Latin term that refers Spirit (2 Cor 13:13; Phil 2:1). St. Paul to that form of praise due to God alone. used koinonia to denote the intimate union of the believer with Christ and the Law : An ordinance or rule governing the community that exists among all the activity of things. (1) Natural law : Moral -43- norms corresponding to man’s nature by XVI in the 1830s, Pius IX in 1864, Leo which he orders his conduct toward God, XIII in 1899, and St. Pius X in 1907. neighbor, society and himself. This law, There is, however, nothing objectionable which is rooted in human nature, is of about forms of liberalism patterned divine origin, can be known by the use of according to sound principles of Christian reason, and binds all persons having the doctrine. use of reason. The Ten Commandments are declarations and amplifications of natural Liberation Theology : Deals with the law. The primary precepts of natural law, relevance of Christian faith and salvation to do good and to avoid evil, are — and, therefore, of the mission of the universally recognized, despite differences Church — to efforts for the promotion of with respect to understanding and human rights, social justice and human application resulting from different development. It originated in the philosophies of good and evil. (2) Divine religious, social, political and economic positive law : That which has been revealed environment of Latin America, with its by God. Among its essentials are the twin contemporary need for a theory and precepts of love of God and love of corresponding action by the Church, in the neighbor, and the Ten Commandments. pattern of its overall mission, for human (3) Ecclesiastical law : That which is rights and integral personal and social established by the Church for the spiritual development. Some versions of liberation welfare of the faithful and the orderly theology are at variance with the body of conduct of ecclesiastical affairs. ( See Canon church teaching because of their Law.) (4) Civil law : That which is ideological concept of Christ as liberator, established by a socio political community and also because they play down the for the common good. primary spiritual nature and mission of the Church. Instructions from the Liberalism : A multiphased trend of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith thought and movement favoring liberty, — “On Certain Aspects of the Theology of independence and progress in moral, Liberation” (Sept. 3, 1984) and “On intellectual, religious, social, economic Christian Freedom and Liberation” (Apr. and political life. Traceable to the 5, 1986) — contain warnings against Renaissance, it developed through the translating sociology into theology and Enlightenment, the rationalism of the advocating violence in social activism. 19th century, and modernist and existentialist related theories of the 20th Life in Outer Space : Whether rational life century. Evaluations of various kinds of exists on other bodies in the universe liberalism depend on the validity of their besides earth, is a question for scientific underlying principles. Extremist positions investigation to settle. The possibility can — regarding subjectivism, be granted, without prejudice to the body libertinarianism, naturalist denials of the of revealed truth. supernatural, and the alienation of individuals and society from God and the Limbo : The limbo of the fathers was the Church — were condemned by Gregory state of rest and natural happiness after -44- death enjoyed by the just of pre Christian Love : A devotion to a person or object that times until they were admitted to heaven has been categorized by Greek philosophy following the Ascension of Christ. into four types: storge (one loves persons and things close to him); philia (the love of Litany : A prayer in the form of responsive friends); eros (sexual love and that of a petition; e.g., St. Joseph, pray for us, etc. spiritual nature); agape (a self-giving to one Examples are the litanies of Loreto (Litany in need). Christian charity is love, but not of the Blessed Mother), the Holy Name, all love is true charity. All Saints, the Sacred Heart, the Precious Blood, St. Joseph, Litany for the Dying. Lust : A disorderly desire for sexual pleasure; one of the seven capital sins. Logos : A Greek term for “word, speech, or reason.” It is most commonly identified with the title given to Jesus in John’s M Gospel, though not exclusive to that Magi : In the Infancy Narrative of St. Gospel; In the N.T., however, the term Matthew’s Gospel (2:1 12), three wise men reflects more the influence of Hellenistic from the East whose visit and homage to the Child Jesus at Bethlehem indicated philosophy: St. Paul uses logos as Christ’s manifestation of himself to non interchangeable with sophia , wisdom (1 Jewish people. The narrative teaches the Cor 1:24). The Logos is the Wisdom of God universality of salvation. The traditional made manifest in the Son. As a name for names of the Magi are Caspar, Melchior the Second Person of the Trinity, the and Balthasar. Incarnate Word, the term receives new meaning in the light of the life, death, and Magisterium : The Church’s teaching resurrection of Jesus Christ. authority, instituted by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, which seeks to Loreto, House of : A Marian shrine in safeguard and explain the truths of the Loreto, Italy, consisting of the home of the faith. The Magisterium is exercised in two Holy Family which, according to an old ways. The extraordinary Magisterium is tradition, was transported in a miraculous exercised when the pope and ecumenical manner from Nazareth to Dalmatia and councils infallibly define a truth of faith or finally to Loreto between 1291 and 1294. morals that is necessary for one’s salvation Investigations conducted shortly after the and that has been constantly taught and appearance of the structure in Loreto held by the Church. Ordinary revealed that its dimensions matched those Magisterium is exercised when the Church of the house of the Holy Family missing infallibly defines truths of the Faith as from its place of enshrinement in a basilica taught universally and without dissent; at Nazareth. Among the many popes who which must be taught or the Magisterium regarded it with high honor was John would be failing in its duty; is connected XXIII, who went there on pilgrimage Oct. with a grave matter of faith or morals; and 4, 1962. The house of the Holy Family is which is taught authoritatively. Not enshrined in the Basilica of Our Lady. everything taught by the Magisterium is -45- done so infallibly; however, the exercise of Meditation : Mental, as distinguished from the Magisterium is faithful to Christ and vocal, prayer, in which thought, affections, what He taught. and resolutions of the will predominate. There is a meditative element to all forms Magnificat : The canticle or hymn of the of prayer, which always involves the Virgin Mary on the occasion of her raising of the heart and mind to God. visitation to her cousin Elizabeth (Lk 1:46 55). It is an expression of praise, Mendicants : A term derived from Latin thanksgiving and acknowledgment of the and meaning beggars, applied to members great blessings given by God to Mary, the of religious orders without property rights; Mother of the Second Person of the Blessed the members, accordingly, worked or Trinity made Man. The Magnificat is begged for their support. The original recited in the Liturgy of the Hours as part mendicants were Franciscans and of the Evening Prayer. Dominicans in the early 13th century; later, the Carmelites, Augustinians, Martyr : A Greek word, meaning witness, Servites and others were given the denoting one who voluntarily suffered mendicant title and privileges, with death for the faith or some Christian respect to exemption from episcopal virtue. jurisdiction and wide faculties for preaching and administering the Martyrology : A catalogue of martyrs and sacrament of penance. The practice of other saints, arranged according to the begging is limited at the present time, calendar. The Roman Martyrology contains although it is still allowed with the the official list of saints venerated by the permission of competent superiors and Church. Additions to the list are made in bishops. Mendicants are supported by free beatification and canonization decrees of will offerings and income received for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. spiritual services and other work.

Mass for the People : On Sundays and Mercy, Divine : The love and goodness of certain feasts throughout the year pastors God, manifested particularly in a time of are required to offer Mass for the faithful need. entrusted to their care. If they cannot offer the Mass on these days, they must do so at Mercy, Works of : Works of corporal or a later date or provide that another priest spiritual assistance, motivated by love of offer the Mass. God and neighbor, to persons in need. (1) Corporal works : feeding the hungry, Materialism : Theory that holds that matter giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the is the only reality, and everything in naked, visiting the imprisoned, sheltering existence is merely a manifestation of the homeless, visiting the sick, burying matter; there is no such thing as spirit, and the dead. (2) Spiritual works : counseling the supernatural does not exist. the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, Materialism is incompatible with admonishing sinners, comforting the Christian doctrine. afflicted, forgiving offenses, bearing -46- wrongs patiently, praying for the living explained by the ordinary operation of and the dead. laws of nature and which, therefore, are attributed to the direct action of God. Merit : In religion, the right to a They make known, in an unusual way, the supernatural reward for good works freely concern and intervention of God in human done for a supernatural motive by a person affairs for the salvation of men. in the state of and with the assistance of grace. The right to such reward is from Mission : (1) Strictly, it means being sent to God, who binds himself to give it. perform a certain work, such as the Accordingly, good works, as described mission of Christ to redeem mankind, the above, are meritorious for salvation. mission of the Apostles and the Church and its members to perpetuate the Metanoia : A term from the Greek metanoein prophetic, priestly and royal mission of (“to change one’s mind, repent, be Christ. (2) A place where: the Gospel has converted”) that is used in the NT for not been proclaimed; the Church has not conversion. It entails the repentance of sin been firmly established; the Church, and the subsequent turning toward the although established, is weak. (3) An Lord. Metanoia is fundamental to the ecclesiastical territory with the simplest Christian life and is necessary for spiritual kind of canonical organization, under the growth. jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. (4) A church or Metaphysics : The branch of philosophy chapel without a resident priest. (5) A (from the Greek meta — after + physika — special course of sermons and spiritual physics) dealing with first things, exercises conducted in parishes for the including the nature of being (ontology), purpose of renewing and deepening the the origin and structure of the world spiritual life of the faithful and for the (cosmology), and the study of the reality conversion of lapsed Catholics. and attributes of God (natural theology). Metaphysics has long been examined by Modernism : The “synthesis of all heresies,” Catholic philosophers, most especially in which appeared near the beginning of the the writings of St. Augustine and St. 20th century. It undermines the objective Thomas Aquinas. validity of religious beliefs and practices which, it contends, are products of the Millennium : A thousand year reign of subconscious developed by mankind under Christ and the just upon earth before the the stimulus of a religious sense. It holds end of the world. This belief of the that the existence of a personal God cannot Millenarians, Chiliasts, and some sects of be demonstrated, the Bible is not inspired, modern times is based on an erroneous Christ is not divine, nor did he establish interpretation of Rv 20. the Church or institute the sacraments. A special danger lies in modernism, which is Miracles : Observable events or effects in still influential, because it uses Catholic the physical or moral order of things, with terms with perverted meanings. St. Pius X reference to salvation, which cannot be condemned 65 propositions of modernism -47- in 1907 in the decree Lamentabili and God, Precepts of the Church, Conscience, issued the encyclical Pascendi to explain Law.) and analyze its errors. Mortification : Acts of self discipline, Monastery : The dwelling place, as well as including prayer, hardship, austerities and the community thereof, of monks penances undertaken for the sake of belonging to the Benedictine and progress in virtue. Benedictine related orders like the Cistercians and Carthusians; also, the Motu Proprio : A Latin phrase designating a Augustinians and Canons Regular. document issued by a pope on his own Distinctive of monasteries are: their initiative. Documents of this kind often separation from the world; the enclosure or concern administrative matters. cloister; the permanence or stability of attachment characteristic of their Mystagogy : Experience of the mystery of members; autonomous government in Christ, especially through participation in accordance with a monastic rule, like that the liturgy and the sacraments. of St. Benedict in the West or of St. Basil in the East; the special dedication of its Mysteries of Faith : Supernatural truths members to the community celebration of whose existence cannot be known without the liturgy as well as to work that is revelation by God and whose intrinsic suitable to the surrounding area and the truth, while not contrary to reason, can needs of its people. Monastic superiors of never be wholly understood even after men have such titles as abbot and prior; of revelation. These mysteries are above women, abbess and prioress. In most reason, not against reason. Among them essentials, an abbey is the same as a are the divine mysteries of the Trinity, monastery. Incarnation and Eucharist. Some mysteries — e.g., concerning God’s attributes — Monk : A member of a monastic order — can be known by reason without e.g., the Benedictines, the Benedictine revelation, although they cannot be fully related Cistercians and Carthusians, and understood. the Basilians, who bind themselves by religious profession to stable attachment to a monastery, the contemplative life and N the work of their community. In popular Natural Law : See Law. use, the title is wrongly applied to many men religious who really are not monks. Natural Theology : The field of knowledge that relies upon human reason and the Monotheism : Belief in and worship of one observation of nature, instead of God. revelation, to determine the existence and attributes of God. Morality : Conformity or difformity of behavior to standards of right conduct. ( See Necromancy : Supposed communication Moral Obligations, Commandments of with the dead; a form of divination. -48- Neo-Scholasticism : A movement begun in Novice : A man or woman preparing, in a the late 19th century that had as its aim formal period of trial and formation called the restoration of Scholasticism for use in a novitiate, for membership in an institute contemporary philosophy and theology. of consecrated life. The novitiate lasts a Great emphasis was placed upon the minimum of 12 and a maximum of 24 writings of such Scholastic masters as months; at its conclusion, the novice Peter Lombard, St. Albert the Great, St. professes temporary promises or vows of Anselm, St. Bonaventure, Bl. John Duns poverty, chastity and obedience. Norms Scotus, and especially St. Thomas require that certain periods of time be Aquinas. The movement began at the spent in the house of novitiate; periods of Catholic University of Louvain, in apostolic work are also required, to Belgium, and then found its way into acquaint the novice with the apostolate(s) theological centers in Italy, France, and of the institute. A novice is not bound by Germany. Particular attention was given the obligations of the professed members to the philosophical and theological works of the institute, is free to leave at any time, of St. Thomas Aquinas, from which arose a and may be discharged at the discretion of particular school of neo-Thomism; the competent superiors. The superior of a movement was strongly reinforced by novice is a master of novices or director of Pope Leo XIII who issued the encyclical formation. Aeterni Patris (1879) mandating that Scholasticism, in particular Thomism, be Nun : (1) Strictly, a member of a religious the foundation for all Catholic philosophy order of women with solemn vows and theology taught in Catholic (moniales ). (2) In general, all women seminaries, universities, and colleges. Neo- religious, even those in simple vows who Scholasticism was responsible for a true are more properly called sisters. intellectual renaissance in 20th-century Catholic philosophy and theology. Among Nunc Dimittis : The canticle or hymn of its foremost modern leaders were Jacques Simeon at the sight of Jesus at the Temple Maritain, Étienne Gilson, M. D. Chenu, on the occasion of his presentation (Lk Henri de Lubac, and Paul Claudel. 2:29 32). It is an expression of joy and thanksgiving for the blessing of having Nihil Obstat : See Censorship of Books . lived to see the Messiah. It is prescribed for use in the Night Prayer of the Liturgy of Non Expedit : A Latin expression. It is not the Hours. expedient (fitting, proper), used to state a prohibition or refusal of permission. O Novena : A term designating public or Oath : Calling upon God to witness the private devotional practices over a period truth of a statement. Violating an oath, of nine consecutive days; or, by extension, e.g., by perjury in court, or taking an oath over a period of nine weeks, in which one without sufficient reason, is a violation of day a week is set aside for the devotions. the honor due to God. -49- Obedience : Submission to one in authority. condemned in 1861 by Pope Pius IX. ( See General obligations of obedience fall under also Ontology.) the Fourth Commandment. The vow of obedience professed by religious is one of Ontology : A branch of metaphysics that the evangelical counsels. studies the nature and relations of existence. Obsession, Diabolical : The extraordinary state of one who is seriously molested by Oratory : A chapel. evil spirits in an external manner. Obsession is more than just temptation. Ordinariate : An ecclesiastical jurisdiction for special purposes and people. Examples Occasion of Sin : A person, place, or thing are military ordinariates for armed services that is a temptation to sin. An occasion personnel (in accord with provisions of the may be either a situation that always leads apostolic constitution Spirituali militum to sin or one that usually leads to sin. curae , Apr. 21, 1986) and Eastern Rite ordinariates in places where Eastern Rite Octave : A period of eight days given over dioceses do not exist. to the celebration of a major feast such as Easter. Ordination : The consecration of sacred ministers for divine worship and the service of people in things pertaining to Oils, Holy : The oils blessed by a bishop at God. The power of ordination comes from the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday or Christ and the Church, and must be another suitable day, or by a priest under conferred by a minister capable of certain conditions. (1) The oil of communicating it. catechumens (olive or vegetable oil), used at baptism; also, poured with chrism into Organ Transplants : The transplanting of the baptismal water blessed in Easter Vigil organs from one person to another is ceremonies. (2) Oil of the sick (olive or permissible provided it is done with the vegetable oil) used in anointing the sick. consent of the concerned parties and does (3) Chrism (olive or vegetable oil mixed not result in the death or essential with balm), which is ordinarily mutilation of the donor. Advances in consecrated by a bishop, for use at methods and technology have increased baptism, in confirmation, at the the range of transplant possibilities in ordination of a priest and bishop, in the recent years. dedication of churches and altars. Original Sin : The sin of Adam (Gn 2:8 Ontologism : A philosophical theory (the 3:24), personal to him and passed on to all name is taken from the Greek for being persons as a state of privation of grace. and study) that posits that knowledge of Despite this privation and the related God is immediate and intuitive; it wounding of human nature and stipulates further that all other human weakening of natural powers, original sin knowledge is dependent upon this. It was leaves unchanged all that man himself is -50- by nature. The scriptural basis of the doctrine was stated by St. Paul in 1 Cor P 15:21ff., and Rom 5:12 21. Original sin is Paganism : A term referring to non remitted by baptism and incorporation in revealed religions, i.e., religions other than Christ, through whom grace is given to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. persons. Pope John Paul II, while Palms : Blessed palms are a sacramental. describing original sin during a general They are blessed and distributed on the audience Oct. 1, 1986, called it “the Sunday of the Passion in commemoration absence of sanctifying grace in nature of the triumphant entrance of Christ into which has been diverted from its Jerusalem. Ashes of the burnt palms are supernatural end.” used on Ash Wednesday. O Salutaris Hostia : The first three Latin Pange Lingua : First Latin words, Sing, my words, O Saving Victim , of a Benediction tongue , of a hymn in honor of the Holy hymn. Eucharist, used particularly on Holy Thursday and in Eucharistic processions. Ostpolitik : Policy adopted by Pope Paul VI in an attempt to improve the situation of Pantheism : Theory that all things are part Eastern European Catholics through of God, divine, in the sense that God diplomatic negotiations with their realizes himself as the ultimate reality of governments. matter or spirit through being and/or becoming all things that have been, are, Oxford Movement : A movement in the and will be. The theory leads to hopeless Church of England from 1833 to about confusion of the Creator and the created 1845 which had for its objective a realm of being, identifies evil with good, threefold defense of the Church as a divine and involves many inherent institution, the apostolic succession of its contradictions. bishops, and the Book of Common Prayer as the rule of faith. The movement took its Papal Election : The pope is elected by the name from Oxford University and College of Cardinals during a secret involved a number of intellectuals who conclave which begins no sooner than 15 authored a series of influential Tracts for days and no later than 20 days after the Our Times. Some of its leading figures — death of his predecessor. Cardinals under e.g., F. W. Faber, John Henry Newman the age of 80, totaling no more than 120, and Henry Edward Manning — became are eligible to take part in the election by converts to the Catholic Church. In the secret ballot. Election is by a two thirds Church of England, the movement vote of participating cardinals. New affected the liturgy, historical and legislation regarding papal elections and theological scholarship, the status of the church government during a vacancy of ministry, and other areas of ecclesiastical the Holy See was promulgated by Pope life. John Paul Feb. 23, 1996, in the apostolic -51- constitution Universi Dominici Gregis Paschal Precept : Church law requiring (“Shepherd of the Lord’s Whole Flock”). reception of the Eucharist in the Easter season ( See separate entry) unless, for a just Paraclete : A title of the Holy Spirit cause, once a year reception takes place at meaning, in Greek, Advocate, Consoler. another time.

Parental Duties : All duties related to the Passion of Christ : Sufferings of Christ, obligation of parents to provide for the recorded in the four Gospels. welfare of their children. These obligations fall under the Fourth Commandment. Pastor : An ordained minister charged with responsibility for the doctrinal, Parish : A community of the faithful served sacramental and related service of people by a pastor charged with responsibility for providing them with full pastoral service. committed to his care; e.g., a bishop for Most parishes are territorial, embracing all the people in his diocese, a priest for the of the faithful in a certain area of a diocese: people of his parish. some are personal or national, for certain classes of people, without strict regard for Pater Noster : The initial Latin words, Our their places of residence. Father , of the Lord’s Prayer.

Parousia : The coming, or saving presence, Patriarch : (1) The leaders of the Israelite of Christ which will mark the completion tribes and heads of prominent families of salvation history and the coming to who appear in Genesis from Adam to perfection of God’s kingdom at the end of Joseph. Among the most significant the world. patriarchs of the Old Testament are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the patriarchal Particular Church : A term used since narratives in Genesis associated with them Vatican II that denotes certain divisions of constitute the prologue to Israel’s salvation the Universal Church. Examples include history, and the period during which they dioceses, vicariates, and prelatures. lived is known as the Age of the Patriarchs. It is noted that the title of Paschal Candle : A large candle, symbolic patriarch that was used for David (Acts of the risen Christ, blessed and lighted on 2:29) was simply one of honor. (2) The the Easter Vigil and placed at the altar until Pentecost. It is ornamented with five head of a branch of the Eastern Church, large grains of incense, representing the corresponding to a province of the one- wounds of Christ, inserted in the form of a time Roman Empire. There are five official cross; the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, traditional patriarchal sees: Rome, symbolizing Christ the beginning and end Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and of all things, at the top and bottom of the Jerusalem. Presently, the autocephalous shaft of the cross; and the figures of the churches of the Orthodox Church current year of salvation in the quadrants comprise several of these traditional formed by the cross. patriarchates. -52- Peace, Sign of : A gesture of greeting — destruction. The best known campaigns of e.g., a handshake — exchanged by the this type against the Christian Church ministers and participants at Mass. were the Roman persecutions which occurred intermittently from about 54 to Pectoral Cross : A cross worn on a chain the promulgation of the Edict of Milan in about the neck and over the breast by 313. More Catholics have been persecuted bishops and abbots as a mark of their in the 20th century than in any other office. period in history.

Penance or Penitence : (1) The spiritual Personal Prelature : See under Opus Dei . change or conversion of mind and heart by which a person turns away from sin, and Peter’s Pence : A collection made each year all that it implies, toward God, through a among Catholics for the maintenance of personal renewal under the influence of the the pope and his works of charity. It was Holy Spirit. Penance involves sorrow and originally a tax of a penny on each house, contrition for sin, together with other and was collected on St. Peter’s day, internal and external acts of atonement. It whence the name. It originated in England serves the purposes of reestablishing in in the 8th century. one’s life the order of God’s love and commandments, and of making Petition : One of the four purposes of satisfaction to God for sin. (2) Penance is a prayer. In prayers of petition, persons ask virtue disposing a person to turn to God in of God the blessings they and others need. sorrow for sin and to carry out works of amendment and atonement. (3) The Pharisees : Influential class among the sacrament of penance and sacramental Jews, referred to in the Gospels, noted for penance. their self-righteousness, legalism, strict interpretation of the Law, acceptance of the People of God : A name for the Church in traditions of the elders as well as the Law the sense that it is comprised by a people of Moses, and beliefs regarding angels and with Christ as its head, the Holy Spirit as spirits, the resurrection of the dead and the condition of its unity, the law of love as judgment. Most of them were laymen, and its rule, and the kingdom of God as its they were closely allied with the Scribes; destiny. Although it is a scriptural term, it their opposite numbers were the was given new emphasis by the Second Sadducees. The Pharisaic and rabbinical Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution traditions had a lasting influence on on the Church ( Lumen Gentium ). Judaism following the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Perjury : Taking a false oath, lying under oath, a violation of the honor due to God. Pious Fund : Property and money originally accumulated by the Jesuits to finance their Persecution, Religious : A campaign waged missionary work in Lower California. against a church or other religious body by When the Jesuits were expelled from the persons and governments intent on its territory in 1767, the fund was -53- appropriated by the Spanish Crown and could be gained for the souls in purgatory used to support Dominican and Franciscan only in the chapel of Our Lady of the missionary work in Upper and Lower Angels; by later concessions, it could be California. In 1842 the Mexican gained also in other Franciscan and parish government took over administration of churches. The indulgence (applicable to the fund, incorporated most of the revenue the souls in purgatory) can be gained from into the national treasury, and agreed to noon of Aug. 1 to midnight of Aug. 2, pay the Church interest of six per cent a once each day. The conditions are, in year on the capital so incorporated. From addition to freedom from attachment to 1848 to 1967 the fund was the subject of sin: reception of the sacraments of penance lengthy negotiations between the U.S. and and the Eucharist on or near the day and a Mexican governments because of the half; a visit to a parish church within the latter’s failure to make payments as agreed. day and a half, during which the Our A lump sum settlement was made in 1967 Father, the Creed and another prayer are with payment by Mexico to the U.S. offered for the intentions of the pope. government of more than $700,000, to be turned over to the Archdiocese of San Positivism : The philosophy that teaches Francisco. that the only reality is that which is perceived by the senses; the only truth is Polytheism : Belief in and worship of many that which is empirically verified. It gods or divinities, especially prevalent in asserts that ideas about God, morality, or pre Christian religions. anything else that cannot be scientifically tested are to be rejected as unknowable. Poor Box : Alms box; found in churches from the earliest days of Christianity. Possession, Diabolical : The extraordinary state of a person who is tormented from Pope : A title from the Italian word papa within by evil spirits who exercise strong (from Greek pappas , father) used for the influence over his powers of mind and Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ and body. ( See also Exorcism.) successor of St. Peter, who exercises universal governance over the Church. Postulant : One of several names used to designate a candidate for membership in a Portiuncula : (1) Meaning little portion (of religious institute during the period before land), the Portiuncula was the chapel of novitiate. Our Lady of the Angels near Assisi, Italy, which the Benedictines gave to St. Francis Poverty : (1) The quality or state of being early in the 13th century. He repaired the poor, in actual destitution and need, or chapel and made it the first church of the being poor in spirit. In the latter sense, Franciscan Order. It is now enshrined in poverty means the state of mind and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in disposition of persons who regard material Assisi. (2) The plenary Portiuncula things in proper perspective as gifts of God Indulgence, or Pardon of Assisi, was for the support of life and its reasonable authorized by Honorius III. Originally, it enrichment, and for the service of others in -54- need. It means freedom from unreasonable Presence of God : A devotional practice of attachment to material things as ends in increasing one’s awareness of the presence themselves, even though they may be and action of God in daily life. possessed in small or large measure. (2) One of the evangelical counsels professed Presumption : A sin against hope, by which as a public vow by members of an institute a person striving for salvation (1) either of consecrated life. It involves the relies too much on his own capabilities or voluntary renunciation of rights of (2) expects God to do things which he ownership and of independent use and cannot do, in keeping with his divine disposal of material goods; or, the right of attributes, or does not will to do, independent use and disposal, but not of according to his divine plan. Presumption the radical right of ownership. Religious is the opposite of despair. institutes provide their members with necessary and useful goods and services Preternatural Gifts : Exceptional gifts, from common resources. The manner in beyond the exigencies and powers of which goods are received and/or handled human nature, enjoyed by Adam in the by religious is determined by poverty of state of original justice: immunity from spirit and the rule and constitutions of suffering and death, superior knowledge, their institute. integrity or perfect control of the passions. These gifts were lost as the result of Pragmatism : Theory that the truth of ideas, original sin; their loss, however, implied concepts and values depends on their utility no impairment of the integrity of human or capacity to serve a useful purpose rather than on their conformity with objective nature. standards; also called utilitarianism. Pride : Unreasonable self esteem; one of the Prayer : The raising of the mind and heart seven capital sins. to God in adoration, thanksgiving, reparation and petition. Prayer, which is Prie Dieu : A French phrase, meaning pray always mental because it involves thought God, designating a kneeler or bench and love of God, may be vocal, meditative, suitable for kneeling while at prayer. private and personal, social, and official. The official prayer of the Church as a Priesthood : (1) The common priesthood of worshipping community is called the the non ordained faithful. In virtue of liturgy. baptism and confirmation, the faithful are a priestly people who participate in the Precepts : Commands or orders given to priesthood of Christ through acts of individuals or communities in particular worship, witness to the faith in daily life, cases; they establish law for concerned and efforts to foster the growth of God’s parties. Preceptive documents are issued kingdom. (2) The ordained priesthood, in by the pope, departments of the Roman virtue of the sacrament of orders, of Curia and other competent authority in bishops, priests and deacons, for service to the Church. the common priesthood. -55- Primary Option : The life choice of a person Pro Cathedral : A church used as a for or against God which shapes the basic cathedral. orientation of moral conduct. A primary option for God does not preclude the Promoter of the Faith (Promotor fidei ): An possibility of serious sin. official of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, whose role in beatification and Prior : A superior or an assistant to an abbot canonization procedures is to establish in a monastery. beyond reasonable doubt the validity of evidence regarding the holiness of Privilege : A favor, an exemption from the prospective saints and miracles attributed obligation of a law. Privileges of various to their intercession. kinds, with respect to ecclesiastical laws, are granted by the pope, departments of Prophecy : (1) The communication of the Roman Curia and other competent divine revelation by inspired authority in the Church. intermediaries, called prophets, between God and his people. Old Testament Probabiliorism : The moral system prophecy was unique in its origin and asserting that the more probable opinion because of its ethical and religious content, of a varied set of acceptable positions which included disclosure of the saving regarding the binding character of a law will of Yahweh for the people, moral censures and warnings of divine should be accepted. If the reasons for being punishment because of sin and violations free from a law are more probably true, one of the Law and Covenant, in the form of is freed from the law’s obligations. promises, admonitions, reproaches and Probabiliorism, however, maintained that threats. Although Moses and other earlier if it was probable that the law did not figures are called prophets, the period of bind, one still had to follow it unless it was prophecy is generally dated from the early more probable that the law did not bind. years of the monarchy to about 100 years after the Babylonian Exile. From that time Probabilism : A moral system for use in on, the written Law and its interpreters cases of conscience which involve the supplanted the prophets as guides of the obligation of doubtful laws. There is a people. Old Testament prophets are cited general principle that a doubtful law does in the New Testament, with awareness not bind. Probabilism, therefore, teaches that God spoke through them and that that it is permissible to follow an opinion some of their oracles were fulfilled in favoring liberty, provided the opinion is Christ. John the Baptist is the outstanding certainly and solidly probable. prophetic figure in the New Testament. Probabilism may not be invoked when Christ never claimed the title of prophet there is question of: a certain law or the for himself, although some people thought certain obligation of a law; the certain he was one. There were prophets in the right of another party; the validity of an early Church, and St. Paul mentioned the action; something which is necessary for charism of prophecy in 1 Cor 14:1 5. salvation. Prophecy disappeared after New -56- Testament times. Revelation is classified as subject by the commission of mortal sin. the prophetic book of the New Testament. Such punishment is remitted when mortal (2) In contemporary non scriptural usage, sin is forgiven. (2) Temporal punishment is the term is applied to the witness given by a consequence of venial sin and/or forgiven persons to the relevance of their beliefs in mortal sin; it is not everlasting and may be everyday life and action. remitted in this life by means of penance. Temporal punishment unremitted during Proportionalism : The moral theory that this life is remitted by suffering in asserts that an action is judged on whether purgatory. the evils resulting are proportionate to the goods that result. If the evils outweigh the Purgatory : The state or condition of those goods, the act is objectionable; if the who have died in the state of grace but opposite is true, the act is permissible. with some attachment to sin, and are Proportionalism differs from purified for a time before they are consequentialism in that the former admitted to the glory and happiness of admits that the inherent morality of the heaven. In this state and period of passive act and the agent’s intention must also be suffering, they are purified of unrepented considered. Proportionalism is rejected by venial sins, satisfy the demands of divine critics as it does not offer an objective justice for temporal punishment due for criterion for determining when evils are sins, and are thus converted to a state of proportionate or disproportionate. It also worthiness of the beatific vision. fails to consider the intrinsic nature of human acts and does nothing to assist Christians to grow in virtue. Q Quadragesima : From the Latin for fortieth, Province : (1) A territory comprising one the name given to the forty penitential archdiocese called the metropolitan see days of Lent. and one or more dioceses called suffragan sees. The head of the archdiocese, an Quinquennial Report : A report on the archbishop, has metropolitan rights and current state of a diocese that must be responsibilities over the province. (2) A compiled and submitted by a bishop to the division of a religious order under the Holy See every five years in anticipation of jurisdiction of a provincial superior. the ad liminal visit.

Prudence : Practical wisdom and judgment Quinque Via e: From the Latin for the “five regarding the choice and use of the best ways,” the five proofs for the existence of ways and means of doing good; one of the God that were proposed by St. Thomas four cardinal virtues. Aquinas in his Summa Theologiae (Part I, question 2, article 3). The five ways are: 1) Punishment Due for Sin : The punishment all the motion in the world points to an which is a consequence of sin. It is of two unmoved Prime Mover; 2) the subordinate kinds: (1) Eternal punishment is the agents in the world imply the First Agent; punishment of hell, to which one becomes 3) there must be a Cause Who is not -57- perishable and Whose existence is Recollection : Meditation, attitude of underived; 4) the limited goodness in the concentration or awareness of spiritual world must be a reflection of Unlimited matters and things pertaining to salvation Goodness; 5) all things tend to become and the accomplishment of God’s will. something, and that inclination must have proceeded from some Rational Planner. Relativism : Theory which holds that all truth, including religious truth, is relative, i.e., not absolute, certain or unchanging; a R product of agnosticism, indifferentism, Racism : A theory which holds that any one and an unwarranted extension of the or several of the different races of the notion of truth in positive science. human family are inherently superior or Relativism is based on the tenet that certain knowledge of any and all truth is inferior to any one or several of the others. impossible. Therefore, no religion, The teaching denies the essential unity of philosophy or science can be said to possess the human race, the equality and dignity the real truth; consequently, all religions, of all persons because of their common philosophies and sciences may be possession of the same human nature, and considered to have as much or as little of the participation of all in the divine plan of truth as any of the others. redemption. It is radically opposed to the virtue of justice and the precept of love of Relics : The physical remains and effects of neighbor. Differences of superiority and saints, which are considered worthy of inferiority which do exist are the result of veneration inasmuch as they are accidental factors operating in a wide representative of persons in glory with variety of circumstances, and are in no way God. Catholic doctrine proscribes the view due to essential defects in any one or that relics are not worthy of veneration. In several of the branches of the one human line with norms laid down by the Council race. The theory of racism, together with of Trent and subsequent enactments, practices related to it, is incompatible with discipline concerning relics is subject to Christian doctrine. control by the Congregations for the Causes of Saints and for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Rash Judgment : Attributing faults to another without sufficient reason; a Religion : The adoration and service of God violation of the obligations of justice and as expressed in divine worship and in daily charity. life. Religion is concerned with all of the relations existing between God and Rationalism : A theory which makes the human beings, and between humans mind the measure and arbiter of all things, themselves because of the central including religious truth. A product of the significance of God. Objectively Enlightenment, it rejects the supernatural, considered, religion consists of a body of divine revelation, and authoritative truth that is believed, a code of morality teaching by any church. for the guidance of conduct, and a form of -58- divine worship. Subjectively, it is a Restitution : An act of reparation for an person’s total response, theoretically and injury done to another. The injury may be practically, to the demands of faith; it is caused by taking and/or retaining what living faith, personal engagement, self- belongs to another or by damaging either commitment to God. Thus, by creed, code the property or reputation of another. The and cult, a person orders and directs his or intention of making restitution, usually in her life in reference to God and, through kind, is required as a condition for the what the love and service of God implies, forgiveness of sins of injustice, even to all people and all things. though actual restitution is not possible.

Reliquary : A vessel for the preservation and Ring : In the Church a ring is worn as part exposition of a relic; sometimes made like of the insignia of bishops, abbots, et al.; by a small monstrance. sisters to denote their consecration to God and the Church. The wedding ring Reparation : The making of amends to God symbolizes the love and union of husband for sin committed; one of the four ends of and wife. prayer and the purpose of penance. Ritual : A book of prayers and ceremonies Requiem : A Mass offered for the repose of used in the administration of the the soul of one who has died in Christ. Its sacraments and other ceremonial name is derived from the first word of the functions. In the Roman Rite, the Gregorian (Latin) entrance chant (or standard book of this kind is the Roman Introit) at Masses for the dead: Requiem Ritual. aeternam dona eis, Domine (“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord”). The revised Rogito : The official notarial act or Rite for Funerals refers to the requiem as document testifying to the burial of a the Mass of Christian Burial; however, it pope. would not be uncommon to hear people employ the former usage. Rosary : A form of mental and vocal prayer centered on mysteries or events in the lives Rescript : A written reply by an of Jesus and Mary. Its essential elements ecclesiastical superior regarding a question are meditation on the mysteries and the or request; its provisions bind concerned recitation of a number of decades of Hail parties only. Papal dispensations are issued Marys, each beginning with the Lord’s in the form of rescripts. Prayer. Introductory prayers may include the Apostles’ Creed, an initial Our Father, Reserved Censure : A sin or censure, three Hail Marys and a Glory be to the absolution from which is reserved to Father; each decade is customarily religious superiors, bishops, the pope, or concluded with a Glory be to the Father; at confessors having special faculties. the end, it is customary to say the Hail, Reservations are made because of the Holy Queen and a prayer from the liturgy serious nature and social effects of certain for the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of sins and censures. the Rosary. Traditionally, the Mysteries of -59- the Rosary, which are the subject of of the paschal mystery. The pope asked meditation, are: (1) Joyful — the that the Mysteries of Light be recited Annunciation to Mary that she was to be especially on Thursday. the Mother of Christ, her visit to Elizabeth, the birth of Jesus, the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the S finding of Jesus in the Temple. (2) Sabbath : The seventh day of the week, Sorrowful — Christ’s agony in the Garden observed by Jews and Sabbatarians as the of Gethsemani, scourging at the pillar, day for rest and religious observance. crowning with thorns, carrying of the cross to Calvary, and crucifixion. (3) Glorious — Sacrarium : A basin with a drain leading the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, directly into the ground; standard the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the equipment of a sacristy. Apostles, Mary’s Assumption into heaven and her crowning as Queen of angels and Sacred Heart, Enthronement of the : An men. acknowledgment of the sovereignty of Jesus Christ over the Christian family, The complete Rosary, called the expressed by the installation of an image or Dominican Rosary, consists of 15 decades. picture of the Sacred Heart in a place of In customary practice, only five decades are honor in the home, accompanied by an act usually said at one time. Rosary beads are of consecration. used to aid in counting the prayers without distraction. The Rosary originated through Sacred Heart, Promises : Twelve promises the coalescence of popular devotions to to persons having devotion to the Sacred Jesus and Mary from the 12th century Heart of Jesus, which were communicated onward. Its present form dates from about by Christ to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque the 15th century. Carthusians contributed greatly toward its development; in a private revelation in 1675. Dominicans have been its greatest promoters. The fifteen mysteries were Sacrilege : Violation of and irreverence standardized by Pope Pius V in 1569. toward a person, place or thing that is sacred because of public dedication to In 2002, Pope John Paul II added five new God; a sin against the virtue of religion. mysteries dedicated to chapters from Jesus’ Personal sacrilege is violence of some kind public life. Titled the Mysteries of Light, against a cleric or religious, or a violation they are: Christ’s baptism in the Jordan of chastity with a cleric or religious. Local River; Christ’s self-revelation at the sacrilege is the desecration of sacred places. marriage of Cana; Christ’s announcement Real sacrilege is irreverence with respect to of the kingdom of God with the invitation sacred things, such as the sacraments and to conversion; Christ’s Transfiguration, sacred vessels. when he revealed his glory to his Apostles; and the institution of the Eucharist at the Sacristy : A utility room where vestments, Last Supper as the sacramental expression church furnishings and sacred vessels are -60- kept and where the clergy vest for sacred knowledge and understanding who functions. deliberately reject this Church, cannot be saved. The Catholic Church is the Church Sadducees : The predominantly priestly founded by Christ. ( See below, Salvation party among the Jews in the time of outside the Church.) Christ, noted for extreme conservatism, acceptance only of the Law of Moses, and Salvation History : The facts and the record rejection of the traditions of the elders. of God’s relations with human beings, in Their opposite numbers were the the past, present and future, for the Pharisees. purpose of leading them to live in accordance with his will for the eventual Saints, Cult of : The veneration, called attainment after death of salvation, or dulia , of holy persons who have died and everlasting happiness with him in heaven. are in glory with God in heaven; it The essentials of salvation history are: includes honoring them and petitioning God’s love for all human beings and will them for their intercession with God. for their salvation; his intervention and Liturgical veneration is given only to action in the world to express this love and saints officially recognized by the Church; bring about their salvation; the revelation private veneration may be given to anyone he made of himself and the covenant he thought to be in heaven. The veneration of established with the Israelites in the Old saints is essentially different from the Testament; the perfecting of this adoration given to God alone; by its very revelation and the new covenant of grace nature, however, it terminates in the through Christ in the New Testament; the worship of God. ( See also Dulia and Latria.) continuing action-for-salvation carried on in and through the Church; the Salvation : The liberation of persons from communication of saving grace to people sin and its effects, reconciliation with God through the merits of Christ and the in and through Christ, the attainment of operations of the Holy Spirit in the here- union with God forever in the glory of and-now circumstances of daily life and heaven as the supreme purpose of life and with the cooperation of people themselves. as the God given reward for fulfillment of his will on earth. Salvation in process Salvation outside the Church : The Second begins and continues in this life through Vatican Council covered this subject union with Christ in faith professed and in summarily in the following manner: action; its final term is union with God “Those also can attain to everlasting and the whole community of the saved in salvation who through no fault of their the ultimate perfection of God’s kingdom. own do not know the Gospel of Christ or The Church teaches that: God wills the his Church, yet sincerely seek God and, salvation of all men; men are saved in and moved by grace, strive by their deeds to do through Christ; membership in the his will as it is known to them through the Church established by Christ, known and dictates of conscience. Nor does divine understood as the community of salvation, Providence deny the help necessary for is necessary for salvation; men with this salvation to those who, without blame on -61- their part, have not yet arrived at an Scapular Medal : A medallion with a explicit knowledge of God, but who strive representation of the Sacred Heart on one to live a good life, thanks to his grace. side and of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the Whatever good or truth is found among other. Authorized by St. Pius X in 1910, it them is looked upon by the Church as a may be worn or carried in place of a preparation for the Gospel. She regards scapular by persons already invested with a such qualities as given by him who scapular. enlightens all men so that they may finally have life” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Scapular Promise : According to a legend Church, Lumen Gentium , No. 16). of the Carmelite Order, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock in 1251 Sanctifying Grace : See Grace. at Cambridge, England, and declared that wearers of the brown Carmelite Scapular Satanism : Worship of the devil, a would be the beneficiaries of her special blasphemous inversion of the order of intercession. The scapular tradition has worship which is due to God alone. never been the subject of official decision by the Church. Essentially, it expresses Scandal : Conduct which is the occasion of belief in the intercession of Mary and the sin to another person. efficacy of sacramentals in the context of truly Christian life. Scapular : (1) A part of the habit of some religious orders like the Benedictines and Schism : Derived from a Greek word Dominicans; a nearly shoulder wide strip meaning separation, the term designates of cloth worn over the tunic and reaching formal and obstinate refusal by a baptized almost to the feet in front and behind. Catholic, called a schismatic, to be in Originally a kind of apron, it came to communion with the pope and the symbolize the cross and yoke of Christ. (2) Church. The canonical penalty is Scapulars worn by lay persons as a sign of excommunication. One of the most association with religious orders and for disastrous schisms in history resulted in devotional purposes are an adaptation of the definitive separation of the Church in monastic scapulars. Approved by the the East from union with Rome about Church as sacramentals, they consist of 1054. two small squares of woolen cloth joined by strings and are worn about the neck. Scholasticism : The term usually applied to They are given for wearing in a ceremony the Catholic theology and philosophy of investiture or enrollment. There are which developed in the Middle Ages. ( See nearly 20 scapulars for devotional use: the also Neo-Scholasticism.) five principal ones are generally understood to include those of Our Lady of Scribes : Hebrew intellectuals noted for Mt. Carmel (the brown Carmelite their knowledge of the Law of Moses, Scapular), the Holy Trinity, Our Lady of influential from the time of the Exile to the Seven Dolors, the Passion, the about A.D. 70. Many of them were Immaculate Conception. Pharisees. They were the antecedents of -62- rabbis and their traditions, as well as those Seminary : A house of study and formation of the Pharisees, had a lasting influence on for men, called seminarians, preparing for Judaism following the destruction of the priesthood. Traditional seminaries date Jerusalem in A.D. 70. from the Council of Trent in the middle of the 16th century; before that time, Scruple : A morbid, unreasonable fear and candidates for the priesthood were anxiety that one’s actions are sinful when variously trained in monastic schools, they are not, or more seriously sinful than universities under church auspices, and in they actually are. Compulsive scrupulosity less formal ways. is quite different from the transient scrupulosity of persons of tender or highly Sermon on the Mount : A compilation of sensitive conscience, or of persons with sayings of Our Lord in the form of an faulty moral judgment. extended discourse in Matthew’s Gospel (5:1 to 7:27) and, in a shorter discourse, in Seal of Confession : The obligation of Luke (6:17 49). The passage in Matthew, secrecy which must be observed regarding called the “Constitution of the New Law,” knowledge of things learned in connection summarizes the living spirit of believers in with the confession of sin in the sacrament Christ and members of the kingdom of of penance. The seal covers matters whose God. Beginning with the Beatitudes and including the Lord’s Prayer, it covers the revelation would make the sacrament perfect justice of the New Law, the burdensome. Confessors are prohibited, fulfillment of the Old Law in the New Law under penalty of excommunication, from of Christ, and the integrity of internal making any direct revelation of attitude and external conduct with respect confessional matter; this prohibition to love of God and neighbor, justice, holds, outside of confession, even with chastity, truth, trust and confidence in God. respect to the person who made the confession unless the person releases the Seven Last Words of Christ : The Seven Last priest from the obligation. Persons other Words of Christ on the Cross were: (1) than confessors are obliged to maintain “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what secrecy, but not under penalty of they are doing .” (Lk 23:34); (2) To the excommunication. General, non specific penitent thief: “ I assure you: today you will be discussion of confessional matter does not with me in Paradise .” (Lk 23:24); (3) To violate the seal. Mary and his Apostle John: “ Woman, behold thy son! … Behold your mother .” (Jn 19:26); Secularism : A school of thought, a spirit (4) “ Eli Eli, lama sabacthani [“ My God, my and manner of action which ignores and/or God, why have you forsaken me? ”] (Mt 27:46; repudiates the validity or influence of cf. Mk 15:34); (5) “ I thirst .” (Jn 19:28); (6) supernatural religion with respect to “It is finished .” (Jn 19:30); (7) “ Father, into individual and social life. thy hands I commend my spirit .”(Lk 23:46).

See : Another name for diocese or Shrine, Crowned : A shrine approved by the archdiocese. Holy See as a place of pilgrimage. The -63- approval permits public devotion at the sacraments, a parish priest should be shrine and implies that at least one miracle informed and arrangements made for him has resulted from devotion at the shrine. to visit the person at home. Such Among the best known crowned shrines visitations are common in pastoral are those of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes practice, both for special needs and for and Fátima. Shrines with statues crowned providing persons with regular by Pope John Paul in 1985 in South opportunities for receiving the sacraments. America were those of Our Lady of If a priest cannot make the visitation, Coromoto, patroness of Venezuela, in arrangements can be made for a deacon or Caracas, and Our Lady of Carmen of Eucharistic minister to bring Holy Paucartambo in Cuzco, Peru. Communion to the homebound or bedridden person. Shroud of Turin : A strip of brownish linen cloth, 14 feet, three inches in length and three feet, seven inches in width, bearing Sign of the Cross : A sign, ceremonial the front and back imprint of a human gesture or movement in the form of a cross body. A tradition dating from the 7th by which a person confesses faith in the century, which has not been verified Holy Trinity and Christ, and intercedes for beyond doubt, claims that the shroud is the blessing of himself or herself, other the fine linen in which the body of Christ persons and things. In Roman Rite was wrapped for burial. The early history practice, a person making the sign touches of the shroud is obscure. It was enshrined the fingers of the right hand to forehead, at Lirey, France, in 1354 and was below the breast, left shoulder and right transferred in 1578 to Turin, Italy, where shoulder while saying: “ In the name of the it has been kept in the cathedral down to Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit .” the present time. Scientific investigation, The sign is also made with the thumb on which began in 1898, seems to indicate the forehead, the lips, and the breast. For that the markings on the shroud are those the blessing of persons and objects, a large of a human body. The shroud, for the first sign of the cross is made by movement of time since 1933, was placed on public the right hand. In Eastern Rite practice, view from Aug. 27 to Oct. 8, 1978, and the sign is made with the thumb and first was seen by an estimated 3.3 million two fingers of the right hand joined people. Scientists conducted intensive together and touching the forehead, below studies of it thereafter, finally determining that the material of the shroud dated from the breast, the right shoulder and the left between 1260 and 1390. The shroud, shoulder; the formula generally used is the which had been the possession of the doxology, “ O Holy God, O Holy Strong One, O House of Savoy, was willed to Pope John Immortal One .” The Eastern manner of Paul II in 1983. making the sign was general until the first half of the 13th century; by the 17th Sick Calls : When a person is confined at century, Western practice involved the home by illness or other cause and is whole right hand and the reversal of unable to go to church for reception of the direction from shoulder to shoulder. -64- Signs of the Times : Contemporary events, Adam, with consequences for all human trends and features in culture and society, beings. ( See separate entry.) the needs and aspirations of people, all the factors that form the context in and Sins against the Holy Spirit : Despair of through which the Church has to carry on salvation, presumption of God’s mercy, its saving mission. The Second Vatican impugning the known truths of faith, Council spoke on numerous occasions envy at another’s spiritual good, obstinacy about these signs and the relationship in sin, final impenitence. Those guilty of between them and a kind of manifestation such sins stubbornly resist the influence of of God’s will, positive or negative, and grace and, as long as they do so, cannot be about subjecting them to judgment and forgiven. action corresponding to the demands of divine revelation through Scripture, Christ, and the experience, tradition and Sins, Occasions of : Circumstances (persons, teaching authority of the Church. places, things, etc.) which easily lead to sin. There is an obligation to avoid voluntary Simony : The deliberate intention and act of proximate occasions of sin, and to take selling and/or buying spiritual goods or precautions against the dangers of material things so connected with the unavoidable occasions. spiritual that they cannot be separated therefrom; a violation of the virtue of Sins That Cry to Heaven for Vengeance : religion, and a sacrilege, because it Willful murder, sins against nature, wrongfully puts a material price on oppression of the poor, widows and spiritual things, which cannot be either orphans, defrauding laborers of their sold or bought. In church law, actual sale or wages. purchase is subject to censure in some cases. The term is derived from the name of Sister : Any woman religious, in popular Simon Magus, who attempted to buy from speech; strictly, the title applies only to Sts. Peter and John the power to confirm women religious belonging to institutes people in the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:4 24). whose members never professed solemn vows. Most of the institutes whose Sin : (1) Actual sin is the free and deliberate members are properly called Sisters were violation of God’s law by thought, word or established during and since the 19th action. (a) Mortal sin — involving serious matter, sufficient reflection and full century. Women religious with solemn consent — results in the loss of sanctifying vows, or belonging to institutes whose grace and alienation from God, and members formerly professed solemn vows, renders a person incapable of performing are properly called nuns. meritorious supernatural acts and subject to everlasting punishment. (b) Venial sin Sisterhood : A generic term referring to the — involving less serious matter, reflection whole institution of the life of women and consent — does not have such serious religious in the Church, or to a particular consequences. (2) Original sin is the sin of institute of women religious. -65- Situation Ethics : A subjective, individualistic religion. Spiritualistic practices are noted ethical theory which denies the binding for fakery. force of ethical principles as universal laws and preceptive norms of moral conduct, Stational Churches, Days : Churches, and proposes that morality is determined especially in Rome, where the clergy and only by situational conditions and lay people were accustomed to gather with considerations and the intention of the their bishop on certain days for the person. It has been criticized for ignoring celebration of the liturgy. The 25 early the principles of objective ethics. ( See also titular or parish churches of Rome, plus Consequentialism and Proportionalism.) other churches, each had their turn as the site of divine worship in practices which Slander : Attributing to a person faults may have started in the third century. The which he or she does not have; a violation observances were rather well developed of the obligations of justice and charity, for toward the latter part of the 4th century, which restitution is due. and by the fifth they included a Mass concelebrated by the pope and attendant Sloth (Acedia ): One of the seven capital priests. On some occasions, the stational sins; spiritual laziness, involving distaste liturgy was preceded by a procession from and disgust for spiritual things; spiritual another church called a collecta . There were boredom, which saps the vigor of spiritual 42 Roman stational churches in the 8th life. Physical laziness is a counterpart of century, and 89 stational services were spiritual sloth. scheduled annually in connection with the liturgical seasons. Stational observances Sorcery : A kind of black magic in which fell into disuse toward the end of the evil is invoked by means of diabolical Middle Ages. Some revival was begun by intervention; a violation of the virtue of John XXIII in 1959 and continued by religion. Paul VI and John Paul II.

Soteriology : The division of theology Stations (Way) of the Cross : A form of which treats of the mission and work of devotion commemorating the Passion and Christ as Redeemer. death of Christ, consisting of a series of meditations (stations): (1) his Species, Sacred : The appearances of bread condemnation to death, (2) taking up of and wine (color, taste, smell, etc.) which the cross, (3) the first fall on the way to remain after the substance has been Calvary, (4) meeting his Mother, (5) being changed at the Consecration of the Mass assisted by Simon of Cyrene and (6) by the into the Body and Blood of Christ. ( See woman Veronica who wiped his face, (7) Transubstantiation.) the second fall, (8) meeting the women of Jerusalem, (9) the third fall, (10) being Spiritism : Attempts to communicate with stripped and (11) nailed to the cross, (12) spirits and departed souls by means of his death, (13) the removal of his body seances, table tapping, ouija boards, and from the cross and (14) his burial. other methods; a violation of the virtue of Depictions of these scenes are mounted in -66- most churches, chapels and in some other Stigmata : Marks of the wounds suffered by places, beneath small crosses. A person Christ in his crucifixion, in hands and feet making the Way of the Cross passes before by nails, and side by the piercing of a these stations, or stopping points, pausing lance. Some persons, called stigmatists, at each for meditation. If the stations are have been reported as recipients or made by a group of people, only the leader sufferers of marks like these. The Church, has to pass from station to station. A however, has never issued any infallible plenary indulgence is granted to the declaration about their possession by faithful who make the stations, under the anyone, even in the case of St. Francis of Assisi whose stigmata seem to be the best usual conditions: freedom from all substantiated and may be commemorated attachment to sin, reception of the in the Roman Rite liturgy. Ninety percent sacraments of penance and the Eucharist, of some 300 reputed stigmatists have been and prayers for the intentions of the pope. women. Judgment regarding the presence, Those who are impeded from making the significance, and manner of causation of stations in the usual manner can gain the stigmata would depend, among other same indulgence if, along with the things, on irrefutable experimental aforementioned conditions, they spend at evidence. least a half hour in spiritual reading and meditation on the passion and death of Stipend, Mass : An offering given to a Christ. The stations originated remotely priest for applying the fruits of the Mass from the practice of Holy Land pilgrims according to the intention of the donor. who visited the actual scenes of incidents The offering is a contribution to the in the Passion of Christ. Representations support of the priest. The disposition of elsewhere of at least some of these scenes the fruits of the sacrifice, in line with were known as early as the 5th century. doctrine concerning the Mass in particular Later, the stations evolved in connection and prayer in general, is subject to the will with and as a consequence of strong of God. Mass offerings and intentions were devotion to the Passion in the 12th and the subjects of a decree approved by John 13th centuries. Franciscans, who were Paul II and made public Mar. 22, 1991: (1) Normally, no more than one offering given custody of the Holy Places in 1342, should be accepted for a Mass; the Mass promoted the devotion widely; one of should be offered in accord with the them, St. Leonard of Port Maurice, became donor’s intention; the priest who accepts known as the greatest preacher of the Way the offering should celebrate the Mass of the Cross in the 18th century. The himself or have another priest do so. (2) general features of the devotion were fixed Several Mass intentions, for which by Clement XII in 1731. offerings have been made, can be combined for a “collective” application of a Statutes : Virtually the same as decrees ( See single Mass only if the previous and separate entry), they almost always explicit consent of the donors is obtained. designate laws of a particular council or Such Masses are an exception to the synod rather than pontifical laws. general rule. -67- Stole Fee : An offering given on certain salvation; divine revelation by which God occasions; e.g., at a baptism, wedding, manifests himself to them and makes funeral, for the support of the clergy who known truth that is inaccessible to human administer the sacraments and perform reason alone; faith, by which they believe other sacred rites. divine truth because of the authority of Stoup : A vessel used to contain holy water. God who reveals it through Sacred Scripture and tradition and the teaching of Suffragan See : Any diocese, except the his Church. archdiocese, within a province. Suspension : A censure by which a cleric is Suicide : The taking of one’s own life; a forbidden to exercise some or all of his violation of God’s dominion over human powers of orders and jurisdiction, or to life. Ecclesiastical burial is denied to accept the financial support of his persons while in full possession of their benefices. faculties; it is permitted in cases of doubt. Syllabus, The : (1) When not qualified, the Supererogation : Actions which go beyond the obligations of duty and the term refers to the list of 80 errors requirements enjoined by God’s law as accompanying Pope Pius IX’s encyclical necessary for salvation. Examples of these Quanta Cura , issued in 1864. (2) The works are the profession and observance of Syllabus of St. Pius X in the decree the evangelical counsels of poverty, Lamentabili , issued by the Holy Office July chastity, and obedience, and efforts to 4, 1907, condemning 65 heretical practice charity to the highest degree. propositions of modernism. This schedule of errors was followed shortly by that Supernatural : Above the natural; that pope’s encyclical Pascendi , the principal which exceeds and is not due or owed to the essence, exigencies, requirements, ecclesiastical document against powers and merits of created nature. modernism, issued Sept. 8, 1907. While human beings have no claim on supernatural things and do not need them Synod, Diocesan : Meeting of representative in order to exist and act on a natural level, persons of a diocese — priests, religious, they do need them in order to exist and act lay persons — with the bishop, called by in the higher order or economy of grace him for the purpose of considering and established by God for their salvation. God taking action on matters affecting the life has freely given them certain things which and mission of the Church in the diocese. are beyond the powers and rights of their Persons taking part in a synod have human nature. Examples of the supernatural are: grace, a kind of consultative status; the bishop alone is the participation by human beings in the legislator, with power to authorize synodal divine life, by which they become capable decrees. According to canon law, every of performing acts meritorious for diocese should have a synod every 10 years. -68- he can be known by natural reason, rather T than from supernatural revelation. First Tabernacle : The receptacle in which the used by Gottfried Leibnitz (1646-1716), Blessed Sacrament is reserved in churches, its primary objective is to make God’s chapels, and oratories. It is to be omnipotence compatible with the immovable, solid, locked, and located in a existence of evil. prominent place. Theological Virtues : The virtues which Te Deum : The opening Latin words, Thee, have God for their direct object: faith, or God, of a hymn of praise and thanksgiving belief in God’s infallible teaching; hope, or prescribed for use in the Office of Readings confidence in divine assistance; charity, or of the Liturgy of the Hours on many love of God. They are given to a person Sundays, solemnities and feasts. with grace in the first instance, through baptism and incorporation in Christ. Temperance : Moderation, one of the four cardinal virtues. Theology : Knowledge of God and religion, deriving from and based on the data of Temptation : Any enticement to sin, from any source: the strivings of one’s own divine Revelation, organized and faculties, the action of the devil, other systematized according to some kind of persons, circumstances of life, etc. scientific method. It involves systematic Temptation itself is not sin. Temptation study and presentation of the truths of can be avoided and overcome with the use divine Revelation in Sacred Scripture, of prudence and the help of grace. tradition, and the teaching of the Church. Theology has been divided under various Thanksgiving : An expression of gratitude subject headings. Some of the major fields to God for his goodness and the blessings have been: dogmatic (systematic he grants; one of the four ends of prayer. theology), moral, pastoral, historical, ascetical (the practice of virtue and means Theism : A philosophy which admits the of attaining holiness and perfection), existence of God and the possibility of sacramental, and mystical (higher states of divine revelation; it is generally religious experience). Other subject monotheistic and acknowledges God as headings include ecumenism (Christian transcendent and also active in the world. unity, interfaith relations), ecclesiology Because it is a philosophy rather than a (the nature and constitution of the system of theology derived from Church), and Mariology (doctrine revelation, it does not include specifically concerning the Blessed Virgin Mary), etc. Christian doctrines, like those concerning the Trinity, the Incarnation and Theotokos : From the Greek for God- Redemption. bearer, the preeminent title given to the Blessed Mother in the Oriental Church. Theodicy : From the Greek for God ( theos ) This title has very ancient roots, stretching and judgment ( dike ), the study of God as as far back as the third century but it did -69- not became official in the Church until the behind the terms has strong undertones of Council of Ephesus in 431. existential and “sign” philosophy, and has been criticized for its openness to Thomism : The philosophy based on St. interpretation at variance with the Thomas Aquinas (1224/5-1274), which is doctrine of transubstantiation and the mandated to be the dominant philosophy abiding presence of Christ under the used in Catholic educational institutions. appearances of bread and wine after the (See also Neo-Scholasticism and sacrifice of the Mass and Communion have Scholasticism.) been completed. The terms, if used as substitutes for transubstantiation, are Tithing : Contribution of a portion of one’s unacceptable; if they presuppose income, originally one tenth, for purposes transubstantiation, they are acceptable as of religion and charity. The practice is clarifications of its meaning. mentioned 46 times in the Bible. In early Christian times, tithing was adopted in Transubstantiation : “The way Christ is continuance of Old Testament practices of made present in this sacrament (Holy the Jewish people, and the earliest positive Eucharist) is none other than by the church legislation on the subject was change of the whole substance of the bread enacted in 567. Catholics are bound in into his Body, and of the whole substance conscience to contribute to the support of of the wine into his Blood (in the their church, but the manner in which Consecration at Mass), this unique and they do so is not fixed by law. Tithing, wonderful change the Catholic Church which amounts to a pledged contribution rightly calls transubstantiation” of a portion of one’s income, has aroused (encyclical Mysterium Fidei of Paul VI, Sept. new attention in recent years in the United 3, 1965). The first official use of the term States. was made by the Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215. Authoritative teaching Titular Sees : Dioceses where the Church on the subject was issued by the Council of once flourished but which now exist only Trent. in name or title. Bishops without a territorial or residential diocese of their Treasury of the Church : The super - own; e.g., auxiliary bishops, are given abundant merits of Christ and the saints titular sees. There are more than 2,000 from which the Church draws to confer titular sees; 16 of them are in the United spiritual benefits, such as indulgences. States. Triduum : A three day series of public or Transfinalization, Transignification : Terms private devotions. coined to express the sign value of consecrated bread and wine with respect to the presence and action of Christ in the U-Z Eucharistic sacrifice and the spiritually Ultramontanism : The movement found vivifying purpose of the Eucharistic primarily in France during the 19th century banquet in Holy Communion. The theory that advocated a strong sense of devotion -70- and service to the Holy See. Generally Holy Spirit and was perhaps first considered a reaction to the anti-papal composed by Rabanus Maurus (776-856). tendencies of Gallicanism, its name was The hymn is commonly sung as part of the derived from the Latin for “over the Divine Office, papal elections, episcopal mountains,” a reference to the Alps, beyond consecrations, ordinations, councils, which rested Rome and the Holy See. synods, canonical elections, and confirmations. Unction : From the Latin, ungere , meaning to anoint or smear, a term used to denote Venial Sin : See under Sin. the Sacrament of the Sick (or the Anointing of the Sick); it was more Veronica : A word resulting from the commonly termed Extreme Unction and combination of a Latin word for true, vera , was given as an anointing to a person just and a Greek word for image, eikon , before death. designating a likeness of the face of Christ or the name of a woman said to have given Universal Law : See Law. him a cloth on which he caused an imprint of his face to appear. The veneration at Urbi et Orbi : A Latin phrase meaning “To Rome of a likeness depicted on cloth dates the City and to the World” that is a from about the end of the 10th century; it blessing given by the Holy Father. figured in a popular devotion during the Normally, the first Urbi et Orbi delivered by Middle Ages, and in the Holy Face a pontiff is immediately after his election devotion practiced since the 19th century. by the College of Cardinals. This is a A faint, indiscernible likeness said to be of blessing accompanied by a short address to the crowds in St. Peter’s Square and to the this kind is preserved in St. Peter’s world; frequently, as with Pope John Paul Basilica. The origin of the likeness is II in 1978, it is delivered in as many uncertain, and the identity of the woman languages as possible. The pope also is unknown. Before the 14th century, there delivers an Urbi et Orbi each year at were no known artistic representations of Christmas and at Easter. an incident concerning a woman who wiped the face of Christ with a piece of Usury : Excessive interest charged for the cloth while he was carrying the cross to loan and use of money; a violation of Calvary. justice. Vespers : From the Latin for evening, the Vagi : A Latin word meaning wanderers evening service of the Divine Office, also that is used to describe any homeless known as Evening Prayer, or among person with no fixed residence. Anglicans as Evensong.

Veni Creator Spiritus : A Latin phrase, Viaticum : Holy Communion given to meaning “Come, Creator Spirit” that is those in danger of death. The word, part of a hymn sung to the Holy Spirit. derived from Latin, means provision for a The hymn invokes the presence of the journey through death to life hereafter. -71- Vicar Forane : A Latin term meaning Visions : A charism by which a specially “deputy outside” that is applied to the chosen individual is able to behold a priest given authority by the local bishop person or something that is naturally over a certain area or region of the diocese. invisible. A vision should not be confused with an illusion or hallucination. Like Vicar General : A priest or bishop other charisms, a vision is granted for the appointed by the bishop of a diocese to good of people; it should be noted, serve as his deputy, with ordinary however, that they are not essential for executive power, in the administration of holiness or salvation. Many saints the diocese. throughout history have beheld visions, among them St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Teresa of Ávila, St. John of the Cross, and Vicar, Judicial : The title given to the chief St. Francis of Assisi. judge and head of the tribunal of a diocese. Vocation : A call to a way of life. Generally, Virginity : Observance of perpetual sexual the term applies to the common call of all abstinence. The state of virginity, which is persons, from God, to holiness and embraced for the love of God by religious salvation. Specifically, it refers to particular with a public vow or by others with a states of life, each called a vocation, in private vow, was singled out for high which response is made to this universal praise by Christ (Mt 19:10 12) and has call; viz., marriage, the religious life and/or always been so regarded by the Church. In priesthood, the single state freely chosen or the encyclical Sacra Virginitas , Pius XII accepted for the accomplishment of God’s stated: “Holy virginity and that perfect will. The term also applies to the various chastity which is consecrated to the service occupations in which persons make a of God is without doubt among the most living. The Church supports the freedom perfect treasures which the founder of the of each individual in choosing a particular Church has left in heritage to the society vocation, and reserves the right to pass on which he established.” Paul VI approved the acceptability of candidates for the in 1970 a rite in which women can priesthood and religious life. Signs or consecrate their virginity “to Christ and indicators of particular vocations are many, including a person’s talents and interests, their brethren” without becoming circumstances and obligations, invitations members of a religious institute. The Ordo of grace and willingness to respond Consecrationis Virginum , a revision of a rite thereto. promulgated by Clement VII in 1596, is traceable to the Roman liturgy of about 50 Vow : A promise made to God with sufficient knowledge and freedom, which Virtue : A habit or established capability for has as its object a moral good that is performing good actions. Virtues are possible and better than its voluntary natural (acquired and increased by omission. A person who professes a vow repeating good acts) and/or supernatural binds himself or herself by the virtue of (given with grace by God). religion to fulfill the promise. The best -72- known examples of vows are those of in all circumstances of life — by prayer poverty, chastity and obedience professed and general conduct, through good by religious (See Evangelical Counsels, example and good works, etc.; being and individual entries). Public vows are made acting in accordance with Christian belief; before a competent person, acting as an actual practice of the Christian faith. agent of the Church, who accepts the profession in the name of the Church, Zeal : The expression of charity that thereby giving public recognition to the permits one to serve God and others fully person’s dedication and consecration to with the objective of furthering the God and divine worship. Vows of this kind Mystical Body of Christ. are either solemn, rendering all contrary acts invalid as well as unlawful; or simple, Zucchetto : A small skullcap worn by rendering contrary acts unlawful. Solemn ecclesiastics, most notably prelates and vows are for life; simple vows are for a derived from the popular Italian definite period of time or for life. Vows vernacular term zucca, meaning a professed without public recognition by pumpkin, and used as slang for head. The the Church are called private vows. The Holy Father wears a white zucchetto made Church, which has authority to accept and of watered silk; cardinals use scarlet, and give public recognition to vows, also has bishops use purple. Priests of the authority to dispense persons from their monsignorial rank may wear black with obligations for serious reasons. purple piping. All others may wear simple black. Witness, Christian : Practical testimony or evidence given by Christians of their faith

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