Q3 Sophomore Terms Test

Chi-Rho

An early Christian symbol made up of the first two Greek letters of the word Christ superimposed on one another to resemble a cross. Seen in a vision by the Emperor Constantine, he ordered his soldiers' banners marked with it before entering a pivotal battle to unify the Roman Empire.

Constantinople

The ancient city Byzantium, named after the Roman Emperor Constantine in AD 330, and one of the five patriarchies of the early Church. The capital of the Eastern Empire (or Byzantine Empire) until 1453 when it was conquered by the Muslim armies of the Ottoman Empire, which declined after World War I. The city is now called Istanbul, the capital of modern-day Turkey.

Basilica

A Roman form of architecture employed in buildings intended for public use, with a long nave and circular apse. This building type was adapted by Christians as churches with the addition of a perpendicular transept making the structure look like a cross from above.

Relic

An artifact of the saints and their holy lives worthy of veneration, such as their bodies, something they owned, or other items closely associated with them. While a relic does not give us grace directly, we believe they can be vessels for grace that bring us closer in relationship to God.

Donatism

The name given to a heresy of the early Church which asserted that the validity and effectiveness of a clergyman's prayers and ministry depended on his personal holiness.

Arianism

An influential heresy of the early Church that taught that Jesus, the Son of God, was created by God the Father, and therefore not truly equal to Him or of the same substance.

Council of Nicaea

The first ecumenical council of the Church, called by Roman Emperor Constantine in AD 325, which taught that Jesus is consubstantial with the Father, and which initially drafted what would become the Nicene Creed.

Consubstantial

Of the same substance. This word is used to describe how God the Father and God the Son are both fully God, or of the same divine substance. This teaching was definitively set forth in the Nicene Creed to combat false teachings about Jesus and affirm the Truth of His human and divine natures.

Nicene Creed

The Profession of Faith set forth by the Councils of Nicaea (AD 325) and Constantinople (AD 381), and typically recited at Sunday Mass, which affirms the essential tenets of the Christian Faith and belief in the Holy Trinity.

Fathers of the Church

The bishops and teachers of the early Church.

Trinitarian Theology

The study, by means of reason and revelation, of the mystery of the Trinity, that God is three divine Persons in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Hermit

A person who lives an eremitic life, a solitary life dedicated to prayer and meditation.

The Confessions

The autobiographical work written by St. Augustine of Hippo in AD 397, in which he explains his conversion to the faith.

Manichaeism

A heresy that combined elements of Zoroastrian, Christian, and Gnostic thought and was opposed by the imperial Roman government, Neoplatonist philosophers, and orthodox Christians. Adherents believed that material things were intrinsically evil and spiritual things intrinsically good.

Neo-Platonism

The modern term for 2nd-5th century Greco-Roman philosophy derived from the thought of Plato and Hellenistic tradition.

Catechumenate

The period of instruction in the Faith before converts are baptized and made members of the Church.

The City of God

The fifth-century work by St. Augustine in which he responded to accusations that Christianity had caused the Fall of Rome, and contrasted between the City of Man, which is focused on earthly success and the City of God, which focuses on man's true end, which is Heaven. Its complete title is On the City of God against the Pagans.

Vulgate

The 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible that was mostly completed by St. Jerome. It became the official Latin translation of the Bible for the Catholic Church in the 16th century. The Latin word vulgata means "commonly used."

Lombards

A Germanic people who invaded Italy in 568 and ruled most of the region until 774.

Aramaic

A Semitic language primarily spoken by the Jews (including Jesus) during His lifetime.

Patriarchies

Territories ruled by a patriarch, or a bishop of special dignity. In the East, patriarchies are organizations of those following the Eastern Catholic Rites. In the early Church there were five primary patriarchies: Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Constantinople

Constantine

The Roman emperor who legalized Christianity with the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, profoundly shaping the faith's role in society. He convened the First Council of Nicaea to address theological disputes within the Church.

St. Helena

The mother of the Roman emperor who became renowned for her piety and devotion to Christ. She is credited with discovering the True Cross during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Arius

A priest whose teachings questioned the divinity of Christ, sparking a major theological controversy. His views led to the convening of the Council of Nicaea, which upheld the belief in Christ's divine nature.

St. Athanasius

A bishop and theologian who staunchly defended the divinity of Christ against heretical teachings. He played a key role in shaping the Nicene Creed and was a tireless advocate for orthodox Christian beliefs.

Nestorius

A bishop whose teachings about the nature of Christ and the title of Mary as the Mother of God were condemned at the Council of Ephesus. His views led to a significant theological dispute in the early Church.

St. Basil the Great

A bishop and theologian known for his contributions to the development of monasticism and the defense of orthodox Christianity. He played a critical role in articulating the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

St. Gregory of Nazianzus

A theologian and bishop who contributed greatly to the understanding of the Trinity. He was a key figure in the defense of orthodox Christian doctrine during a time of widespread heresy.

St. John Chrysostom

A bishop celebrated for his eloquent preaching and writings, earning him the title "Golden-Mouthed." He emphasized living a life of virtue and charity.

St. Ambrose of Milan

A bishop and teacher who was instrumental in the conversion of Augustine. He is known for his strong leadership and contributions to Church liturgy and doctrine.

St. Augustine of Hippo

A theologian and bishop whose writings profoundly influenced Christian thought, particularly in understanding grace, sin, and salvation. He is the author of Confessions and The City of God.

St. Jerome

A scholar and translator who produced the Latin Vulgate, a translation of the Bible into Latin that became the Church's standard text for centuries.

Pope St. Gregory the Great

A pope known for his leadership, pastoral care, and significant contributions to Church liturgy and missionary work. He is credited with promoting Gregorian chant and strengthening the papacy.

Benedictine Order

The religious founded by St. Benedict of Nursia in the Sixth century. Benedictines follow the Rule of St. Benedict, commonly summarized by the phrase Ora et Labora, Latin fro "prayer and work."

Monastery

One or several buildings where communities of religious men and women live. Labor and prayer are all directed toward serving God and making everyday life holy.

Dark Ages

The term used by historians to describe Europe after the Fall of Rome until the beginning of the High Middle Ages. This time was marked by the absence of a Roman (or Holy Roman) Emperor and frequent warfare among barbarian tribes.

Iconoclasts

Those opposed to the veneration of icons. Iconoclasm reached a peak in 730 when Byzantine emperor Leo III banned what he believed was worship of icons. Their veneration was restored in 843.

Battle of Tours

A decisive battle in 732 near Poitiers, France, in which the Franks, led by Charles Martel, defeated the Muslim army, stopping their farther advance into Western Europe.

Carolingian Renaissance

A time of renewed cultural activity in Europe presided over by Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, who promoted intellectual pursuits, music, and a clearer system of writing.

Holy Roman Empire

The term used to describe the unification of various Western and Central European kingdoms under the rule of a single emperor, which was fashioned as the restoration of the Western Empire. Its establishment freed the pope from the authority and influence of the Byzantine emperor in Western Europe. Pope Leo III crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne, on Christmas Day, 800. The Holy Roman Empire ruled over various lands in Europe until 1806.

Filioque

Latin for "and from the Son." A term used to refer to the Roman Catholic understanding that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and from the Son (as opposed to from the Father alone, as professed by Eastern Christians.) Disagreement over the Filioque was one root of the Great Schism and Western Christianity.

Great Schism

The separation of Eastern Christians from the Catholic Church in 1054. The Eastern churches became known as the Orthodox Church.

Immaculate Conception

The dogma of the Church that teaches that the Virgin Mary was conceived without the stain of Original Sin so that she could bear the Son of God within her. Mary was prepared by God to be a holy vessel for our salvation. (508, 744)

Scholasticism

An intellectual method originating in medieval Europe that sought to integrate classical philosophy and Christian thought in order to understand and explain revealed truths.

College of Cardinals

The ecclesiastical body comprising all of the cardinals of the Church, which advises the pope and selects his successor.

Lay Investiture

The historical practice of secular authorities appointing religious officials.

Islam

The Abrahamic religion founded by Muhammad in the early seventh century. The word Islam refers to the peace the world will only achieve once all people everywhere submit to Allah.

Muslims

Individual Islamic believers.

Jiyza

A penalty tax exacted on non-Muslims in an Islamic state.

Summa Theologica

The masterwork of St. Thomas Aquinas, a systematic study of everything pertaining to the Catholic Faith and doctrine that draws from the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, St. Augustine of Hippo, and others. It was written between 1265-1273 and is considered to be the pinnacle of scholastic Christian philosophy and theology.

Franciscan Order

The Order of Friars founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209 and dedicated to preaching, missions, and charities.

Mendicant Orders

Religious communities who renounce ownership of all property and foxed sources of income, entrusting their needs and work completely to the province of God by relying on almsgiving to support themselves. From Latin mendicus for "beggar." The original mendicant orders in the Middle Ages (the Franciscans were the first) begged for all their needs.

Order of Preachers

A mendicant order of the Catholic Church founded in France by the Spanish priest Saint Dominic. Also known as the Dominican Order.

Rosary

A prayer in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which repeats the 'Hail Mary' prayer in "decades" of ten prayers, each preceded by an "Our Father" and concluded by a "Glory Be," accompanied by meditation on the mysteries of Christ's life. It is typically prayed using a chain of beads.

Transubstantiation

The word used to describe the changing of the bread and wine during Mass into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

The Inquisition

A special ecclesiastical court for combating or suppressing heresy. Throughout Church history, the office has manifested in various ways. The Church suppressed heresy informally for her first 1200 years. Following, there have been different, separate inquisitions (collectively coming to be known as "The Inquisition"): the Medieval Inquisition primarily against Catharism (1231); the infamous Spanish Inquisition (1478); and the Roman Inquisition (1542).

Gothic Architecture

The style of architecture prevalent in Western Europe in the 12th-16th centuries, characterized by pointed arches, rib vaults, and flying buttresses, together with large windows and elaborate tracery.

Cathedral

The principal church of a diocese, with which the bishop is officially associated.

Antipope

A person claiming the title of pope in opposition to the one generally understood to have been legitimately chosen.

Great Western Schism

The period from 1378 to 1417 when there were two, and later three, men claiming to be pope.

Fourth Crusade

The military campaign launched with the intent of liberating Jerusalem from the Muslims but ended in crusaders from the West instead sacking Constantinople to collect money they had been promised

Renaissance

French for rebirth, term used by historians to make a period of cultural flourishing based on a rediscovery of classical philosophy. The Renaissance began in Italy around 1300 and spread throughout Western Europe through the 16th century.

The Sistine Chapel

The private chapel of the popes adjacent to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, especially famous for the beautiful Michelangelo frescoes with adorn the walls and ceiling, including the Creation of Adam on the Ceiling, and the towering Last Judgment on its east wall. It is the gathering place for cardinals during papal conclaves and is named for Pope Sixtus IV for whom it was built.

Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity

A Roman Catholic religious association of laymen founded by St. Philip Neri in the 16th century to help the laity serve the poor.

Adoration

The form of prayer in which we worship God and express our love for Him.

Anabaptists

A radical Protestant movement emerged in the 16th century during the Reformation. They rejected infant baptism, believing that only adults could make a conscious profession of faith and be baptized. They emphasized separation from secular authority, pacifism, and communal living. Today the Mennonites and Amish, continue thier practice and way of life.

Anglicanism

The Church of England founded in 1534, when Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy establishing King Henry VIII and his heirs as head of the Church in that realm.

Apocrypha

Seven books of the Old Testament and parts of others not recognized as canonical or inspired by Protestants and modern-day Jews, but which have always been recognized as inspired Scripture by the Catholic Church. These books are Tobit, Judith, Sirach, Wisdom, Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, as well as additional parts of Esther and Daniel.

Augsburg Confession

The statement of the Lutheran faith composed by Martin Luther and theologian Philip Melanchthon.

Calvinism

The Protestant denomination founded by John Calvin, also known as the Reformed tradition. Calvin developed the Lutheran idea of justification by grace alone, asserting that God predestines some to be saved and some to be damned, independent of anything those people do or do not do.

Cardinal Cajetan

A Dominican theologian and papal legate, he was an important opponent of Martin Luther during the early Reformation. In 1518, he met with Luther at the Diet of Augsburg and demanded that he recant his teachings, particularly on justification and papal authority.

Double Predestination

The inevitable conclusion flowing from the Calvinist teaching on free will: Since God predetermines certain people to go to Heaven, then He necessarily predetermines some people to go to Hell.

Edict of Worms

The decree issued by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V declaring Martin Luther to be a heretic and an outlaw, and banning his writings.

Huldrych Zwingli

A Catholic priest from Switzerland who began to preach his own form of theology that denied many key aspects of the Catholic Faith. Most consequential was his false teaching that the Eucharist was merely a symbolic memorial, not the Body and Blood of Christ, a teaching that resulted in him and his followers breaking away from both the Church and from Luther.

Indulgences

A partial or complete remission of the temporal punishment due to sins which have already been forgiven. The Church dispenses indulgences under certain conditions from the stored treasure house of satisfaction gained by Christ and the saints. The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or for those who have already died.

John Calvin

A Frenchman who broke from the Catholic Church and founded his own Protestant community in Switzerland. Calvin strictly adhered to the principle of sola Scriptura and developed the doctrine of double predestination, which denied the existence of human free will, claiming that God directly causes our salvation or damnation according to His good pleasure.

Justification

The transformation of the sinner (all of us) from a state of unrighteousness to a state of holiness with God. It is an act done by God that requires our free participation with His grace. We are justified by the Sacrament of Baptism, which makes us children of God. Our justification, or salvation, is won for us by Christ's sacrifice on the Cross and by His Resurrection.

Lutheranism

The Protestant denomination founded by Martin Luther. Lutherans do not believe in the doctrine of Transubstantiation, instead, believing in consubstantiation, or that Jesus is present in the Eucharist alongside the bread and the wine, which remain bread and wine and do change into His Body and Blood. They also believe Baptism is the only other valid Sacrament, that man is justified by grace alone (sola gratia) and saved by faith alone (sola fide), and that Scripture is the sole authority on matters of faith (sola Scriptura), rejecting papal authority.

Martin Luther

Augustinian priest who, by nailing his Ninety-five Theses to the door of All Saints Church, sparked the Protestant Reformation. Some of his objections were legitimate, such as the selling of indulgences, while others misunderstood and contradicted the true Faith, such as his objection to the doctrine of Transubstantiation and his incorrect teaching on justification. He was ultimately excommunicated for his refusal to recant his false teachings and formed his own ecclesial community, which would become known as Lutheranism. He and his teachings would be at the center of religious, political, and social upheaval for centuries to come.

Nationalism

Historically, a cultural shift on the part of individuals from identification with one's monarch and kingdom, towards a recognition of nation- states as political entities and affinity for one's national identity. Today the term refers to a special loyalty to one's own nation and is typically used as a pejorative.

Ninety-Five Theses

Martin Luther's list of abuses (some real, some perceived) in the Catholic Church which he posted on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517.

Peace of Augsburg

A 1555 treaty negotiated by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V that granted legal recognition to Lutheranism alongside Catholicism within the Holy Roman Empire. The treaty established the principle of cuius regio, eius religio ("whose rule, his religion"), meaning that the ruler of each territory could determine its official religion.

Peasants War

An uprising of German peasants and certain indebted nobles in 1524-1525 brought about by worsening economic conditions, and which led to the burning of churches, convents, monasteries, and libraries. While the violence was incited by some who thought they were following the teachings of Martin Luther, Luther himself, while sympathizing with the peasants' complaints, did not support the violence of the uprising and called for civil authorities to suppress it.

Pope Leo X

Pope during the initial stages of the Protestant Reformation, it was Leo's granting of indulgences to those who made donations to the Church, and the unfortunate way they were preached throughout Christendom, that in part led to Luther publishing his Ninety-five Theses. Leo condemned Luther's errors and eventually excommunicated him when Luther refused to recant. He famously gave the title Defender of the Faith to King Henry VIII for his condemnation of Luther's teachings.

Presbyterianism

Protestant denomination branched off from Calvinism, which has a representative form of church government with leaders elected by the people of each congregation.

Protestant Reformation

A 16th century revolt began by Martin Luther that divided and eventually splintered Christianity. Many Christian churches, which are known as Protestant churches or denominations, formed as a result of this split. Though Jesus desires that His Church be one, all baptized Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Protestants

Members of any of the Western ecclesial communities that follow the teachings of reformers who separated from the Catholic Church after the Reformation. Protestants differ in their teachings, but all reject the authority of the pope and lack most Sacraments, however, through our common Baptism, Catholics and Protestants can truly be said to be brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sola Fide

The belief that we are saved through faith alone, and that our willing cooperation with God's grace plays no role in our salvation. This belief is held by most non-Catholic Christian churches. Latin for "faith alone."

Sola Gratia

The belief that we are saved through God's grace, and that our own efforts play no role in our salvation. Catholics do not believe in sola gratia, Latin for "grace alone."

Sola Scriptura

The belief that the Bible is the only source of divine revelation held by most non-Catholic Christian churches. Latin for "by Scripture alone."

Apostolic Fathers

First- and second-century Christian writers who were known to the Apostles personally or were so influenced by them that their writings are considered echoes of Apostolic teaching.

Apologetics

A branch of Christian theology that seeks to defend the Faith through reasonable explanations to objections by non-believers. The reasonable explanation or defense is called an apology. Derived from the Greek "apologia" meaning "defense."

Synagogue

A Jewish house of worship.

Sabbath

The day set aside each week for rest and worship of God, echoing how God rested on the seventh day of creation.

House Liturgies

A term that describes the Mass of the first Christians, who met on the Sabbath in their homes to break bread as Jesus had commanded them to do.

Liturgy of the Word

The first part of the Mass in which we receive the written Word of God. Here, the Scriptures are proclaimed and the priest teaches in a homily. We also join together in prayer for others and profess our faith.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

The second part of the Mass in which Christ's sacrifice on the Cross is made present again. It includes the preparation of the gifts, the Eucharistic prayer, the Communion rite, and prayer after Communion.

Didache

An anonymous first-century treatise describing Christian morality, the Sacraments, and organization of the Church. It contains one of the earliest known descriptions of the Mass. Its full title is The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations.

Heresy

The obstinate denial after Baptism of a truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith.

Gnosticism

The name given to a heresy of the early Church that taught, among other things, that Jesus was not fully human, the material world was evil, and salvation was achieved through secret knowledge, or gnosis.