Saints Light

Catholic glossary

This glossary defines 254 Catholic terms in plain words, one sentence each. Every term comes from a Saints Light lesson, and each entry links to the lesson that explains it in full.

A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · R · S · T · U · V · W

A

Absolution
The words of forgiveness a priest speaks in the sacrament of Penance, in Christ's name. Taught in the forgiveness of sins (The Creed); How Do I Make My First Confession? (Becoming Catholic); Will God Always Forgive Me? (For Children).
Abstinence
Refraining from meat on certain days as an act of penance. Taught in The Precepts of the Church (Grace and Virtue).
Acedia
Spiritual sloth: a weary indifference that cannot be bothered to pray. Taught in When Prayer Is Dry: Distraction, Dryness and Perseverance (Learning to Pray); The Seven Capital Sins and Their Remedies (Grace and Virtue).
Adoration
The worship owed to God alone, acknowledging Him as Creator and Lord. Taught in The First Commandment: God Comes First (The Commandments).
Amen
Hebrew for firm and trustworthy; saying it means I believe and stake my life on it. Taught in and life everlasting. Amen. (The Creed).
Anagogical sense
The spiritual sense that points to our final destiny in heaven. Taught in The Four Senses of Scripture (The Bible).
Annunciation
The day the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus. Taught in What Did Mary Say to God? (For Children).
Apostolic
Founded on the apostles and still taught and led by their successors, the bishops. Taught in How Did the Church Begin? (Church History).
Apostolic succession
The unbroken handing on of the apostles' authority to the bishops through ordination. Taught in The Church: Why Did Jesus Found One? (Start Here); Why Does the Church Have Priests? (The Sacraments).
Apparition
A reported appearance of Christ, Mary, an angel or a saint. Taught in Guadalupe, Lourdes and Fatima: What Approval Means (Mary and the Saints).
Ark of the Covenant
The sacred chest where God's presence dwelt in Israel; a figure of Mary, who carried Christ. Taught in Mary in Scripture: New Eve and Ark of the Covenant (Mary and the Saints).
Ascension
Christ's going up, body and soul, into the glory of heaven forty days after Easter. Taught in He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty (The Creed).
Avarice
Greed: a disordered, limitless desire for wealth and possessions. Taught in The Tenth Commandment: Freedom from Greed and Envy (The Commandments).

B

Baptismal anniversary
The yearly date of a person's Baptism, celebrated as the day they became a child of God. Taught in After the Water: How Do I Live My Baptism Every Day? (Baptism).
Beatific vision
Seeing God face to face in heaven, the heart of eternal happiness. Taught in and life everlasting. Amen. (The Creed); What Is Heaven Really Like? (The Last Things).
Beatification
The step before canonization, after which a person is called Blessed. Taught in How Does Someone Become a Saint? (Mary and the Saints).
Beatitude
The complete happiness of being united with God, which is the goal of every human life. Taught in Why Were We Made? (Start Here).
Beatitudes
The blessings Jesus proclaimed at the start of the Sermon on the Mount, describing true happiness in God. Taught in The Great Commandment and the Beatitudes (The Commandments).
Believer's baptism
The view held by many Protestants that only those old enough to profess faith personally should be baptized. Taught in Why Does the Church Baptize Babies, and What Do Parents Promise? (Baptism).
Blasphemy
Words or gestures of hatred, reproach or defiance against God, the Church or sacred things. Taught in The Second Commandment: A Holy Name (The Commandments).
Body of Christ
St Paul's name for the Church: Christ is the head, and the faithful are His members. Taught in The Church: Why Did Jesus Found One? (Start Here).
Book of the Elect
The book in which the names of those chosen for Easter Baptism are written. Taught in What Happens at the Rite of Acceptance and the Rite of Election? (Becoming Catholic).

C

Calumny
Harming someone's reputation with false statements. Taught in The Eighth Commandment: Living in the Truth (The Commandments).
Candidate
A baptized person preparing for full communion with the Catholic Church or to complete Catholic initiation. Taught in Which Path Is Yours? (Becoming Catholic).
Canon
The official list of books the Church recognizes as inspired Scripture. Taught in What Is the Bible, Really? (The Bible).
Canonization
The pope's solemn declaration that a person is in heaven and may be honored by the universal Church. Taught in How Does Someone Become a Saint? (Mary and the Saints).
Cardinal virtues
Prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance: the four principal human virtues. Taught in The Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance (Grace and Virtue).
Catechism
A summary of the faith, taught in an orderly way. The Baltimore Catechism (1885) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992) are two famous ones. Taught in Why Were We Made? (Start Here); Who Made Me, and Does God Love Me? (For Children).
Catechumen
An unbaptized person who has been formally accepted into preparation for Baptism. Taught in What Is OCIA, and How Does It Work? (Becoming Catholic).
Catholic
Universal, according to the whole: possessing the fullness of the faith and sent to all people. Taught in the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints (The Creed); Who Were the Church Fathers? (Church History).
Catholic social teaching
The Church's teaching on justice in society: human dignity, work, the common good and care for the poor. Taught in Revolutions, Vatican I and the Modern Popes (Church History).
Celibacy
The free choice not to marry, for the sake of the kingdom of God. Taught in Why Are Priests Celibate? (Hard Questions).
Character
The permanent spiritual mark given by Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders, which is why they are never repeated. Taught in What Does Baptism Actually Do? (Baptism); What Is a Sacrament? (The Sacraments).
Chastity
The virtue that integrates sexuality into the whole person, so that we can love freely and truly. Taught in The Sixth Commandment: Chastity and Faithful Love (The Commandments).
Chrism
Olive oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop, used in Confirmation. Taught in What Will Happen at the Easter Vigil? (Becoming Catholic); What Happens in the Rite of Baptism, Step by Step? (Baptism); Why Does Baptism Matter So Much? (The Sacraments).
Christian witness
A baptized Christian of another church who stands with a Catholic godparent at a Baptism but is not the godparent. Taught in Godparents: Who Can Be One, and What Do They Really Do? (Baptism).
Church Fathers
Holy and learned writers of the early centuries, mostly bishops, whose teaching the Church recognizes as faithful witness to the apostles. Taught in Who Were the Church Fathers? (Church History).
Collect
The opening prayer of Mass, which gathers the silent prayers of the people into one. Taught in Why Does Mass Begin the Way It Does? (The Mass).
Columbarium
A place, often in a cemetery or church, with niches set aside for urns of ashes. Taught in How Do We Prepare for a Good Death? (The Last Things).
Common good
The social conditions that allow people, as groups and individuals, to reach their fulfillment. Taught in What Is the Common Good? (Social Teaching).
Communion of saints
The union of all believers in Christ: on earth, in purification, and in heaven. Taught in Mary and the Saints: The Family of God (Start Here); the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints (The Creed); Are Mary and the Saints Our Friends? (For Children).
Compline
Night Prayer, the last hour of the day, prayed before sleep. Taught in The Liturgy of the Hours: What Is the Church's Daily Prayer? (Learning to Pray).
Concupiscence
The inclination toward sin that remains in us as a result of original sin. Taught in Creation, the Fall and Why the World Is Broken (Start Here); What Does Baptism Actually Do? (Baptism); The Ninth Commandment: Purity of Heart (The Commandments).
Conditional baptism
A baptism given only when there is serious doubt whether a valid baptism already took place. Taught in Which Path Is Yours? (Becoming Catholic); Baptism for Adults: The Easter Vigil, Already Baptized Christians and Conditional Baptism (Baptism).
Conscience
The judgment of reason that recognizes whether an act is good or evil. Taught in Living as a Christian: Love, Commandments and Virtue (Start Here); Conscience: Forming It and Following It (Grace and Virtue).
Consecration
The moment when, by Christ's words spoken by the priest, the bread and wine become his Body and Blood. Taught in The Offertory and the Eucharistic Prayer (The Mass).
Consubstantial
Of one and the same substance; said of the Son and the Father, who are one God. Taught in The Creed and the Prayer of the Faithful (The Mass); What Did the Great Councils Settle? (Church History).
Contemplation
A simple, wordless, loving gaze of faith toward God. Taught in Vocal, Meditative and Contemplative Prayer (Learning to Pray).
Continence
Refraining from sexual activity, as single people and, at times, married couples do. Taught in The Sixth Commandment: Chastity and Faithful Love (The Commandments).
Contingent
Able not to exist; depending on something else for its existence. Taught in Is There a God? (Hard Questions).
Contrition
True sorrow for sin with a firm purpose not to sin again. Taught in the forgiveness of sins (The Creed); How Do I Go to Confession? (The Sacraments).
Convalidation
The process by which a marriage not yet recognized by the Church becomes a valid, sacramental marriage. Taught in Coming Home: What If I Have Been Away for Years? (Becoming Catholic).
Corporal works of mercy
Seven acts of charity that meet bodily needs, such as feeding the hungry and visiting the sick. Taught in The Works of Mercy (Grace and Virtue).
Council
A gathering of the world's bishops with the Pope that teaches with authority on faith and morals. Taught in Who Is Jesus? True God and True Man (Start Here).
Council of Trent
The ecumenical council held from 1545 to 1563 that clarified Catholic doctrine and reformed Church life after the Reformation. Taught in What Happened at the Reformation? (Church History).
Covenant
A solemn promise of friendship between God and His people. Taught in Does God Keep His Promises? (For Children); What Is Prayer, and Why Does It Feel So Hard? (Learning to Pray); The Big Story: Salvation History in Seven Covenants (The Bible).
Creed
From the Latin credo, I believe: a short, authoritative summary of the faith. Taught in I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth (The Creed); The Creed and the Prayer of the Faithful (The Mass).
Crusade
A military expedition called by a pope, mostly between 1095 and 1291, chiefly to recover or defend the Holy Land. Taught in The Crusades and the Inquisition: What Really Happened? (Church History).

D

Dark night
St John of the Cross's term for a time when God withdraws consolation to purify our love. Taught in When Prayer Is Dry: Distraction, Dryness and Perseverance (Learning to Pray).
Decade
One set of an Our Father, ten Hail Marys and a Glory Be in the Rosary. Taught in How Do You Pray the Rosary? (Learning to Pray).
Decalogue
From the Greek for "ten words": another name for the Ten Commandments. Taught in Why Commandments at All? (The Commandments).
Declaration of nullity
A Church tribunal's finding that a valid marriage never existed; often called an annulment. Taught in Coming Home: What If I Have Been Away for Years? (Becoming Catholic); What Makes a Marriage a Sacrament? (The Sacraments).
Deposit of faith
The whole of what God has revealed, contained in Scripture and Tradition and entrusted to the Church. Taught in Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium (The Bible).
Detachment
Freedom of heart toward possessions, so that they serve God and others rather than rule us. Taught in The Tenth Commandment: Freedom from Greed and Envy (The Commandments).
Detraction
Revealing another person's real faults to people who have no need to know. Taught in The Eighth Commandment: Living in the Truth (The Commandments).
Deuterocanonical
The seven Old Testament books (and parts of Esther and Daniel) whose place in the canon was recognized later; fully inspired Scripture. Taught in Why Do Catholic Bibles Have 73 Books? (The Bible).
Discipline
A Church rule that guides practice and can be changed, unlike a dogma. Taught in Why Are Priests Celibate? (Hard Questions).
Dismissal
The final words of Mass that send the people out to live what they have celebrated. Taught in Go Forth: The Concluding Rites and Your Week (The Mass).
Divine Liturgy
The name for the Eucharistic celebration in the Byzantine and several other Eastern traditions. Taught in One Mass, Many Rites: East, Latin and the Older Form (The Mass).
Divine Office
Another name for the Liturgy of the Hours. Taught in The Liturgy of the Hours: What Is the Church's Daily Prayer? (Learning to Pray).
Dogma
A truth the Church solemnly teaches as revealed by God, to be believed by all the faithful. Taught in How Can Mary Be the Mother of God? (Mary and the Saints).
Dormition
'Falling asleep': the Eastern name for the end of Mary's earthly life and her Assumption. Taught in The Assumption: Body and Soul into Heaven (Mary and the Saints).
Doxology
A short prayer of praise; at Mass, the closing words of the Eucharistic Prayer before the Great Amen. Taught in The Offertory and the Eucharistic Prayer (The Mass).
Dulia
Veneration: the honor given to saints and angels. Taught in Do Catholics Worship Mary? (Mary and the Saints).

E

Easter Triduum
The three days from the evening of Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, the high point of the year. Taught in The Liturgical Year and Its Colors (The Mass).
Eastern Catholic Churches
Churches with Eastern rites and traditions that are in full communion with the Pope. Taught in Why Did East and West Split? (Church History).
Ecological conversion
A change of heart that leads to gratitude for creation and responsible living. Taught in Why Care for Creation? (Social Teaching).
Ecumenical council
A gathering of the bishops of the whole Church, in union with the Pope, that teaches with authority on faith and morals. Taught in What Did the Great Councils Settle? (Church History).
Edict of Milan
The agreement of 313 between Constantine and Licinius granting Christians freedom of worship. Taught in What Did the Great Councils Settle? (Church History).
Ekklesia
Greek for an assembly called together; the root of the word Church. Taught in the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints (The Creed).
Emergency baptism
Baptism given by anyone, using water and the Trinitarian words, when a person is in danger of death and no priest or deacon is available. Taught in Emergency Baptism, and What About Babies Who Die Without Baptism? (Baptism).
Encyclical
A formal teaching letter from the pope to the Church and often to all people of good will. Taught in What Is Catholic Social Teaching, and Where Did It Come From? (Social Teaching).
Ephphatha
An Aramaic word meaning Be opened, spoken by Jesus when he healed a deaf man; it names a short rite at the end of Baptism. Taught in What Happens in the Rite of Baptism, Step by Step? (Baptism).
Epiclesis
Greek for invocation: the prayer asking the Father to send the Holy Spirit upon the gifts. Taught in The Offertory and the Eucharistic Prayer (The Mass).
Epistle
A letter; in the New Testament, the letters of Paul and other apostles. Taught in Paul and the Letters (The Bible).
Eucharist
The Body and Blood of Jesus under the appearance of bread and wine. The word means thanksgiving. Taught in What Happened at the Last Supper? (For Children).
Eucharistic fast
Abstaining from food and drink, except water and medicine, for one hour before Communion. Taught in Before Mass: What Should I Do (and Not Do)? (The Mass).
Euthanasia
An act or omission that directly causes the death of a sick, disabled or dying person in order to end suffering. Taught in The Fifth Commandment: Respect for Human Life (The Commandments).
Evangelist
One of the four Gospel writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Taught in The Gospels: Four Portraits of One Lord (The Bible).
Ex cathedra
'From the chair': when the pope defines a doctrine of faith or morals with his full authority, protected from error. Taught in The Assumption: Body and Soul into Heaven (Mary and the Saints); What Does Papal Infallibility Really Mean? (Hard Questions).
Ex opere operato
Latin for "by the work performed": a sacrament works by Christ's power, not the minister's holiness. Taught in What Is a Sacrament? (The Sacraments).
Examen
St Ignatius's daily prayer of reviewing the day with God. Taught in The Daily Examen: How Do You Review a Day with God? (Learning to Pray).
Examination of conscience
A prayerful review of our life in the light of God's word, made especially before Confession. Taught in The Great Commandment and the Beatitudes (The Commandments).
Exorcism (minor)
A prayer asking God to free a person from the influence of evil, prayed over those preparing for Baptism. Taught in What Are the Scrutinies? (Becoming Catholic).
Extraordinary Form
Pope Benedict XVI's name for the Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal. Taught in One Mass, Many Rites: East, Latin and the Older Form (The Mass).

F

Filial piety
The grateful love and respect children owe to their parents. Taught in The Fourth Commandment: Honor Your Father and Mother (The Commandments).
Filioque
Latin for and the Son, added in the West to say the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Taught in I believe in the Holy Spirit (The Creed); Why Did East and West Split? (Church History).
Firstfruits
The first of the harvest; Christ's Resurrection is the first of the resurrection of all who belong to Him. Taught in He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead (The Creed).
Five Ways
St Thomas Aquinas's five short arguments that reason from features of the world (change, causes, contingency, degrees, order) to God. Taught in Is There a God? (Hard Questions).
Font
The basin or pool in a church that holds the water for Baptism. Taught in What Is Baptism, and Why Does It Matter So Much? (Baptism).
Friar
A member of a mendicant order, such as the Franciscans or Dominicans, who lives in poverty and serves among the people rather than in an enclosed monastery. Taught in What Did the Middle Ages Build? (Church History).
Full communion
Complete unity with the Catholic Church in faith, sacraments and governance, into which baptized Christians are received. Taught in Baptism for Adults: The Easter Vigil, Already Baptized Christians and Conditional Baptism (Baptism).

G

Genuflect
To bend the right knee to the floor as a sign of adoration toward Christ in the tabernacle. Taught in Before Mass: What Should I Do (and Not Do)? (The Mass).
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord, the seven gifts named from Isaiah 11. Taught in What Does Confirmation Add? (The Sacraments).
Glorified body
The risen body, freed from decay and suffering, like Christ's risen body. Taught in the resurrection of the body (The Creed).
Godparent
The Catholic who presents an unbaptized person for Baptism and helps them live the faith. Taught in How Do I Choose a Sponsor or Godparent? (Becoming Catholic); Godparents: Who Can Be One, and What Do They Really Do? (Baptism).
Grace
God's free and undeserved gift of His help and His own life. Taught in The Holy Spirit and Grace (Start Here); What Happens at Baptism? (For Children); What Is Grace? (Grace and Virtue).
Great Persecution
The last and harshest Roman persecution, begun by Diocletian in 303 and ended by 313. Taught in Why Did Rome Kill Christians? (Church History).

H

Holy day of obligation
A major feast on which Catholics are bound to attend Mass, as on Sunday; the list varies by country. Taught in Before Mass: What Should I Do (and Not Do)? (The Mass); The Third Commandment: Keep the Lord's Day (The Commandments).
Holy Saturday
The day Christ lay in the tomb, between Good Friday and Easter. Taught in suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried (The Creed).
Homily
The reflection given by a priest or deacon after the Gospel, applying the readings to life. Taught in Why These Readings? The Liturgy of the Word (The Mass).
Household baptism
The New Testament pattern in which a whole family was baptized together when the head of the house believed. Taught in Why Does the Church Baptize Babies, and What Do Parents Promise? (Baptism).
Human dignity
The worth every person has because they are made in God's image, which cannot be earned or lost. Taught in Why Does Every Person Matter? (Social Teaching).
Hyperdulia
The special, highest veneration given to Mary, still entirely different from adoration. Taught in Do Catholics Worship Mary? (Mary and the Saints).

I

Idolatry
Giving to any created thing the place or worship that belongs only to God. Taught in The First Commandment: God Comes First (The Commandments).
Immaculate Conception
Mary's preservation from original sin from the first moment of her existence. Taught in Mary and the Saints: The Family of God (Start Here).
Impediment
Something that makes a person unable to marry validly, such as an existing marriage. Taught in What Makes a Marriage a Sacrament? (The Sacraments).
Imprimatur
A bishop's official permission to publish, stating a book is free from doctrinal error. Taught in How to Start Reading: A Realistic Plan (The Bible).
In persona Christi
Latin for "in the person of Christ": the ordained minister acts with Christ's own authority in the sacraments. Taught in Why Does the Church Have Priests? (The Sacraments); Why Can't Women Be Priests? (Hard Questions).
Incarnation
The Son of God taking a full human nature and becoming man in Jesus. Taught in Who Is Jesus? True God and True Man (Start Here); who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary (The Creed).
Indulgence
A remission, granted by the Church, of the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven; it can be offered for the dead. Taught in What Is Purgatory, and Where Does It Come From? (The Last Things); What Happened at the Reformation? (Church History).
Inerrancy
The truth that Scripture teaches without error what God wanted written for our salvation. Taught in What Is the Bible, Really? (The Bible).
Infallibility
The gift of the Holy Spirit that keeps the Church from error when she definitively teaches on faith or morals. Taught in What Does Papal Infallibility Really Mean? (Hard Questions).
Inquisition
Church or Church-backed tribunals that investigated heresy; the Spanish Inquisition (1478) was largely under royal control. Taught in The Crusades and the Inquisition: What Really Happened? (Church History).
Inspiration
God's action on the human authors of Scripture, so that God is the true author of what they wrote. Taught in What Is the Bible, Really? (The Bible).
Integral ecology
The vision that care for nature, for the poor and for human life are inseparable. Taught in Why Care for Creation? (Social Teaching).
Invincible ignorance
Ignorance a person could not reasonably have overcome, which removes guilt. Taught in Conscience: Forming It and Following It (Grace and Virtue).

J

Just wage
Pay sufficient for a worker to live and support a family in dignity. Taught in What Does the Church Teach About Work? (Social Teaching).
Just war criteria
The strict conditions under which the use of military force in defense may be morally legitimate. Taught in How Should Christians Think About Peace and War? (Social Teaching).
Just war teaching
The strict conditions under which the use of military force for defense can be morally legitimate. Taught in The Fifth Commandment: Respect for Human Life (The Commandments).
Justification
God's free act of cleansing us from sin and making us righteous, received in faith and Baptism. Taught in Paul and the Letters (The Bible); Faith and Works: What Does the Church Really Teach? (Grace and Virtue); Are Catholics Saved by Works? (Hard Questions).

K

Keys
The sign of authority Jesus gave Peter, recalling the royal steward who governed the king's house. Taught in Where Is the Pope in the Bible? (Hard Questions).
Kyrie
From the Greek Kyrie eleison, Lord, have mercy, an ancient cry for mercy at the start of Mass. Taught in Why Does Mass Begin the Way It Does? (The Mass).
Kyrios
Greek for Lord, used to translate the holy name of God in the Greek Old Testament. Taught in and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord (The Creed).

L

Laborem Exercens
John Paul II's 1981 encyclical on human work. Taught in What Does the Church Teach About Work? (Social Teaching).
Last Judgment
The judgment of all people at the end of time, when Christ returns in glory. Taught in The End of the Story: Death, Judgment and Heaven (Start Here); from there He will come to judge the living and the dead (The Creed); When Will Jesus Come Again? (The Last Things).
Last Rites
The sacraments given to the dying: Confession, the Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion as Viaticum. Taught in How Do We Prepare for a Good Death? (The Last Things).
Last Things
The traditional name for death, judgment, heaven and hell; the study of them is called eschatology. Taught in Is There Hope in the Face of Death? (The Last Things).
Latria
Adoration: the worship owed to God alone. Taught in Do Catholics Worship Mary? (Mary and the Saints).
Lectio Divina
Latin for 'divine reading': praying slowly with a short passage of Scripture. Taught in Lectio Divina: How Do You Pray with Scripture? (Learning to Pray); How to Start Reading: A Realistic Plan (The Bible).
Lectionary
The book of Scripture readings for Mass, arranged in a cycle across the year. Taught in Why These Readings? The Liturgy of the Word (The Mass).
Limbo
A theological opinion, never defined by the Church, that unbaptized infants enjoy natural happiness without the vision of God. Taught in Emergency Baptism, and What About Babies Who Die Without Baptism? (Baptism).
Literal sense
The meaning the human author intended, the foundation of all other senses. Taught in The Four Senses of Scripture (The Bible).
Literary genre
The kind of writing a passage is, such as history, poetry, parable or prophecy, which shapes how it should be read. Taught in Hard Passages, Handled Honestly (The Bible).
Liturgical year
The Church's yearly cycle of seasons and feasts, beginning on the First Sunday of Advent. Taught in The Liturgical Year and Its Colors (The Mass).
Liturgy
The Church's official public worship, like the Mass. Taught in What Happens at Mass, Step by Step? (For Children).

M

Magisterium
The teaching office of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him. Taught in How God Speaks: Scripture, Tradition and the Church (Start Here); Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium (The Bible); Why Do I Need a Church? Can't I Just Read the Bible? (Hard Questions).
Manger
A wooden box that holds food for animals. Baby Jesus was laid in one. Taught in Why Was Jesus Born in a Stable? (For Children).
Martyr
From the Greek for 'witness': someone who bears witness to Christ even unto death. Taught in Why Did Rome Kill Christians? (Church History).
Matter and form
The matter is the material sign of a sacrament (water, bread, oil); the form is the words that go with it. Taught in What Is a Sacrament? (The Sacraments).
Meditation
Prayer that ponders God's word or works with the mind, imagination and heart. Taught in Vocal, Meditative and Contemplative Prayer (Learning to Pray).
Memorial
In Scripture, a celebration that makes a saving event present, not only remembered. Taught in What Is the Mass, Really? (The Mass).
Merit
The reward God freely attaches to good works done in grace; itself a gift of grace. Taught in Faith and Works: What Does the Church Really Teach? (Grace and Virtue); Are Catholics Saved by Works? (Hard Questions).
Messiah
Hebrew for anointed one; in Greek, Christ. Taught in and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord (The Creed).
Miracle
A wonderful sign that only God's power can do. Taught in How Did Jesus Heal and Forgive? (For Children).
Modesty
The part of purity that protects the dignity and mystery of the person in dress, speech and gaze. Taught in The Ninth Commandment: Purity of Heart (The Commandments).
Monasticism
A way of life in which men or women leave ordinary life to seek God through prayer, work and vows, usually in community. Taught in How Did Monks Save the West? (Church History).
Monstrance
A vessel, usually gold and sunburst shaped, that displays the Host for adoration. Taught in Eucharistic Adoration: Why Sit Before the Blessed Sacrament? (Learning to Pray).
Moral law
God's instruction on how to live well, written in our nature and revealed in Scripture. Taught in Why Commandments at All? (The Commandments).
Mortal sin
A grave sin, committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent, that destroys charity in the soul. Taught in Living as a Christian: Love, Commandments and Virtue (Start Here); What Is Sin? Mortal and Venial (Grace and Virtue); Why Does the Church Still Teach Hell? (The Last Things).
Mystagogy
The period after the sacraments when the newly initiated reflect on the mysteries they have received. Taught in What Is OCIA, and How Does It Work? (Becoming Catholic).
Mystery
An event in the life of Jesus or Mary that we meditate on during a decade. Taught in How Do You Pray the Rosary? (Learning to Pray).

N

Neophyte
A newly initiated Catholic, especially during the first year after the sacraments. Taught in After Easter: How Do I Not Drift Away? (Becoming Catholic).
New creation
The renewal of the whole universe at the end of time, the new heaven and new earth. Taught in Will Our Bodies Really Rise? (The Last Things).
New Eve
A title for Mary, whose faith and obedience reversed the disobedience of the first Eve. Taught in Mary in Scripture: New Eve and Ark of the Covenant (Mary and the Saints).
New Law
The law of the Gospel, fulfilled in Christ, which works through love and grace. Taught in The Great Commandment and the Beatitudes (The Commandments).

O

Oath
Calling on God as witness that what we say is true or that we will keep a promise. Taught in The Second Commandment: A Holy Name (The Commandments).
OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, the parish process for becoming Catholic. Taught in The Sacraments: How Grace Reaches Us (Start Here); What Is OCIA, and How Does It Work? (Becoming Catholic).
Oil of catechumens
Olive oil blessed by the bishop, used before Baptism as a sign of strength against evil. Taught in What Happens in the Rite of Baptism, Step by Step? (Baptism).
Oil of the sick
Olive oil blessed by the bishop in Holy Week for the Anointing of the Sick. Taught in Is Anointing Only for the Dying? (The Sacraments).
Original sin
The wounded state of human nature we inherit from the first sin, without the holiness God first gave. Taught in Creation, the Fall and Why the World Is Broken (Start Here); Why Is There Sin in the World? (For Children); Why Does Baptism Matter So Much? (The Sacraments).

P

Papal infallibility
The gift by which the Pope is protected from error when he solemnly defines a doctrine of faith or morals for the whole Church. Taught in Revolutions, Vatican I and the Modern Popes (Church History).
Paraclete
One called to your side: helper, advocate and consoler, Jesus' name for the Holy Spirit. Taught in I believe in the Holy Spirit (The Creed).
Parousia
Greek for 'arrival' or 'presence': the glorious return of Christ at the end of time. Taught in When Will Jesus Come Again? (The Last Things).
Participation
Each person's active engagement, according to their role, in building up the common good. Taught in What Is the Common Good? (Social Teaching).
Particular judgment
Christ's judgment of each soul immediately after death. Taught in The End of the Story: Death, Judgment and Heaven (Start Here); What Happens the Moment We Die? (The Last Things).
Paschal candle
The large candle lit from the new fire at the Easter Vigil, a sign of the risen Christ. Taught in What Will Happen at the Easter Vigil? (Becoming Catholic).
Paschal Mystery
Christ's saving death and Resurrection, the center of the faith. Taught in The Cross and Resurrection: How We Are Saved (Start Here).
Passion
The sufferings of Jesus, from His agony in the garden to His death on the cross. Taught in suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried (The Creed).
Patron saint
A saint chosen as a special model and intercessor for a person, place or work. Taught in Patron Saints, Relics and Living with the Saints (Mary and the Saints).
Penance
A prayer or action the priest assigns to help repair the harm of sin. Taught in How Do I Make My First Confession? (Becoming Catholic); Will God Always Forgive Me? (For Children).
Pentecost
The day, fifty days after Easter, when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. Taught in The Holy Spirit and Grace (Start Here); How Did the Church Begin? (Church History).
Perpetual virginity
The dogma that Mary remained a virgin before, during and after the birth of Jesus, for her whole life. Taught in Ever Virgin: And What About Jesus' Brothers? (Mary and the Saints).
Person (in God)
Father, Son or Spirit, each fully God, distinguished only by their relation to one another. Taught in Who Is God? The Trinity (Start Here).
Petition
A request made to God; the Our Father contains seven. Taught in The Our Father, Petition by Petition (Learning to Pray).
Precepts of the Church
Five basic obligations the Church asks of all Catholics. Taught in The Precepts of the Church (Grace and Virtue).
Predominant fault
The particular vice that drives most of a person's sins. Taught in The Seven Capital Sins and Their Remedies (Grace and Virtue).
Prefiguration
An event in the Old Testament that God used to point ahead to a greater reality fulfilled in Christ, such as the Flood pointing to Baptism. Taught in Baptism in the Bible: From the Flood and the Red Sea to the Jordan and Pentecost (Baptism).
Preservative redemption
Scotus's explanation that Mary was redeemed by being kept from sin rather than freed from it afterward. Taught in The Immaculate Conception (Mary and the Saints).
Private revelation
A later revelation, such as an apparition, that adds nothing to the faith and no one is required to believe. Taught in Guadalupe, Lourdes and Fatima: What Approval Means (Mary and the Saints); Missions to the World: Saints and Failures (Church History).
Profession of faith
The answers of faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit made at Baptism, the root of the Creed. Taught in The Renunciation of Sin and the Profession of Faith: What Are You Really Saying I Do To? (Baptism).
Prudence
Practical wisdom that discerns the true good and chooses the right way to pursue it. Taught in The Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance (Grace and Virtue).
Public revelation
God's revelation completed in Christ and handed on through Scripture and Tradition. Taught in Guadalupe, Lourdes and Fatima: What Approval Means (Mary and the Saints).
Purgatory
The final purification of those who die in God's friendship but are not yet fully purified. Taught in The End of the Story: Death, Judgment and Heaven (Start Here); Is Heaven Our Home? (For Children); What Is Purgatory, and Where Does It Come From? (The Last Things).

R

Real Presence
The truth that Jesus is really present, body, blood, soul and divinity, in the Eucharist. Taught in The Sacraments: How Grace Reaches Us (Start Here); Is the Eucharist Really Jesus? (The Sacraments).
Redemption
Being bought back from sin and death by Christ's sacrifice. Taught in The Cross and Resurrection: How We Are Saved (Start Here).
Relic
A physical object connected with a saint: part of the body, something owned, or something touched to these. Taught in Patron Saints, Relics and Living with the Saints (Mary and the Saints).
Renunciation
The solemn rejection of Satan, sin and evil made just before Baptism. Taught in The Renunciation of Sin and the Profession of Faith: What Are You Really Saying I Do To? (Baptism).
Rerum Novarum
Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical on the condition of workers, the start of modern Catholic social teaching. Taught in What Is Catholic Social Teaching, and Where Did It Come From? (Social Teaching).
Restitution
Giving back what was unjustly taken, or making equivalent amends. Taught in The Seventh Commandment: Do Not Steal (The Commandments).
Resurrection
Jesus rising from the dead with His own body, glorious and never to die again. Taught in Is Jesus Alive? (For Children); Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead? (Hard Questions).
Resurrection of the body
The reuniting of each soul with its own body, glorified or judged, at the end of time. Taught in the resurrection of the body (The Creed); Will Our Bodies Really Rise? (The Last Things).
Revelation
God making Himself and His plan known to us, completed in Jesus Christ. Taught in How God Speaks: Scripture, Tradition and the Church (Start Here).
Rite
A liturgical tradition, such as the Roman or Byzantine, through which the Church celebrates the sacraments. Taught in One Mass, Many Rites: East, Latin and the Older Form (The Mass).
Rule
The written way of life for a religious community, such as the Rule of St Benedict. Taught in How Did Monks Save the West? (Church History).

S

Sacrament
An effective sign, instituted by Christ, that gives the grace it signifies. Taught in The Sacraments: How Grace Reaches Us (Start Here); What Is Baptism, and Why Does It Matter So Much? (Baptism); What Happens at Baptism? (For Children).
Sacramental
A sacred sign blessed by the Church, such as holy water, that prepares us to receive grace. Taught in After the Water: How Do I Live My Baptism Every Day? (Baptism); Holy Water, Medals and Scapulars: Are They Magic? (The Sacraments).
Sacraments of initiation
Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist, which together make a person a full member of the Church. Taught in Baptism for Adults: The Easter Vigil, Already Baptized Christians and Conditional Baptism (Baptism).
Sacred Tradition
The living handing on of the apostles' teaching, by word and practice, under the Holy Spirit. Taught in Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium (The Bible); Why Do I Need a Church? Can't I Just Read the Bible? (Hard Questions).
Sacrifice
An offering made to God; at Mass, Christ's own offering of himself on the Cross, made present. Taught in What Is the Mass, Really? (The Mass).
Salvation history
The story of God's saving actions in human history, from creation to Christ and the Church. Taught in The Big Story: Salvation History in Seven Covenants (The Bible).
Sanctification
The process of being made holy by God's grace. Taught in Holiness for Ordinary People (Grace and Virtue).
Sanctifying grace
God's own life dwelling in the soul, first given in Baptism. Taught in What Does Baptism Actually Do? (Baptism).
Scapular
Two small pieces of cloth worn over the shoulders, a miniature religious habit and sign of devotion. Taught in Holy Water, Medals and Scapulars: Are They Magic? (The Sacraments).
Scruples
An anxious, exaggerated fear of having sinned when one has not. Taught in The Daily Examen: How Do You Review a Day with God? (Learning to Pray).
Scrutiny
A rite of prayer for the elect during Lent, asking God to heal what is weak and strengthen what is good. Taught in What Are the Scrutinies? (Becoming Catholic).
Seal of confession
The absolute secrecy a priest must keep about everything confessed. Taught in How Do I Make My First Confession? (Becoming Catholic); How Do I Go to Confession? (The Sacraments); Why Confess to a Priest? (Hard Questions).
Second Coming
Christ's return in glory at the end of time. Taught in from there He will come to judge the living and the dead (The Creed).
Second Vatican Council
The twenty-first ecumenical council, held in Rome from 1962 to 1965. Taught in What Did Vatican II Do, and Where Is the Church Now? (Church History).
Self-exclusion
The Church's way of describing hell: a person's own final, free refusal of communion with God. Taught in Why Does the Church Still Teach Hell? (The Last Things).
Septuagint
The ancient Greek translation of the Jewish Scriptures, used widely by the early Church. Taught in Why Do Catholic Bibles Have 73 Books? (The Bible).
Sheol / Hades
Hebrew and Greek words for the realm of the dead, where the dead awaited the Redeemer. Taught in He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead (The Creed).
Solidarity
A firm commitment to the good of all, rooted in our real responsibility for one another. Taught in Subsidiarity and Solidarity: How Do They Fit Together? (Social Teaching).
Spiritual communion
A prayer of desire to receive Christ, made when one cannot receive the sacrament. Taught in How Do I Receive Communion? (The Mass).
Spiritual works of mercy
Seven acts of charity that meet spiritual needs, such as forgiving offenses and praying for others. Taught in The Works of Mercy (Grace and Virtue).
State of grace
The condition of a soul living in God's friendship, free of unconfessed mortal sin. Taught in How Do I Receive Communion? (The Mass); What Is Grace? (Grace and Virtue).
Subsidiarity
The principle that higher communities should support, not replace, the proper work of smaller ones. Taught in Subsidiarity and Solidarity: How Do They Fit Together? (Social Teaching).
Summa Theologiae
Thomas Aquinas's great, unfinished summary of theology, written as questions, objections and answers. Taught in What Did the Middle Ages Build? (Church History).
Superstition
Treating religious practices as if they worked like magic, apart from faith and conversion of life. Taught in Holy Water, Medals and Scapulars: Are They Magic? (The Sacraments).
Supersubstantial bread
The Douay-Rheims wording for 'daily bread' in Matthew, pointing to the Eucharist as well as ordinary food. Taught in The Our Father, Petition by Petition (Learning to Pray).
Symbol of faith
Another name for a creed, from a Greek word for a token of recognition. Taught in I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth (The Creed).
Synoptic
'Seen together': the name for Matthew, Mark and Luke, which share much material. Taught in The Gospels: Four Portraits of One Lord (The Bible).

T

Tabernacle
The locked, honored box in a church where consecrated Hosts are kept, usually marked by a burning lamp. Taught in Is the Eucharist Really Jesus? (The Sacraments); Eucharistic Adoration: Why Sit Before the Blessed Sacrament? (Learning to Pray).
The elect
Catechumens who have been chosen at the Rite of Election to receive the sacraments at Easter. Taught in What Happens at the Rite of Acceptance and the Rite of Election? (Becoming Catholic).
Theological virtues
Faith, hope and charity: virtues given by God that relate us directly to Him. Taught in Faith, Hope and Charity (Grace and Virtue).
Theotokos
Greek for God-bearer, the title Mother of God confirmed at Ephesus in 431. Taught in who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary (The Creed); How Can Mary Be the Mother of God? (Mary and the Saints).
Tradition
The living handing on of the faith from the apostles, together with Scripture. Taught in How God Speaks: Scripture, Tradition and the Church (Start Here).
Tranquility of order
St Augustine's description of peace as the calm that comes from a just and right order. Taught in How Should Christians Think About Peace and War? (Social Teaching).
Transubstantiation
The change of the whole substance of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, while the appearances remain. Taught in Is the Eucharist Really Jesus? (The Sacraments); What Happened at the Reformation? (Church History).
Trinity
One God in three divine Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Taught in Who Is God? The Trinity (Start Here).
Type and antitype
The Old Testament foreshadowing (type) and its New Testament fulfillment (antitype). Taught in Reading the Old Testament with Christ in View (The Bible).
Typology
Reading the Old Testament as containing real foreshadowings of Christ and the Church. Taught in Reading the Old Testament with Christ in View (The Bible).

U

Universal call to holiness
The teaching that every baptized person is called to the fullness of Christian life and perfect charity. Taught in Holiness for Ordinary People (Grace and Virtue); What Did Vatican II Do, and Where Is the Church Now? (Church History).
Universal destination of goods
The principle that God gave the earth's goods to all people, so property carries social responsibility. Taught in What Is the Preferential Option for the Poor? (Social Teaching).

V

Venerable
The title of a person whose heroic virtue has been officially recognized. Taught in How Does Someone Become a Saint? (Mary and the Saints).
Venial sin
A lesser sin that weakens but does not destroy charity. Taught in What Is Sin? Mortal and Venial (Grace and Virtue).
Viaticum
Holy Communion given to a dying person, as food for the journey to God. Taught in Is Anointing Only for the Dying? (The Sacraments); How Do We Prepare for a Good Death? (The Last Things).
Vice
A habit of sin formed by repeating the same sinful acts. Taught in The Seven Capital Sins and Their Remedies (Grace and Virtue).
Virtue
A firm habit of doing good. Taught in Living as a Christian: Love, Commandments and Virtue (Start Here); Faith, Hope and Charity (Grace and Virtue).
Visit to the Blessed Sacrament
Time spent in prayer before Christ present in the tabernacle outside of Mass. Taught in Go Forth: The Concluding Rites and Your Week (The Mass).

W

Works of mercy
Acts of love that care for people's bodies (corporal) and their hearts and souls (spiritual). Taught in How Can I Love Others Like Jesus? (For Children); What Is the Preferential Option for the Poor? (Social Teaching).

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