| Index of Catholic Terminology |
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A
Abbe:
Title given to an abbot, but generally to a secular ecclesiastic in France; often used colloquially to refer to any cleric.
Abbess:
The nun who is the superior of a community of nuns in those religious orders which have abbots as superiors of male communities. An abbess has domestic or temporal authority but no spiritual jurisdiction.
Abbey:
Properly a monastery or convent governed by an abbot or abbess; also the community of monks or nuns numbering at least twelve in a canonically erected monastery or convent. Generally refers to the entire group of buildings, but sometimes only to the church building.
Abbot:
The superior of a community of men in an abbey or monastery. The one directing a group of men in an abbey who live under religious vows according to a rule or laws for the community. The abbot is elected for life. His authority is the administration of the property of the abbey, the enforcing of the rule, and the exercise of quasi-episcopal powers. The term was used from the 5th century.
Ablegate:
An envoy of the Papal service who bears the red biretta to a new cardinal who is not residing in Rome; a legate from the Holy Father with this mission.
Absolution:
Part of the sacrament of penance. It is the formal declaration by the priest that a penitent's sins are forgiven.
Abstinence:
Refraining from certain kinds of food or drink as an act of self-denial. Usually refraining from eating meat. Official days of abstinence from meat for Catholics are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
A.D.:
Abbreviation for the Latin words Anno Domini meaning literally "in the year of the Lord," and denoting the years after the Incarnation of the Son of God from which time we now configure our calendar.
Administrator:
He who is in charge of a diocese when the bishop is lawfully absent or when the diocese is vacant by resignation or removal of the bishop, or during the interim between the death of the bishop and the arrival of his successor. Also applied to a priest who directs and governs a parish temporarily but is himself not the permanent rector or pastor.
Adoration:
Refers to the external acts of reverent admiration or honor given to a thing or person.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament:
Prayer to Christ, who is recognized as being truly present in the Sacrament. During Adoration, the Blessed Sacrament is displayed for the people.
Advent:
The time of preparation for the Feast of the Birth of Our Lord. Consisting of four weeks between the First Advent Sunday, and Christmas eve. The first liturgical season of the Church calendar. The period of spiritual preparation for Christmas.
Advocate:
A representative in an ecclesiastical court, either cleric or lay, who pleads a case.
Agape:
An obsolete feast or meal, sometimes called brotherly or love feast, taken in common following an early practice of the Greeks. It was in commemoration of the Last Supper and was probably taken before the celebration of Mass.
Agnus Dei:
The prayer in the Mass, shortly before the Communion, beginning with these words, in English, "Lamb of God." (2) Name given to disks of wax on which are impressed the figure of a lamb and which are blessed at regular seasons by the Pope; they may be oblong, round or oval in shape and vary in size; the figure of the lamb usually has a banner or cross accompanying it.
All Saints Day:
The day on which Catholics remember all the saints of the Church, whether officially canonized or not. It is celebrated on November 11.
All Souls Day:
The day on which Catholics remember the dead and pray for them recognizing that they may still need to be brought to perfection. It is observed on November 2.
Alms:
Originally any temporal or spiritual work of mercy; now any material gift or aid given in Christian charity to one in need.
Almsgiving:
is the religious practice of giving from one's financial resources in order to assist or help those who are poorer and in need. This is commended by Jesus (Luke 18:22). St. Paul exhorts members of the Christian community at Corinth to give alms that they might be enriched by their very generous giving (2 Corinthians 9: 11). On Ash Wednesday we Catholics hear from Matthew's gospel-where Jesus teaches us to fast, pray, and give alms (Matthew 6:1-6,16-18). Almsgiving is considered one of the three central penitential activities of Lent and a work of mercy. (The seven corporal works of mercy are: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to visit prisoners, to give shelter to the homeless, to visit the sick and to bury the dead). The word "alms" derives from the Greek, eleos, or "pity."
Altar:
The table on which the sacrifice of Mass is celebrated.
Alpha and Omega:
The beginning and the end. A biblical reference to a divine title being actually the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. (Revelations 1.8)
Amen:
Hebrew word meaning truly, it is true. As concluding word of prayers it expresses assent to and acceptance of God’s will. Literally, "So be it!"
Altar breads:
Round wafers baked of fine, wheaten, unleavened flour and used in the consecration at Mass. There are two sizes, the smaller for the Communion of the faithful, the larger for the priest's Communion of the Mass and for exposition. Also called hosts. See Host.
Ambo:
A raised platform or pulpit approached by steps. It was placed in the nave of early churches from which pronouncements were made or where certain parts of the sacred liturgy, as the Epistle and Gospel of High Mass, were, and sometimes still are, sung. There may be two, one on each side.
Ambry:
A closet or chest wherein the holy oils are kept on church property, usually attached to the wall of the sanctuary.
Anamnesis:
A remembering, literally "a calling to mind." The words in the prayer of the Mass which declare that the consecration is fulfilled in memory of Christ; in the Roman rite the first of three prayers after the Consecration of the Mass.
Anaphora (a~naf'ora):
The Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass, including the Preface in Eastern rites.
Anathema:
Pronouncement by which the Church declares a person to be out of her communion, particularly because of the denial of a truth of faith; an excommunication.
Anchor:
The symbol of hope. In the days of early persecutions it was used to represent the cross.
Anchorite:
Man or woman who has given up the world and lives alone, dedicating his life to God. A hermit, especially one of the Eastern Church.
Angel:
Meaning "Messenger". In the Bible they are described as carrying messages from God to Humans. A pure spirit, a being that cannot be perceived by the senses because it has no body but which is a person since it possesses intellect and free will. Angels are innumerable in number. Medieval theology enumerated nine orders, or classifications of angels, three in each hierarchy: (I) Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones; (2) Dominations, Principalities, Powers; (3) Virtues, Archangels, Angels: This enumeration is not an article of faith's also Guardian Angel.
Angelus:
A prayer devotion honoring the Incarnation of God into the flesh of Jesus and venerating the Blessed Virgin at morning (6 o'clock), noon, and evening (6 o'clock) by the recitation of three Hail Marys, with which is said after the consecration words spoken by the Blessed Virgin. Also referred to the angelus bell which is rung at the three times of the day.
Annulment:
Declaration of the invalidity of a marriage by an ecclesiastical courts.
Annunciation:
The "announcement" by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she was to become the Mother of the Savior. The feast day is March 25.
Anointing:
Term applied to the act of tracing a mark in the form of a cross, with a holy oil, on a person or thing. Referring to the sick, it usually means the administration of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. The Anointing of the Sick can only be performed by a priest. It is the Sacrament of anointing a person in danger of death from sickness, injury, or old age; accompanied by prayers from the ritual; Healing is asked for in the manner in which God understands the person to need it most, body, mind, or spirit, or all three. Generally Anointing is the coating, covering or touching of a person or object with oil to convey a religious significance. The Old Testament refers to Moses' action in anointing the meeting tent, the ark of the covenant and related religious objects with a special mixture of oil indicating the sacred status of these objects. Aaron and his sons were also anointed as priests (Exodus 30:2730). Prophets and kings of Israel were anointed. The word "Christ" comes from the term "anointed" and is the title bestowed upon Jesus in the New Testament letters of Paul indicating his role as priestly, prophetic and kingly Messiah, the Lord's Anointed One who saves us (Isaiah 6 1: 1). In contemporary liturgical usage, the Oil of Catechumens is used to anoint prior to baptism and has its roots in ancient times when athletes were anointed before wrestling competitions. Sacred Chrism, a mixture of oil and perfume consecrated by the bishop, is used to anoint after Baptism, at Confirmation and at the Ordination of priests and bishops. The Oil of the Sick is used to anoint sick persons and is specifically referenced in the New Testament (James 5). Chrism is also used to anoint altars and churches when they are dedicated.
Antimension:
A combination corporal and altar stone used in the Byzantine Catholic Rite. It is an 8-in. square piece of linen doubled, in which are sewn up relics anointed with chrism. It is generally ornamented with a design, representing the entombment of our Lord, with the four Evangelists and the instruments of the passion, printed in black ink. It corresponds somewhat to a portable altar. Also called the "Greek corporal."
Antiphon:
Words or verses prefixed to and following a psalm or psalms containing thoughts on the mystery considered by the Church in the Liturgy of the Hours. (2) In the Mass, some prayers are also called antiphons, entrance antiphon, etc.
Apollinarianism:
The heretical doctrine taught by Apollinaris, bishop of Alexandria in the fourth century, denying the human intelligence of our Lord. It denied that Christ had a human rational soul but affirmed that He had a human sensitive soul, and that the Divine Word took the place of the rational soul. Therefore it denied the true humanity of Christ.
Apologetics:
The science of defending and explaining the Christian religion and in particular Catholic doctrine.
Apology:
A written or oral defense of the Church against attacks.
Apostalate:
The work of an Apostle, either ministry or service on behalf of the Church.
Apostasy:
The total repudiation of the Christian faith after the reception of baptism. (Can. 751)
Apostle - Apostolic - Disciple:
(1) Literally none sent. Normally this refers to the 12 men chosen by Jesus to be the bearers of his teachings to the world. The term ñapostolicî generally refers back to the 12 apostles. Saints Peter, John, James the son of Zebedee, Matthew, Mark, Thomas, Philip, Bartholomew, James the son of Alpheus, Andrew, Simon the Cananean, Mathias, later chosen to replace Judas, and later St. Paul and Barnabas.
(2) In the Church it characterizes certain documents, appointments or structures initiated by the Pope or the Holy See.
(3) The name often given to the first missionary to a country. The term ñdiscipleî literally means "learner." It refers to one who follows the teachings of Jesus.
Apostles' Creed:
A prayer embodying the fundamental Christian teachings and a Profession of belief in them; a liturgical prayer of the Catholic beliefs of faith. It is called Apostles' because it embodies a summary of Apostolic teachings.
Apostolic Fathers:
Early Christian writers who wrote on doctrinal subjects and whose writings were not done later than the opening of the third century.
Apostolic Nunciature:
The offices of the Holy FatherÍs representative to a country or to the Church in that country.
Apostolicity:
That one of the four marks of the Catholic Church by which it stems from the Apostles in its doctrine, authority, and organization.
Apostasy:
Defection from God through entire rejection of either one or more of the following after it had been previously accepted: (1) the Christian faith; (2) ecclesiastical obedience; (3) the religious or clerical state.
Apparition:
The visible presence of a supernatural being; a vision in human form.
Archbishop:
Title given automatically to bishops who govern archdioceses. He has limited authority over the other bishops of his province. As head of an ecclesiastical province the archbishop is called the metropolitan, the other bishops are called suffragans. The title archbishop is sometimes given honoris causa to the bishop of an archdiocese which has no suffragan sees.
Archdeacon:
In early days of the Church the deacon selected by the bishop to assist him in his work, now obsolete. The vicar-general today corresponds to this early office.
Archdiocese:
A diocese or jurisdiction of an archbishop; usually it is the metropolitan see or chief diocese of an ecclesiastical province.
Archives:
The repository of the official records of a diocese or other moral person in the Church; it contains all necessary accounts of ecclesiastical affairs pertaining to the diocese or other moral personality. A parish may also have a small archive.
Archivist:
One in charge of the archives.
Arcosolium:
A decorated arch-shaped recess in the wall of the catacombs used as a burying place.
Arianism:
The heresy originated by Arius (d. 336) denying the consubstantiality of God the Son with God the Father, consequently a denial of the true and eternal Godhead of Christ.
Ark:
1) The boat built and used by Noah at the time of the flood. (2) Ark of the covenant was the chest, carried by the Israelites in their wanderings, containing the Tablets of the Law, Arron's Staff, and Manna from the desert. (3) Title of the Blessed Virgin because she is the instrument of the new covenant between God and man through Christ.
Ascension:
The taking up of Jesus into Heaven forty days after the resurrection and witnessed by the Apostles. Ascension Thursday is celebrated forty days after Easter. By approval of the Holy See it is celebrated in many dioceses on Sunday so that it may have a proper and fitting celebration.
Ash Wednesday:
The first day of Lent. It derives its name from the custom of placing blessed ashes of burnt palms on the foreheads of the faithful in the form of a cross to remind them of death and the necessity of penance. Catholics also fast and abstain from eating meat on this day.
Asperges:
(1) The ceremony of sprinkling the altar, clergy, and people with holy water, performed by the celebrant before the principal Mass.
(2) The first word of the psalm verse recited by the celebrant and choir at this ceremony.
Aspergillum or Aspergill:
An instrument for sprinkling holy water; usually a rod with a perforated metal bulb at the end, from which holy water is shaken.
Aspersorium or Aspersory:
A portable vessel to hold holy water and into which the Aspergillum is dipped.
Associate Pastor:
Priest who assist the pastor in the pastoral ministry of a parish also called a Parochial Vicar or Curate.
Assumption:
The taking up of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, into Heaven. Celebrated on August 15.
Atonement:
The reconciliation of man with God by Jesus Christ, the Son, through His sacrificial death on the Cross. The Redemption
Ave Maria:
Latin words meaning; "Hail Mary". The first words of a popular prayer that Catholics address to Mary.
Auxiliary Bishop:
A bishop assigned to a Catholic diocese or archdiocese, to assist a residential bishop.
