Institutional Religious Studies 1: Faith, Prayer, and Lasallian Spirituality

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering prayer, spirituality, the Deposit of Faith, church history, biblical experiences, and Lasallian spirituality based on lecture sources.

Prayer (YouCat Definition)

The turning of the heart toward God through which a person enters into a living relationship with Him (YouCat #469, CCC #2558-2565).

Recollection

An invitation to pause and remember that we are in God's holy presence.

Contemplation

Allowing God to speak to us without using words, actions, or images, experienced as pure and intense sacred silence.

Contemplatibus in Actione

A Latin phrase associated with St. John of the Cross meaning "Contemplative in action."

Action (in Prayer)

Actualizing what is prayed and contemplated into one's life as the practical expression of prayer done in charity.

Ora et Labora

A Latin motto meaning "Pray and work," associated with St. Benedict.

Adoration (ACTS)

The element of prayer involving the act of praising and honoring God purely for who He is.

Contrition (ACTS)

The element of prayer expressing sincere sorrow and repentance to God for our sins.

Thanksgiving (ACTS)

The element of prayer offering heartfelt gratitude to God for His blessings.

Supplication (ACTS)

The element of prayer involving humble petitions to God to present our personal needs.

Intercession

A motive of prayer in which a believer intercedes and asks God's assistance on behalf of other people.

Ruah / Pneuma / Spiritus

Hebrew, Greek, and Latin root words meaning "breath" or "spirit," used to describe the beliefs, practices, and attitudes that animate human lives toward supranatural realities.

Christian Spirituality

The process of spiritual formation of a disciple of Jesus Christ for an authentic Christian life, uniting fundamental Christian truths with the daily experience of living in God's presence, grace, and love.

USLS Core Values

The primary institutional values of the University of St. La Salle: Faith (Rooted in Christ), Service (In the Spirit of Lasallian Mission), and Communion in Mission (We Walk Together).

Lasallian Lived Spirituality

A practical spirituality grounded in down-to-earth actions, deep interior trust in God's saving will, and educational relationships that view students through the eyes of faith.

Praying Our Experiences

The spiritual practice of bringing daily emotions, successes, failures, and ordinary events into prayer to recognize God's active presence and grow closer to Him.

Method of Praying Experiences

A 5-step reflective process: (1) Recall a specific experience, (2) Reflect on feelings, (3) Open to God's revelation, (4) Connect the experience to faith and the Gospel, and (5) Respond through practical action.

Religion

The innate human longing placed in the heart to seek and find God, reflected in St. Augustine's quote: "You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."

Deposit of Faith

The core body of divine revelation entrusted to the Church, comprised of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Holy Magisterium.

Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.)

An ecumenical council called by Emperor Constantine to defend orthodoxy against the Arian heresy, confirming that Jesus is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father.

Homoousios

The Greek theological term affirmed at the Council of Nicaea meaning that Jesus Christ is of the "same substance" or consubstantial with God the Father.

Arianism

A 4th-century heresy proposed by Arius asserting that Jesus Christ was a created being and not equal to or of the same substance as God the Father.

Flavius Josephus

A Jewish historian who provided external non-Christian historical testimony about Jesus in 93 A.D. (in Jewish Antiquities), referring to "the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ."

Tacitus

A Roman historian who documented around 110 A.D. that the founder of the Christian sect was executed in Judea under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Emperor Tiberius.

Four Marks of the Church

The essential attributes of the Church expressed in the Creed: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.

Abba

An Aramaic term for Father ("Daddy" or "Tatay"), denoting an intimate, personal, and relatable relationship with God.

Eyes of Faith

A divine gift enabling believers to see daily life, challenges, and ordinary events through God's presence and action.

Heroic Vow (1691)

The solemn vow taken in 1691 by St. John Baptist de La Salle and his key companions to establish the Christian Schools even if only three remained and were forced to live on bread and water.

Discernment

The prayerful practice of seeking to understand God's presence, call, and direction in life decisions.

Serendipity (in Faith)

Fortunate or unexpected discoveries that, viewed through faith, are recognized not as luck or coincidence, but as Divine Providence and graced encounters.

Adrien Nyel

The layman whose proposal to establish a school for poor boys in Rheims served as a graced encounter that led St. John Baptist de La Salle to his life's mission.

Prayer (Youth Catechism Definition)

The turning of the heart toward God, through which a person enters into a living relationship with Him (YouCat # 469, CCC # 2558-2565).

Recollection

An invitation to pause and remember that we are in God's holy presence.

Contemplation

Allowing God to speak to us without using words, actions, or images, resulting in pure and intense sacred silence.

Contemplatibus in Actione

A Latin phrase associated with St. John of the Cross meaning "Contemplative in action."

Action (in Lasallian Interior Prayer)

The practical expression of prayer that actualizes what is prayed and contemplated into one's life, executed in the spirit of love and charity.

Ora et Labora

A Latin motto attributed to St. Benedict meaning "Pray and work."

ACTS

An acronym representing the four key elements of prayer: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.

Adoration

The act of praising and honoring God purely for who He is.

Contrition

The sincere expression of sorrow and repentance to God for one's sins.

Thanksgiving

The act of offering heartfelt gratitude to God for His countless blessings.

Supplication

The act of making humble petitions to God, presenting one's personal needs.

Intercession

The act of praying on behalf of others, asking God to help them (1 Tim 2:1).

Spirituality (Etymology)

Originating from the Latin "Spiritualis"/"Spiritus", Greek "pneuma", and Hebrew "ruah" (meaning "breath"), it describes the attitudes, beliefs, and practices that animate people's lives towards supranatural realities.

Christian Spirituality

The process of spiritual formation of a disciple of Jesus Christ for an authentic and fulfilled Christian life, bringing together fundamental tenets of Christian truths with the daily experience of living in God's presence, grace, and love.

USLS Core Value: Faith

The commitment of USLS to form role models who live with faith in God and with deep respect to one's self and others, rooted in Christ.

USLS Core Value: Service

The commitment of USLS to nurture volunteerism and service moved by genuine concern and love for the poor, in the spirit of the Lasallian mission.

USLS Core Value: Communion in Mission

The creation of a harmonious community that celebrates the values and gifts of every person, walking together as a community.

Lasallian Lived Spirituality

A spirituality grounded in down-to-earth actions, profound interiority, trust in God's saving will, and zeal without self-interest for those confided to one's care within educational relationships.

Praying Our Experiences

The practice of bringing daily experiences, emotions, struggles, joys, successes, and ordinary moments into prayer to reflect honestly, recognize God's presence, and offer oneself to Him.

Deposit of Faith

The core revelation entrusted to the Church, comprised of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Holy Magisterium.

Sacred Scripture

The collection of sacred books written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and recognized by the Church as the written Word of God.

Sacred Tradition

The living transmission of God's revelation, preserving the wisdom and practices passed down from Christ and the Apostles through the Church.

Holy Magisterium

The official teaching authority of the Church that interprets and explains the Word of God for contemporary generations.

Religion (Augustinian Context)

The inherent human longing to seek and find God, reflecting St. Augustine's insight: "You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."

Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.)

An ecumenical council convened by Emperor Constantine to address the Arian heresy, resulting in the affirmation that Jesus is of the same substance (Homoousios) with God.

Arianism

A heresy positing that Jesus Christ was a created Son and therefore not equal or co-eternal with God the Father.

Homoousios

A Greek term meaning "of the same substance," affirmed at the Council of Nicaea to declare that Jesus is co-equal and of one substance with God the Father.

Flavius Josephus

A Jewish historian who provided outside historical validation of Jesus in 93 AD in his work "Jewish Antiquities", referencing "the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ."

Tacitus

A Roman historian who wrote around 110 AD confirming that the founder of the Christian sect was executed in Judea by Pontius Pilate during the reign of Emperor Tiberius.

Four Marks of the Church

The four essential characteristics of the Church professed in the Creed: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.

Catholic (Mark of the Church)

A mark defining the universal nature and scope of the Church founded by Christ in terms of space, membership, and worship.

Eyes of Faith

A gift from God that provides the ability to view life and everyday human experiences through God's presence and active guidance.

Biblical Faith

A deep trust grounded in God's Word, character, and promises that inspires an individual to listen, respond, and allow trust to shape their actions.

Mary's Fiat ("Yes")

Mary's expression of acceptance to Angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26–38) identifying herself as the Lord's servant, illustrating faith as trusting God enough to take the next step without complete knowledge of the future.

Adrien Nyel

A layman whose request for assistance in establishing a school for poor boys served as a crucial encounter leading St. John Baptist de La Salle to his life's mission.

Heroic Vow (1691)

A solemn vow made in 1691 by St. John Baptist de La Salle and two Brothers to maintain the mission even if only three remained and had to live on bread and water.

Discernment

The prayerful habit of seeking to understand God's presence, call, and direction in life decisions by listening to God and searching for His divine will.

Serendipity (Faith Perspective)

Discoveries or events that appear to be luck or coincidence, but when viewed through the eyes of faith are recognized as guided by Divine Providence and graced encounters.