Religion education department vocab

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act of contrition

The prayer of the penitent in the Sacrament of Penance, by which he/she expresses sorrow for the sins confessed before receiving absolution. In general, an act of repentance for having offended God, Self, and Others.

Acts of mercy (Works of mercy)

Charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbors in their bodily (corporal) and spiritual needs.

Co rporal Works of Mercy – 1.) feed the hungry, 2.) give drink to the thirsty, 3.) clothe the

naked, 4.) shelter the homeless, 5.) care for the sick 6.) visit those imprisoned, 7.) bury the

dead

Spiritual Works of Mercy – 1.) admonishing (cautioning) sinners, 2.) instructing the ignorant,

3.) counseling the doubtful, 4.) comforting the sorrowful, 5.) bearing wrongs patiently, 6.)

forgiving injuries, 7.) praying for the living and the dead

advent

A period of prayer in preparation for Christmas, including four Sundays

All Saints’ Day

A feast now celebrated on November 1 st, as a Holy Day of

Obligation.

All Souls’ Day

A feast commemorating on November 2nd, the faithful departed.

Anointing

Literally the pouring of oil on someone or something in a religious ceremony. Its biblical purpose was to make sacred the object anointed.

Apostles creed

A summary of faith expressed in twelve articles.

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.

6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,

9. the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints,

10. the forgiveness of sins,

11. the resurrection of the body,

12. and the life everlasting. Amen.

Baptism

The sacrament in which, by water and the Trinitarian formula (Father,Son, Holy Spirit), a person is cleansed of all sin and reborn and sanctified in Christ to everlasting life.

Beatitudes

The promises of Christ concerning happiness or blessedness as

proclaimed in the Sermon on the Mount/Plain; recorded in Matthew and Luke.

The text of St. Matthew runs as follows:

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.

3. Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.

4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.

5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

6. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of

heaven.

Bible

Also called Sacred Scripture or the Scriptures; the Bible is a collection of books accepted by the Church as the inspired, authentic account of God’s Revelation about himself and his Plan of salvation for the human race.

Bishop

Bishops are the successors of the apostles by divine institution; they are constituted pastors within the Church so that they are teachers of doctrine, priests of sacred worship and ministers of governance. Bishops are empowered to ordain priests and deacons and other bishops. Bishops are the shepherds of their dioceses

Cardinal

A high official of the Roman Catholic Church ranking next to the Pope. He is a member of the Sacred College and is appointed by the Pope (Bishop of Rome) to assist and advise him in the governance of the Church. They may wear a specially designed red hat and cassock. They are the ones who elect a pope. The Code of Canon Law in 1918 decreed that all cardinals must be priests. In 1962 Pope John XXIII provided that they should all be bishops.

Catholic

From a Greek word meaning “universal,” it is part of the official title or designation given to the body of Christian communities in union with the Bishop of Rome (the pope).

Christian

A person who is baptized. A professed Christian also believes in the essentials of the Christian faith, notably in the Apostles’ Creed. A Catholic Christian further accepts the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, participates in the Eucharistic liturgy and the sacraments of Catholic Christianity, and gives allegiance to the Catholic hierarchy and especially to the Bishop of Rome.

Christmas

Feast of the nativity of Jesus Christ; December 25 th, Holy Day of Obligation.

Church

The faithful of the whole world. This broad definition can be understood in various senses – belief in Scripture, Community of Believers, the Kingdom of God, and the Mystical Body of Christ.

Commandment

Te n Commandments:

1. I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day [or: the Sabbath Day].

4. Honor your father and your mother.

5. You shall not kill.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Communion

In Christian terms, the most sacred expression for any one of the different forms of togetherness.

Communion of saints

The unity and cooperation of the members of the church on earth with those in heaven and in purgatory. They are united as being one Mystical Body of Christ.

Confess

To tell or make known (as something wrong).

Confession

The voluntary self-accusation of one’s sins to a qualified priest in order obtain absolution from him.

Confirmation

The sacrament in which, through the laying on of hands, anointing with chrism, and prayer, those already baptized are strengthened by the Holy Spirit in order that they may steadfastly profess the faith and faithfully live up to their profession.

Conscience

The judgment of the practical intellect deciding, from general principles of faith and reason, the goodness or badness of a way of acting that a person now faces

Contrition

The act or virtue of sorrow for one’s sins.

Covenant

A word meaning a formal agreement, pact, or contract; in religious terms it describes the special relationship between God and his people.

Creator

God as Maker of all things from nothing.

Creed

A creed is a code of beliefs.

Cross

Primarily the instrument of suffering on which Christ died and redeemed the world. It also stands for whatever pain or endurance that a Christian undergoes, and voluntarily accepts, in order to be joined with Christ and cooperate in the salvation of souls

David

Hebrew King who ruled 100-961 B.C. David’s life was a mixture of good and evil, but the judgment of history has been that, on balance, he was a great king, loyal to Yahweh, a great military figure and a resourceful administrator. Through this Hebrew King, the Davidic Covenant was formed, promising a Great King or Messiah.

Deacon

A man especially ordained to the service of the Church’s ministry. The role of the deacon is to assist priests in preaching, the conferral of baptism, performance of marriage, the administration of parishes, and similar duties.