Roman Catholic Vocabulary

Acolyte

Altar server at the Mass, altar attendant

Altar

elevated place or structure on which sacrifices are offered or at which religious rites are performed; in the Christian faith, a table on which the Eucharist or Holy Communion is offered

Archbishop

Head of the Archdiocese

Archdiocese

Geographical grouping of one or more dioceses under the jurisdiction of an Archbishop

Bishop

head of a territorial unit of The Church

Bow

inclination of the body made while standing under liturgical prayer

Brother

in the Roman Catholic faith, a man who is a member of a religious order without being ordained or while preparing for ordination

Cantor

Precentor; leads congregational responsorial hymns and psalms

Cardinal

dignity conferred upon Bishops or Priests making them princes of the Roman Catholic Church

Casket Bearer (Pall Bearer)

one who actively bears or carries the casket during the funeral service and the committal service

Celebrant

officiant who celebrates the Mass in the Roman Catholic Church

Chancel

area around the altar of the church, usually enclosing the clergy and other officials; one of two main areas of the church, the other being the nave

Chapel

building or designated area of a building in which services are conducted; may contain an altar

Christian Burial Certificate (Christian Burial Permit, Priest Lines)

Letter or form from a priest stating the eligibility of the deceased for funeral rites according to the laws of the Roman Catholic Church

Communion

Reception of the Eucharist (body and blood of Christ)

Cross

Religious emblem consisting of two plain bars which intersect at right angles to each other

Cross Bearer

one who carries the cross in a religious procession

Crucifer

one who carries the crucifix in a religious procession

Crucifix

cross with a figure or image representing the body of Christ (Corpus Christi) on it

Deacon

in the Roman Catholic Faith, a member of the clerical order (clergy) just below a priest

Diocese

geographical grouping of parishes under the jurisdiction of a Bishop

Ecclesiastic

of the church or clergy

Entrance Rite

approach of the celebrant and his assistants to public worship

Epistle Side

right side of the church as the congregation faces the altar; contains the lectern from which the Old Testament and Epistle Lessons are read

Eucharist

body and blood of Christ (consecrated elements of the Holy Communion)

Eucharistic Minister

Layperson assigned to provide Holy Communion, after the elements have been blessed by a priest

Final Commendation

Ending portion of the Funeral Mass

Funeral Liturgy (Funeral Mass)

Name of the funeral service in the Roman Catholic Church; formerly called the Mass of Christian Burial

Genuflect

act of bending the knee as an indication of reverence or an act of humility

Gospel Side

left side of the church as the congregation faces the altar; place for the reading of Gospels and the delivery of the homily by the minister

Holy Water

consecrated (blessed) water

Homily, Sermon

Preaching of the Word of God by the clergy

Host

consecrated bread of the Eucharist

IHS

first three letters in the Greek word for Jesus

Incense

mixture of various resins burned to produce a pleasant odor, used in Church rituals

INRI

abbreviation for the Latin term meaning “Jesus of Nazareth, King of Jews”

Kiss of Peace

Mutual embrace

Liturgical Worship (eucharist-centered)

Prescribed order or form of worship specific to a particular denomination which will have the Eucharist or Holy Communion as its central element

Mass

liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church

Mass Card (Spiritual Bouquet)

document indicating the offering of a Mass for a specific intention

Monsignor

honorary title conferred upon a Priest

Narthex (Lobby, Vestibule, Foyer)

vestibule or entry way to the church

Nave

seating section of the main body of the church; one of two main areas of the church, the other being the chancel

Obsequies

Officiant

individual who leads in the funeral service

Pall

symbolic cloth covering placed over the casket in the vestibule of the church, signifying that in the eyes of God all people are created equal

Paschal Candle

in the Roman Catholic Faith, a candle placed near the casket during the Funeral Mass that signifies the everlasting light of Christ

Pope

Prie Dieu (Prayer, Kneeler)

Prie Dieu

Priest

one ordained to carry out the works of the Church, subordinate to the Bishop; addressed as “Father”

Procession/Processional

organized, predetermined method of moving from the narthex to the altar at the beginning of the funeral service

Recession/Recessional

Related Rites

Requiem Candles

Rite

Rite of Committal

Rosary Beads

Rosary Prayers

Rubrics

Sacrament of the Sick

Sacred Heart

Sacristy

Sanctuary

Scapular

Sign of the Cross