Theology Midterm

Jesus means (Hebrew)

God saves. explains his purpose, which is to save all people from sin

Christ means (Hebrew)

anointed one. when applied to Jesus, means that he is the Son of the living God

Messiah

the long-prophesied Savior that God would send to save people from their sins. Some Jews in the time of Jesus thought this Messiah would be a polticial figure, someone who would rescue them from domination by the Romans

primordial sacrament

A reference to Jesus as the "prime sacrament" because he points to God's love while at the same time he is God's love for us as he reconciles the world to his Father.

liturgy

the official public worship of the Church. The sacraments and the Divine Office constitute the Church's liturgy. Mass is the most important liturgical celebration

hypostatic union

The doctrine of faith that recognizes two natures (one human and one divine) in the one divine Person of Jesus Christ.

evangelists

The authors of the four Gospels of the New Testament----Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John----and disciples closely associated with them.

marks of the Church

The four essential features or characteristics of the Church that mark her as his true Church: One, Holy, Catholic (universal), and Apostolic.

human solidarity

The virtue of social charity, friendship, and responsible sharing whereby we recognize our interdependence on others and that we are all brothers and sisters of one family under a loving Father.

social justice

A form of justice that treats all people fairly and equally, according to their due. it involves the fair treatment of individuals. it also involves the structures of society that protect or oppress the rights of certain people

charism

A God-given talent, gift, skill, or ability that is given to each person for the good of everyone in the Church.

sanctifying grace

a sharing in God's life that transforms us into the divine or makes us holy

theological virtues

three important virtues bestowed on us at Baptism that relate us to God: faith (belief in and personal knowledge of God), hope (trust in God's Salvation and his bestowal of graces needed to attain it), and charity (love of God and love of neighbor)

laity

all members of the Church who have been initiated into the Church through Baptism and who are not ordained (the clergy) or in consecrated life. they participate in Jesus' prophetic, priestly, and kingly ministries

sacrament

an outward (visible) sign of an invisible grace. An ___________ symbol brings about the spiritual reality to which it points. This term applies to Christ Jesus, the great sign of God's love for us; to the Church, his continuing presence in our world; and to the Seven Sacraments.

efficacious

a term that means "capable of producing a desired effect." this means that the sacraments actually confer the grace they signify.

sacramental economy

an expression that means the communication or dispensation of the fruits of Christ's Paschal Mystery through the celebration of the sacramental liturgy

incarnation

A word that means "taking on human flesh." Jesus is the Incarnation of God. In Jesus, God took human form.

communion of saints

the unity in Christ of all those he has redeemed: the Church on earth (the pilgrim Church), in Heaven (the Church in glory), and in Purgatory (the Church suffering)

sacramental grace

a participation in the life and love of the Trinity that comes to us through the sacraments. each sacrament brings us a different dimension of God's life and love

pentecost

A Greek word that means "fiftieth day." On this day, the Church celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles. It is often called the "birthday of the Church."

paraclete

another name for the Holy Spirit that means advocate, defender, or consoler

apostolic succession

An unbroken chain of power and authority connecting the pope and bishops to St. Peter and the Twelve Apostles of Jesus.

blessings

Divine life-giving actions that originate from God the Father. His blessing is both word and gift.

blessed sacrament

The consecrated species of bread from Mass that is reserved in the tabernacle in church. The Blessed Sacrament is the Real Presence of Jesus.

real presence

The doctrine that Jesus Christ is truly present in his Body and Blood under the form of bread and wine in the Eucharist.

Transubstantiation

What happens at the consecration of the bread and wine at Mass when their entire substance is turned into the entire substance of the Body and Blood of Christ, even though the appearances of bread and wine remain. The Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist.

ministerial priesthood

The priesthood of Christ received in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Its purpose is to serve the common priesthood by building up and guiding the Church in the name of Christ.

common priesthood

The priesthood of the faithful. Christ has made the Church a "kingdom of priests" who share in his priesthood through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.

sacramental character

An indelible spiritual mark which is the permanent effect of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders. The mark is a permanent configuration to Jesus Christ and a specific standing in the Church. The reception of these sacraments is never repeated.

evangelize

To bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to others

sacred tradition

The living transmission of the Church's Gospel message found in the Church's teaching, life, and worship. It is faithfully preserved, handed on, and interpreted by the Church's Magisterium.

holy trinity

The central mystery of the Christian faith; there are Three Divine Persons in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God alone can make it known to us by revealing himself as the three persons.

liturgy of the word

The part of the Mass that includes the "writings of the prophets" (the Old Testament reading and psalm) and the "memoirs of the Apostles" (the New Testament Epistles and the Gospel), the homily, the profession of faith, and the intercessions for the world.

homily

A reflection given by a bishop, priest, or deacon that reflects on the Scripture readings during Mass or the Sacraments. it helps us to hear God's word and apply it to our lives today

icons

From a Greek word meaning "image," icons are religious images or paintings.

sabbath

From the Hebrew word Shabbat, "to cease," the Sabbath is a weekly day of rest and worship in the Jewish faith. Jews observe the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week. Christians have replaced the Sabbath with observance of the Lord's Day on Sunday, the first day of the week and the day Christ rose from the dead.

holy day of obligation

One of several special days in the Church Year when all Catholics are obliged to participate in Mass.

church year

Also known as the liturgical year, it organizes the major events of Jesus' life around the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time 1, Lent, Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time 2.

transfiguration

the occasion when Jesus revealed his glory before Peter, James, and John on a high mountain. his face "shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light." (mt 17:2)

easter triduum

The three-day liturgy that is the Church's most solemn celebration of the Paschal Mystery. It begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, continues through the Good Friday service, and concludes with the evening prayer on Easter Sunday. Although it takes place over three days, the Triduum is considered one single liturgy

mystagogia

A Greek term that means "unfolding of the mystery." It is named for the period following the Baptism of adults. During this time, the newly baptized are to open themselves more fully to the graces received in Baptism.

neophytes

Those newly received into the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.

sanctoral cycle

The feasts of saints found throughout the year on the Church's liturgical calendar

liturgy of the Hours

The public prayer of the Church that makes holy the entire course of the day and night. It is also called the Divine Office.

basilica

A long, narrow church building based on the architecture of public Roman assembly halls. The term is also an honorary one to describe churches that have special importance.

humility

The virtue by which Christians acknowledge that God is the author of all that is good.

lectio divina

Literally, "divine reading." This is a prayerful way to read the Bible or any other sacred reading.

eschatological

A term to describe the "last things" (death, judgement, Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, the Second Coming of Christ, and the resurrection of the body).

catechumens

Unbaptized people who are preparing to receive all of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation

catechumenate

a greek word that means "study or instruction." in the early Church, the catechumenate was a two- to three-year period of study about Jesus and the Christian faith. Celebration of the Sacraments of initiation did not occur until after the catechumenate.

catechists

Teachers of the faith. They are ordained ministers and laypeople who help make Christian disciples.

scruntinies

Prayer services in which the Church prays for and over the elect. The prayers ask God to forgive the elected people's sins and to strengthen them with grace.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)

The process by which anyone of catechetical age is initiated into the Catholic Church

original sin

The fallen state of human nature into which all generations of people are born. Christ Jesus came to save us from Original Sin

Rite of Baptism of Children (RBC)

The process by which infants are initiated into the Church and after which catechesis takes place gradually as the person grows.

baptism of blood

The belief that martyrs - people who die for their faith in Jesus-receive forgiveness for their sins and experience God's saving mercy if they had not yet been baptized by water.

martyrs

Literally "witnesses." A martyr is someone who has been killed because of his or her faith.

baptism of desire

The belief that catechumens who die before receiving the Sacrament of Baptism receive forgiveness for their sins and experience God's saving mercy.

baptistery

A separately planned structure around the Baptism font.

sacred chrism

Blessed by a bishop, this perfumed oil is used for anointing in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders. It represents the gift of the Holy Spirit.

exorcisms

Prayerful rites in preparation for Baptism that invoke God's help in overcoming the power of Satan and the spirit of evil.

oil of catechumens

Olive oil or another plant oil that is blessed by a bishop at the Chrism Mass on or around Holy Thursday. This blessed oil is used to anoint catechumens, giving them wisdom and strength in their journey toward Baptism.

original holiness and justice

The state of man and woman before sin. "From their friendship with God flowed the happiness of their existence in paradise."

gifts of the holy spirit

Outpourings of God's gifts to help us live a Christian life. The traditional seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

moral virtues

virtues acquired through human effort and with the help of God's grace

precepts of the church

Basic rules that bind Catholics who belong to Christ's Body

sacramental

A sacred sign that resembles the sacraments. Through the prayers of the Church, spiritual effects are signified and obtained.

feast of tabernacles

Also known as the Sukkot or Feast of Booths, the Feast of Tabernacles begins five days after Yom Kippur and lasts for eight days. It commemorates the forty years the Jews spent in the desert when they had to protect themselves by constructing huts or booths.

advocate

A name for the Holy Spirit. The Advocate is the "Paraclete" or "helper" who will live in us and guide us to truth.

laying on of the hands

a gesture that is a main rite and origin of the sacrament of confirmation. Acts 19:1-6 tells the story of a new group of disciples who, after being baptized, received the Holy Spirit when St. Paul laid hands on them

chrismation

The name in the Eastern rites for the Sacrament of Confirmation. It comes from the chrism used as part of the sacrament.

age of discretion

Also called the "age of reason," it is the age (typically the end of the seventh year) at which a person becomes capable of moral reasoning.

confirmand

A candidate for Confirmation

chrism mass

An annual Mass celebrated in a diocesan cathedral on or near Holy Thursday in which the bishop consecrates the Sacred Chrism that will be used in the diocese throughout the year.

balsam

An oily, resinous substance that flows from certain plants, like pine, and which the Church usually mixes with olive oil for use as chrism. Another term for balsam is the "balm of Gilead."

cathedra

The chair or throne in a bishop's cathedral from which he presides over special functions. the earliest type of bishop's throne consisted of a high-backed armchair rounded at the top and made out of a single block of marble

general intercessions

Also called the Prayers of the Faithful, these are prayers of petition for the sake of others.

fruits of the Spirit

Perfections that result from living in union with the Holy Spirit

invocation

a call, request, or supplication for God's help

second coming of christ

Also known as the Parousia, this is the time when the Kingdom of God will be fully established and victory over evil will be complete.

mass of the catechumens

The first part of the Mass that was attended by catechumens along with baptized Catholics. The prayers, Scripture readings, and homily were meant to be a form of instruction for the catechumens. Today this part of the Mass is called the Liturgy of the Word.

introit

A part of a psalm that is sung when the priest enters the church and approaches the altar.

collect

The opening prayer of the Mass. It concludes the Introductory Rites and precedes the Liturgy of the Word.

nicene creed

The formal statement or profession of Christian belief originally formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 and amplified at the Council of Constantinople in 381.

secret

A prayer from the Tridentine Mass said by the celebrant in a low voice at the end of the Offertory. It is said in a low voice because it occurred at the same time the choir sang the Offertory hymn.

moto propio

Means "of his own accord." It signifies words in papal documents that were decided by the pope personally.

penitential rite

Part of the introductory rite at Mass when the priest invites people to repent of their sins and prepare themselves to encounter Christ in the Eucharist.

confiteor

A term that means "I confess," it is used at the beginning of Mass and at other times to prepare to receive grace.

responsorial psalm

A psalm sung or said at Mass after the first Scripture reading.

eucharistic prayer

the church's great prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God that takes place during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. these are four main Eucharistic Prayers in the Roman Rite

epiclesis

The prayer that petitions God to send the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine offered at the Eucharistic liturgy into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This term also applies to the prayer said in every sacrament that asks for the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

Words of Institution

The words said by Jesus over the bread and wine at the Last Supper. The priest repeats these words over the bread and wine at Mass as they are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ.

doxology

A prayer of praise to the Blessed Trinity. ends the eucharistic prayer

great amen

The affirmation by the faithful to the entire Eucharistic Prayer.

fraction rite

The time during the Communion Rite when the priest breaks the Body of Christ. He puts a piece of the consecrated bread into the chalice containing the Blood of Christ to signify the unity of the Body and Blood of Christ.

evangelization

the act of bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to others

blaspheming

the act of insulting or contempt of God, holy people, or holy things

son of man

A title Jesus used to refer to himself. It emphasizes both Jesus' association with all of humanity and his identity as the righteous one who will usher in God's Kingdom at the end of time (divinity)

conversion

the first step of a sinner to repentance and returning in love to God the Father