Catechism of the Catholic Church Revision

Vocabulary study cards covering the Catechism of the Catholic Church Semester 2 revision notes, spanning doctrine, the liturgy, sacraments, moral virtues, and the Commandments.

Communion of Saints

Communion in holy things (Sancta) among holy persons (sancti) [CCC 948].

Assumption of Mary

A participation in her Son's resurrection and the anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians [CCC 966].

Concupiscence

The movement and weakness of human nature remaining after baptism that Christians must continually combat [CCC 978, 1426].

Resurrection of the Flesh

The doctrine that our mortal body will come to life again after death, rather than merely the soul living on [CCC 990].

Beatific Vision

The contemplation of God in His heavenly glory [CCC 1028].

Purgatory

A state of purifying fire and perfection undergone after death by all who die in God's friendship but remain imperfect [CCC 1030-1031].

Hell

The definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed, reserved for those who refuse to believe and convert [CCC 1033, 1034].

Last Judgement

The resurrection of the dead and the judgment of the individual, revealing all the good and evil done or omitted in earthly life [CCC 1038, 1039].

Amen

A term meaning "I believe" or "I trust," which signifies entrusting oneself completely to God's words and commandments [CCC 1062, 1064].

Liturgy

Public work or service in the name of or on behalf of the people; the participation of the people in the work of God and His act of redemption [CCC 1069-1070].

Epiclesis

The intercession of the priest that the offerings may become the body and blood of Christ [CCC 1105].

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi

A Latin maxim meaning "The Law of prayer is the Law of Faith" [CCC 1124].

Ex Opere Operato

A sacramental principle meaning "by the very fact of the action's being performed" [CCC 1128].

Liturgy of the Hours

The public prayer of the Church prayed constantly by the faithful, intended to be the prayer of the whole people of God [CCC 1174].

Cathedra

The chair of the bishop within a church [CCC 1181-1186].

Sacraments of Initiation

The three sacraments that establish Christian life: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist [CCC 1212].

Baptizein

The Greek root meaning to plunge or immerse, signifying burial into Christ's death and rebirth of enlightenment [CCC 1214-1216].

Baptismal Seal

An indelible spiritual mark imprinted on the soul that no sin can erase [CCC 1272].

Contrition

Sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again [CCC 1451].

Perfect Contrition

Sorrow for sin that arises out of love for God above all else [CCC 1453].

Imperfect Contrition

Sorrow for sin born of seeing its ugliness or fear of punishment, where forgiveness cannot be attained without the sacrament of Penance [CCC 1454].

Absolution

The sacramental act that takes away our sins, though it does not remove all the temporal disorders caused by sin [CCC 1459].

Indulgence

The remission before God of the partial or full temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven [CCC 1471].

Holy Orders

The sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to His apostles continues to be exercised in the Church [CCC 1536].

Domestic Church

The Christian home and family, serving as the first community where children are educated in faith and virtues [CCC 1666, 2207].

Sacramental

A sacred sign that bears resemblance to the sacraments and disposes people to receive their fruits (e.g., blessings, sign of the cross, sprinkling of holy water) [CCC 1667-1668].

Moral Conscience

A judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act to be performed, in process, or already completed [CCC 1778].

Virtue

A habitual and firm disposition to do the good [CCC 1803].

Prudence

The moral virtue that disposes practical reasoning to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it [CCC 1806].

Fortitude

The moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good [CCC 1808].

Justice

The moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor [CCC 1807].

Temperance

The moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods [CCC 1809].

Theological Virtues

The virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity, which adapt man's faculties for participation in the divine nature and dispose Christians to live with the Holy Trinity [CCC 1812-1813].

Mortal Sin

A sin of grave matter committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent that destroys charity in the heart of man [CCC 1855, 1857].

Venial Sin

A sin that offends and wounds charity in the human soul without destroying it [CCC 1855].

Subsidiarity

The social principle holding that a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order [CCC 1883].

Common Good

The sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and easily [CCC 1906].

Solidarity

A principle of human fellowship articulated as friendship or social charity, manifested in the distribution of goods and fair remuneration for work [CCC 1940].

Natural Moral Law

The original moral sense engraved in the soul enabling man to discern by reason good from evil and truth from lies; it is immutable and permanent [CCC 1954, 1958].

Justification

The cleansing of man's heart that detaches him from sin, merited by Christ's Passion and conferred in Baptism [CCC 1990, 1992].

Sanctifying Grace

A habitual divine gift that perfects the soul and enables it to live with God and act by His love [CCC 2000].

Actual Grace

God's specific divine interventions at the beginning of conversion or in the course of the work of sanctification [CCC 2000].

Decalogue

Literally meaning "Ten Words," referring to the Ten Commandments given in the context of the Exodus to outline freedom from sin [CCC 2056-2057].

Acedia

A form of spiritual sloth that refuses the joy that comes from God and rebels against divine goodness [CCC 2094].

Superstition

A deviation of religious feeling that improperly attributes magical efficacy to external performances or practices [CCC 2111].

Idolatry

The divinization of that which is not God, honoring and revering a creature (such as power, pleasure, wealth, or the state) in place of God [CCC 2113].

Simony

The buying or selling of spiritual things [CCC 2121].

Blasphemy

Uttering words of hatred, reproach, or defiance inwardly or outwardly against God [CCC 2148].

Perjury

Making a promise under oath with no intention of keeping it [CCC 2152].