Religion 3 - Vocabulary: Chapter 8: The Sixth and Ninth Commandments

ABORTIFACIENTS

Chemical substances or mechanical devices that inhibit a fertilized egg’s ability to attach itself to the lining of the uterus, thereby destroying the human zygote.

ADULTERY

Sexual relations between a married person and one to whom he or she is not married. Adultery is opposed to the Sacrament of Matrimony because it contradicts the unity and exclusivity of married love.

CHASTITY

The moral virtue that, under the cardinal virtue of temperance, is directed toward the positive integration of sexuality within a person by moderating the sexual appetite. This virtue leads to a correct understanding of human sexuality when integrated into every relationship. Chastity is a gift of God, a grace, and a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

COMPLEMENTARITY

Refers to the compatible and mutually beneficial relationship between man and woman according to the original plan of God.

CONCEPTION

The union of sperm and egg that creates a new life. Also known as fertilization.

CONTINENCE

Self-restraint of the sexual appetite either by abstinence or moderation. By extension, self-restraint of other appetites.

CONTRACEPTION

Any of a number of barrier or chemical measures used to prevent pregnancy which would result from sexual intercourse.

DIVORCE

A civil dissolution of marriage. A civil divorce does not dissolve a valid marriage before God; thus, an attempted remarriage would be adultery. In addition, divorce introduces disorder into the family and into society. It brings grave harm to the spouses and the children.

EMBRYO

Refers to an unborn child in the first several weeks of life.

EROTICISM

The use of sexually arousing imagery in literature or art. A tendency to become sexually aroused, usually by some stimulus.

FETUS

An unborn child.

FORNICATION

Pre-marital intercourse and other sexual acts.

HEDONISM

The theory of ethics in which pleasure is regarded as the chief good and end of every action.

HUMANÆ VITÆ

Bl. Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical that reaffirmed and beautifully explained the Catholic Church’s condemnation of contraception.

INDISSOLUBILITY

The quality of an entity such that it cannot be divided into its elements. This quality of the Sacrament of Matrimony means the union of marriage cannot be broken except by the death of a spouse.

IN VITRO FERTILIZATION

Morally objectionable fertility technique of fertilizing a woman’s egg with a man’s sperm in the laboratory and then implanting the fertilized egg into a woman’s uterus.

IN VIVO FERTILIZATION

A medical procedure which inserts the sperm of a donor (the husband or another person) directly into the uterus of the woman in hopes of fertilization.

LUST

Sensuous appetite or desire; usually sexual in nature. This lawless and passionate desire of or for some object leads to sin. This is one of the seven capital sins.

MARITAL ACT

The genital sexual act proper to marriage, an embodiment of the permanent union of the husband and wife. Also known as the conjugal act.

MASTURBATION

The deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure.

MATRIMONY

The Sacrament by which a man and a woman, in accordance with God’s design from the beginning, are joined in an intimate union of life and love, “so they are no longer two but one” (Mt 19: 6). This union is ordered to the mutual benefit of the spouses and the procreation and education of children.

MODESTY

Moderation, freedom from exaggeration, and self-control. This most often refers to propriety of behavior, chastity in thought and speech, and avoidance of clothing that is revealing or otherwise excites the senses or may lead others to sin.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

Any of several Church-approved methods by which a couple may regulate conception by studying the signs of the woman’s cycle of fertility.

POLYGAMY

Attempted marriage between more than two people (one man and one woman) at the same time. Polygamy refers to a man attempting marriage with more than one wife; polyandry refers to a woman attempting marriage with more than one husband. This is a sin against the unity of marriage and forbidden by the Sixth Commandment.

PORNOGRAPHY

An offense against the virtue of chastity and the Sacrament of Matrimony; the expression or suggestion of obscene or unchaste subjects in literature or art. This consists in a removal of sexual acts from the intimacy of a married couple in order to display them to third parties.

PROCREATIVE

One of the purposes of marriage and the marital act; indicates an openness to producing children.

PURITANICAL

A perspective that considers all sexual passions and attractions to be sinful and attributes them to Original Sin.

SEXUALITY

The possession of sexual powers and capability of sexual feeling; this includes every aspect of the whole person: physical, psychological, intellectual, emotional, and moral.

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY

A body of teaching by St. John Paul II on the dignity of the human person and the complementarity of men and women.

UNITIVE

One of the purposes of marriage and the marital act, it refers to the loving sacramental bond between husband and wife and mirrors the unity of Christ and his Church. The quality or condition of being one in number. This can be said of many things, including God, of Christ and his Church, and a man and woman in matrimony.

ZYGOTE

A newly fertilized egg before its implantation in the uterus.