Church History Final Vocab

Vatican II

The Church's 21st ecumenical council (1962-1965) that brought reforms to liturgy, Church roles, and modern engagement.

Feudalism

The governing system that prevailed in Europe in the Middle Ages in which a superior or lord granted land to a vassal in return for military services of that vassal.

Dark Ages

A term for the early Middle Ages, marked by decline in culture and learning after Rome's fall.

Filioque

Latin for 'and from the Son'; a phrase added to the Nicene Creed by the Western Church without Eastern approval, leading to conflict.

Monasticism

A way of life in which individuals live apart from the world in religious communities devoted to prayer, asceticism, and spiritual work.

Simony

The controversial practice of selling and buying positions or favor within the Church. The Church condemns this practice.

Lay Investitures

A practice in the Middle Ages whereby secular rulers chose the bishops for their territories, thus usurping the right of the pope to choose bishops.

Papal States

The territory in modern-day central Italy that was overseen by the pope from the eighth century until 1870.

Nicene Creed

A formal statement of Christian beliefs formed at the Council of Nicaea and expanded at Constantinople.

Desert Fathers

Early Christian monks (usually of the 4th century) who retreated into the desert to live in solitude, prayer, and asceticism.

Cathedra

The bishop's official chair, symbolizing his teaching authority in a diocese.

Didache

An early Christian writing that teaches morals, Church practices, and rituals.

Canon

The official list of inspired books in the Bible. The Catholic canon lists forty-six Old Testament books and twenty-seven New Testament books.

Council of Nicea

The first ecumenical council (325 AD) that condemned Arianism and formed the original Nicene Creed.

Edict of Milan

A joint declaration in 313 by Constantine and Licinius that legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire.

Council of Trent

The place where the training of candidates for the priesthood takes place. The Council of Trent instructed the bishops in each diocese to set up a seminary college to train men for the priesthood.

Counter Reformation

The Church's effort to reform itself and respond to Protestantism through teaching, discipline, and new religious orders.

Sola Scriptura

The Protestant belief that Scripture alone is the source of faith and authority, rejecting Tradition.

Crusades

A series of military expeditions made according to a solemn vow to return holy places to the possession of the Church from the Muslims.

Hypostatic Union

The union of the human and divine natures of Jesus Christ in one Divine Person.

Immaculate Conception

The belief that Mary was preserved from original sin from the moment of her conception.

Sacred Heart of Jesus

A devotion that recognizes that Jesus, both fully divine and fully human, deeply loves his people with an outpouring of love from his human heart.

Nuncio

An archbishop who acts as the official Vatican delegate for a nation. He is also called the apostolic delegate.

Deposit of Faith

The body of saving truth entrusted by Christ to the Apostles and handed on by them to be preserved and proclaimed by the Church's Magisterium.

Nuptial Blessing

A blessing intended for the bride and groom and the marriage covenant that takes place after the couple gives their consent to be married. The word nuptial comes from a Latin word that means 'wedding.'

Seminary

An institution for the training and formation of men for the priesthood.

Diocese

A geographic section of the Church, made up of parishes, that is headed by a bishop.

Extreme Unction

The Anointing of the Sick given to those who are seriously ill or near death to bring spiritual and sometimes physical healing.

Venial Sin

A sin that weakens and wounds your relationship with God but does not destroy grace in your soul.

Mortal Sin

A serious, deadly violation of God's law of love that destroys sanctifying grace in the soul of the sinner. Mortal sins involve grave matter, full knowledge, and full consent.

Natural Family Planning

Church-approved method for regulating births within marriage; it is in accord with God's will because it is pursued by spouses without external pressure or motives of selfishness and is practiced through natural means of periodic continence and use of infertile periods.

Domestic Church

A term for the family as the Church in miniature.

Examination of Conscience

An honest self-assessment of how well you have lived God's covenant of love, leading you to accept responsibility for your sins and to realize your need for God's merciful forgiveness.

Absolution

The prayer by which a priest, through the power given to the Church by Jesus Christ, pardons a repentant sinner in the Sacrament of Penance.

Viatcum

The Eucharist given to a dying person as spiritual preparation for death.

Purgatory

The final purification of all who die in God's grace and friendship but remain imperfectly purified. Purgatory is the final cleansing away of all sin and of all consequences of sin.

Act of Contrition

A prayer that expresses sorrow for sins.

Excommunication

A serious penalty that means a baptized person is no longer 'in communion' with the Catholic Church.

Declaration of Nullity

Declaration from the Church that a particular marriage was not a valid, sacramental, and binding marriage.

Sacramental Seal

The secrecy priests are bound to keep regarding any sins confessed to them.

Adultery

Sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than the spouse.