Study Guide Final Exam: A Single Bead & Early Church History

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the characters and themes of 'A Single Bead' as well as key terms, figures, events, and structures in early Church history.

Kate/Katelyn

The protagonist of the story who enters on a journey to a deeper faith through finding her grandmother's rosary beads.

Evelyn

The protagonist's best friend/cousin; a girl with a deep faith who offers a faith-filled view on the events of the story.

Chelsea

A waitress at a restaurant near the crash site who introduces the protagonist to a friend associated with a bead miracle.

Hannah

A little girl in Florida who possessed three of the beads, including the specific one the protagonist was seeking.

Tara

A little girl in Florida who receives "Mom's" bead to help her throughout her cancer journey.

Dad (A Single Bead)

A supportive influence in the story who offers a skeptical opinion regarding miracles.

Mom (A Single Bead)

A character depressed by the death of her mother in a plane crash; she struggles with daily tasks and ends up in a psychiatric clinic.

Natalie

A co-worker of Dad's who provides prayer support and expertise in designing flyers to locate the beads.

Aunt Susan

The mother of the protagonist's best friend/cousin who supports the girls by taking them to Florida.

Aunt Mary Ellen

One of Mom's sisters who takes the protagonist to Mass and offers reflections on the significance of the beads.

Uncle Joseph

Mom's brother and a priest who explains that the beads aren't magic but that prayers and the intercession of Grandma make a difference.

Emma

The subject of the first miracle story in the book; a friend of the waitress who believes a bead saved her life in an accident.

Kate's Grandmother

A woman of deep faith who died in an airplane accident, whose lost rosary beads trigger the protagonist's faith exploration.

Faith Growth (Theme)

The development of Kate's faith from a surface level where she knows rules but rarely prays, to taking ownership and building a relationship with God and Mary.

The Edict of Milan

A decree issued by Constantine in $313\,AD$ that ended Christian persecution and allowed the religion to grow openly.

Official Religion

Status declared for Christianity in $380\,AD$ by Emperor Theodosius within the Roman Empire.

Apostle

A follower of Jesus who spread his teachings after his death.

Baptism

A religious ceremony involving washing with water to cleanse a person from sin; necessary according to the Church.

Bishop

A local Christian leader who oversaw meetings, performed Holy Communion, and oversaw dioceses.

Disciples

Close followers of Jesus during his lifetime; they wrote the New Testament between $50-150\,AD$.

Edict

An official order or decree issued by a ruler.

Epistle

A letter written by early Christian leaders to offer guidance to churches.

Gospel

Meaning "good news"; early Christian writings describing the life and teachings of Jesus.

Martyr

A person killed for their religious beliefs.

Messiah

A chosen "anointed" leader sent by God to save people.

Monotheistic

The belief in only one god.

Pope

The bishop of Rome and the most respected, powerful leader in the Christian Church.

Resurrection

The Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion.

Trinity

The belief that God exists in three forms: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.

Heresy

Beliefs that contradict official church doctrine and were considered false.

Peter

One of Jesus's twelve apostles and leader of the early church; considered the first pope and martyred around $64-65\,AD$.

Paul (Saul of Tarsus)

A former persecutor of Christians who converted after a vision of Jesus; became an important missionary spreading Christianity in the Roman Empire.

Pontius Pilate

The Roman governor of Judea who arrested Jesus and turned him over for execution.

Theodosius

The Roman emperor who declared Christianity the official religion in $380\,AD$ and banned all other religions in $391\,AD$.

Stephen

One of the first seven deacons and the first Christian martyr, stoned to death by the Sanhedrin.

St. Jerome

The individual who compiled the best manuscripts to write the Vulgate Bible.

St. Athanasius

The bishop of Alexandria and early opponent to Arianism who rose to prominence during the Council of Nicea.

St. Basil

An early proponent of Monasticism who developed principles for Catholic Social Teaching and focused on the needs of the community.

St. Benedict

Founder of Monasticism in the West who established the system of "ORA et LABORA" (prayer and work).

The Great Persecution

A period of severe persecution under Emperors Diocletian and Galerius requiring Christians to worship in secret.

Pentecost (Acts 2)

The event where the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples; considered the birth of the Christian church.

The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15)

A meeting where leaders decided that Gentiles did not have to follow all Jewish laws, like circumcision, to become Christian.

Literal Sense

One of the four senses of scripture; refers to the plain, straightforward meaning of the text.

Allegorical Sense

One of the four senses of scripture; refers to how the text relates to the New Testament or the Christian Church.

Moral Sense

One of the four senses of scripture; focuses on the fate of the individual soul and the call to change one's heart.

Analogical Sense

One of the four senses of scripture; relates the text to universal history and the end times.

Patriarchs

The most powerful bishops located in Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem.

Donatism

A heresy teaching that only good people could administer the sacraments.

Gnosticism

A heresy based on secret knowledge and many gods, viewing physical matter as evil; influenced by Plato's teachings.

Arianism

A heresy teaching that Christ was created and was not equal to God.

Pelagianism

A heresy that denied original sin and the necessity of God's grace.

Monophysitism

A heresy teaching that Christ had a single mixed nature, rather than being fully human and fully divine.

Nicene Creed

A profession of faith that adds specific material regarding the nature of Jesus as fully human and fully divine, differing from the Apostles Creed.

4 Marks of the Church

The defining characteristics of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.

Matins

The first prayers of the day in a monastic community, occurring at $2\,AM$.

Vespers

The prayers in the monastic daily schedule occurring at the sunset (the 12th hour).

Compline

The final monastic prayer before bed, at $7\,PM$ in winter or $8\,PM$ in summer.

Scriptorium

A room in a monastery specifically used by clerics or scribes for copying manuscripts.

Cellarium

The store-house or storage room of a monastery.

Refectory

The dining hall of a monastery.

Cloister

A covered walkway and center of a monastery, often featuring a garden and a well.

Nave

The part of the church where the people/laity stood.

Chancel

The area of the church reserved for priests, monks, or nuns.