Religion Notes

Shema

A prayer from the book of Deuteronomy

Decalogue

Another name for the Ten Commandments

idolatry

Giving worship to something or someone other than the true God.

atheism

Belief that God does not exist

sacred

holy

reverence

honor, love, and respect

blasphemy

the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk.

perjury

lying under oath

cursing

calling on God to bring evil or harm to someone or something

Sabbath

a day set apart to rest and honor God

Paschal Mystery

The suffering, death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ

Apostles

the 12 chosen disciples of Jesus who spread his teachings, teacher and follower of God

Advent

the first season of the liturgical year, prepares us for Christ's birth

Trinity

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons in one God.

Theology

the study of religion and God

Epistles

New Testament, letters of St. Paul

Doctorine

official teachings and beliefs of the Catholic Church established by Scripture, tradition and magisterial authority

Magisterium

the living, teaching authority of the Catholic Church

Immaculate Conception

Mary was conceived without Original Sin and remained free from personal sin throughout her entire life.

Mass

the central act of Catholic worship during which the Eucharist is celebrated

Baptism

Sacrament by which God cleanses all sin, and one becomes a member of the church.

Confirmation

confirms our faith and establishes a deeper bond with God

The Eucharist

the reception of the Lord's Body & Blood, the proclamation of the Word of God

Reconciliation

repentance, including the sorrow for sins and the firm intention to sin no more
Peace and serenity of conscience

Anointing of the Sick

A sacrament of healing, administered by a priest to a baptized person, in which the Lord extends his loving, healing touch through the Church to those who are seriously ill or dying.

Holy Orders

people who serve their community to spread the Word, by teaching, leading them in worship and guiding the Church as a whole

Matrimony

Perfects the human love of the spouses, sanctifies them on their way to eternal life with God

human dignity

the value and worth that we share because God created us in his image and likeness

natural law

God's or nature's law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law

conscience

Our ability to know the difference between good and evil, right and wrong

free will

God's gift to human beings of the freedom and ability to choose what to do

Original Sin

The fallen state of human nature into which all generations of people are born

eternal life

a life of happiness with God forever

grace

A participation, or a sharing, in God's life and friendship

Church

the community of people who believe in Jesus Christ, have been baptized in him, and follow his teachings

Holiness

a participation in God's goodness and a response to God's love by the way that we live

Kingdom of God

The power of God's love active in our lives and in our world

moral-decision making

to choose actions that show our love for God, others, and ourselves

well-formed conscience

a conscience that is educated so that it is able to recognize what is good and then direct us to act on that good

social sin

unjust situations and conditions that negatively impact society and its institutions

conversion

turning back to God with all one's heart

New Commandment

Jesus' teaching that we are to love one another as he loves us

Temple

The holy place in Jerusalem where Jewish people gathered to worship God

scribes

Jewish government officials and scholars of the Law

Great Commandment

"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."